A Key Running Man Side Character Is The Son Of An SNL Legend

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Please be aware that this article contains very minor spoilers for the new movie, The Running Man, which is scheduled to be released in 2025. Don’t worry, the spoilers are minimal and won’t ruin the experience.

Since Glen Powell is hosting Saturday Night Live this weekend, it’s a good time to highlight one of his The Running Man co-stars, Martin Herlihy. Martin is a writer and sometimes performer on SNL, and he actually comes from an SNL family – his father is the well-known writer, Tim Herlihy. You might not recognize the name Tim Herlihy, but you’ve definitely seen his work, especially if you’re familiar with Adam Sandler, as they’ve collaborated for years on the show and in films.

The Running Man Needed Some Comic Relief

Edgar Wright’s film adaptation of Stephen King’s The Running Man was well worth the wait – he really delivered! While some might have minor criticisms, particularly with how it ends, it’s a far more faithful adaptation of the book than the 1987 film with Arnold Schwarzenegger (which I still enjoy, to be honest). This new version should definitely be on everyone’s list of movies to watch this fall.

The new version of the movie, released in 2025, differs significantly in tone from the 1987 film. The original, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, was intentionally over-the-top and full of memorable one-liners. The remake, however, is much more serious and closely resembles the atmosphere of Stephen King’s original novel. Martin Herlihy’s character, Jansky, provides welcome comedic moments. He plays a lighthearted contestant alongside Ben Richards and Katy O’Brian’s characters, and his performance is genuinely funny.

Tim Herlihy Took A Winding Road To Comedy

Martin Herlihy seemed destined for comedy, being the son of a famous comedian, but Tim’s path to success was unexpected. He actually studied accounting at NYU with no intention of becoming a comedian. However, his college roommate turned out to be Adam Sandler, and they began working together. This collaboration continued after college and throughout Sandler’s time on Saturday Night Live.

Tim Herlihy initially pursued a law career, but he continued to write, even co-writing the script for Billy Madison while working as a lawyer. Before the film’s release, he left law and joined Saturday Night Live as a writer in 1994, eventually becoming head writer. He played a key role in creating some of the show’s most memorable characters from the 90s and is highly respected at SNL. Over the years, he’s co-written a dozen movies with Adam Sandler, including the upcoming Happy Gilmore 2 in 2025, and often makes brief appearances in them – for example, he played a priest in Grown Ups.

Like Father, Like Son

Martin Herlihy is continuing his father’s legacy at SNL as a writer and member of the comedy group Please Don’t Destroy, alongside Ben Marshall and John Higgins. Like Adam Sandler and Martin’s father, Tim Herlihy, the group began creating comedy while students at NYU. While Please Don’t Destroy no longer makes the show’s digital shorts, Herlihy remains a writer for SNL.

Whether The Running Man does well in cinemas is still uncertain, but it’s clear that we can expect great things from the younger Herlihy in the years to come.

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2025-11-15 00:08