Matt Villines, Director Of Saturday Night Live, Dies At 39

Matt Villines, a comedy director most famous for his work on Saturday Night Live, has died after a battle with cancer. He was 39 years old. Alongside Rodriguez, Villines served as the behind-the-scenes force behind SNL’s most hilarious and memorable pre-taped sketches since he joined the show in 2013 including “Sad Mouse,” “Back Home Ballers,” “The Jay Z Story,” “Grow-A-Guy,” and “(Do It On My) Twin Bed,” among many others.

On Monday, SNL co-head writer Bryan Tucker revealed in a Facebook message that Villines passed away “after a long battle with cancer.” Tucker also added, “Matt was not only an excellent director. He was a warm, kind guy who got an enormous amount done without ever raising his voice.”

In the wake of his death, several Saturday Night Live cast members and crew shared moving tributes on social media. “He was one of my favorite people. He taught me a ton about filmmaking and even more about being kind even when you’re stressed or frustrated or sick,” wrote SNL writer Mike O’Brien, who worked with Villines on “Sad Mouse” and “The Jay Z Story." “Was lucky enough to get to work with Matt Villines at SNL and I am going to miss him deeply. Wonderful guy,” Moynihan wrote.

timeinc.net