Tom Davis, 59 | Al Franken's 'SNL' partner

Tom Davis, 59, a writer who with Al Franken helped develop some of the most popular skits in the early years of Saturday Night Live, died Thursday of throat and neck cancer at his Hudson Valley home.

He was remembered by his former partner as "great friend, a good man, and so funny."

Davis is best known as the thinner, taller partner in Franken & Davis, the off-kilter comedy duo who performed in the early years of the show. They were among the first writers hired for the show in 1975 and helped create such work as the "Coneheads" skit with Dan Aykroyd and what became the "Nick the Lounge Singer" skit starring Bill Murray.