Pete Davidson is a lot of things. He's a Staten Island native with a penchant for self-deprecation. He's the guy who somehow dated half of Hollywood's A-list. He’s the comedian who turned his deepest trauma into a career that most people would kill for.
Basically, he’s the king of "how did he get there?"
If you're wondering what Pete Davidson is famous for, the answer isn't just one thing. It’s a weird, messy mix of late-night comedy, high-profile breakups, and a raw honesty about mental health that you just don't see from most celebrities. He’s the guy who bought a decommissioned Staten Island ferry with Colin Jost on a whim. That actually happened.
The Saturday Night Live Breakthrough
Most of us first saw Pete on Saturday Night Live. He joined the cast in 2014. He was only 20. That made him one of the youngest cast members in the show's massive history.
He didn't really do "characters" like Bill Hader or Kate McKinnon. He wasn't the guy wearing a wig and doing a perfect impression of a politician. Instead, he was famous for being himself. His "Weekend Update" segments became must-watch TV because he would just sit there and talk about his life. He talked about living in his mom’s basement. He talked about his struggles with Crohn’s disease.
It was during these segments that he really found his voice. He played a character named Chad—a guy who just says "okay" to everything—but mostly, people tuned in to see the "real" Pete. He stayed for eight seasons before leaving in 2022, but by then, he was already a household name.
The "BDE" and the Dating History
You can't talk about Pete Davidson without talking about who he’s dated. It’s impossible. Honestly, his dating life is a cultural phenomenon on its own.
It really kicked off with Ariana Grande. They were engaged after like three weeks. It was a whirlwind that gave us the term "BDE" (Big Dick Energy). Even though they broke up, it catapulted him into a different level of fame. Suddenly, he wasn't just "the guy from SNL." He was a tabloid fixture.
Since then, the list has been... impressive:
- Kate Beckinsale: They had that famous kiss at a Rangers game that became a meme overnight.
- Kim Kardashian: This was the one that broke the internet. They dated for nine months after she hosted SNL, leading to a very public and very weird feud with Kanye West.
- Emily Ratajkowski and Phoebe Dynevor: He just keeps showing up with the most sought-after women in the world.
As of early 2026, things have shifted a bit. Pete and his girlfriend Elsie Hewitt recently welcomed a baby girl. It’s a new chapter for a guy who spent a decade being the world’s most famous bachelor.
Turning Tragedy Into Comedy
The core of Pete's fame is actually much darker than a tabloid headline. His father, Scott Davidson, was a firefighter who died on September 11, 2001. Pete was only seven.
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That trauma defines his comedy. He’s incredibly open about it. In his movie The King of Staten Island (which he co-wrote with Judd Apatow), he plays a fictionalized version of himself dealing with that grief. It’s a heavy movie, but it’s also funny. That’s his whole brand: laughing at the stuff that’s supposed to break you.
He has also been a massive advocate for mental health. He’s talked about being diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). He’s been in and out of rehab for both mental health and substance issues. By being so public about it, he’s actually helped a lot of younger fans feel less weird about their own struggles.
What’s He Doing Now? (2026 Update)
If you think he’s fading away, you’re wrong. Pete is currently leaning hard into the podcast world. He just launched The Pete Davidson Show on Netflix. It’s a "video podcast" filmed mostly in his garage.
It’s classic Pete. No scripts. Just him and his friends talking. Netflix is betting big on him to lead their foray into original podcasting. He’s also still doing stand-up, recently wrapping up his "Prehab Tour" where he roasted his own failed business ventures—like that Staten Island ferry.
He and Colin Jost are reportedly losing millions on that boat. Pete jokes about it constantly. "In case you’re wondering why I had to do a show in Saudi Arabia, we’re losing millions on this ferry," he said during an SNL return.
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The Reality of the "Pete Effect"
People are obsessed with him because he feels "attainable" yet he’s living this absurd life. He’s tall, lanky, covered in tattoos (many of which he’s currently getting lasered off), and he looks like he hasn't slept in three days.
But he’s charming. He’s honest. In an industry full of curated PR personas, Pete is just... Pete.
Next steps for you:
- Watch The King of Staten Island if you want to see the "real" story behind his comedy.
- Check out his Netflix special Turbo Fonzarelli for his most recent stand-up.
- Follow the news on the Staten Island Ferry project if you want to see a slow-motion real estate train wreck in real time.