You see him every Saturday night—or at least his name in that iconic neon font—but Lorne Michaels is a bit of a ghost when it comes to his personal life. He’s the man who launched a thousand careers, from Eddie Murphy to Tina Fey, yet he manages to stay largely out of the paparazzi’s crosshairs. If you're wondering who is Lorne Michaels married to, the answer isn't a fellow Hollywood titan or a flashy starlet.
Actually, it’s Alice Barry.
They’ve been married since 1991. In Hollywood years, that’s basically a century. While the tabloids obsess over messy breakups and whirlwind romances, Michaels and Barry have quietly built a life that’s lasted over three decades. It’s a stark contrast to the high-octane, often chaotic environment of Saturday Night Live.
The Long-Term Partner: Alice Barry
Honestly, if you try to Google Alice Barry, you might get confused. There’s a British actress with the same name, but that’s not her. The Alice Barry married to Lorne was actually his former assistant. She worked for him at NBC between 1989 and 1991, right as the show was entering a massive creative resurgence.
They didn't waste much time. After less than a year of dating, they tied the knot in 1991.
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Why does this marriage work where others in show business fail? It probably helps that Alice understands the "30 Rock" machine. Having worked in the trenches of the show, she knows the grueling hours and the 4:00 AM writing sessions that define Lorne’s life. She isn't just a "celebrity wife"; she’s someone who has been inside the room where it happens.
A Family Business at 30 Rock
The couple has three children together: Henry, Edward (Eddie), and Sophie. What’s interesting—and kinda cool—is how the kids have slowly integrated into the entertainment world their father built.
- Henry Michaels: Now in his early 30s, Henry followed the writing path. He’s worked as a staff writer for series like Miracle Workers.
- Eddie Michaels: He’s a creative executive at Broadway Video, the powerhouse production company Lorne founded back in 1979.
- Sophie Michaels: She’s stuck close to the flagship, working as a talent coordinator at SNL.
It’s a real family legacy. While Lorne is 81 now, his family remains his anchor. He even thanked them during his Kennedy Center Honors and various Emmy wins, calling his wife and kids "the most and best thing that ever happened to me."
Third Time’s the Charm: Lorne’s Past Marriages
Lorne wasn't always the picture of marital stability. Like many people finding their way in a demanding career, it took a few tries to get it right.
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Rosie Shuster (1967–1980)
His first wife was his childhood sweetheart. Rosie Shuster is a legend in her own right—she was a writer on the original SNL seasons and the daughter of Frank Shuster, a comedy icon who mentored Lorne. Their marriage was... complicated. Recent films like Saturday Night (2024) have shed light on their "open" or at least very unconventional relationship during the 70s. They stayed married for 13 years, but by the time the divorce was finalized in 1980, they had been leading somewhat separate lives for a while.
Susan Forristal (1981–1987)
Lorne’s second marriage was to model and actress Susan Forristal. She appeared in films like Regarding Henry and The Bonfire of the Vanities. It was a shorter chapter, lasting about six years. By 1987, they called it quits, right around the time Lorne was becoming a US citizen and solidifying his status as the undisputed king of late-night TV.
Why the Marriage to Alice Barry Lasts
People often ask who is Lorne Michaels married to because she’s so rarely in the spotlight. That might be the secret sauce. Alice Barry doesn't do "tell-all" interviews. She doesn't have a public Instagram filled with filtered vacation photos.
Instead, the couple shows up for things that matter. They co-chair gala events for the American Museum of Natural History. They run the Michaels Family Foundation together, donating to universities like Yale and Dartmouth. They live a quiet life in Amagansett, out in the Hamptons, retreating from the city when the cameras stop rolling on Saturday night.
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It’s a partnership built on privacy. In an era where every celebrity relationship is a "brand," there's something refreshing about a couple that has been together since the George H.W. Bush administration without making a fuss about it.
If you want to keep up with the world of SNL and the people who run it, the best way is to keep an eye on the credits. While Lorne is the face of the show, Alice Barry is clearly the one keeping the home fires burning while the rest of us are watching "Weekend Update."
To better understand the inner workings of Lorne's empire, look into the history of Broadway Video or the "Lornettes"—the nickname given to his high-functioning assistants back in the day. Understanding the culture of his office gives you a much better picture of why he eventually married someone who truly understood his work ethic.