As he was raised in Catholic Church he wants to become a priest up to the age of 17. He worked as a comedian in many nightclubs and get the progress in the field of music with the club The Owl. He got his first professional experience in a comedy series The Hart and Lorne Terrific Hour. Saturday Night Live was a late night comedy show which gave him a great success. He appeared in its four seasons. Also gave some guest appearances on SNL. He got the chance to host The Blues Brothers musical act while working as the guest star.
Films
In 1977 he worked in Love at First Sight as Roy. He performed in Mr. Mike's Mondo Video and in 1941 during the year 1979.
In the 80s, his work is seen in Neighbors as Vic Zeck in 1982, It Came from Hollywood as Himself in 1983, Doctor Detroit as Clifford Skridlow/Doctor Detroit, Trading Places as Louis Winthorpe III, Twilight Zone: The Movie as Passenger/ Ambulance Driver in 1984, Ghostbusters as Dr. Raymond Stantz he is also writer of the script, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom as Art Weber, Nothing Lasts Forever as Buck Heller in 1985, Into the Night as Herb, Spies Like Us as Austin Millbarge.
In 1987, Dragnet Sgt. as Joe Friday, in 1988, The Couch as John W. Burns, Jr., The Great Outdoors as Roman Craig, Caddyshack II as Capt. Tom Everett, My Stepmother Is an Alien as Steven Mills. In 1989, Driving Miss Daisy as Boolie Werthan, Ghostbusters II as Dr. Raymond Stantz.
In the 90s, his work could be seen in the film Loose Cannons as Ellis Fielding, Masters of Menace as Johnny Lewis, in 1991 My Girl as Harry Sultenfuss, Nothing but Trouble as Judge Alvin 'J.P' Valkenheiser/Bobo. In 1992, Chaplin Mack Sennett as Sneakers, This Is My Life as Arnold Moss.In 1993, Coneheads Beldar as Conehead, in 1994, A Century of Cinema as Himself,
Exit to Eden as Fred Lavery, My Girl 2 as Harry Sultenfuss, North as Pa Tex, in 1995 Canadian Bacon as OPP Officer, Casper as Dr. Raymond Stantz, given voice to Dexter in The Random Factor, Tommy Boy as Ray Zalinsky, "The Auto Parts King". In 1996, he performed in Rainbow as Sheriff Wyatt Hampton, Celtic Pride as Jimmy Flaherty, Feeling Minnesota as Det. Ben Costikyan, My Fellow Americans as President William Haney, Getting Away with Murder as Jack Lambert, Sgt. Bilko Colonel as John T. Hall, in 1997 as Grocer in Grosse Pointe Blank, his voice could be heard in the character Chip in Antz in 1998, Blues Brothers 2000 as Elwood J. Blues, Susan's Plan as Bob, gave his voice in The Emperor's New Clothes, in 1999 Diamonds as Lance Agensky.
In 2001 The Curse of the Jade as Scorpion as Chris Magruder, Evolution as Governor Lewis, The Frank Truth as Himself which was a Documentary, On the Nose as Dr. Barry Davis, Pearl Harbor as Capt. Thurman, in 2002, Crossroads as Pete Wagner, Unconditional Love as Max Beasly, in 2003 Bright Young Things as Lord Monomark, he was Vic Frohmeyer in 2004 in Christmas with the Kranks, Shortcut to Happiness as Julius Jenson,50 First Dates, Intern Academy, I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry, War, Inc., Yogi Bear, The Campaign, The Ultimate Sacrifice, Legends of Oz: Dorothy's Return, Tammy Don, Get on Up, Pixels, Ghostbusters: Answer the Call.
Television
He had performed many television roles. He had given his voice to Goodly / Rotten / Maple in The Gift of Winter, in 1975 Coming Up Rosie as Purvis Bickle, in 1975-2015 Saturday Night Live, in 1976 The Beach Boys: It's OK as Cop in 1978 All You Need Is Cash as Brian Thigh, in 1986-91 The Real Ghostbusters as Creator, varios role in The Dave Thomas Comedy Show, It's Garry Shandling's Show as Boolie Shandling, The Earth Day Special as Vic's Buddy, in 1991, Tales from the Crypt as Captain Mulligan, The Nanny in 1994 as Repair Man, in 1995 Kesley Grammar Salutes Jack Benny as Himself, in 2000 Psi Factor: Chronicles of the Paranormal as Host for 88 episodes, The Arrow as Crawford Gordon, Home Improvement, Soul Man, Normal, Ohio, Earth vs. the Spider, History's Mysteries, According to Jim, Living with Fran, Family Guy, X-Play, The Defenders, Happily Divorced, Behind the Candelabra, Workin' Moms.
Video games
He has also given his voice to the character of a video game like Ray Stantz and Yogi Bear in Ghostbusters: The Video Game, Yogi Bear: The Video Game and Lego Dimensions.