List of Saturday Night Live cast members
The following is a list of Saturday Night Live cast members, past and present. The cast members of Saturday Night Live are often referred to as the "Not Ready For Prime Time Players".
List of cast members
The following list of cast members includes both featured and repertory players, but omits SNL writers and others who weren't listed as cast members during the show's credits. The dates given are those of the years they were on the show. Also noted on the chart is whether the cast member ever served as an episode's host, appeared as the anchor of the "Weekend Update" segment (under any of its titles), or has been the subject of their own "Best Of" home video collection.
Performer † denotes deceased |
Years Active | Featured Player ONLY | Repertory Player | Weekend Update Anchor | Hosted | Best Of |
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Fred Armisen | 2002 - present | ![]() |
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Dan Aykroyd | 1975 - 1979 | ![]() |
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Peter Aykroyd | 1979 - 1980 | ![]() |
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Morwenna Banks | 1995 | ![]() |
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Jim Belushi | 1983 - 1985 | ![]() |
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John Belushi† | 1975 - 1979 | ![]() |
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Jim Breuer | 1995 - 1998 | ![]() |
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A. Whitney Brown | 1985 - 1991 | ![]() |
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Beth Cahill | 1991 - 1992 | ![]() |
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Dana Carvey | 1986 - 1993 | ![]() |
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Chevy Chase | 1975 - 1976 | ![]() |
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Ellen Cleghorne | 1991 - 1995 | ![]() |
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George Coe | 1975 | ![]() |
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Billy Crystal | 1984 - 1985 | ![]() |
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Jane Curtin | 1975 - 1980 | ![]() |
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Joan Cusack | 1985 - 1986 | ![]() |
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Tom Davis | 1979 - 1980 | ![]() |
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Denny Dillon | 1980 - 1981 | ![]() |
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Jim Downey | 1979 - 1980 | ![]() |
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Robert Downey, Jr. | 1985 - 1986 | ![]() |
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Brian Doyle-Murray | 1979 - 1982 | ![]() |
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Rachel Dratch | 1999 - 2006 | ![]() |
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Robin Duke | 1981 - 1984 | ![]() |
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Nora Dunn | 1985 - 1990 | ![]() |
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Christine Ebersole | 1981 - 1982 | ![]() |
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Dean Edwards | 2001 - 2003 | ![]() |
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Abby Elliott | 2008 - present | ![]() |
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Chris Elliott | 1994 - 1995 | ![]() |
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Jimmy Fallon | 1998 - 2004 | ![]() |
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Siobhan Fallon | 1991 - 1992 | ![]() |
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Chris Farley† | 1990 - 1995 | ![]() |
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Will Ferrell | 1995 - 2002 | ![]() |
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Tina Fey | 2000 - 2006 | ![]() |
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Will Forte | 2002 - present | ![]() |
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Al Franken | 1979 - 1980 1986 - 1995 |
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Janeane Garofalo | 1994 - 1995 | ![]() |
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Ana Gasteyer | 1996 - 2002 | ![]() |
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Gilbert Gottfried | 1980 - 1981 | ![]() |
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Mary Gross | 1981 - 1985 | ![]() |
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Christopher Guest | 1984 - 1985 | ![]() |
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Bill Hader | 2005 - present | ![]() |
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Anthony Michael Hall | 1985 - 1986 | ![]() |
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Brad Hall | 1982 - 1984 | ![]() |
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Rich Hall | 1984 - 1985 | ![]() |
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Darrell Hammond | 1995 - 2009 | ![]() |
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Phil Hartman† | 1986 - 1994 | ![]() |
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Jan Hooks | 1986 - 1991 | ![]() |
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Yvonne Hudson | 1980 - 1981 | ![]() |
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Melanie Hutsell | 1991 - 1994 | ![]() |
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Victoria Jackson | 1986 - 1992 | ![]() |
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Chris Kattan | 1996 - 2003 | ![]() |
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Tim Kazurinsky | 1981 - 1984 | ![]() |
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Laura Kightlinger | 1994 - 1995 | ![]() |
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David Koechner | 1995 - 1996 | ![]() |
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Gary Kroeger | 1982 - 1985 | ![]() |
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Matthew Laurance | 1980 - 1981 | ![]() |
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Julia Louis-Dreyfus | 1982 - 1985 | ![]() |
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Jon Lovitz | 1985 - 1990 | ![]() |
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Norm Macdonald | 1993 - 1998 | ![]() |
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Gail Matthius | 1980 - 1981 | ![]() |
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Michael McKean | 1994 - 1995 | ![]() |
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Mark McKinney | 1995 - 1997 | ![]() |
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Tim Meadows | 1991 - 2000 | ![]() |
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Laurie Metcalf | 1981 | ![]() |
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Seth Meyers | 2001 - present | ![]() |
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Dennis Miller | 1985 - 1991 | ![]() |
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Jerry Minor | 2000 - 2001 | ![]() |
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Finesse Mitchell | 2003 - 2006 | ![]() |
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Jay Mohr | 1993 - 1995 | ![]() |
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Tracy Morgan | 1996 - 2003 | ![]() |
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Garrett Morris | 1975 - 1980 | ![]() |
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Bobby Moynihan | 2008 - present | ![]() |
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Eddie Murphy | 1980 - 1984 | ![]() |
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Bill Murray | 1977 - 1980 | ![]() |
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Mike Myers | 1989 - 1995 | ![]() |
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Kevin Nealon | 1986 - 1995 | ![]() |
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Laraine Newman | 1975 - 1980 | ![]() |
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Don Novello | 1979 - 1980 1985 - 1986 |
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Michael O'Donoghue† | 1975 | ![]() |
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Cheri Oteri | 1995 - 2000 | ![]() |
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Chris Parnell | 1998 - 2006 | ![]() |
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Nasim Pedrad | 2009 - present | ![]() |
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Joe Piscopo | 1980 - 1984 | ![]() |
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Amy Poehler | 2001 - 2008 | ![]() |
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Emily Prager | 1981 | ![]() |
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Randy Quaid | 1985 - 1986 | ![]() |
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Colin Quinn | 1995 - 2000 | ![]() |
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Gilda Radner† | 1975 - 1980 | ![]() |
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Jeff Richards | 2001 - 2004 | ![]() |
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Rob Riggle | 2004 - 2005 | ![]() |
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Ann Risley | 1980 - 1981 | ![]() |
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Chris Rock | 1990 - 1993 | ![]() |
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Charles Rocket† | 1980 - 1981 | ![]() |
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Tony Rosato | 1981 - 1982 | ![]() |
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Maya Rudolph | 2000 - 2007 | ![]() |
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Andy Samberg | 2005 - present | ![]() |
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Adam Sandler | 1991 - 1995 | ![]() |
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Horatio Sanz | 1998 - 2006 | ![]() |
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Tom Schiller | 1979 - 1980 | ![]() |
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Rob Schneider | 1990 - 1994 | ![]() |
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Paul Shaffer | 1979 - 1980 | ![]() |
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Molly Shannon | 1995 - 2001 | ![]() |
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Harry Shearer | 1979 - 1980 1984 - 1985 |
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Martin Short | 1984 - 1985 | ![]() |
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Sarah Silverman | 1993 - 1994 | ![]() |
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Jenny Slate | 2009 - present | ![]() |
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Robert Smigel | 1991 - 1993 | ![]() |
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David Spade | 1990 - 1996 | ![]() |
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Pamela Stephenson | 1984 - 1985 | ![]() |
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Ben Stiller | 1989 | ![]() |
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Jason Sudeikis | 2005 - present | ![]() |
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Julia Sweeney | 1990 - 1994 | ![]() |
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Terry Sweeney | 1985 - 1986 | ![]() |
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Kenan Thompson | 2003 - present | ![]() |
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Danitra Vance† | 1985 - 1986 | ![]() |
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Dan Vitale | 1985 - 1986 | ![]() |
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Nancy Walls | 1995 - 1996 | ![]() |
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Michaela Watkins | 2008 - 2009 | ![]() |
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Damon Wayans | 1985 - 1986 | ![]() |
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Patrick Weathers | 1980 - 1981 | ![]() |
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Kristen Wiig | 2005 - present | ![]() |
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Casey Wilson | 2008 - 2009 | ![]() |
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Fred Wolf | 1995 - 1996 | ![]() |
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Alan Zweibel | 1979 - 1980 | ![]() |
Family connections
Some cast members are related to former staff of the show. The most prominent example is Jim Belushi, younger brother of cast member John Belushi. Before that, Bill Murray's older brother Brian Doyle-Murray was a writer and cast member. When Dan Aykroyd left the show in 1979, he was replaced by a series of short-lived featured players, one of whom was his brother Peter Aykroyd. Long-time writer and sometime performer Jim Downey is former cast member Robert Downey, Jr.'s uncle. Abby Elliott is the daughter of season 20 cast member, Chris Elliott (and whose grandfather Bob Elliott appeared on SNL as a guest performer on the 1978 Christmas episode hosted by Elliot Gould).
Other family connections exist that do not share the same name. For instance, cast member Gilda Radner was briefly married to G. E. Smith, who later became the show's bandleader. Michael O'Donoghue was married to SNL band pianist Cheryl Hardwick. Cast members Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Brad Hall were an item during their tenure, and were married in 1987. Cast member and writer Tina Fey is married to musical director Jeff Richmond.
Longest tenures
The following is a list of the cast members who have had the longest tenures on the show.
Person | Tenure | Years on Show |
Darrell Hammond | 1995 - 2009 | 14 |
Al Franken | 1977 - 1980, 1985 - 1995 | 12 |
Tim Meadows | 1991 - 2000 | 10 |
Seth Meyers | 2001 - present | 9 |
Kevin Nealon | 1986 - 1995 | 9 |
Fred Armisen | 2002 - present | 8 |
Will Forte | 2002 - present | 8 |
Phil Hartman | 1986 - 1994 | 8 |
Chris Kattan | 1996 - 2003 | 8 |
Chris Parnell | 1998 - 2006 | 8 |
Amy Poehler | 2001 - 2008 | 8 |
Maya Rudolph | 2000 - 2007 | 8 |
Horatio Sanz | 1998 - 2006 | 8 |
Shortest tenures
The following is a list of the cast members who have had the shortest tenures on the show. [1]
Person | Number of Episodes | Notes |
Emily Prager | 0 | Prager was hired by Dick Ebersol to be a featured player on the show. She appeared in a few sketches at dress rehearsal in what would be the final episode of the sixth season, due to the Writers' Guild of America going on strike in 1981. She did not return to the SNL cast in season seven, and is the only SNL cast member who never appeared on the show, despite being credited. |
Laurie Metcalf | 1 | Like Prager, Metcalf was hired as part of Dick Ebersol's temporary season six cast following the termination of Jean Doumanian. Unlike Prager, Metcalf appeared on-camera in a Weekend Update piece. When the show was put on hiatus for retooling, Metcalf was not chosen to return to the show for the season seven cast. |
Dan Vitale | 3 | Was hired as a featured player for the 11th season, but was dropped after three episodes. |
Morwenna Banks | 4 | Was hired as a repertory player for the last four episodes of the 20th season, 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, Stiller submitted a short film -- a parody of the movie The Color of Money -- that was shown on the season 12 episode hosted by Charlton Heston. Stiller was hired during SNL's fourteenth season, but left after four episodes due to creative differences. Despite this, Stiller returned to host in 1998. |
Tom Schiller | 7 | Schiller was one of the show writers who was upgraded to cast member status during the 5th. He left the show at the end of the season. |
Patrick Weathers | 7 | Weathers was hired as a featured cast member for the sixth season, but was fired along with many of Doumanian's cast. |
George Coe | 8 | Coe was one of the original "Not Ready for Primetime" cast in SNL's 1st season, because NBC wanted someone older in the cast. |
Yvonne Hudson | 8 | Hudson was a recurring extra during SNL's fifth season, 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 | Downey was hired as one of many writers-turned-feature players in SNL's fifth season. Even though he left the cast after season 5, Downey returned to the show as a writer in the mid-1980s and has remained with it. |
Matthew Laurance | 10 | Laurance was hired as a feature player during the 6th season, and, like many of the cast, was fired as part of the mid-season overhaul. |
Alan Zweibel | 11 | Zweibel was a writer for the show before joing the cast during season 5, and left after the season finale. |
Gilbert Gottfried | 12 | Gottfried joined the cast for the sixth season, and was fired as part of the mid-season overhaul. |
Michael O'Donoghue | 12 | O'Donoghue was one of the original "Not Ready for Primetime Players," but was dropped after a few episodes. He remained with the show as a writer and occasional on-screen performer. |
Ann Risley | 12 | Risley joined the cast for the sixth season, and was fired as part of the mid-season overhaul. |
Charles Rocket | 12 | Rocket joined the cast for the sixth season, and was fired as part of the mid-season overhaul. |
Damon Wayans | 12 | Wayans was hired the 11th season as a featured player. He was fired mid season, Wayans returned as a guest to perform stand-up comedy on season 11's last episode and hosted SNL in 1994. |
Beth Cahill | 13 | Cahill joined the show during the 17th season as an off-and-on featured player. She did not return the following season. |
Denny Dillon | 13 | Dillon joined the cast for the sixth season, and was let go after the final episode of the season as part of the cast overhaul. |
Gail Matthius | 13 | Matthius joined the cast for the sixth season, and was let go after the season ended. |
Paul Shaffer | 13 | Shaffer joined the cast during the fifth season after being a part of the show's house band; he left after the season's end. He hosted SNL in 1987, making him the only member of the house band to do so. |
Janeane Garofalo | 14 | Garofalo joined the cast during the 20th season, but quit mid-season. |
Michaela Watkins | 15 | Watkins joined the show on the first episode after the 2008 Presidential election, then was let go before the start of the 35th season. |
Youngest cast members
The following is a list of the youngest people to join the show
Person | Age When Joined Show | Tenure |
Anthony Michael Hall | 17 years old | 1985-1986 |
Eddie Murphy | 19 years old | 1980-1984 |
Robert Downey, Jr. | 20 years old | 1985-1986 |
Abby Elliott | 21 years, 5 months | 2008-present |
Julia Louis-Dreyfus | 21 years, 8 months | 1982-1985 |
Sarah Silverman | 22 years, 10 months | 1993-1994 |
Oldest cast members
The following is a list of the oldest people to join the show.
Person | Age When Joined Show | Tenure |
Michael McKean | 46 years old | 1994-1995 |
Darrell Hammond | 39 years old | 1995-2009 |
Phil Hartman | 38 years old | 1986-1994 |
Garrett Morris | 37 years old | 1975-1980 |
Michaela Watkins | 36 years, 11 months | 2008-2009 |
Christopher Guest | 36 years, 8 months | 1984-1985 |
Billy Crystal | 36 years, 7 months | 1984-1985 |
Colin Quinn | 36 years, 4 months | 1995-2000 |
Saturday Night Live Curse
Although SNL is well-known as the launchpad for many successful careers, seven cast members (and active crew members) have died during the show's broadcast. This has given rise to a superstition known as the "Saturday Night Live Curse".[2][3][4]
Two cast members have died of a drug overdose at the age of 33, in parallel situations. Both John Belushi (deceased March 5, 1982) and Chris Farley (deceased December 18, 1997) overdosed from a "speedball," an injection of cocaine and heroin. Belushi's death led to the conviction of Cathy Smith for administering the fatal injection. Nearly four years before Belushi's death, SNL aired a short sketch titled Don't Look Back In Anger featuring an elderly Belushi as the last living of the "not ready for prime time" cast members. Farley's death occurred nearly two months after he came back to host SNL, which turned out to be his final television appearance.
Yep, they all thought I'd be the first to go. I was one of those live-fast, die-young, leave-a-good-looking-corpse types, you know?
— John Belushi, opening line of Don't Look Back In Anger, 11 March 1978
Original cast member Gilda Radner (deceased May 20, 1989) died from ovarian cancer. She was originally scheduled to host the thirteenth season finale, a first female former cast member, but the show was cancelled due to a Writer's Guild of America strike. Her health worsened the following year. Shortly before the fourteenth season finale, news came of Radner's death, and Steve Martin delivered his visibly shaken monologue, followed by the sketch called "Dancing in the Dark" that he performed with Radner on an episode he hosted in 1978, and a musical tribute to Radner performed by her former husband G. E. Smith and the SNL Band.
Repertory player Danitra Vance (deceased August 21, 1994) died from breast cancer.
Original cast member Michael O'Donoghue (deceased November 8, 1994) died of a cerebral hemorrhage after suffering from severe chronic migraine headaches. Bill Murray honored O'Donoghue's memory in an appearance on the twentieth season episode (hosted by Sarah Jessica Parker with musical guest R.E.M.) by replaying O'Donoghue's sketch, "Mr. Mike's Least Loved Bedtime Stories: The Soiled Kimono" from December 1977.
Long-time performer Phil Hartman (deceased May 28, 1998) was killed by his troubled wife while he slept in his Encino, California home. Before committing the act, Brynn consumed a combination of cocaine, alcohol, and the prescription drug Zoloft, and committed suicide hours later by shooting herself in her head.
Doumanian-era performer Charles Rocket (deceased October 7, 2005) was found dead in his Canterbury, Connecticut backyard. Local police reported its conclusion that his death was ruled a suicide; he had allegedly taken his own life by cutting his neck with a pair of box-cutters.
Survivor
Julia Sweeney was diagnosed with cervical cancer in the mid-1990s, but has survived and transformed her experiences into a one-woman show, God Said, Ha!, developed at LA's alternative comedy show, "Un-Cabaret". Miramax released the film version of the show in 1998, produced by Quentin Tarantino. The film version of the play earned the Golden Space Needle Award, while Sweeney's recording earned her a Grammy nomination for best comedy album. It was released on DVD in 2003.
See also
References
- ^ [1]
- ^ "Saturday Night Live Curse?". Who2?. Retrieved September 21 2006.
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ignored (help) - ^ Worek, Steven. "Live From Up There". SNLRA.com. Archived from the original on 2006-07-06. Retrieved September 21 2006.
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