'I didn't have a bored day in my life': SNL's master carpenter retires after 51 years

Catherine Zhu · CBC Radio

· Posted: May 19, 2025 6:07 PM EDT | Last Updated: 2 hours ago

As Saturday Night Live celebrates 50 years connected air, 1 of the sketch drama show's astir enduring and indispensable behind-the-scenes figures is bidding farewell.

Stephen "Demo" DeMaria, a maestro carpenter who has built the acceptable for each occurrence since the show's debut connected Oct. 11, 1975, is retiring this twelvemonth astatine the property of 87.

For 5 decades, DeMaria has been the dependable manus down the scenes, shaping the carnal satellite of SNL and helping crook its bold comedic visions into world — from the crisp governmental parodies to the zany popular civilization spoofs.

Created by Toronto-born Lorne Michaels, SNL revolutionized late-night tv with its unrecorded format, bold sketch drama and philharmonic performances. The amusement rapidly became a taste juggernaut, launching the careers of drama legends similar Eddie Murphy, Tina Fey, Will Ferrell and Adam Sandler.

And for each sketch — whether it was the Oval Office, a suburban kitchen or a chaotic crippled amusement acceptable — DeMaria was there, meticulously gathering the backdrops that helped bring each country to life.

"This is going connected 51 years for me," DeMaria, known arsenic "The Boss of the Carpenters," told As It Happens big Nil Köksal.

Passion for carpentry 

A Brooklyn native, DeMaria began apprenticing successful carpentry astatine conscionable 14. Before joining SNL, helium honed his skills connected iconic New York landmarks and took connected a wide scope of projects crossed the city, from houses to rooftops.

"I enjoyed what I was doing. I started carpentry erstwhile I was a young kid," helium said.

DeMaria's way to SNL began successful 1974, a twelvemonth earlier the show's authoritative premiere. He was hired to physique the assemblage seating — a gig that led to a lasting narration with Michaels.

"I'm grateful for Lorne Michaels due to the fact that helium really gave maine the accidental to enactment here," helium said.

When a caller play began each fall, DeMaria's weekly regular would footwear disconnected connected Thursday mornings arsenic aboriginal arsenic 1 a.m. By 2 a.m., he'd person plan sketches for that week's acceptable and statesman dividing the workload among 5 teams of astir 50 carpenters.

Together, they would physique each constituent astatine the Brooklyn Navy Yard store by Friday nighttime and vessel the finished pieces to the workplace successful midtown Manhattan for Saturday's unrecorded broadcast.

Just this past weekend, DeMaria completed his last duty — leading the operation of a twelve sets for the expansive 50th play finale. 

 A beingness well-lived 

As helium reflects connected his agelong career, DeMaria doesn't prime favourites among the hundreds of sketches helium helped create, but helium admits the aboriginal years inactive clasp a peculiar spot successful his heart.

"They were each bully shows," helium said. "My favourite was the archetypal 12 years, erstwhile it was John Belushi and each of these fellas."

He's besides particularly fond of Eddie Murphy. Watching Murphy during the caller 50th day celebration, DeMaria said helium couldn't assistance but marvel astatine however small has changed.

"Eddie Murphy, astonishing man!" DeMaria said. "He looks terrific. He's a good-looking man. I couldn't judge what I was seeing, for his age."

With the finale aired, DeMaria is officially hanging up his hammer — but not earlier 1 past celebration.

As the play wraps, he's looking guardant to 1 of his favourite traditions: the formed and unit party, wherever the creation level calls his name. "I spell to the SNL parties astatine the extremity of the season, and I emotion to creation connected the level erstwhile they play music," helium said.

Outside the studio, DeMaria built a beingness he's arrogant of, too.

He joined his wife, Patricia, erstwhile helium was 17, and unneurotic they raised 2 children and welcomed 3 grandchildren. Patricia passed distant three-and-a-half years agone — a nonaccomplishment DeMaria said helium feels deeply. "My woman was unbelievable," helium said.

Now, DeMaria plans to walk much clip astatine the Staten Island location helium built successful the 1950s, enjoying clip with his 2 cats and visiting household successful New Jersey.

"I'm inactive driving, I don't deterioration glasses and I inactive determination around," helium said. "I archer you the truth, I didn't person a bored time successful my life. Never. Even now."