Wikipedia

List of Saturday Night Live cast members

(Redirected from Not Ready For Prime Time Players)

As of September 2024, the late-night live variety series Saturday Night Live (SNL) has featured 167 cast members. The ensemble was originally referred to as the Not Ready for Prime Time Players.[1]

The original cast of SNL posing for the camera
Original cast (left to right): Laraine Newman, John Belushi, Jane Curtin, Gilda Radner, Dan Aykroyd, Garrett Morris, and Chevy Chase

List

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As of 2024, 167 comedians have served as cast members on the show. Sid Caesar is the only person to be named an honorary cast member. Caesar was presented with a plaque during the goodnights of his hosting stint in 1983.[2]

Table

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Saturday Night Live cast members[a]
Performer Time on SNL No. of seasons Repertory player Featured player Middle group "Weekend Update" anchor Hosted Best of... Writer
Fred Armisen 2002–2013 11  Y  Y  Y
Aristotle Athari 2021–2022 1  Y
Dan Aykroyd 1975–1979 4  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y
Peter Aykroyd 1980 1  Y  Y
Morwenna Banks 1995 1  Y
Vanessa Bayer 2010–2017 7  Y  Y
Jim Belushi 1983–1985 2  Y  Y
John Belushi 1975–1979 4  Y  Y  Y
Beck Bennett 2013–2021 8  Y  Y
Jim Breuer 1995–1998 3  Y
Paul Brittain 2010–2012 2  Y
A. Whitney Brown 1986–1991 6  Y  Y
Aidy Bryant 2012–2022 10  Y  Y
Beth Cahill 1991–1992 1  Y
Dana Carvey 1986–1993 7  Y  Y  Y
Chevy Chase 1975–1976 2  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y
Michael Che 2014–present 11  Y  Y  Y  Y
Ellen Cleghorne 1991–1995 4  Y  Y
George Coe 1975 1  Y
Billy Crystal 1984–1985 1  Y  Y  Y  Y
Jane Curtin 1975–1980 5  Y  Y
Joan Cusack 1985–1986 1  Y
Pete Davidson 2014–2022 8  Y  Y  Y
Tom Davis 1977–1980 3  Y  Y
Mikey Day 2016–present 9  Y  Y  Y
Denny Dillon 1980–1981 1  Y
Andrew Dismukes 2020–present 5  Y  Y  Y
Jim Downey 1980 1  Y  Y
Robert Downey Jr. 1985–1986 1  Y  Y
Brian Doyle-Murray 1980,
1981–1982 		2  Y  Y  Y  Y
Rachel Dratch 1999–2006 7  Y  Y
Robin Duke 1981–1984 4  Y  Y
Nora Dunn 1985–1990 5  Y
Christine Ebersole 1981–1982 1  Y  Y
Dean Edwards 2001–2003 2  Y
Abby Elliott 2008–2012 4  Y  Y
Chris Elliott 1994–1995 1  Y
Jimmy Fallon 1998–2004 6  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y
Siobhan Fallon 1991–1992 1  Y
Chris Farley 1990–1995 5  Y  Y  Y  Y
Will Ferrell 1995–2002 7  Y  Y  Y
Tina Fey 2000–2006 6  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y
Chloe Fineman 2019–present 6  Y  Y
Will Forte 2002–2010 8  Y  Y  Y
Al Franken 1977–1980,
1986,
1988–1995 		11  Y  Y
Heidi Gardner 2017–present 8  Y  Y
Janeane Garofalo 1994–1995 1  Y
Ana Gasteyer 1996–2002 6  Y
Gilbert Gottfried 1980–1981 1  Y
Mary Gross 1981–1985 4  Y  Y  Y
Christopher Guest 1984–1985 1  Y  Y  Y
Bill Hader 2005–2013 8  Y  Y  Y
Anthony Michael Hall 1985–1986 1  Y
Brad Hall 1982–1984 2  Y  Y
Rich Hall 1984–1985 1  Y  Y
Darrell Hammond 1995–2009 14  Y
Phil Hartman 1986–1994 8  Y  Y  Y  Y
Marcello Hernandez 2022–present 3  Y  Y
Lauren Holt 2020–2021 1  Y
Jan Hooks 1986–1991 5  Y
Yvonne Hudson 1980–1981 1  Y
Melanie Hutsell 1991–1994 3  Y  Y  Y
Victoria Jackson 1986–1992 6  Y
James Austin Johnson 2021–present 4  Y  Y
Punkie Johnson 2020–2024 4  Y  Y
Leslie Jones 2014–2019 5  Y  Y  Y
Colin Jost 2014–present 12  Y  Y  Y  Y
Chris Kattan 1996–2003 8  Y  Y  Y
Tim Kazurinsky 1981–1984 4  Y  Y
Molly Kearney 2022–2024 2  Y
Laura Kightlinger 1994–1995 1  Y  Y
Taran Killam 2010–2016 6  Y  Y
David Koechner 1995–1996 1  Y
Gary Kroeger 1982–1985 3  Y
Matthew Laurance 1980–1981 1  Y
Julia Louis-Dreyfus 1982–1985 3  Y  Y
Michael Longfellow 2022–present 3  Y  Y
Jon Lovitz 1985–1990 5  Y  Y  Y
Norm Macdonald 1993–1998 5  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y
Gail Matthius 1980–1981 1  Y  Y
Michael McKean 1994–1995 2  Y  Y
Mark McKinney 1995–1997 3  Y  Y
Kate McKinnon 2012–2022 11  Y  Y  Y
Tim Meadows 1991–2000 10  Y  Y  Y  Y
Laurie Metcalf 1981 1  Y
Seth Meyers 2001–2014 13  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y
John Milhiser 2013–2014 1  Y
Dennis Miller 1985–1991 6  Y  Y
Jerry Minor 2000–2001 1  Y  Y
Finesse Mitchell 2003–2006 3  Y  Y
Alex Moffat 2016–2022 6  Y  Y
Jay Mohr 1993–1995 2  Y  Y
Kyle Mooney 2013–2022 9  Y  Y
Tracy Morgan 1996–2003 7  Y  Y  Y
Garrett Morris 1975–1980 5  Y  Y
Bobby Moynihan 2008–2017 9  Y  Y
Eddie Murphy 1980–1984 4  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y
Bill Murray 1977–1980 4  Y  Y  Y  Y
Mike Myers 1989–1995 7  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y
Kevin Nealon 1986–1995 9  Y  Y  Y  Y
Laraine Newman 1975–1980 5  Y
Don Novello 1979–1980
1985–1986 		2  Y  Y  Y
Luke Null 2017–2018 1  Y
Ego Nwodim 2018–present 7  Y  Y
Mike O'Brien 2013–2014 1  Y  Y
Michael O'Donoghue 1975 1  Y  Y
Cheri Oteri 1995–2000 5  Y  Y
Ashley Padilla 2024–present 1  Y
Chris Parnell 1998–2006 8  Y  Y
Nasim Pedrad 2009–2014 5  Y  Y
Jay Pharoah 2010–2016 6  Y  Y
Joe Piscopo 1980–1984 4  Y  Y
Amy Poehler 2001–2008 8  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y
Emily Prager 1981 1  Y
Randy Quaid 1985–1986 1  Y
Colin Quinn 1996–2000 5  Y  Y  Y  Y
Gilda Radner 1975–1980 5  Y  Y
Chris Redd 2017–2022 5  Y  Y
Jeff Richards 2001–2004 3  Y  Y
Rob Riggle 2004–2005 1  Y
Ann Risley 1980–1981 1  Y
Tim Robinson 2012–2013 1  Y  Y
Chris Rock 1990–1993 3  Y  Y  Y  Y
Charles Rocket 1980–1981 1  Y  Y
Tony Rosato 1981–1982 2  Y  Y
Jon Rudnitsky 2015–2016 1  Y
Maya Rudolph 2000–2007 9  Y  Y  Y
Andy Samberg 2005–2012 7  Y  Y  Y  Y
Adam Sandler 1991–1995 5  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y
Horatio Sanz 1998–2006 8  Y  Y  Y
Tom Schiller 1980 1  Y  Y
Rob Schneider 1990–1994 4  Y  Y  Y  Y
Paul Shaffer 1979–1980 1  Y  Y
Molly Shannon 1995–2001 7  Y  Y  Y  Y
Harry Shearer 1979–1980,
1984–1985 		2  Y  Y  Y
Sarah Sherman 2021–present 4  Y  Y
Martin Short 1984–1985 1  Y  Y  Y
Sarah Silverman 1993–1994 1  Y  Y  Y
Jenny Slate 2009–2010 1  Y
Robert Smigel 1991–1993 2  Y  Y
David Spade 1990–1996 6  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y
Pamela Stephenson 1984–1985 1  Y
Ben Stiller 1989 1  Y  Y  Y
Cecily Strong 2012–2022 11  Y  Y  Y
Jason Sudeikis 2005–2013 9  Y  Y  Y  Y
Julia Sweeney 1990–1994 4  Y  Y
Terry Sweeney 1985–1986 1  Y  Y
Kenan Thompson 2003–present 22  Y  Y
Chloe Troast 2023–2024 1  Y
Danitra Vance 1985–1986 1  Y
Melissa Villaseñor 2016–2022 6  Y  Y
Dan Vitale 1985–1986 1  Y
Devon Walker 2022–present 3  Y  Y
Nancy Walls 1995–1996 1  Y
Emil Wakim 2024–present 1  Y
Michaela Watkins 2008–2009 1  Y
Damon Wayans 1985–1986 1  Y  Y
Patrick Weathers 1980–1981 1  Y
Noël Wells 2013–2014 1  Y
Brooks Wheelan 2013–2014 1  Y
Jane Wickline 2024–present 1  Y
Kristen Wiig 2005–2012 7  Y  Y  Y
Casey Wilson 2008–2009 2  Y
Fred Wolf 1996–1996 2  Y  Y
Bowen Yang 2019–present 6  Y  Y  Y
Sasheer Zamata 2014–2017 4  Y  Y
Alan Zweibel 1980 1  Y  Y

Timeline

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Lighter colors denote "featured players" versus repertory cast members.


Tenures

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Longest tenures

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The following comedians have served as cast members on the show for more than 9 seasons:

Saturday Night Live cast members with the longest tenures
Performer No. of seasons[b] Years on the show Notes
Kenan Thompson 22[3] 2003–present Promoted to repertory player in his third season on the show.
Darrell Hammond 14 1995–2009 At the time of his departure, Hammond had the longest tenure as a cast member on the show. In 2014, Hammond returned to the show as the announcer following the death of longtime announcer Don Pardo.
Seth Meyers 12 ½[c] 2001–2014 Meyers anchored Weekend Update from 2006 to 2014. At the time of his departure, he was the longest-serving Weekend Update anchor, however, he has been surpassed by current anchors Colin Jost and Michael Che in terms of episodes.[4] He left the show to become the host of Late Night. He also served as head writer for 9 seasons.
Colin Jost 11 ½[c][5] 2014–present Jost has been a writer at SNL since 2005, and has been anchoring Weekend Update since 2014. He had also been a head writer for the show from 2012 to 2015, and again from 2017 until 2022.[6]
Fred Armisen 11 2002–2013 Promoted to repertory player in his third season on the show.
Michael Che 11[7] 2014–present Che has been a writer for SNL since 2013, and started anchoring Weekend Update a year later. Che and Jost are the show's longest running Weekend Update anchors, and serving as co-head writers together from 2017 until 2022.[6]
Cecily Strong 10 ½[c][d][5] 2012–2022
Kate McKinnon 10 ½[c][d] 2012–2022 McKinnon has stated in an interview that she would've left the show a few years earlier had it not been for the COVID-19 pandemic[8]
Aidy Bryant 10 2012–2022 In an interview, Bryant said that she postponed her departure by a couple of years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[9]
Al Franken 10[e] 1977–1980,
1986,
1988–1995		 Worked as a writer the first two seasons, and promoted to cast member in Season 3. He left the show in 1980, but returned when Lorne Michaels came back in 1985, regaining his writing and on-air featured status until 1995.
Tim Meadows 9½[c] 1991–2000 At the time of his departure, Meadows had the longest continuous tenure as a cast member on the show.

Shortest tenures

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Two people have been publicly announced as having been hired to the cast, but never performed as cast members:

  • Catherine O'Hara, hired in 1981, quit before appearing on air.[10] She has subsequently hosted the show twice.
  • Shane Gillis was announced as a cast member in 2019, but the offer was withdrawn due to controversies surrounding past use of racial stereotypes.[11] Gillis went on to host episode 12 of season 49.[12] Eight months after Gillis hosted the show, executive producer Lorne Michaels revealed that the decision to fire Gillis was not his, and it was forced on him by NBC executives.[13]

One person was credited as a cast member but did not actually appear on the show as such.

  • Emily Prager was hired as part of Ebersol's temporary season six cast following the termination of Jean Doumanian. She was credited for one episode even though she did not appear on the show, as her skit was cut after dress rehearsal. She was not chosen for season seven of the show. Prager had worked as a writer on the show, and also made several appearances in skits prior to being officially named as a member of the cast.

The following cast members spent less than a full 20-episode season on the show.[14]

Saturday Night Live cast members with the shortest tenures
Performer No. of episodes Notes
George Coe 1 He was one of the original "Not-Ready-for-Primetime Players", because NBC wanted someone older in the cast. He was credited as a cast member for only the first episode, though he continued to make several uncredited appearances throughout the first season.
Laurie Metcalf 1 She was hired as part of Ebersol's temporary season six cast following the termination of Jean Doumanian, and appeared on-camera in a Weekend Update piece. When the show was put on hiatus for retooling, she was not chosen to return to the show for season seven.
Emily Prager 1 She was hired as part of Ebersol's temporary season six cast following the termination of Jean Doumanian. Although she did not appear in the single episode for which she was credited as a featured player, she had appeared uncredited in five previous episodes, between 1977 and 1981. When the show was put on hiatus for retooling, she was not chosen to return to the show for season seven.
Dan Vitale 3 Hired as an on-and-off featured player for season 11, he was only credited with appearing in three episodes throughout the season.
Morwenna Banks 4 She was hired as a repertory player for the last four episodes of season 20, but was let out of her contract as part of a major cast overhaul Lorne Michaels had planned for season 21.
Ben Stiller 4 Before becoming a cast member, he submitted a short film – a parody of the film The Color of Money – that was shown on the season 12 episode hosted by Charlton Heston. He was hired during season 14, but quit after four episodes due to creative differences. Despite this, he returned to host in 1998 and 2011 and later had a recurring role as Michael Cohen, Donald Trump's ex-lawyer.
Fred Wolf 4 He had been a writer since 1993 and, was named as a co-head writer at the start of season 21 in 1995, and became a featured player near the end for the last four episodes of the season. However, he only appeared in and was credited for episodes 17, 18, and 20. His last episode was in the third episode of the 22nd season, after which he decided to leave the show for good.
Tom Schiller 7 One of the show writers who was made a cast member during season five, he left the show at the end of the season. He made several short films during his time at the show, including several after his brief time in the cast.
Patrick Weathers 7 Hired as a featured cast member for season six, he was fired along with many of Doumanian's cast.
Yvonne Hudson 8 She was a recurring extra during season five, and became the first black female cast member in season six. Like many of Doumanian's cast, she was fired mid-season.
Jim Downey 9 He was hired as one of many writers-turned-featured players in season five, and though he left the cast after the season, he returned to the show as a writer in the mid-1980s and remained with it on-and-off until 2013.
Matthew Laurance 10 Hired as a featured player during season six, he was fired as part of the mid-season overhaul.
Alan Zweibel 11 A writer for the show before joining the cast in season five, he left after the season finale.
Gilbert Gottfried 12 He joined the cast for season six and was fired as part of the mid-season overhaul.
Michael O'Donoghue 12 One of the original "Not Ready for Primetime Players" and the show's first head writer, he was dropped as a cast member after a few episodes. He remained with the show as a writer (leaving and returning twice) and occasional on-screen performer.
Ann Risley 12 She joined the cast for season six and was fired as part of the mid-season overhaul.
Charles Rocket 12 He joined the cast for season six and was fired as part of the mid-season overhaul, after having said "fuck" on-air one episode prior.
Damon Wayans 12 Hired for season 11 as a featured player, he was fired mid-season for improvising on the air. He returned as a guest to perform stand-up comedy on season 11's last episode and hosted SNL in 1995.
Beth Cahill 13 She joined the show during season 17 as an off-and-on featured player. She did not return the following season, as she was fired along with castmate Siobhan Fallon.
Denny Dillon 13 She joined the cast for season six and was let go after the finale as part of the cast overhaul. She auditioned for the show's first season, but did not make the cut.
Gail Matthius 13 She joined the cast for season six and was let go after the season ended.
Paul Shaffer 13 After being the band's pianist for the first five seasons, he joined the cast during season five, but left after the finale. He hosted SNL in 1987, making him the only member of the house band to do so.
Janeane Garofalo 14 She joined the cast during season 20, but quit mid-season due to creative differences.
Michaela Watkins 15 She joined the show on the first episode after the 2008 United States presidential election, then was let go before the start of season 35.
Peter Aykroyd 16 He joined the show midway through season five, but left at the end of the season, after only 16 episodes.

President of the United States impressionists

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Portrayal of sitting Presidents of the United States
Sitting president Performer (years)
Gerald Ford Chevy Chase (1975–1976)
Jimmy Carter Dan Aykroyd (1977–1979)
Joe Piscopo (1980–1981)
Ronald Reagan Charles Rocket (1981)
Joe Piscopo (1981–1984)
Harry Shearer (1984)
Randy Quaid (1985–1986)
Robin Williams (1986)[f]
Phil Hartman (1986–1989)
George H. W. Bush Dana Carvey (1989–1993)
Bill Clinton Phil Hartman (1993–1994)
Michael McKean (1994–1995)
Darrell Hammond (1995–2001)
George W. Bush Will Ferrell (2001–2002)
Chris Parnell (2002–2003)
Darrell Hammond (2003)
Will Forte (2004–2006)
Jason Sudeikis (2006–2008)
Barack Obama Fred Armisen (2009–2012)
Jay Pharoah (2012–2016)
Donald Trump Alec Baldwin (2017–2020)[g]
Joe Biden Alex Moffat (2021)
James Austin Johnson (2021–2023)
Jason Sudeikis (2021)[h]
Mikey Day (2023–2024)
Dana Carvey (2024–present)[g]

Darrell Hammond had the longest tenure portraying a U.S. president, portraying Bill Clinton from 1995–2001 and George W. Bush during 2003. He, Joe Piscopo, and Phil Hartman are the only cast members to have portrayed two sitting presidents. Jason Sudeikis portrayed two sitting presidents, but the portrayal of the second president was performed as a host, rather than a cast member. Dana Carvey also portrayed two sitting presidents, with the portrayal of the second president performed as a recurring guest.

George H. W. Bush grew fond of Dana Carvey's impersonation of him. Carvey was invited to headline a White House Christmas party in 1992, during the lame duck period after Bush had lost the election.[15] Two years later, on October 22, 1994, when Carvey hosted the show for the first time, Bush appeared in pre-recorded videos, in both the cold open and the opening monologue, critiquing Carvey's impersonation of him.[16][17]

Presidents are not usually portrayed on Saturday Night Live after they leave office. Exceptions are limited to the portrayal of former president Richard Nixon who left office prior to the launch of the show in 1975, Bill Clinton who appeared in sketches related to the presidential campaigns of his wife, Hillary Clinton, and Donald Trump who continued to be politically active after leaving office. Dan Aykroyd portrayed Nixon from 1975–79, and Darrell Hammond portrayed Nixon on episode 12 of season 34. James Austin Johnson portrayed Trump in several episodes of seasons 47-50.[18]

Impersonation of Donald Trump

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Main article: Saturday Night Live parodies of Donald Trump

Donald Trump, having been a public figure before being president, was portrayed by several cast members over the years. He was portrayed by Phil Hartman (1988–1990), Darrell Hammond (1999–2011, 2015–2016), Jason Sudeikis (2012) and Taran Killam (2015). Alec Baldwin started impersonating Trump as a guest during the 42nd season of SNL in late 2016, when Trump was the Republican nominee during the 2016 United States presidential elections. Baldwin continued with the guest impersonations of Trump after the elections when Trump was president-elect, as well as after Trump was sworn in as president. Baldwin continued to impersonate Trump throughout Trump's presidency.

Alec Baldwin's impersonation of Donald Trump earned him an Emmy award in 2017, in spite of his public declaration that he "loathes the role." At the end of Season 44, Baldwin publicly announced that he will cease impersonating Trump, but changed his mind prior to the beginning of Season 45 after SNL executive producer Lorne Michaels convinced him to continue with the impersonation.[19][20] Following the 2020 presidential elections in which Trump lost re-election, Baldwin tweeted "I don't believe I've ever been this overjoyed to lose a job before!"[21] As of 2024, Baldwin’s recurring guest appearances during Trump's presidency makes Trump the only sitting U.S. President in the show’s history who wasn’t portrayed by a member of the show’s principal cast.

Trump has criticized Baldwin's portrayal on multiple occasions. In response, Baldwin taunted Trump with statements such as "release your tax returns and I'll stop."[22] In June 2021, after Trump had left office, it was reported that while Trump was in office he had inquired if the Federal Communications Commission or the United States Justice Department could force SNL to stop portraying him. Trump denied that he has ever made such an inquiry, but claimed that his portrayal by SNL "should be considered an illegal campaign contribution from the Democrat Party." He also criticized Baldwin's portrayal of him, but praised Darrell Hammond's portrayal of him.[23]

Returning to host

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Over three dozen former SNL cast members have returned to host the show. The first former cast member to come back and host the show was Chevy Chase in February 1978. While the majority of cast members who also hosted the show were first cast members and then hosted after leaving the show, there have been two cast members who have hosted the show prior to joining the cast: Billy Crystal (he hosted the show twice during the ninth season prior to joining the cast in the tenth season) and Michael McKean (he hosted the show in the tenth season and joined the cast in the nineteenth season). McKean is also the only eventual cast member who first appeared as a musical guest (with Spinal Tap, May 1984).

Eddie Murphy is the only cast member to have hosted the show while still a cast member. He also holds the distinction of having the longest gap between successive hosting of the show. There was a 35 year and 6 day gap between his second and third hostings of the show.

Adam Sandler and Dan Aykroyd tie the record of the longest gap between leaving the show as a cast member and returning as a host. Both hosted the show for the first time nine days shy of 24 years from last appearance as cast. However, both made appearances on the show during the gap. On the flip side, Bill Murray holds the record for having the shortest gap between leaving the show and returning to host at 287 days after leaving the cast.

Saturday Night Live cast members who have hosted
Host Number of
episodes 		First hosted Last hosted
Fred Armisen 1 May 21, 2016
Dan Aykroyd 1 May 17, 2003
Dana Carvey 4 October 22, 1994 February 5, 2011
Chevy Chase 8[24] February 18, 1978 February 15, 1997
Billy Crystal 2 March 17, 1984 May 12, 1984
Pete Davidson 1 October 14, 2023[7]
Robert Downey Jr. 1 November 16, 1996
Jimmy Fallon 3 December 17, 2011 April 15, 2017
Chris Farley 1 October 25, 1997
Will Ferrell 5 May 14, 2005 November 23, 2019
Tina Fey 6 February 23, 2008 May 19, 2018
Will Forte 1 January 22, 2022
Bill Hader 2 October 11, 2014 March 17, 2018
Phil Hartman 2 March 23, 1996 November 23, 1996
Julia Louis-Dreyfus 3 May 13, 2006 April 16, 2016
Jon Lovitz 1 November 8, 1997
Norm Macdonald 1 October 23, 1999
Michael McKean 1 November 3, 1984
Kate McKinnon 1 December 16, 2023
Seth Meyers 1 October 13, 2018
Tracy Morgan 2 March 14, 2009 October 17, 2015
Eddie Murphy 3 December 11, 1982 December 21, 2019
Bill Murray 5 March 7, 1981 February 20, 1999
Mike Myers 1 March 22, 1997
Don Novello 2 January 14, 1984 May 12, 1984
Amy Poehler 2 September 25, 2010 December 19, 2015
Chris Rock 3 November 2, 1996 October 3, 2020
Maya Rudolph 3 February 18, 2012 May 11, 2024
Andy Samberg 1 May 17, 2014
Adam Sandler 1 May 4, 2019
Paul Shaffer 1 January 31, 1987
Molly Shannon 2 May 12, 2007 April 8, 2023
Martin Short 4 December 6, 1986 December 10, 2022
Sarah Silverman 1 October 4, 2014
David Spade 2 November 7, 1998 March 12, 2005
Jason Sudeikis 1 October 23, 2021
Ben Stiller 2 October 24, 1998 October 8, 2011
Damon Wayans 1 April 8, 1995
Kristen Wiig 5 May 11, 2013 April 6, 2024

The "SNL Curse"

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Although SNL is best known as the launchpad for many successful careers, eight former cast members have died before the age of 60. This has given rise to[failed verification] a superstition known as the "Saturday Night Live Curse".[25][26]

Allegedly "cursed" Saturday Night Live cast members
Cast member Age Date of death Cause of death
John Belushi 33 March 5, 1982 Belushi died of a drug overdose from a speedball injection (cocaine and heroin). Belushi's death led to the conviction of Cathy Smith for administering the fatal injection.
Gilda Radner 42 May 20, 1989 Radner died from ovarian cancer. She was originally scheduled to host the season 13 finale, a first for a former female cast member. However, SNL was canceled due to a 1988 Writers Guild of America strike. Radner's health worsened the following year. Moments before the season 14 finale, news broke of Radner's death. In lieu of the opening monologue Steve Martin, visibly shaken, introduced a replay of the "Dancing in the Dark" sketch he and Radner had performed in a 1978 episode;[27] her ex-husband G. E. Smith performed a musical tribute to Radner with the SNL Band.
Danitra Vance 40 August 21, 1994 Vance died of breast cancer, which had returned after a remission three years earlier.
Michael O'Donoghue 54 November 8, 1994 O'Donoghue died from cerebral hemorrhage after suffering from severe chronic migraine headaches for most of his life. Bill Murray honored O'Donoghue's memory in an appearance on a season 20 episode[28] (hosted by Sarah Jessica Parker with musical guest R.E.M.) by replaying his sketch "Mr. Mike's Least Loved Bedtime Stories: The Soiled Kimono" from 1977.[29]
Chris Farley 33 December 18, 1997 Influenced by Belushi, Farley died of a drug overdose from a speedball injection. Farley's death occurred less than two months after he came back to host SNL, which turned out to be his final television appearance.
Phil Hartman 49 May 28, 1998 Hartman was murdered by his wife, Brynn, while he slept in his Encino, California, home. Before committing this crime, Brynn had allegedly consumed a combination of cocaine, alcohol, and the antidepressant drug Zoloft, and then committed suicide. During SNL's 25th anniversary special in 1999, several of Hartman's peers honored his memory by replaying his sketch "Love Is a Dream" from 1988.
Charles Rocket 56 October 7, 2005 Rocket was found dead in his Canterbury, Connecticut, backyard. Local police concluded his death a suicide; Rocket had allegedly taken his own life by slashing his throat with a box cutter.
Jan Hooks 57 October 9, 2014 Hooks died after battling throat cancer for several months. Two days after her death, Hooks was given a tribute on SNL during the third episode of its 40th season, in which a sketch she had filmed with Hartman, "Love Is a Dream", was re-aired.[30]

See also

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Not Ready for Prime Time Players.

Notes

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  1. ^ This list includes both repertory and featured players past and present, but omits SNL writers and others who were not listed as cast members during the show's credits. The dates given are those of the years they were part of the cast. The chart also shows whether the cast member has served as a guest host, appeared as the anchorperson of the "Weekend Update" segment (by any of its titles), or has been the subject of their own "Best of" home video collection. Many of the cast members were writers as well. "Middle group" performers are introduced after the main cast by the announcer saying "...with" and reading off these performers before ending with featured players.
  2. ^ For cast members who are still active on the show, the number of seasons assumes that the cast members will continue to serve in that role through the end of the current season
  3. ^ a b c d e ½ season is used to indicate a portion of a season, not necessarily 50% of the episodes of the partial season
  4. ^ a b Strong is listed ahead of McKinnon because Strong appeared in 9 episodes in her partial season, whereas McKinnon appeared in 5 episodes in her partial season
  5. ^ Franken was a cast member in 11 different seasons. The reason he is not shown as having been a cast member in 10 ½ seasons is that in one season (the 11th season) he served as a cast member for only one episode, and in his final season (the 20th season), he departed after the second to last episode.
  6. ^ Performed once when Williams hosted the show, on November 22, 1986.
  7. ^ a b Impersonation performed as a recurring guest.
  8. ^ Performed once when Sudeikis hosted the show, on October 23, 2021. During his time as cast member, Sudeikis portrayed Joe Biden when Biden was a candidate for president during the 2008 Democratic presidential primaries, as well as Vice President after the election.

References

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  1. ^ Marx, Sienkiewicz & Becker 2013, p. 6.
  2. ^ Lloyd, Robert (February 13, 2024). "Sid Caesar, an appreciation: Making light of civility's fragility". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on March 7, 2024.
  3. ^ "Kenan Thompson: Saturday Night Live repertory-player". NBC.
  4. ^ White, Peter (October 23, 2021). "'SNL': Colin Jost Breaks Seth Meyers' Weekend Update Record". Deadline. Retrieved October 24, 2021.
  5. ^ a b "Saturday Night Live". NBC.com. Retrieved 2022-09-18.
  6. ^ a b "Miles Teller/Kendrick Lamar". Saturday Night Live. Season 48. Episode 1. October 1, 2022. Event occurs at Closing credits. NBC.
  7. ^ a b White, Peter; Grobar, Matt (October 4, 2023). "'SNL': Pete Davidson & Bad Bunny Among Hosts As NBC Show Sets Returns With SAG-AFTRA Blessing, Full Cast Comes Back For Season 49 & Chloe Troast Joins". Deadline. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
  8. ^ "Interview: Kate McKinnon on Saying Good-bye to SNL". August 11, 2022.
  9. ^ "Aidy Bryant's 'SNL' Exit Interview: 'I Was Worried I Was Going to be Fully Crying'". June 21, 2022.
  10. ^ Haring, Bruce (January 27, 2024). "Catherine O'Hara Confesses Why She Left 'Saturday Night Live' Cast After One Week".
  11. ^ Otterson, Joseph (September 16, 2019). "Shane Gillis Out From 'Saturday Night Live'". Variety. Retrieved September 16, 2019.
  12. ^ Deggans, Eric (February 25, 2024). "Shane Gillis struggles in a 'Saturday Night Live' monologue that avoids the obvious". NPR. Retrieved August 2, 2024.
  13. ^ Evans, Greg (October 25, 2024). "SNL creator Lorne Michaels says Shane Gillis firing was forced by NBC". The Independent.
  14. ^ Graham, Mark (September 10, 2009). "21 SNL Cast Members Who Only Lasted a Season". Vulture. Retrieved December 11, 2019.
  15. ^ Rosenwald, Michael S. (December 2, 2018). "'Wouldn't be prudent': George H.W. Bush's unlikely friendship with Dana Carvey". The Washington Post.
  16. ^ "Bush Cold Open". NBC.
  17. ^ "George H. W. Bush Supports Dana Carvey Cold Open". NBC.
  18. ^ Garber, Megan. "Saturday Night Live Can't Resist Donald Trump". The Atlantic. Retrieved 2021-11-07.
  19. ^ Kreps, Daniel (June 7, 2019). "Alec Baldwin 'So Done' With Portraying Trump on 'SNL'". Rolling Stone.
  20. ^ Schaffstall, Katherine (October 21, 2019). "Alec Baldwin on Why He Returned to 'SNL' as Trump". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
  21. ^ Hibberd, James (November 8, 2020). "Alec Baldwin 'overjoyed' to lose SNL job playing Donald Trump". Entertainment Weekly.
  22. ^ Butler, Bethonie (June 7, 2019). "All the times Alec Baldwin has suggested he's done playing Trump on 'Saturday Night Live'". The Washington Post.
  23. ^ Johnson, Ted (June 22, 2021). "Donald Trump Denies That He Asked Justice Department To Go After 'Saturday Night Live'". Deadline Hollywood.
  24. ^ "SNL Archives | Cast | Chevy Chase". SNL Archives. Retrieved April 10, 2019.
  25. ^ "Is There A 'Saturday Night Live' Curse?". HuffPost. Archived from the original on October 20, 2013. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
  26. ^ Caroline Donnelly (28 May 2008). "7 Tragic SNL Deaths". Mental Floss.
  27. ^ "SNL Transcripts: Steve Martin: 04/22/78: Dancing In The Dark". SNL Transcripts Tonight. October 8, 2018.
  28. ^ "Michael O'Donoghue Tribute". snltranscripts.jt.org. 8 October 2018.
  29. ^ "SNL Transcripts: Miskel Spillman: 12/17/77: Least-Loved Bedtime Tale: The Soiled Kimono". snltranscripts.jt.org. 8 October 2018.
  30. ^ Aaron Crouch (11 Oct 2014). "'SNL' Remembers Jan Hooks With Emotional Tribute". Hollywood Reporter.

Bibliography

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  • Marx, Nick; Sienkiewicz, Matt; Becker, Ron (2013). "Introduction: Situating Saturday Night Live in American Television Culture". In Marx, Nick; Sienkiewicz, Matt; Becker, Ron (eds.). Saturday Night Live and American TV. Bloomington, Indiana: Indiana University Press. pp. 1–21. ISBN 978-0-253-01090-2. JSTOR j.ctt16gznsz.4.
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