Al Franken

Was an improv comedy performer and sketch comedy writer at the Brave New Workshop in Minneapolis, MN, in the early 1970s.

Left "Saturday Night Live" (1975) as a writer and featured cast member in 1995 after his request to be the Weekend Update news anchor was denied.

Father of daughter, Thomasin Davis Franken (born in 1981), and named after his comedy partner, Tom Davis, from Saturday Night Live. Father-in-law of Brody Konow Greenwald (born in 1980).

When ex-President Bill Clinton was on book tour for his autobiography at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, he saw Franken and said, "My hero's here." (reported in USA Today, July 21, 2004)

He received the New York Festivals' 23rd Annual International Radio Programming and Promotions' "World Achievement Award For Breakthrough Radio" for his unique perspective and commentary on his daily radio show, The Al Franken Show, on June 27, 2005.

Won the 2008 DFL endorsement for the Minnesota Senate seat against Norm Coleman. (June 7, 2008).

Announced his bid to run for U.S. Senate in 2008 representing the state of Minnesota.

Elected to the United States Senate on November 4, 2008. The election was so close that there was a subsequent recount and legal battles, and he was not officially sworn in as a Senator until July 7, 2009.