Dana Carvey, the iconic Saturday Night Live alum known for his impressions of political figures, recently opened up about the challenges he faced while portraying former President Joe Biden. Carvey revealed that he believed Biden was “compromised mentally” during his presidency, which influenced his comedic portrayal. Why were other actors afraid of impersonating Biden?
Carvey Reveals Behind-the-Scenes Thoughts on Biden Impression
Dana Carvey recently shared revealing insights about his approach to portraying former President Joe Biden on Saturday Night Live. During an episode of his “Fly on the Wall” podcast with co-host David Spade, Carvey candidly stated, “I knew that he was compromised mentally, I mean, it was obvious.”
The veteran comedian acknowledged the sensitivity surrounding Biden’s age and mental state in comedy circles. “It was a delicate thing in the comedy world,” Carvey explained, adding that “there were a lot of people who did not want to do anything that would kind of ding him in an awkward way.”
Interesting to listen to Dana Carvey speak about playing the character of the character that was Joe Biden…. pic.twitter.com/tx8iQn00Pw
— Joe Rambo (@BrainStorm_Joe) July 1, 2025
Balancing Comedy and Respect in Political Impressions
Carvey, who has masterfully impersonated political figures throughout his career, including George H.W. Bush and Ross Perot, emphasized his goal of making Biden “funny to everybody.” The comedian sought to create an impression that was both recognizable and broadly appealing without crossing into disrespectful territory.
Co-host David Spade offered additional perspective on the ethics of satirizing Biden. “I think it’s easier to make fun of him if he’s the president than if it’s just a 90-whatever-year-old man,” Spade remarked, suggesting that Biden’s position as president made him “more fair game” for comedic treatment.
According to Carvey, he selectively chose which aspects of Biden to incorporate into his impression. “There’s certain things I did not include in my package,” he revealed, indicating a conscious effort to find the right balance between comedy and sensitivity.
Dana Carvey whips out his Joe Biden impersonation for Bill Maher:
Bill Maher: "Nobody could quite get Biden [like you]"
Dana Carvey: "I'm being serious right now"Bill Maher's audience: 'It's funny because we voted for him' pic.twitter.com/Gx9o0dA2sz
— Eric Abbenante (@EricAbbenante) March 22, 2025
The White House’s Surprising Response to the Impression
Despite the potentially unflattering nature of Carvey’s impression, the comedian disclosed that he received positive feedback from Biden’s team. A staffer from the White House appreciated Carvey’s portrayal enough to extend an invitation for him to visit.
Though the visit never materialized, this reaction suggests a level of good humor from the administration regarding Carvey’s satirical take. The comedian’s approach to playing Biden, focusing on certain recognizable traits or “hooks,” apparently resonated with viewers and possibly even the subject himself.
Carvey and Spade have not limited their political comedy to Biden alone. The duo previously targeted both Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on issues related to financial aid, with Spade drawing parallels to California’s management of homeless funds.