WHERE ARE THEY NOW: All 165 cast members in ‘Saturday Night Live’ history

Dan Aykroyd was one of the original “Not Ready for Primetime Players,” aka the first cast of “Saturday Night Live.” He was originally hired as a writer but was made part of the cast before the show premiered. In addition to starring in classic sketches like the Coneheads, the Blues Brothers, and “Two Wild and Crazy Guys,” Aykroyd co-hosted “Weekend Update” for a season alongside Jane Curtin.

Aykroyd, now 72, left the show in 1979 and began focusing on movies. He cowrote the movie version of his sketch “The Blues Brothers” and starred alongside John Belushi. It’s still one of his most recognizable roles to date.

His other most famous role? Raymond Stantz in the now-classic “Ghostbusters” in 1984 and its 1989 sequel. That same year, Aykroyd was nominated for an Oscar for his role in “Driving Miss Daisy.” He reprised his role as Stantz in the 2021 sequel, “Ghostbusters: Afterlife” and 2024’s “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire.”

He’s also had a successful business career. He co-founded the music venue chain the House of Blues and co-founded Crystal Head Vodka.

In “Saturday Night,” Aykroyd is played by Dylan O’Brien.

When Rolling Stone ranked all then-145 cast members of “SNL,” they put John Belushi in the top spot, calling him “the first rock ‘n’ roll star of comedy.”

Belushi was another one of the seven original cast members and was known for his characters, such as a traditional samurai (who frequently had jobs a samurai most likely would not have), and his impressions of pop culture figures like Marlon Brando, Beethoven, and Captain Kirk from “Star Trek.”

After leaving the show alongside his friend and collaborator Dan Aykroyd, he starred in the “Blues Brothers” movie and his most iconic film role, Bluto, in “Animal House.”

Unfortunately, Belushi also struggled with drug addiction and died due to an overdose in March 1982. He was 33 years old.

His career inspired many comedic legends and future “SNL” stars like Chris Farley. His life story was turned into the film “Wired,” which was critically panned for not accurately capturing the spirit of Belushi.

Matt Wood plays Belushi in “Saturday Night.”

Chevy Chase was arguably the first big star to come out of “SNL” and also the first big star to leave the cast in 1976, after sticking around for just two seasons.

He also has the distinction of being the very first “Weekend Update” anchor. For the first season, he was also typically the person who gave the now-standard greeting of “Live from New York, it’s Saturday night,” followed by a pratfall.

Chase earned five Emmy nominations for his work as both a writer and performer on “SNL,” winning three.

After Chase left, he starred in beloved films like “Caddyshack,” “National Lampoon’s Vacation” (and its sequels), and “Fletch.” He also hosted the ill-fated “Chevy Chase Show,” which was canceled after five weeks.

To recent audiences, 81-year-old Chase is best known as Pierce Hawthorne from “Community,” in which he played a senior citizen who refused to graduate from community college and was a moist toilette tycoon.

Chase is portrayed by Cory Michael Smith in “Saturday Night.”

Per IMDb, George Coe was only credited for the show’s first episode, though he appeared sporadically throughout the first season. At 46, he was also the oldest member of the cast at the time. He held that title until Leslie Jones joined the cast in 2014.

After leaving, Coe went on to have a decades-long career in Hollywood, especially in voice-over. He appeared in animated series like “The Legend of Korra,” “Star Wars: The Clone Wars,” and in four seasons of “Archer” as the titular character’s valet.

Coe died in 2015 at the age of 86.

“Saturday Night” leaves Coe out of the film, even though he was part of the cast of the first episode.

Jane Curtin was another “Not Ready for Primetime Player” and part of the original cast. She typically played the straight woman part against the more zany characters played by her costars. She also co-hosted “Weekend Update” for three seasons, making her the first female anchor of the segment. Curtin also regularly appeared as part of the Coneheads sketch.

Unlike many of her costars, when Curtin left “SNL,” she mainly stuck to TV roles. She won back-to-back Emmys for her role in “Kate & Allie,” which aired for six seasons. Curtin then starred in all six seasons of “3rd Rock from the Sun,” in which she, again, played the straight woman.

Curtin, 77, still acts and recently appeared in the comedy films “The Spy Who Dumped Me,” “The Heat,” “Queen Bees,” and the sitcom “United We Fall” on ABC.

Kim Matula plays her in “Saturday Night.”

Garrett Morris was part of the first cast of “SNL,” and therefore, the first person of color on the show, which has been accused of struggling with diversity by outlets like “Vanity Fair.”

Morris’ most famous characters were Dominican baseball player Chico Escuela, who had the catchphrase “Baseball been berra berra good to me,” and the “News for the Hard of Hearing” translator, who just screamed the headlines that “Weekend Update” anchor Chevy Chase would say. He reprised the role on “Family Guy” decades later.

While Morris has been positive about his tenure on the show, future Black cast members have spoken about avoiding getting pigeonholed like he was perceived to have been. According to Vulture, Eddie Murphy even said producers tried to “Garrett Morris” him.

Morris, now 87, steadily acted after leaving the show and has had a successful sitcom career. He starred in “The Jamie Foxx Show” from 1996 to 2001 and “2 Broke Girls” from 2011 to 2017.

Morris also narrated the NBC sitcom “Grand Crew” pilot in 2021.

In “Saturday Night,” Morris is played by Lamorne Morris.

Rolling Stone called Laraine Newman the “most underrated member of the original cast.” Unlike her costars, she preferred not to repeat characters, so she had fewer notable characters, but one of her most famous was Valley Girl Sherry.

The pressure of the show weighed heavy on Newman, who ended up snorting heroin, according to Time.

After the show, Newman, now 72, found success in voice acting. She’s appeared in dozens of animated classics, including “Shrek 2,” “Wreck-It Ralph,” “Inside Out,” and “SpongeBob SquarePants,” and perhaps most famously, as Ginger’s mother in “As Told by Ginger.”

Her daughter, Hannah Einbinder, is a comedy star in her own right — she stars in the HBO Max series “Hacks.”

Emily Fairn plays Newman in “Saturday Night.”

Michael O’Donoghue was the first head writer of “SNL” and remained behind the scenes after he stopped appearing on the show. But O’Donoghue has the distinction of uttering the first lines of “SNL,” and for that, he remains iconic.

While O’Donoghue was a talented comedy writer (and less of a performer), he sometimes appeared as Mr. Mike, a deadpan storyteller who loved to tell classic bedtime stories with a black comedy spin, such as “The Little Engine that Died.”

O’Donoghue left the show in 1978 but returned in 1981, only to leave again that year. He made his final return in 1985 when the show’s creator, Lorne Michaels, also returned after a five-year absence. But it wasn’t meant to be, and he was fired a month later, according to Vulture.

He died in 1994 at the age of 54 from a cerebral hemorrhage.

O’Donoghue is played by Tommy Dewey in “Saturday Night.”

Gilda Radner is probably the most universally beloved member of the original cast. She is known for iconic characters like Roseanne Roseannadanna and Emily Litella, who frequently appeared on “Weekend Update,” nerdy girl Lisa Loopner, and Baba Wawa, a spoof of Barbara Walters.

Radner remained on the show for five years while also starring in a one-woman show on Broadway called “Gilda Radner — Live from New York.” She also earned an Emmy for her time on the show.

After she left, she starred in a movie called “Hanky Panky” in 1982, where she met her future husband, Gene Wilder. The two co-starred in two more films, “The Woman in Red” and “Haunted Honeymoon.”

In 1986, Radner was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. After a brief remission, Radner died in 1989 at the age of 42. News of her death broke while frequent “SNL” host Steve Martin was preparing his opening monologue, which was then scrapped and replaced by a tearful Martin introducing a sketch the two had appeared in 1978.

Ella Hunt plays Radner in “Saturday Night.”

Bill Murray was the first new cast member to be added to the show when he joined the cast during its second season. During his tenure, he hosted “Weekend Update,” created beloved characters like Nick the Lounge Singer, and got into a fistfight with Chevy Chase when he returned to host the show. Murray won his first Emmy for “SNL” in 1977.

After his departure from “SNL,” Murray appeared in a slew of comedic hits, including “Ghostbusters,” “Caddyshack,” and “Tootsie,” during the ’80s. He also starred in the rom-com “Groundhog’s Day” in 1993 and the cult classic “Space Jam.”

Murray, now 74, made his comeback in 2003 in the movie “Lost In Translation,” earning him a Golden Globe and an Oscar nom. Since then, he’s become a beloved (if controversial) pop culture presence, cameoing as himself in “Zombieland” — and again in “Zombieland: Double Tap” — voicing Baloo in the live-action “Jungle Book” and hosting the Netflix special “A Very Murray Christmas.” He also frequently collaborates with director Wes Anderson.

He reprised his role as Peter Venkman in “Ghostbusters: Afterlife” and “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire.” He also joined the MCU in 2023 with a role in “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.”

According to Deadline, the new Aziz Ansari-directed film “Being Mortal” had its production suspended in April 2022 due to Murray’s reported “inappropriate behavior” on set.

Murray told CNBC there had been a “difference of opinion” with a woman on the set. “I did something I thought was funny and it wasn’t taken that way,” he said.

A later Puck report said that the film had been officially canceled.

Al Franken had been with the show from the beginning as a writer, but began appearing in sketches in 1977. In his first stint, he primarily appeared alongside his writing partner, Tom Davis. Franken left the show in 1980 when creator Lorne Michaels left, and returned for the 1985-86 season when Michaels did as well.

The ’80s were considered Franken’s peak on the show when he debuted one of the most famous “SNL” recurring characters, self-help guru Stuart Smalley. According to Time, he left the show in 1995 when he was passed over for anchor of “Weekend Update,” which was given to Norm MacDonald instead.

Franken, 73, continued working as a comedian until February 2007, when he announced he was running for senator representing Minnesota. He won and held office until December 2017, when he resigned amid multiple accusations of sexual misconduct. Franken apologized to some of the women who had accused him, but said he did not remember some of the alleged incidents, ABC News reported.

Franken now has a podcast and is making media appearances again. He also began hosting a SiriusXM show in 2019, “The Al Franken Show.” In September 2021, he started his “The Only Former US Senator Currently on Tour Tour,” which ran through 2022.

In 2023, Franken guest-hosted “The Daily Show” for a week.

Taylor Gray plays Franken in “Saturday Night.”

Like the other half of the comedic duo Franken & Davis, Tom Davis was originally hired as a writer on “SNL” before getting cast as a performer.

Davis left the show when Lorne Michaels did, and continued to write for movies and TV, including the movies “Coneheads” and “One More Saturday Night.” He also wrote an autobiography, “39 Years of Short-Term Memory Loss.“

Davis died of throat and neck cancer in 2012. He was 59.

He’s played by Mcabe Gregg in “Saturday Night.”

Harry Shearer was hired in 1979 as an “unofficial replacement” for John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd, who had both left the show. He left in 1980 and a few years later co-wrote and starred in the mockumentary “This Is Spinal Tap.”

While promoting the film, Shearer was invited back to the show and stayed for another season before quitting again. “I was creative, and they were different,” he told the AP, according to the book, Live From New York.

Shearer, 80, is best known now for his voice acting, specifically for his roles on “The Simpsons.” He is responsible for voicing long-running characters Ned Flanders, Mr. Burns, Principal Skinner, and many others. 

Peter Aykroyd was the younger brother of “SNL” legend Dan Aykroyd. Alas, Peter’s tenure was considerably shorter, as he only lasted a season on the show as a writer and performer.

After leaving, he cowrote the film “Nothing but Trouble” alongside his brother, but didn’t appear on camera after a 1999 TV movie called “Justice.”

He died in November 2021 at the age of 65.

Jim Downey is mainly known as a writer for “SNL,” as he wrote for 27 seasons of the show. This gives him one of the longest tenures in the show’s history. When creator Lorne Michaels left the show in 1980, however, Downey left with him, cutting his stint as a performer short.

One of Downey’s most famous bits as a writer was coining the word “strategery,” which was used in a sketch about President Bush in 2000 and became a real term in the Bush administration and among Republican figures.

Downey, 72, has also appeared in episodes of “30 Rock,” “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” and “Veep.”

He’s part of another “SNL” dynasty — Brian Doyle-Murray is the older brother of Bill Murray. He appeared in the show’s fifth and seventh seasons. He was also a writer and was nominated for two Emmy Awards.

After leaving the show, he appeared in “Caddyshack,” “National Lampoon’s Family Vacation,” and “Sixteen Candles.” The 78-year-old’s distinctive voice can also be heard in “Spongebob Squarepants” as the Flying Dutchman and as Captain K’nuckles in “The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack.” He most recently appeared on-screen in the Hallmark film “A Cozy Christmas Inn.”

Don Novello wrote for “SNL” for years before appearing in the 1979-1980 season. He left alongside almost the entire cast when creator Lorne Michaels left in the ’80s. He returned briefly for the eleventh season.

Novello is most well known for his character Father Guido Sarducci, a chain-smoking priest. Sarducci was a recurring character on “SNL,” but Novello also appeared as him in numerous other shows, including “Blossom,” “Married… with Children,” and “Square Pegs.”

The 81-year-old also voiced Vinny Santorini in the 2001 Disney film “Atlantis: The Lost Empire.”

Tom Schiller, 75, was a writer on “SNL” for 11 seasons but only briefly appeared on screen.

He’s mainly known for his comedy writing and directing. He recently wrote for the “SNL” 40th anniversary special. In 1984, he directed the cult classic “Nothing Lasts Forever,” starring fellow alums Bill Murray and Dan Aykroyd.

Schiller appears in “Saturday Night” played by Parker Wierling.

Paul Shaffer was part of the house band from the beginning but joined as a cast member for just one season. He frequently appeared alongside Bill Murray for his “Nick the Lounge Singer” sketch.

Shaffer left in 1980 and subsequently teamed up with late-night legend David Letterman. He served as the musical director for “Late Night with David Letterman” for its 11 seasons then the “Late Show with David Letterman” for its 23 seasons.

The 74-year-old has also released multiple albums — and he appeared on season two of “The Masked Singer” as the Skeleton.

Shaffer is played by Paul Rust in “Saturday Night.”

Alan Zweibel was one of the original writers on the show before transitioning to being a cast member for just one. He only appeared in a few sketches.

The 74-year-old was close friends with Gilda Radner and even wrote a book about their friendship after she died called “Bunny Bunny: Gilda Radner — A Sort of Love Story.” It was later adapted into an Off-Broadway play.

Zweibel cowrote a film with Billy Crystal called “Here Today” in 2021. Along with Crystal, it stars Tiffany Haddish, Penn Badgley, Laura Benanti, and Nyambi Nyambi.

Zweibel’s unorthodox “SNL” origin story is portrayed in the film “Saturday Night,” in which he presents Lorne Michaels with a binder full of jokes he’d written for various stand-up comedians. He’s played by Josh Brener.

Denny Dillon only lasted one season on “SNL” from 1980 to 1981, but that didn’t slow her down. Just two years later, she was nominated for a Tony Award for the musical “My One and Only.”

She had a few notable characters on “SNL,” including Valley Girl Debbie and a neurotic customer at a hair salon, Nadine.

After leaving, Dillon, 73, starred in the HBO comedy “Dream On” for six seasons and voiced various characters on “Courage the Cowardly Dog.” Most recently, she starred in the short film “Absent Mind,” and appeared in an episode of “The Outsider.” She also appeared in Halle Berry’s directorial debut, “Bruised.”

In 2020, during an interview with Vulture, Dillon came out as gay and said she was closeted during her “SNL” experience, which technically makes her the first lesbian cast member in the show’s history.

Gilbert Gottfried was a prolific comedy actor, but he didn’t make much of a splash during his one season on “SNL.” He only had two celebrity impressions: director Roman Polanski and American politician David A. Stockman. He didn’t develop his signature voice until later.

Through 2022, Gottfried was still performing stand-up and hosting the podcast “Gilbert Gottfried’s Amazing Colossal Podcast,” in which he reviewed classic TV shows and movies and interviewed entertainment figures. The podcast originally started in 2014.

He also voiced many iconic characters, including Iago in the movie “Aladdin” (and its subsequent TV series) and Digit in “Cyberchase.”

Gottfried died in April 2022. He was 67.

Gail Matthius was part of the ill-fated season led by Jean Doumanian from 1980-1981 (after Michaels’ departure). She co-hosted “Weekend Update” for a season and originated the Valley Girl character Vicki.

Like many of her fellow “SNL” alums, Matthius, 70, turned to voice acting. She participated in animated series like “Snorks,” “Tiny Toon Adventures,” “Animaniacs,” and “Bobby’s World,” among others. Most recently, she appeared in eight episodes of Sundance TV’s “Hap and Leonard,” and an episode of “Wu Assassins.”

Eddie Murphy is just one of two cast members who survived the 1980-1981 season and was the biggest star the show had seen since the original cast. Rolling Stone ranked him as the second-best cast member, only behind John Belushi. He was also only 19 years old when he joined the cast.

He originated iconic characters like Buckwheat, a street-wise spoof of Mr. Rogers called Mister Robinson, and a more cynical version of Gumby. 

While on the show, he was nominated for a Golden Globe for his role in “Trading Places.” After he left, he starred in “Beverly Hills Cop,” “Coming to America,” “The Nutty Professor,” “Mulan,” “Shrek” … the list goes on.

Murphy, 63, was also nominated for an Academy Award for his role in “Dreamgirls.” Recently, Murphy appeared in a series of critically panned films, including “Norbit,” “Daddy Daycare,” and “The Adventures of Pluto Nash,” but he received Oscar buzz and a Golden Globe nod for his role in “Dolemite Is My Name” in 2020, signaling a comeback.

He also reprised his role as Prince Akeem in the 2021 sequel, “Coming 2 America,” and his role as Axel Foley in the 2024 sequel “Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F.”

Murphy returned to “SNL” for the first time in decades to host in December 2019.

Joe Piscopo was the other cast member to survive the 1980-1981 season, alongside Eddie Murphy. He was best known for his celebrity impressions, including Frank Sinatra, Ronald Reagan, and Leonard Nimoy.

When he left the show, Piscopo, 73, worked sporadically in Hollywood, appearing in the show “100 Deeds for Eddie McDowd” and the film “Dead Heat.” He now hosts a radio show, “The Joe Piscopo Show,” and briefly considered running for governor of New Jersey, per The New York Times.

Ann Risley only appeared in a few episodes before she was let go from “SNL.”

Risley, 75, hasn’t appeared on screen since the 1993 TV movie “Jericho Fever.” Until recently, she owned and operated an acting school in Arizona called The Studio for Actors.

Charles Rocket hosted “Weekend Update” for his season on the show, and also starred in the Rocket Report sketches, in which he played a man on the street interviewing New Yorkers. It was one of the few praised sketches from that era of the show.

Perhaps most famously, Rocket dropped an F-bomb during the season six finale, which led to his dismissal from the show.

After that, he frequently appeared in TV movies and sitcoms such as “The Home Court,” “Cybil,” and “The King of Queens.” He also played the dad in the Halloween classic “Hocus Pocus.”

Rocket died by suicide in 2005. He was 56 years old.

Yvonne Hudson, 69, was an official cast member for only a season but appeared uncredited through 1984. She was the third Black person to be hired on the show, after Garrett Morris and Eddie Murphy, and the first Black woman.

She hasn’t appeared in anything besides “SNL.”

Matthew Laurance, 74, only appeared in nine episodes of “SNL,” and didn’t have many memorable characters or impressions.

Over the decades, he’s appeared sporadically on TV, including recurring roles on “Beverly Hills 90210” and “One Tree Hill.” He starred in the short-lived sitcom “Duet” in the late ’80s, and in the cult hit film “Eddie and the Cruisers.”

Patrick Weathers appeared on just seven episodes of the show. He was a talented musician, though, and his successful sketches hinged on his impressions of Bob Dylan and Ravi Shankar.

“It was a really bad season,” he said in 2003, according to Vulture.

Weathers, 70, has released three albums and has had bit parts in movies like “Wall Street” and “Grande Isle.” He also appeared on New Orleans-based HBO show “Treme,” where he also resides in real life. Most recently, he appeared in episodes of “Preacher” and “The First.”

Before “SNL,” Robin Duke appeared on “SCTV,” a comedic show about a fictitious news network called Second City TV that starred comedians from the Second City improv troupe. Duke then made the jump to “SNL” and had memorable roles as Mrs. T, the fictional wife of Mr. T, and Wendy Whiner.

She left in 1984 and appeared in films like “Groundhog Day” and “Club Paradise.” She recurred on “Schitt’s Creek” alongside her former “SCTV” costar Catherine O’Hara.

Tim Kazurinsky’s most famous character was the pun-loving Dr. Jack Badofsky. He also impersonated celebrities like Ozzy Osbourne and Billie Jean King. He wrote for the show and, along with the writing team, was nominated for an Emmy in 1984.

In addition to “SNL,” Kazurinsky, 74, is known for his role in the “Police Academy” franchise and appeared on two episodes of “Chicago Justice.”

Tony Rosato starred in “SCTV” and then moved to “SNL” alongside Robin Duke. During his time on the show, he impersonated John Belushi, Captain Kangaroo, and William Conrad.

After leaving “SNL,” he starred in the ’80s crime drama “Night Heat” and voiced Luigi in various “Super Mario Bros.” shows.

In the early 2000s, Rosato was arrested on charges of criminal harassment, according to CBC, after his wife expressed concern about his mental health. He was diagnosed with Capgras delusion, a rare mental illness in which a person believes that others have been replaced by imposters, according to The New York Times.

He was released from the hospital in 2009 and resumed acting. He died in 2017 of a heart attack. He was 62.

Laurie Metcalf has the distinction of appearing only in a single episode of “SNL” in April 1981, before a writer’s strike cut the season short. She did not appear in the next season.

But, of course, it didn’t slow down her career. Metcalf, 69, is one of her generation’s most accomplished actresses, comedic or otherwise. She’s been nominated for an Academy Award for her role in “Lady Bird”; has been nominated for 12 Emmys (winning four) for her roles in “Hacks,” “Roseanne,” “Getting On,” and “The Big Bang Theory,” among others; and has won two Tonys. She’s also been nominated for three Golden Globes.

In short, Metcalf might be one of the most successful “SNL” “flops.”

Emily Prager was hired alongside Laurie Metcalf and was technically never credited on an episode. However, she was still hired on the show and, therefore, was a cast member, however briefly.

“SNL” was Prager’s last on-screen role. She is credited as a writer for a 1992 episode of “Screenplay,” an anthology drama series. The 76-year-old has also written novels, a memoir, and became a journalist.

Christine Ebersole hosted the ’80s version of “Weekend Update,” then called “SNL Newsbreak.” She also impersonated Princess Diana, Mary Travers, and Cheryl Tiegs, among others. 

After leaving “SNL,” she returned to her soap opera roots and joined the cast of “One Life to Live,” for which she was nominated for a Daytime Emmy. Ebersole, 71, also appeared in films such as “The Wolf of Wall Street,” “Confessions of a Shopaholic,” and ’80s classic “Tootsie.”

She starred in the sitcom “Bob Hearts Abishola” from 2019 to 2024. Ebersole also had a small but memorable role in “Licorice Pizza” as a Lucille Ball stand-in and appeared in two episodes of “The Kaminsky Method.”

Mary Gross hosted “Weekend Update” during her first season of the show, but quickly transitioned to other roles. She, alongside the rest of the ’85 cast, left when executive producer Dick Ebersol was replaced by original creator Lorne Michaels.

Gross, now 71, worked steadily after her departure, but hasn’t appeared on screen since a 2012 episode of “Raising Hope.” She appeared on her “SNL” costar Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ sitcom “The New Adventures of Old Christine” for an episode, as well as episodes of “Hart of Dixie,” “Life,” and “Boston Legal.”

Brad Hall’s tenure on “SNL” is memorable for his stint as “Weekend Update” host. He did, however, costar with his future wife, Julia Louis-Dreyfus. According to People, the two were college sweethearts who joined the show together. He’d later direct an episode of her show, “Veep,” in 2016.

Now, Hall, 66, is mainly known as a writer and producer. He created the sitcoms “Watching Ellie” and “The Single Guy,” in addition to writing and producing “Brooklyn Bridge,” which earned him an Emmy nom and won a Golden Globe. Hall recently appeared in an episode of “American Auto.”

Julia Louis-Dreyfus was just 21 when she joined the cast of “SNL,” making her, at the time, the youngest female cast member ever. Her recurring characters included superhero Weather Woman and Patti Lynn Hunnsucker, a teenage “Weekend Update” correspondent. However, she has said she was “pretty miserable” on the show, according to Entertainment Weekly.

Of course, Louis-Dreyfus, now 63, left the show and made a name for herself with iconic roles as Elaine in “Seinfeld,” Christine in “The New Adventures of Old Christine,” and Selina Meyer in “Veep.”

“Veep” earned Louis-Dreyfus a record-breaking six consecutive Emmy wins. In total, she’s received 11 Emmy wins, making her the most awarded performer in the award’s history. In 2018, she received the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor, the highest honor in comedy.

In 2020, she starred in the black comedy film “Downhill” alongside Will Ferrell, and voiced Laurel Lightfoot in Pixar’s “Onward.” In 2021, she officially joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (aka Val), a potential threat against the Avengers.

She starred in three films in 2023: “You Hurt My Feelings,” “You People,” and “Tuesday.” Next year, she’ll once again play Val in “Thunderbolts.”

Gary Kroeger’s most famous sketch was when he played Donny Osmond to Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ Marie, which begins with the two siblings singing and ends with them making out.

After he left with the rest of his season’s cast, Kroeger has sporadically acted, and hosted multiple game shows including “The Newlywed Game,” “Whammy!,” and “Beat the Clock.”

In 2015, he announced his candidacy to represent Iowa’s 1st district in the state’s Congress, per the AP. He was defeated.

Jim Belushi began working at “SNL” a few months after his older brother, John, died. As such, he had a hard time stepping out from behind his big brother’s enormous shadow and was only on the show for two seasons.

Belushi has had a much more successful career post-“SNL,” and frequently worked on animated series. He’s voiced characters in “Pinky and the Brain,” “Aaahh!!! Real Monsters,” and “Hey Arnold,” among many others.

He also starred in all eight seasons of the ABC sitcom “According to Jim” from 2000 to 2009.

Beginning in 2020, Belushi, now 70, began starring on the Discovery Channel series “Growing Belushi,” which is about his cannabis farm in Oregon.

Billy Crystal was actually supposed to perform in the first-ever episode of “SNL,” but he was cut for time … and then he went on to become a successful comedian.

By the time he joined the cast years later, he had hosted his own variety show, “The Billy Crystal Comedy Hour,” and two prior episodes of “Saturday Night Live.”

His most famous character was his impression of actor Fernando Lamas, reimagined as a smarmy talk show host. Crystal even recorded a single in character, called “You Look Marvelous,” which made it onto the Billboard Hot 100.

Crystal left after just one season and subsequently became a huge movie star. Among his most famous roles are Harry in “When Harry Met Sally…,” Miracle Max in “The Princess Bride,” and the voice of Mike Wazowski in the “Monsters Inc.” films. He reprised his role of Wazowski in the 2021 Disney+ series, “Monsters at Work.”

The 76-year-old has also hosted the Oscars nine times: 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2004, and 2012.

In 2022, Crystal was nominated for two Tony Awards for his musical “Mr. Saturday Night.” He wrote and starred in the show, which is based on his 1992 film of the same name.

Nicholas Podany played Crystal in “Saturday Night.”

Christopher Guest, 76, also had a thriving comedy career when he was hired on a one-season contract for “SNL.” A year prior to his start, he had starred in and cowrote “This Is Spinal Tap.”

Guest created a few famous characters during his season, including a pain-obsessed night watchman, Frankie. He briefly hosted “Saturday Night News,” the short-lived, renamed version of “Weekend Update.” He also starred in and directed a few short films that aired during the show.

After his contract ended, Guest returned to the movies and starred in “The Princess Bride,” “Waiting for Guffman,” (which he wrote and directed as well), and “A Few Good Men.”

Most recently, he wrote and directed the 2016 Netflix mockumentary “Mascots.” In 2022, it was announced that the original Spinal Tap crew would be reuniting for a sequel film.

He’s also been married to Jamie Lee Curtis since 1984.

Rich Hall, 70, was yet another comedian who had a career before he was brought on, essentially as a ringer, for a season on “SNL.”

He had written and appeared on the satirical news show “Not Necessarily the News” for a few seasons, popularizing the term “sniglet,” before making the jump to “SNL.” During his stint, he impersonated David Byrne and Doug Henning, and hosted the “Saturday Night News.”

Hall has found a lot of success in the UK. He frequently appeared on the comedy quiz shows “Never Mind the Buzzcocks,” “Spicks and Specks,” and “Have I Got News For You.” He’s also written multiple TV documentaries and starred in comedy specials.

Besides that, Hall also created a country music character, Otis Lee Crenshaw, who, according to the BBC, “conforms to the worst stereotypes of American trash.” As Crenshaw, he recorded two albums.

Before Martin Short debuted on “SNL,” he had starred on the sketch show “SCTV” for a season. He created many memorable characters during his days on “SNL,” most notably neurotic nerd Ed Grimley, and impersonated celebrities like Jerry Lewis and Katharine Hepburn.

He went on to have a long and prolific career in comedy and show business. He starred in “Three Amigos,” “Father of the Bride,” and “Three Fugitives” during the ’80s and ’90s. He also won a Tony in 1999.

More recently, Short appeared in “Hairspray Live,” “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt,” and starred in a Netflix special alongside frequent collaborator Steve Martin entitled “Steve Martin and Martin Short: An Evening You Will Forget for the Rest of Your Life.” He also popped up in two episodes of “The Morning Show,” for which he received another Emmy nom.

In 2021, he began starring on “Only Murders in the Building” with Martin and Selena Gomez on Hulu. He’s received three consecutive Emmy nominations for the show, which was recently renewed for a fifth season.

In recent years, Short, 74, has also become a somewhat surprising tabloid fixture, due to his friendship with Meryl Streep, which some people believe has turned romantic.

Pamela Stephenson, 74, was born in New Zealand and had appeared in a few Australian soaps and “Superman III” before joining the cast in 1984 as the first woman born outside North America in the show’s history. She impersonated ’80s musicians like Madonna, Cyndi Lauper, and Billy Idol.

She left after one season and continued acting while also becoming a psychologist. In the ’90s, she hosted an Australian talk show, “Sex,” and her last acting credit was an episode of “Columbo.” 

In recent years, Stephenson came in third on the 2010 season of “Strictly Come Dancing,” the UK version of “Dancing With the Stars,” per The Daily Mail, and still practices as a clinical psychologist.

While she’s since become an A-list actor, Joan Cusack didn’t make a huge impression on “SNL” and only lasted for one season.

But two years after her departure, she earned an Academy Award nomination for her role in “Working Girl,” and her movie career took off from there. She appeared alongside her brother in “Say Anything…,” “Grosse Point Blank,” and “High Fidelity.” In 1997, she was nominated for her second Academy Award for “In & Out.”

Recently, Cusack, 62, was nominated for five Emmys, winning one for her role as Sheila in “Shameless,” and reprising her role as Jessie in “Toy Story 4.” She also appeared in season two of the Amazon Prime drama “Homecoming” in 2020.

Robert Downey Jr. was only 20 when he began starring on “SNL.” Rolling Stone put him at the bottom of their ranking, saying, “Robert Downey Jr. is a comic genius. Making him unfunny stands as ‘SNL’s’ most towering achievement in terms of sucking.”

Luckily, his season didn’t cut his career short. After he was let go from the show, he starred in iconic ’80s films such as “Weird Science” and “Less Than Zero.”

Downey, 59, was nominated for an Oscar in 1993 for his role as Charlie Chaplin in the biopic “Chaplin.” But the ’90s would be the beginning of years of personal struggle, jail time, drug addiction, and alcoholism for the actor that took over a decade to kick for good.

Of course, Downey is now best known for playing Tony Stark/Iron Man and launching the Marvel Cinematic Universe in 2008. The MCU has since produced multiple billion-dollar films, and he is considered the godfather of the franchise.

After “Avengers: Endgame” in 2019, Downey took a break from Marvel. He starred in the Christopher Nolan film “Oppenheimer,” for which he won the best supporting actor Oscar, and was nominated for an Emmy for his performance in the HBO series “The Sympathizer.” In 2024, he also made his Broadway debut.

But he couldn’t stay away for long: At San Diego Comic-Con in 2024, Marvel announced that Downey would be rejoining this franchise, this time as Victor Von Doom, aka Doctor Doom.

Nora Dunn, now 72, was one of five cast members from the 1985-1986 season to make it through to the next season, and she stayed with the show for four more. During her tenure, she created characters such as talk show host Pat Stevens and French sex worker Babette and impersonated celebrities like Catherine Deneuve, Liza Minnelli, and Joan Baez.

Dunn later called the show “a traumatic experience,” according to Salon.

After she left, she appeared in sitcoms such as “Sisters,” “The Nanny,” and more recently, “New Girl,” “Entourage,” and “Home Economics.” She also starred in the ’90s cult classic film “Drop Dead Gorgeous.”

Fresh off his geeky roles in “Weird Science,” “The Breakfast Club” and “Sixteen Candles,” 17-year-old Anthony Michael Hall joined the cast of “SNL” to avoid getting typecast. He was, and still is, the youngest cast member in the show’s 50 seasons.

Hall’s lone season was a critical and commercial failure, and so he, along with most of the cast, was let go. He continued to audition for roles against type in films such as “Edward Scissorhands,” “Out of Bounds,” and “Six Degrees of Separation.”

More recently, the 56-year-old starred in “The Dead Zone” for six seasons on the USA Network. When it premiered in 2002, it earned the network its best series premiere numbers ever, according to Variety.

In 2018, Hall appeared on an episode of “Riverdale” that directly referenced “The Breakfast Club” and played an evil principal similar to the one from the ’80s classic. In 2021, he joined the “Halloween” franchise in “Halloween Kills.”

Jon Lovitz, now 67, was one of the few cast members who survived his first season. He continued to thrive on the show and was nominated for two Emmys. He became known for his “lovable jerk” characters like “Tommy Flanagan, the Pathological Liar,” as well as his impressions of Michael Dukakis and Harvey Fierstein.

But for Jewish kids everywhere, Lovitz is most famous for the creation of Hanukkah Harry, who was supposed to be the Jewish equivalent of Santa Claus.

After leaving the show, Lovitz voiced the main character on the animated show “The Critic” and lent his voice to the “Brave Little Toaster” franchise as the Radio.

Lovitz also does stand-up and opened the Jon Lovitz Comedy Club & Podcast Theatre in 2009. It closed in 2014, per Inside Universal. He returned to “SNL” in 2020 to play lawyer Alan Dershowitz in a cold open. He also appeared in “AP Bio” and “Holey Moley.”

Dennis Miller is mainly known for his tenure behind the “Weekend Update” desk, where he sat during all six seasons to great acclaim. Vulture ranked him the No. 1 “Weekend Update” host of all time.

He left the show after six seasons because he wanted a change, and because he wanted to make his son proud, he told the Chicago Tribune in 1992. He went on to host his own late-night talk show, “The Dennis Miller Show,” which only lasted seven months and was canceled in July 1992.

Two years later, he began hosting “Dennis Miller Live” on HBO, which lasted nine years and earned him five Emmys. In 2004, he hosted another show on CNBC entitled “Dennis Miller” that lasted for a year and a half.

Miller, 70, is still a regular TV fixture. He appears on Fox News, late-night talk shows, and stars in comedy specials like 2018’s “Dennis Miller: Fake News — Real Jokes.” According to The Daily Beast, Miller hosted a series on the Russian network RT America, called “Dennis Miller + One” until the invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Randy Quaid, the older brother of Dennis Quaid, was already an accomplished actor before he joined the cast of “SNL” in 1985. He had been nominated for an Academy Award, a Golden Globe, and a BAFTA for his role in 1973’s “The Last Detail.”

He only lasted for a season on “SNL,” when he was part of the ill-fated 1985-1986 season. After the show, Quaid almost immediately starred in the TV movie “LBJ: The Early Years” as President Lyndon B. Johnson, winning a Golden Globe for his depiction.

Quaid, 74, continued to act in both serious and comedic films, ranging from “National Lampoon’s Family Vacation” to “Brokeback Mountain” to “Independence Day.”

In the 2000s, Quaid encountered legal troubles — among them, he and his wife were accused of skipping out on a hotel without paying the bill, although they denied the claims, insisting they had paid — and took a break from acting. He stars in a 2024 holiday comedy, “The Christmas Letter,” alongside fellow “SNL” alum and “National Lampoon’s” costar Chevy Chase.

When Terry Sweeney was hired in 1985, he became both the show’s first out gay cast member and the first out gay regular cast member on basic cable ever, according to Out. He became known for his flamboyant impressions of female celebrities such as Joan Rivers and Nancy Reagan.

The now 74-year-old was let go with most of the cast after that season, and has sporadically acted since, appearing in one-off episodes of “Sabrina the Teenage Witch” and “Family Matters.” He recently appeared in the Ryan Murphy series “American Crime Story” and “The Politician” and also wrote for two seasons of “MADtv.”

Vance became the second-ever Black female cast member on “SNL” when she joined in 1985, and she only lasted a season. Although it wasn’t known at the time, she was also the second lesbian cast member in the show’s history.

“SNL” hasn’t had the best track record when it comes to race, and it’s especially telling that Vance’s main recurring character was an actor named “That Black Girl” who was constantly getting passed over for parts due to her race.

After leaving the show, she appeared in comedies such as “Limit Up” and “The War of the Roses,” as well as the dramatic film “Jumpin’ at the Boneyard.” Vance died in August 1994 after battling breast cancer. She was 40 years old.

A. Whitney Brown was both a writer and performer on “SNL” during his time there and is known for his “Weekend Update” bit, “The Big Picture.”

After leaving the show, Brown published a book based on the segment called “The Big Picture: An American Commentary.” He also began appearing as himself as a correspondent on “The Daily Show” from 1996 to 1998, which is where his on-screen career ended.

The 72-year-old is still politically active and has blogged for the Daily Kos.

Dan Vitale only appeared on one season of “SNL” and, as Vulture writes, “stands invisible as the most forgotten player.”

After his stint on the show, Vitale barely had any parts and mainly stuck to the New York stand-up circuit. He resurfaced for an episode of Marc Maron’s podcast, where he discussed his career’s trajectory. Vulture also checked in on him in 2020 to get his take on recent “SNL” events.

Vitale died in May 2022 at the age of 66, according to Pop Culture.

Damon Wayans was only on “SNL” for a single season before getting fired for deliberately disobeying Lorne Michaels, according to GQ, but it was clear that his talents weren’t being used in the best way.

He then moved on to work at his brother’s sketch comedy show, “In Living Color,” and remained there as a writer and performer for its first three seasons.

Now, the Wayans family is a Hollywood dynasty with his brothers, sister, son, nieces, and nephews all becoming successful actors, writers, and producers. Wayans, 64, starred in his own 2000s sitcom “My Wife and Kids,” and starred in the 2016 TV reboot of “Lethal Weapon” for three seasons.

In 2024, Wayans is set to costar with his son Damon Wayans Jr. in the CBS sitcom “Poppa’s Home.”

During his time on the show, Dana Carvey was nominated for five Emmys, winning one. Carvey had a murderer’s row of characters and impressions, from the Church Lady, Garth of “Wayne’s World,” President George H.W. Bush, and his costar Dennis Miller, among many others.

After leaving the show in 1993, Carvey starred in both of the “Wayne’s World” movies and in his own short-lived show called “The Dana Carvey Show,” which has been credited with giving Steve Carrell and Stephen Colbert their first exposure to audiences.

Carvey, 69, starred in the 2002 film “Master of Disguise,” and then took a break from Hollywood, citing the desire to spend time with his family, according to People.

Eight years later, he returned to voice-act for both “Secret Life of Pets” films and shows such as “Rick and Morty.” Carvey also released a stand-up special in 2016, “Dana Carvey: Straight White Male, 60.”

For the first time since 2011, Carvey returned to Studio 8H to recur as Joe Biden for the political cold opens of the show’s 50th season. Carvey also co-hosts the podcast “Fly on the Wall” with his friend and former “SNL” colleague David Spade.

Phil Hartman’s comedic legacy began before he joined “SNL” — he helped co-create the iconic character Pee-wee Herman, according to the Miami New Times. He wrote on Pee-wee’s original special in 1981, as well as his HBO show and movie. 

Once he joined, though, Hartman solidified his place in comedy history. Over the course of his eight seasons on the show, he created multiple iconic characters, such as the Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer, and did his spot-on impressions of Bill Clinton, Ronald Reagan, and Frank Sinatra.

His friend and costar Kevin Nealon told Grantland that Hartman’s “nickname was Glue because he held all the sketches together.”

In 1995, Hartman began starring in the sitcom “NewsRadio.” In 1998, he was found dead in his apartment of a gunshot wound alongside his wife, who had apparently shot him before taking her own life. He was 49.

As Grantland wrote, Jan Hooks became famous for “her comic timing and crackling impersonations of Tammy Faye Bakker, Nancy Reagan, and Kathie Lee Gifford, to name just a few.” She was also one-half of the sisters duo “The Sweeney Sisters.”

After leaving the show, she appeared on sitcoms such as “3rd Rock from the Sun” and “Primetime Glick,” and she also lent her voice to “The Simpsons” as Manjula Nahasapeemapetilon.

Hooks died in October 2014 having been diagnosed with throat cancer. She was 57.

Victoria Jackson joined the show in 1986 and quickly became known for her impressions of Christina Applegate, Cyndi Lauper, and Roseanne Barr. 

Jackson, now 65, appeared in multiple films during her tenure on the show, including “UHF,” “The Pick-up Artist,” and “Family Business,” but didn’t find as much success after she left in 1992. She has mainly appeared in low-budget films such as “Heaven Bound,” “The Journey,” and “Saving Faith.”

In 2008, Jackson became a vocal supporter of the Tea Party movement, and published a memoir in 2012, “Is My Bow Too Big? How I went from ‘Saturday Night Live’ to the Tea Party.”

In August 2024, she wrote on Instagram that she had been diagnosed with an inoperable tumor in her windpipe, per NBC News, and has “32.6 months to live.”

For four years of his “SNL” tenure, Kevin Nealon hosted “Weekend Update.” He also had several recurring characters such as Mr. Subliminal and Gannon PIPI. When he left after his ninth season, he had become the cast member with the longest run on the show (he would later be surpassed).

After leaving, Nealon, now 70, steadily worked in both movies and TV shows until he began starring on “Weeds.” He appeared in all eight seasons. He also starred in the stop-motion animated series “Glen Martin, DDS,” and was most recently seen on the prank call show “Crank Yankers.”

In 2018, he appeared in the Netflix film “Father of the Year” alongside fellow “SNL” alum David Spade. In 2024, he starred in the film “Late Bloomers.”

Nealon now hosts a YouTube series, “Hiking with Kevin,” where he goes on hikes with celebrities. Notable guests include Conan O’Brien, Jack Black, Adam Sandler, Aubrey Plaza, and Michael Keaton.

Ben Stiller only appeared in four episodes of “SNL” before leaving to create his own show, aptly titled “The Ben Stiller Show,” which lasted for one season on MTV and one season on Fox. Though it bombed ratings-wise, it was critically adored and won an Emmy for outstanding writing for a variety show. It kick-started the careers of beloved comedians like Bob Odenkirk, Janeane Garofalo, and Judd Apatow.

Now, the 58-year-old is an A-lister. He’s starred in a plethora of films, including but not limited to “Something About Mary,” “Meet the Parents” and its sequels, “Zoolander” and its sequel, “Dodgeball,” and the “Night at the Museum” trilogy.

Recently, he returned to “SNL” to play former President Trump’s lawyer Michael Cohen. He also pivoted to directing; he directed every episode of the 2018 Golden Globe-winning miniseries “Escape at Dannemora.”

In 2022, Stiller directed every episode of the Apple TV+ smash hit “Severance,” which was renewed for a highly anticipated second season.

Mike Myers, now 61, joined the cast in 1989 and created some notable characters on the show. But far and away his most recognizable character is Wayne Campbell of “Wayne’s World,” which spawned two theatrical films, “Wayne’s World” and “Wayne’s World 2.”

After Myers left “SNL,” he created and starred in the “Austin Powers” franchise, a parody of spy films such as “James Bond,” and went on to voice the titular ogre in all four “Shrek” films, with another finally on the way.

He also starred in flops like “The Love Guru” and “The Cat in the Hat.” Most recently, he appeared in the Oscar-nominated movie “Bohemian Rhapsody” and hosted “The Gong Show.”

In 2022, Myers created and starred in the Netflix miniseries “The Pentaverate.”

In 1990, Chris Rock joined “SNL” and made a name for himself with his first breakout character, Onski, who hosted “I’m Chillin.” Rock left the show to join the cast of “Living in Color” and would later sing about being fired from “SNL” on an appearance on the show in 2019.

He found success with his sitcom “Everybody Hates Chris,” which he co-created and narrated, and films like “Grown Ups,” the “Madagascar” franchise, and “I Think I Love My Wife.”

An animated revival of “Everybody Hates Chris,” aptly titled “Everybody Still Hates Chris,” began airing on Comedy Central in 2024.

More recently, the 59-year-old starred alongside fellow “SNL” alum Eddie Murphy in the Netflix movie “Dolemite Is My Name,” and became the leading man of the “Saw” franchise in “Spiral: From the Book of Saw.” He’s also won multiple Grammys for his stand-up albums.

Unfortunately, Rock is perhaps now most famous for getting slapped by Will Smith at the 2022 Academy Awards.

Rob Schneider, now 60, became a full-time cast member in 1990. He is well known for his portrayal of Richard Laymer, an office employee who sat next to the copier. The Sensitive Naked Man and Carlo are other popular, recurring characters that Schneider played. 

Since then, Schneider has appeared and starred in a number of films including “The Hot Chick,” “Grown Ups,” “The Benchwarmers,” and “50 First Dates.” From 2015 to 2017, he starred in his own Netflix show, “Real Rob.” He’s also appeared in the Netflix films “The Wrong Missy,” “Hubie Halloween, “Home Team,” and “Leo.”

His latest credit is the children’s show “Chip Chilla,” which airs on Bentkey, an offshoot of The Daily Wire.

His daughter, Elle King, is a successful musician and has been nominated for multiple Grammys.

Julia Sweeney, now 65, joined the cast in 1990 and became famous for her character Pat. In the Pat sketches, most of the jokes involved the character’s ambiguous gender. Since then, Sweeney has been criticized for the character’s offensive take on the trans community, according to The Wrap.

While on the show, Sweeney also became known for her controversial impersonation of Chelsea Clinton. 

After leaving “SNL,” Sweeney appeared in sitcoms like “Frasier,” “Sex and the City,” and “Family Guy.” In the last few years, she’s appeared in the Showtime show “Work in Progress,” American Gods” on Starz, and the reboot of “Night Court.”

In 1990, Chris Farley joined the show and made a name for himself playing a Chippendales dancer opposite Patrick Swayze. He also played a motivational speaker named Matt Foley and the host of the “The Chris Farley Show” sketches. Farley was also known for his physical comedy on the show. 

He also had a successful film career outside “SNL,” appearing in “Wayne’s World,” “Coneheads,” and “Billy Madison.”

In 1997, Farley died of an overdose of cocaine and morphine. He was 33. 

David Spade’s biggest characters on the show included the airline steward and Christy Henderson. He also did impressions of Brad Pitt and Michael J. Fox. While on the show, he also starred alongside Chris Farley in the 1995 film “Tommy Boy” (which Lorne Michaels produced). 

Since leaving “SNL,” Spade has appeared in various movies and TV shows like “Grown Ups,” “Rules of Engagement,” and “The Emperor’s New Groove.” He also had a role in the sitcom “Just Shoot Me” from 1997 to 2003. He hosted “Lights Out with David Spade” on Comedy Central until March 2020.

Recently, he starred in the Netflix film “The Wrong Missy” and hosted “Bachelor in Paradise.” He also cohosts a podcast with his friend and “SNL” colleague Dana Carvey.

The 60-year-old has also written two books: “Almost Interesting” and “A Polaroid Guy in a Snapchat World.”

Beth Cahill, 61, was only on “SNL” for one season and played two characters: Denise Swerski and sorority girl Pam. She also impersonated Pam Hurn, wife of TV legend Ed McMahon. 

Since then, Cahill has had small roles on TV shows like “Drunk History,” “Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place,” and “Review.” She also became a dress designer who has sold her designs to Amy Sedaris and Ricki Lake, according to the Chicago Reader.

Siobhan Fallon Hogan, now 63, joined the show in 1991 and only stayed for one season. She played characters named Christy and Meg, and also impersonated Katharine Hepburn. 

After “SNL,” Fallon appeared in teen movies and shows like “Fred.” She also had roles in “Forrest Gump,” “Funny Games,” “Men in Black,” “Holes,” “Daddy Daycare,” and “Love Life.”

Over the course of her time on the show, Melanie Hutsell, now 56, became famous for her portrayal of Jan Brady from “The Brady Bunch.” She also impersonated Tonya Harding, Tori Spelling, and Mayim Bialik. Hutsell also played sorority girl Di in the “Delta Delta Delta” sketches.

Hutsell has since appeared in “Bridesmaids” with fellow “SNL” alum Kristen Wiig. She’s also made appearances in “Transparent,” “Fresh Off the Boat,” “Lady Dynamite,” and “Tiny Beautiful Things.”

Ellen Cleghorne, 59, was the first Black woman on “SNL” to stay longer than one season, per Slate. During her time, she impersonated Anita Hill, Patti LaBelle, and Tina Turner. She also became known for her characters Queen Shenequa and an NBC Page named Zoraida. 

After leaving the show, Cleghorne appeared in “Coyote Ugly,” “Armageddon,” “Little Nicky,” “Grown Ups 2,” and “aka Wyatt Cenac.”

Most recently, she was seen in Jennifer Lopez’s 2018 movie “Second Act,” two episodes of fellow “SNL” star Michael Che’s sketch show “That Damn Michael Che,” and the Hulu series “How to Die Alone.”

Adam Sandler, now 58, joined the cast in 1991 and created many memorable characters, including Opera Man, Canteen Boy, and Cajun Man. He also introduced the immediate holiday hit “The Hanukkah Song.” However, he was fired from the show in 1995, along with many of his costars.

“We kind of quit at the same time as being fired,” Adam Sandler told The Daily Beast in 2014. 

“It hurt a lot at the time,” he added, “because we were young and didn’t know where we were going, but it all worked out.”

While still on the show, he starred in the iconic film “Billy Madison.” After leaving, Sandler starred in a number of other popular movies, including “Happy Gilmore,” “Waterboy,” “The Wedding Singer,” “Big Daddy,” “Little Nicky,” “Mr. Deeds,” “Eight Crazy Nights,” and “Click.”

In 2014 and 2017, he signed two deals with Netflix to produce and star in eight movies altogether for the streaming service. One of those movies, “Murder Mystery,” had 30.9 million viewers in just three days, breaking streaming records, according to Variety.

In total, he’s now made 10 films for the streamer.

He also returned to “SNL” for the first time in 2019 to host and was subsequently nominated for an Emmy. Sandler was also considered one of the biggest snubs of the 2020 Oscars, as he wasn’t nominated for his role in the Safdie Brothers film, “Uncut Gems.”

In 2023, he appeared alongside his two daughters and wife in the film “You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah.”

Sandler has multiple projects lined up in the future, including a sequel to “Happy Gilmore” and a Noah Baumbach film.

Tim Meadows, 63, is one of the longest-running cast members, lasting for 10 seasons on the show. During his time, he did impressions of OJ Simpson, Cuba Gooding Jr., Dennis Rodman, Ike Turner, Lenny Kravitz, RuPaul, and even Oprah. He also developed the character Leon Phelps, who hosted a talk show. The character starred in a movie based on “The Ladies Man” sketch in 2000, though it was a flop.

Since leaving the show, Meadows appeared in “Mean Girls” alongside fellow “SNL” alum Tina Fey and played the same character in the 2024 musical remake.

He also had recurring characters on “The Goldbergs,” “Brooklyn Nine-Nine,” and “Space Force.”

Sarah Silverman, now 53, was a writer and performer on the show but lasted only one season. During her time, she impersonated Cher, Joan Rivers, and Marisa Tomei. After her first season, she was famously fired via fax, but she quickly returned to stand-up comedy and made a name for herself outside of “SNL.”

Since then, she has appeared in “Masters of Sex,” “Bob’s Burgers,” and “The Simpsons.”

In 2014, she won an Emmy for outstanding writing for a variety special for her stand-up special “We Are Miracles.”

More recently, she started her own talk show on Hulu, “I Love You, America with Sarah Silverman. ” The show was nominated for an Emmy for outstanding variety sketch series two years in a row but was canceled in 2018.

She starred in the 2022 romantic comedy “Marry Me,” which stars Jennifer Lopez and Owen Wilson. Silverman also appeared in “Space Jam: A New Legacy,” both “Wreck-It Ralph” films, and “Maestro.”

In Jay Mohr’s short time on “SNL,” he struggled to find himself a recurring character that connected with the audience.

However, he did have a successful impersonation of Christopher Walken, and he appeared in “Wayne’s World,” “The Denise Show,” and “Canteen Boy” sketches. In his memoir, “Gasping For Airtime,” Mohr wrote how he was riddled with anxiety and panic attacks during his time on the show. 

After leaving, he continued acting, appearing in several TV shows, including “Ghost Whisperer,” “Law and Order,” “CSI,” “The West Wing,” “American Housewife,” and “Family Guy.” He also starred alongside Tom Cruise in 1996’s “Jerry Maguire” and Jennifer Aniston in the 1997 film “Picture Perfect.”

He was nominated for an Emmy for hosting “Last Comic Standing” in 2004.

Norm Macdonald became famous for his impersonations on “SNL,” which include Burt Reynolds, Clint Eastwood, David Letterman, Larry King, Quentin Tarantino, and Tommy Lee. Macdonald was also the “Weekend Update” host from 1994 to 1997. In fact, Entertainment Weekly called MacDonald the best “Weekend Update” host in the show’s history. 

After his departure, Macdonald appeared on “Girlboss,” “The Middle,” “Sunnyside,” and “Family Guy.” Most recently, he had a role in “The Orville” with Seth MacFarlane. 

In 2018, his talk show “Norm Macdonald Has a Show” premiered on Netflix. At the same time, according to Variety, he caught some heat for insensitive comments about the #MeToo movement. Macdonald apologized for his comments.

For Valentine’s Day in 2020, he revealed a dating app called Loko that he co-created with his friend that relies solely on video.

Macdonald died in September 2021 due to a previously publicly undisclosed nine-year battle with cancer. He was 61.

Chris Elliott, now 64, had a short-lived career on “SNL” in the ’90s, creating characters like D. Josh Levine. After his stint on the show, he played iconic roles in “There’s Something About Mary” and “Scary Movie 2.”

He also became a regular performer on “Late Show with David Letterman” and has appeared on “Everybody Loves Raymond,” “King of the Hill,” and “How I Met Your Mother.”

He had a recurring role in “Schitt’s Creek,” which swept the 2020 Emmys, winning every major comedy category.

His daughter, Abby Elliott, also appeared on “SNL,” though she’s now best known for playing Natalie on “The Bear.”

During her short stint on “SNL,” Janeane Garofalo impersonated Hillary Clinton, Jodie Foster, and Martha Stewart. But she left the show after just a few months, telling New York Magazine it was “the most miserable experience of my life.”

She went on to become a major comedy star, starring in “The Truth About Cats and Dogs,” “Reality Bites,” “Now and Then,” and “Dogma.” She appeared in the 2021 Disney+ film “Flora & Ulysses.”

Most recently, Garofalo, 60, has appeared in the TV shows “Wet Hot American Summer: Ten Years Later,” “Broad City,” “Younger,” and “Billions.”

For the one season Laura Kightlinger, now 55, was on “SNL,” she did impressions of Connie Chung, Mary Hart, and Marcia Clark. 

After the show, she went on to become a successful TV writer and producer. She was a producer and writer for “Will & Grace” and appeared as Nurse Sheila on the show.

She reprised the role in the “Will & Grace” reboot. Kightlinger has also appeared in episodes of “AP Bio,” “PEN15,” and “Alone Together.”

In 2024, she co-produced the sitcom “Extended Family.”

Michael McKean, now 76, joined the cast in 1994 and, during his time, did impressions of Bill Clinton, Elvis Costello, and Howard Stone. He’s also known for his original characters, Anthony the Weatherman and Mr. Vonucci. 

Since leaving the show in 1995, McKean has appeared in “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” “Smallville,” and “Drunk History.” Overall, he’s one of the most prolific character TV actors ever.

Most recently, he was a series regular on three seasons of AMC’s “Better Call Saul,” a “Breaking Bad” prequel, and earned an Emmy nod for his guest appearance in season four.

He co-starred with “Breaking Bad” legend Bryan Cranston for the first time in “Jerry and Marge Go Large.” McKean is also the current voice of Lou Pickles in Nickelodeon’s “Rugrats” reboot and has a recurring role in the Netflix series “The Diplomat.”

Morwenna Banks joined the show in 1995 for only four episodes.

Since then, the now-63-year-old has done a lot of work as a voice actor. Most notably, she currently voices several characters on the popular children’s show “Peppa Pig.” She also impersonates Lady Gaga, Madonna, and Susan Boyle for BBC Comedy. 

Although David Koechner was only on “SNL” for one season, Paste Magazine said he made the most of his time. For example, he created the Drunk Salesman character and the character Gary MacDonald.

Since leaving the show, the 62-year-old has had recurring roles on “Twin Peaks,” “The Office,” “American Dad!” and “The Goldbergs.” He is also well known for his role as sportscaster Champ Kind in the “Anchorman” movies. 

Koechner starred in both seasons of “Bless This Mess” and the Netflix animated series “F is for Family,” which ended in 2021.

Nancy Walls, 58, appeared on “SNL” for one season where she became known for her impression of CNN host Bobbie Battista. 

She later became a correspondent on “The Daily Show” and has appeared in “Bridesmaids” and “The Office.” She and her husband, Steve Carell, created the TBS show “Angie Tribeca.”

Over the course of Mark McKinney’s three seasons, he created a long list of characters and impressions. Among his most memorable characters is Melanie, a Catholic schoolgirl. McKinney also mimicked Mel Gibson, Wolf Blitzer, Mark Russell, Jim Carrey, Al Gore, Bill Gates, Charlie Rose, and even Ellen DeGeneres.

After the show, McKinney, now 65, appeared in several “SNL” spin-off movies like “A Night at the Roxbury” and “Superstar.” In the ’90s, he also appeared in the Spice Girls movie “Spice World.”

He concluded his run as Glenn on NBC’s “Superstore” in 2021.

Jim Breuer, 57, entered “SNL” in 1995 and created his famous Goat Boy character. He also impersonated Joe Pesci, Matt LeBlanc, Stephen Hawking, and Rupert Murdoch. 

After Breuer left the show, he became known for his role in the stoner film “Half Baked.” Since then, he has focused on his stand-up career, producing several Comedy Central specials. He now hosts a podcast called “Jim Breuer’s Breuniverse” and has toured around the US. 

Cheri Oteri, 62, spent five years at “SNL,” and during that time created several memorable characters, including cheerleader Arianna, hyper kid Althea McMenamin, and Mickey the Dyke. Oteri also impersonated Melissa Rivers, Mariah Carey, Katie Couric, and Kathie Lee Gifford.

Immediately after “SNL,” she scored parts in “Scary Movie,” “Dumb and Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd,” and “Southland Tales.” She then shifted to voice acting, lending her voice to “Shrek the Third” and “Glenn Martin DDS.”

In recent years, she lent her voice to Disney’s “Puppy Dog Pals” and “Big City Greens,” a CW “Scooby Doo” special, and appeared on the final season of “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend.”

During her seven years on “SNL,” Molly Shannon had many memorable moments, but the one that stands out the most is her character Mary Katherine Gallagher.

Mary was an overly enthusiastic Catholic schoolgirl who loved the choir and plays. Shannon even starred in the “SNL” spin-off movie, “Superstar,” as Mary Katherine. The comedian also impersonated Angelina Jolie, Anna Nicole Smith, Bjork, Cate Blanchett, Janis Joplin, and Minnie Driver.  

After leaving “SNL,” she went on to appear in several movies and TV shows. In the early 2000s, she appeared in “Never Been Kissed,” “Wet Hot American Summer,” “Serendipity,” “Glee,” and “Bad Teacher.”

From 2019 to 2023, she played the mom, Pat, in “The Other Two,” a sitcom created by two former “SNL” head writers. She’s also had roles in series such as “Divorce,” “I Love That For You,” and “Better Things.”

Shannon, 60, was part of the ensemble cast of the HBO Max series “The White Lotus” in 2021.

Will Ferrell joined the show in 1995 and quickly created a list of memorable characters. Craig Buchanan, a male cheerleader, became a crowd favorite. Gene Frenckle also became popular in the “more cowbell” sketches. Ferrell’s impersonation of George W. Bush became a staple of the series, including his impressions of Al Gore, Alex Trebek, Dr. Phil, and Elton John. 

After leaving the show, Ferrell starred in several blockbuster comedies, including “Step Brothers,” “Austin Powers,” “Elf,” “Zoolander,” “Anchorman,” “Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby,” and “Blades of Glory.”

He also created the comedy site Funny or Die in 2007 with his former writing partner, Adam McKay. 

In 2023, he appeared in the highest-grossing movie of the year: “Barbie.”

He has recently produced “Booksmart,” “Ibiza,” “Hustlers,” and “Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar.”

In 2024, Ferrell, 57, appeared in the Netflix documentary “Will & Harper,” which documents a road trip taken by Ferrell and his friend Harper Steele, a former writer at “SNL” who transitioned when she was 58.

Darrell Hammond, now 69, had one of the longest runs on “SNL.” Throughout his 14 seasons, he became known as a master impressionist. He portrayed Al Gore, Sean Connery, Bill Clinton, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Rudy Giuliani, and even Walt Disney.

He also famously impersonated Donald Trump, and while many expected him to return to the show to reprise his impression after Trump was elected, producer Lorne Michaels went with Alec Baldwin’s version of the president.

“I was in shock, and I stayed in shock for a long time,” Hammond told The Washington Post when he learned he would not be playing President Trump in 2017. “Everything wiped out. The brand, me, what I do. Corporate appearances canceled. It was a hell of a shock, and all of it was apparent to me in one breath. That ends me.”

Since the show, Hammond has become a New York Times bestselling author with “God, If You’re Not Up There, I’m F—ed.”

He has also returned to “SNL” to become the show’s announcer after longtime announcer Don Pardo died in 2014. 

Fred Wolf became a writer at “SNL” in 1991 and eventually became a co-head writer in 1995. That same year, he also became a cast member. After making the switch, he quit the show and worked with his “SNL” friends on many movies, including “Grown Ups,” “Black Sheep,” and “Tommy Boy.”

In 2019, Wolf, 59, wrote and directed “Drunk Parents,” starring Alec Baldwin and Salma Hayek.

In 1996, Colin Quinn, 65, joined the cast of “SNL.” In five years, Quinn created the Lenny the Lion character and impressions of Elvis Costello and Robert De Niro. 

Since leaving the show, Quinn has turned to stand-up comedy, creating several specials for HBO and Netflix. He has also been featured in movies like “A Night at the Roxbury,” “Grown Ups,” and “Trainwreck.” 

His most recent stand-up special premiered in 2024 on YouTube, entitled “Colin Quinn: Our Time Is Up.”

After joining the show in 1996, Ana Gasteyer created memorable characters that connected with the public like Gayle Gleason in the “Pretty Living” sketches or Margaret Jo McCullin in the “NPR’s Delicious Dish” sketches.

The “Delicious Dish” sketch is where the phrase “schweddy balls” comes from, and has since entered our national lexicon. There’s even a Ben & Jerry’s flavor!

Gasteyer also impersonated Celine Dion, Diane Sawyer, and Barbra Streisand. 

After the show, she shifted to musical theater, appearing on Broadway in “Wicked,” “Rocky Horror,” and “Once Upon a Mattress.” She appeared in the third season of “The Masked Singer” as the Christmas Tree.

But she hasn’t completely left the acting world behind. She’s recently appeared on “Prodigal Son” and in the Netflix movie Wine Country, which features a long list of “SNL” alums. 

From 2021 to 2023, she led the NBC sitcom “American Auto.” In 2024, Gasteyer, 57, appeared on the Apple TV+ series “Loot.”

Chris Kattan, 53, is most known for his head-thumping, nightclub-loving character, Doug Butabi, who Kattan played opposite Will Ferrell. The two actors took the characters and created a successful “SNL” spin-off movie called “A Night at the Roxbury.” Kattan also played other characters, including Gay Hitler, Mango, and goth Azrael Abyss. 

Since then, Kattan has written a book about his experiences on “SNL,” entitled “Baby Don’t Hurt Me,” which came out in 2019.

In 2022, Kattan appeared on the third season of “Celebrity Big Brother” in the US.

Tracy Morgan, 55, performed on “SNL” from 1996 to 2003, and during that time, he created famous characters, including Astronaut Jones, Safari Jones, and Bishop Don “Mack” Donald. Morgan also impersonated Aretha Franklin, Joe Jackson, and Samuel L. Jackson. 

When he left the show, Morgan starred in the NBC comedy “30 Rock” alongside fellow “SNL” alum Tina Fey until 2013. He’s also been in many movies, including “Death at a Funeral,” “What Men Want,” and “The Night Before.”

In 2014, Morgan was in a serious crash when a truck rear-ended his limo. He suffered life-threatening injuries but made a full recovery 16 months later. He then returned to the “SNL” stage to host. 

“I’m back. It feels so good to be here. You may have seen on the news I was in a terrible car accident a year ago. It was awful. But it also showed me how much love and support I have in this world,” Morgan said during the live show.

From 2018 to 2021, he starred in his own sitcom on TBS titled “The Last OG.” He also was in “Coming 2 America” alongside Eddie Murphy, and played the Easter Bunny in the Disney+ series “The Santa Clauses.”

Jimmy Fallon, now 50, was a cast member from 1998 to 2004. During that time, he became known for breaking character in sketches. He’d often be caught smirking or laughing on the live show. Fallon almost always broke during the cowbell sketches and can be seen laughing in the famous “Debbie Downer” sketch.

Additionally, he was known for his impersonations, which included Adam Sandler, Carson Daly, Justin Timberlake, and Hilary Swank. Fallon also hosted “Weekend Update” with Tina Fey from 2000 to 2004.  

After leaving “SNL,” he starred in a number of movies, including “Taxi” with Queen Latifah and “Fever Pitch” with Drew Barrymore. He’s also starred as himself in a variety of films such as “Jurassic World,” “Spirited,” “Marry Me,” and “Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping.”

In 2008, however, he returned to NBC to start “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.” Just a few years later, in 2013, Fallon was offered to host “The Tonight Show,” which he still hosts today. He also hosted the Golden Globes in 2017.

Chris Parnell, 57, was fired twice from “SNL.” In 2001, he was let go because of budget cuts but was rehired the same year. In 2006, he was let go again for the same reason, according to Vulture.

Despite the tumultuous journey, Parnell had memorable characters on the show, including Merv the Perv Watson and Alan “Sticks” McRae. He was also included in the famous “More Cowbell” sketches.

One of Parnell’s defining sketches was alongside Andy Samberg: the digital short “Lazy Sunday.” It’s been credited with helping YouTube become the behemoth that it is today — people wanted to watch it over and over again, and they were only able to find it on YouTube.

After 2006, Parnell starred with fellow “SNL” cast member Horatio Sanz on the Comedy Central show “Big Lake.” Parnell also shifted to voice acting, lending his voice to “Hotel Transylvania,” “Archer,” and “Rick and Morty.”

Last year, he appeared in the Disney+ sequel to “Home Alone,” called “Home Sweet Home Alone.” In 2022, he voiced Jerry in “Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers,” appeared in “Senior Year,” and voiced George Washington in “Night at the Museum: Kahmunrah Rises Again.”

Parnell is also the voice of the Progressive commercials.

Like Jimmy Fallon, Horatio Sanz was known for breaking character in his eight seasons of the show. Sanz was also the show’s first Latino cast member. Beyond that, he was also known for characters like Gobi from the “Jarret’s Room” sketches. 

Since then, Sanz appeared in several movies, including “Step Brothers,” “May the Best Man Win,” and “Year One.” In 2009, he played a male nanny in ABC’s “In the Motherhood.”

More recently, the 55-year-old has appeared in “Ralph Breaks the Internet,” “GLOW,” “Love,” and “The Mandalorian.” He also had a minor role in “Clifford the Big Red Dog.”

In August 2021, a lawsuit was filed against Sanz, accusing him of grooming and sexually assaulting a minor in 2002, reported CNN. The woman filed the suit anonymously, as she was only 17 during their alleged interactions. Sanz denied the accusations through a lawyer, calling them “categorically false.” In November 2022, Sanz settled the lawsuit.

Rachel Dratch, 58, made a name for herself on “SNL” with her popular characters, including the make-out-obsessed Bostonian in the “Boston Teen” sketches, the sexaholic wife in the “Lovahs” sketches, and her iconic Debbie Downer. She also took on the coveted impression of Barbara Walters. The Chicago Tribune reported Dratch was the third cast member to be let go in 2006 because of budget cuts.

She immediately jumped into a project with fellow “SNL” alum Tina Fey called “30 Rock.” Dratch was cast as one of the leads, Jenna, but after shooting a pilot episode, the role was rewritten and recast with Jane Krakowski, per The Huffington Post. Dratch made several appearances throughout the series, however, as various other characters. 

Since then, Dratch has appeared in several comedic projects, including “Inside Amy Schumer,” “The Simpsons,” “Unbreakable Kimmy Shmidt,” and “Difficult People.” She also wrote a memoir entitled “Girl Walks Into a Bar…”

In the last few years, Dratch has appeared in Netflix movies like “The Week Of” and “Wine Country,” both of which starred fellow “SNL” alums. She also pops up sporadically on “SNL” to impersonate Amy Klobuchar.

She had a small role in the 2023 animated film “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.”

Jerry Minor was hired in 2000 and only appeared on the show for one season. During that time, he became known for his radio show host character, Grand Master Rap, and his impression of Al Sharpton on “Weekend Update.” 

Since leaving the show, he has come forward to talk about the show’s perceived diversity issues. 

“They have a long way to go, but I think they will change,” he told Salon. Minor went on to appear in several other sketch comedy shows, including “Funny or Die Presents,” “Key and Peele,” and “Comedy Bang! Bang!” 

Most recently, Minor, 55, appeared in “Abbott Elementary” as Mr. Morton, an eighth-grade science teacher who has become cynical after decades of teaching. You might also recognize him from his recurring role on “Community.”

Rolling Stone ranked Tina Fey the third-best cast member in the show’s history. She was initially hired as a writer in 1995, and a few years later, she became the show’s first female head writer. In 2000, she became co-anchor of the “Weekend Update” segment with Jimmy Fallon. She then hosted the segment with Amy Poehler until 2006. 

While working at “SNL,” she wrote and appeared in “Mean Girls,” which became a cult classic. The movie helped make Lindsay Lohan a superstar. 

In 2006, the now-54-year-old officially left the sketch show to start her own scripted comedy, “30 Rock. ” The series followed a producer’s troubles with producing a sketch show. The series struggled with ratings in its first seasons, but it went on to earn 103 Emmy nominations. 

In 2008, Fey also returned to “SNL” to impersonate vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin, which helped increase the show’s ratings by 76% that season, as reported by The Guardian. Fey earned an Emmy Award for the impersonation. 

In 2001, Fey released her bestselling memoir, “Bossypants.” From 2015 to 2019, she co-created, wrote, and produced another successful series, “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” for Netflix. In 2021, she executive produced the Peacock series “Girls5eva,” which recently returned for season three.

Fey helped turn her movie “Mean Girls” into a successful Broadway show by writing the book, or script. The show was nominated for 12 Tony awards, including a nom for best book. In 2024, Fey wrote the screenplay and reprised her role as Ms. Norbury in the movie adaptation of the musical.

Maya Rudolph, 52, became famous for her spot-on impressions of Beyoncé, Diana Ross, Patti Labelle, Oprah, Donatella Versace, and Paris Hilton. Rudolph also developed memorable characters like Jodi Dietz from the “Bronx Beat” sketches and one of the spokesmodels in the “Super Show Case” sketch. 

In 2007, she left the show to spend more time with her daughter. She now has four children with longtime partner Paul Thomas Anderson.

“By the time I had a daughter, it was just the right time for me to leave,” the comedian told Parade. “It’s hard to work on a late-night comedy show and have a baby. I did it and I wouldn’t trade it for anything, but I wouldn’t really recommend it.”

In 2011, Rudolph starred alongside fellow “SNL” Kristen Wiig in the hit film “Bridesmaids.” In 2018, she joined up with “SNL” alum Fred Armisen in the Amazon series “Forever.”

She voices Connie, the Hormone Monstress, in Netflix’s “Big Mouth” and was nominated for back-to-back-to-back Emmys for her role in “The Good Place.”

In 2021, she took home both the Emmys for outstanding guest actress in a comedy series and  outstanding character voice-over performance again, after winning both in 2020, too. She won the same award in 2023 and 2024, as well.

She’s currently starring in the Apple TV+ series “Loot,” for which she was nominated for yet another Emmy. Rudolph can also be seen every Saturday night playing Kamala Harris on “SNL.”

In Dean Edwards’ short time on “SNL,” he created several impressions, including Denzel Washington, Don Cheadle, and Michael Jackson. 

After the show, the now-54-year-old appeared in “Spider-Man 3.” He also hosted a podcast, “The FuthaMuckin Protocol,” which ended five years ago.

Jeff Richards became well known for his Drunk Girl character on “SNL,” but he also impersonated Dr. Phil, Gene Wilder, Lance Bass, Karl Rove, Rush Limbaugh, and Willy Wonka. He was also the first person to be on both “SNL” and “MADtv.”

He has since taken various roles on TV shows like “Aqua Teen Hunger Force,” “Mind of Mencia,” and VH1’s “Hit the Floor.” Richards, 49, still tours with a comedy routine that focuses mainly on impressions, according to his website. 

Over the course of her eight seasons, Amy Poehler created iconic characters like Betty Caruso of “Bronx Beat,” a hyperactive little girl named Kaitlyn, and a one-legged contestant in reality shows named Amber.

She was also known for her impressions of Kelly Ripa, Britney Spears, Michael Jackson, and, most notably, Hillary Clinton. In 2004, she took Jimmy Fallon’s spot as co-anchor of “Weekend Update.” 

While on the show, Poehler, now 53, appeared in blockbuster hits like “Mean Girls” and “Baby Mama” with her fellow “SNL” alum Tina Fey.

After having a baby in 2008, the comedian left “SNL” and starred in “Parks and Recreation.” In “Parks,” she played overeager politician Leslie Knope. Poehler was nominated for several Emmys for this role before the series ended in 2015. 

In 2014, she wrote a memoir entitled “Yes Please,” and in 2016, she won her first Emmy alongside Tina Fey for their return to “SNL” with their impressions of Hillary Clinton and Sarah Palin. 

From 2018 to 2021, she hosted the Emmy-nominated competition show called “Making It” alongside her “Parks” costar Nick Offerman. She also co-created and starred in the animated series “Duncanville” from 2020 to 2022.

In 2024, she reprised her role as Joy in “Inside Out 2,” which has since made $1.6 billion and is the highest-grossing film of 2024 so far.

Additionally, she has produced several successful shows in recent years, including “Broad City” and “Russian Doll,” which was nominated for an Emmy in 2019. She made her directorial debut in 2021 with the Netflix film “Moxie.”

Seth Meyers, 50, joined the show in the early 2000s and eventually rose in the ranks to become co-head writer with Tina Fey. In 2006, after Fey left the show, he started co-anchoring “Weekend Update” with Amy Poehler. From 2008 to 2013, Meyers hosted the segment by himself.

In 2014, Variety revealed that producer Lorne Michaels had tapped Meyers for the empty “Late Night” position after Jimmy Fallon was given “The Tonight Show.” Meyers took over the show in 2014 and still hosts it now.

He also writes for “Documentary Now!” and produced “AP Bio,” which was created by “SNL” alum Mike O’Brien. He also produced the Quibi show “Mapleworth Murders” and the Peacock late-night series “The Amber Ruffin Show.”

In October 2024, his second stand-up special, “Seth Meyers: Dad Man Walking,” will hit HBO.

During Will Forte’s eight seasons on “SNL,” he created several characters, including the creepy politician Tim Calhoun, the bizarre, MacGyver-like hero MacGruber (who was the focus of a theatrical film), and the advertising exec The Falconer.

He was also known for his impressions, which include George W. Bush, Bruce Jenner, Carson Daly, and Macaulay Culkin. In 2010, Forte decided to leave the show.

After his departure, he had stints on Tina Fey’s “30 Rock,” “Conan,” “The Cleveland Show,” “American Dad!” and “Gravity Falls.”

From 2015 to 2018, he starred in his own show, “The Last Man on Earth,” which earned five Emmy nominations. 

Most recently, he lent his talents to 2019’s “Booksmart” and “The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part.” He also took on the mantle of Shaggy in 2020’s “Scoob!” and stars in the animated series “The Great North.”

Forte, 54, also reprised his role of MacGruber in the Peacock revival series in 2021.

In 2025, the actor will have a voice role in “Win or Lose,” the first series produced by Pixar.

Fred Armisen created several memorable characters during his 11 seasons on “SNL.” Some of his best include Garth, who improvised holiday tunes, and Lawrence Welk, who hosted a talk show. Armisen was also popular for his impersonations, which included Joy Behar, President Obama, and Larry King.

In 2013, he decided to leave the show to fully commit to his other show, “Portlandia.”

The now-57-year-old wrote, produced, and starred in “Portlandia,” playing multiple characters opposite Carrie Brownstein. The show won four Emmy Awards and ended in 2018 after seven years. Since then, Armisen has lent his writing and comedic talents to shows like “Documentary Now!,” “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt,” and Netflix’s “Big Mouth.”

He also dabbles in the music world, even becoming the bandleader on “Late Night with Seth Meyers” for a few years.  

He also voiced Cranky Kong in “The Super Mario Bros. Movie..”

Finesse Mitchell’s most well-known character from his three seasons on the show is Starkisha, a woman with a bad attitude. He also did impressions of OJ Simpson, Morgan Freeman, and Venus Williams. According to Indy Week, he was laid off in 2006 due to budget cuts.

Since then, Mitchell, 52, has appeared in a few movies, such as “Who’s Your Caddy?,” “The Comebacks,” and “Mad Money.” He also worked on Disney Channel’s “ANT Farm.” 

Today, he still does stand-up comedy and tours the country. 

Starting in 2003, Kenan Thompson is the longest-running cast member in the show’s history. Over the course of his 21 years on “SNL,” he has made “Black Jeopardy” one of the best recurring sketches, he has perfected his impression of Steve Harvey for the “Family Feud” sketches, and he has made his impression of LaVar Ball a laugh-out-loud triumph. He is also known for his impressions of Don Lemon, LL Cool J, Bill Cosby, and Al Roker. 

In 2018, he was nominated for an Emmy for outstanding supporting actor on “SNL.” He’s since been nominated twice more. He also hosted the Emmys in 2022.

Over the years, he has appeared in TV shows and movies outside the sketch series. For example, you can see Thompson in “Fat Albert,” “Snakes on a Plane,” “The Smurfs,” The Awesomes,” “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt,” “Clifford the Big Red Dog,” and “Home Sweet Home Alone.”

In February 2021, Thompson, now 54, also began starring in his own sitcom, aptly titled “Kenan,” which caused many people to speculate he was leaving the sketch show, but “Kenan” was canceled after two seasons in 2022 — though he did score another Emmy nod for the sitcom.

He returned for his 22nd season of “SNL” in 2024.

Former US marine Rob Riggle, 54, only appeared on “SNL” for one season, and in that time, he mimicked Toby Keith, Howard Dean, and Mark McGuire. He also played Larry the Cable Guy on the show. He was let go from the show at the end of the season.

Riggle went on to become a “Daily Show” correspondent, covering military affairs until 2008. 

Since then, he has appeared in several films, including “My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2,” “22 Jump Street,” and “Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax,” “The Hangover,” “Step Brothers,” and “Talladega Nights.”

In recent years, he’s been seen in “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” and “American Dad!” He also hosted the mini golf-inspired reality competition “Holey Moley” from 2019 to 2022.

Jason Sudeikis joined the cast in 2005 and lasted nine seasons. During that time, he created several memorable characters, including The Devil who would come out during “Weekend Update.” Sudeikis was also popular for his impressions of George W. Bush, Joe Biden, and Mitt Romney. In 2013, he announced on “The Late Show with David Letterman” that he was leaving the show.

Since his departure, Sudeikis, 49, has starred in several movies, including “Horrible Bosses,” “Sleeping With Other People,” and “We’re the Millers.” In 2019, he appeared in “Booksmart,” directed by his former fiancée, Olivia Wilde, and lent his voice to the “Angry Birds” films.

But, obviously, he’s now best known as a mustachioed soccer coach with a heart of gold. He co-created and starred in the Apple TV+ series “Ted Lasso” in the titular role. He raked in the awards for the show, which earned 61 Emmy nominations and 13 wins across its three seasons. He even took home Emmy statues for both producing and acting in the show two years in a row.

Hader joined “SNL” in 2005. He regularly portrayed the character Stefon on “Weekend Update,” a city correspondent of sorts who gave quirky recommendations about clubs and destinations in New York City.

Since leaving the “SNL” cast in 2013, the 46-year-old starred alongside former “SNL” cast member Kristen Wiig in the 2014 film “The Skeleton Twins.” He also voiced the character of Fear in the Pixar film “Inside Out” and starred in “Trainwreck” with Amy Schumer.

He starred on the HBO show “Barry” from 2018 to 2023. He also co-created the series and earned back-to-back Emmys for his performance. Hader has also starred in the sequel to “IT,” simply titled “IT: Chapter Two,” and the Disney+ movie “Noelle.”

Hader is dating another A-list comedian, Ali Wong.

Samberg, now 46, became an “SNL” cast member in 2005. Before joining the cast, Samberg was a part of a comedy group called the Lonely Island (which consists of Samberg, Akiva Schaffer, and Jorma Taccone).

Samberg spent seven years as part of the “SNL” cast, popularizing the digital short format, before resigning. In 2024, he shared more about why he chose to leave on an episode of Kevin Hart’s show, “Hart to Hart.”

“Physically, it was taking a heavy toll on me and I got to a place where I was like I hadn’t slept in seven years basically,” he said. “I just kinda fell apart physically.”

Samberg’s acting career didn’t end after “SNL.” He starred as Jake Peralta in the comedy series “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” from 2013 to 2021, a performance for which he received a Golden Globe. He married musician Joanna Newsom in September 2013, and the couple has two kids.

In 2020, Samberg co-starred with Cristin Milioti in “Palm Springs” and was once again nominated for a Golden Globe.

Season 50 of “SNL” has been great for Samberg and Lonely Island fans. He’s been tapped to play Doug Emhoff, our second gentleman, throughout the season, but that’s not all. During the October 5 episode, a new digital short starring Samberg and Schaffer aired for the first time since 2018.

Best known for her portrayal of characters Gilly, Penelope, and the beloved Target clerk, Kristen Wiig was an “SNL” star for seven years starting in 2005. 

In 2012, the same year she left the “SNL” cast, she was named one of Time’s 100 most influential people in the world. One of her most iconic film moments was her lead role in the 2011 comedy “Bridesmaids” alongside “SNL” veteran Maya Rudolph. Wiig also wrote the film. She has also starred in the all-female reboot of “Ghostbusters” and the trippy Darren Aronofsky film “Mother!”

Wiig, 51, has made guest appearances on “SNL” since she left the cast, and joined the Five-Timers Club during season 49.

Recently, she starred in the hilarious “Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar” and the Apple TV+ series “Palm Royale,” which garnered Wiig another Emmy nomination in 2024.

Casey Wilson was part of the “Saturday Night Live” cast for two seasons before being let go. The show “was great, but it was hard,” she told Entertainment Weekly.

She has since starred in several TV series and films, including the movie “Bride Wars,” which she also cowrote, and the film “Gone Girl.” She’s probably best known for her role as Penny in “Happy Endings.” She appeared in “The Shrink Next Door” on Apple TV+ alongside “SNL” star Will Ferrell in 2021.

Wilson, 43, is also the co-host of three successful podcasts.

Michaela Watkins, 52, joined “SNL” for one season from 2008 to 2009.

She has since starred in numerous TV series, including “The New Adventures of Old Christine,” “New Girl,” and “The Goldbergs.” She was also in the films “Wanderlust” and “The Back-Up Plan.” Most recently, she appeared in the Ben Affleck film, “The Way Back,” and six episodes of “Search Party.”

In 2023, she appeared in four films: “You Hurt My Feelings,” “The Young Wife,” “Paint,” and “Suze.”

Bobby Moynihan was part of the “SNL” cast from 2008 until 2017. Moynihan, now 47, made “SNL” audiences laugh at his portrayal of Snooki from “Jersey Shore” and his iconic “Drunk Uncle” character, who often appeared in the show’s “Weekend Update” segment.

Following his time as an “SNL” cast member, Moynihan voiced Mel in “The Secret Life of Pets” and the film’s sequel.

He also appeared in “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” and has voiced other animated characters for multiple children’s series. He most recently starred in the NBC sitcom “Mr. Mayor,” co-created by “SNL” alum Tina Fey, which was canceled in 2022 after two seasons.

Abby Elliott was a second-generation “SNL” cast member; her father, Chris Elliott, starred on the show for its 1994-1995 season.

Since her time on “SNL,” Elliott, 37, was featured in “How I Met Your Mother” and “Odd Mom Out.” She starred in “Indebted” alongside Adam Pally and Fran Drescher for one season before it was canceled in 2020.

Now, Elliott is best known for playing Natalie “Sugar” Berzatto in “The Bear.” She was nominated for a Golden Globe for her performance in 2023.

Nasim Pedrad was a part of the “SNL” cast from 2009 until 2014 and was the first Iranian cast member. Pedrad has spoofed iconic cultural figures like Arianna Huffington and Kim Kardashian. She returned in 2018 to make a cameo in the sketch based on Netflix’s “Wild Wild Country.”

According to TV Guide, Pedrad left the show to star in the sitcom “Mulaney,” which was created by “SNL” writer John Mulaney. It only lasted a season.

After the show was canceled, Pedrad, 42, also appeared in “New Girl,” the live-action remake of “Aladdin,” and the Netflix comedy film “Desperados.”

Her show “Chad” finally aired on TBS in 2021, after developing it for five years. It was renewed for a second season in May 2021 but was pulled from the schedule. In 2022, the Roku Channel picked up the series but didn’t air it until 2024. It was finally canceled, for good, in May 2024 after an eight-year journey, per Deadline.

Jenny Slate, 42, starred on “SNL” from 2009 until 2010 and was reportedly fired for cursing during the show, though Slate herself disputed the reasoning for her firing in a 2019 interview with InStyle.

“I just didn’t belong there,” she said. “I didn’t do a good job, I didn’t click. I have no idea how Lorne felt about me. All I know is, it didn’t work for me, and I got fired.”

Slate went on to star in various films and TV shows. She starred in the indie film “Obvious Child” as a comedian, in “Parks and Recreation” as the delightfully terrible Mona Lisa Saperstein, and had a recurring role on the “Kroll Show.” She also starred in “Big Mouth” as Missy Greenwald, though she stepped down in 2020 as Missy is bi-racial, and Slate is not.

Slate also co-created “Marcel the Shell with Shoes On” alongside her then-husband, Dean Fleischer-Camp. A feature film starring Slate as Marcel and Fleischer-Camp was released in 2021 and nominated for the Academy Award for best animated feature.

Slate was in the headlines tangentially when she was dragged into the drama about the film adaptation of “It Ends With Us. ” She costarred in the film alongside Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni, who were rumored to have not gotten along.

Vanessa Bayer spent seven years entertaining “SNL” viewers, and she was nominated for an Emmy in 2017 for her performance on the show. Along with starring on “SNL,” Bayer starred in the TV series “Portlandia” and the film “Trainwreck.”

Bayer, now 42, published her first children’s book, “How Do You Care For a Very Sick Bear?” in June 2019, which she was inspired to write by her own childhood experience battling leukemia, she explained in an interview with Parade.

After leaving the show, she starred in Netflix’s original film “Ibiza,” and in “SNL” alum Tim Robinson’s sketch show “I Think You Should Leave.”

Bayer created, executive produced, and starred in the Showtime series “I Love That for You. ” In it, Bayer played Joanna, an aspiring TV host who lies that her childhood cancer has returned to keep her job. The series was canceled in 2023 after one season.

Jay Pharoah entertained audiences on “SNL” with his impressions of Kanye West and Barack Obama. Pharoah was a cast member from 2010 until 2016 when he was suddenly fired, reported Variety.

The 37-year-old also starred in “Ride Along” with Kevin Hart and has voiced characters in “Family Guy” and the animated film “Sing.” Pharoah also starred in the 2017 Showtime TV show “White Famous,” which only lasted a season.

He currently hosts the Fox game show “The Quiz with Balls” and stars in the Netflix animated reboot of “Good Times,” “Good Times: Black Again.” He co-starred with Christina Milian in the 2021 Netflix rom-com “Resort to Love.”

Paul Brittain joined the “Saturday Night Live” cast in 2010. During his time on the “SNL” stage, he portrayed stars like James Franco and Johnny Depp, as well as public figures like politician Ron Paul.

After leaving the show in 2012, Brittain, 47, went on to voice characters in “Hotel Transylvania” and its sequel and starred in the TV series “Trophy Wife.” His latest film role was in 2023 when he starred in the Netflix animated film “Leo.”

Taran Killam was a member of the “SNL” cast from 2010 until 2016, when he was released from his country. He portrayed President Donald Trump in numerous skits, including during an introduction to the show where he stood next to then-presidential candidate Trump.

Aside from “SNL,” Killam’s notable roles include guest-starring in “How I Met Your Mother” alongside his wife, Cobie Smulders, and in the drama film “12 Years a Slave.”

The 42-year-old has made appearances in various shows following “SNL,” including “Documentary Now!,” a comedy starring other “SNL” alums such as Fred Armisen, Bill Hader, and Seth Meyers. The series pokes fun at documentaries.

He starred in the sitcom “Single Parents” until its cancellation in 2020 and had a role in “American Crime Story: Impeachment.” In 2024, he began appearing in the ABC series “High Potential.”

Tim Robinson starred as an “SNL” cast member from 2012 until 2013. He then spent four years as an “SNL” writer until 2017 and, according to IMDb, wrote for episodes in 2018 and 2019. He is the first person to be hired initially as a performer but then switch to writing.

Since then, he’s gone on to star in and produce other comedy works, like “Detroiters.”

In 2019, Robinson debuted his own Netflix comedy sketch series “I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson.” The third season dropped in May 2023. While a fourth season has not been officially ordered, Robinson said, “It’s not over. I don’t think it’s over,” during a September 2024 podcast interview.

Besides “I Think You Should Leave,” Robinson, 43, starred in the film “Friendship” alongside Paul Rudd and Kate Mara, which premiered at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival. It’s set to be released by A24 in the future, according to Deadline.

Kate McKinnon, 40, is “SNL’s” longest-serving female cast member, holding the record with 11 seasons. She’s won numerous awards for her performances on “Saturday Night Live,” including an Emmy Award for outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series in 2016 and 2017, and a Critics’ Choice Award for best actress in a comedy series in 2016.

Some of McKinnon’s most iconic impersonations include her performances as Hillary Clinton, Ellen DeGeneres, Elizabeth Warren, and Kellyanne Conway.

She’s also starred in the 2016 remake of “Ghostbusters,” “Rough Night,” and “The Spy Who Dumped Me,” as well as in the dramatic film “Bombshell.”

McKinnon is also the show’s first out lesbian cast member — as both Denny Dillon and Danitra Vance were closeted — and only the third out queer cast member overall.

In 2021, she missed the first seven episodes of “SNL’s” 47th season to film “Joe vs. Carole” on Peacock, where she played Carole Baskin.

In May 2022, Variety reported that McKinnon was one of a few veteran cast members leaving the show. But we didn’t have to wait long for more McKinnon. She had a voice role in “DC’s League of Super Pets” and appeared in “Barbie” in 2023. She also returned to 30 Rock to host “SNL” last December.

After joining the “SNL” cast in 2012, Cecily Strong, now 40, played a number of political and cultural figures, from Melania Trump to Khloé Kardashian to Judge Jeanine, plus one of the show’s many original characters, “One-Dimensional Female Character from a Male-Driven Comedy” and immediate classic “Girl You Wish You Hadn’t Started a Conversation with at a Party.”

She also hosted “Weekend Update” alongside Seth Meyers and later Colin Jost.

In 2015, Strong was the featured entertainer at the 2015 White House Correspondents’ Association dinner. She also appeared in the 2016 remake of “Ghostbusters” and starred in the Apple TV+ musical series “Schmigadoon!” from 2021 to 2023.

Just a few hours before the December 17, 2022, episode of “SNL” aired, it was announced that it’d be Strong’s final episode. Host Austin Butler serenaded her with “Blue Christmas” to send Strong off in style.

Aidy Bryant, 37, joined “SNL” in 2012. Known for starring in “Girlfriends Talk Show” and her impressions of Adele and Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Bryant received Emmy nominations for her performances on the show in 2018 and 2021.

Beyond SNL, Bryant has starred in the films “The Big Sick,” “I Feel Pretty,” and the TV series “Girls.” In 2018, she married comedy writer Conner O’Malley.

In 2019, Bryant’s series, “Shrill,” premiered on Hulu. Bryant is the creator and lead character of the show, which explores life, love, and confidence as a plus-size woman. Its third and final season aired in 2021. She also had a voice role on Netflix’s animated series “Human Resources.”

Bryant confirmed her departure from “SNL” with an Instagram post a few days after the season 47 finale.

John Milhiser, 42, starred on “SNL” as a cast member for one season from 2013 until 2014. He was only the show’s second out gay male cast member.

He went on to play roles in Netflix TV series “Love,” the 2016 remake of “Ghostbusters,” and frequently appeared on “Adam Ruins Everything.”

Noël Wells was also an “SNL” cast member for one season, from 2013 until 2014.

After that, she played Rachel on the TV series “Master of None” and played the lead role in 2017 comedy film “Mr. Roosevelt.”

Wells, 37, stars in the animated series Star Trek: Lower Decks. She also released her debut album, “It’s So Nice,” in 2019.

Mike O’Brien was an “SNL” writer from 2009 through 2013. He appeared as a featured player from 2013 until 2014, then continued writing on the show for two more years.

Outside of “SNL,” O’Brien, 48, has starred in and written for a variety of TV series and films. He created the NBC (then Peacock) comedy series “AP Bio,” which was canceled in 2021,  and also made a brief appearance in the 2019 comedy “Booksmart.”

Brooks Wheelan starred in the “SNL” cast from 2013 until 2014 when he announced he wasn’t returning with the instantly iconic post, “FIRED FROM NEW YORK IT’S SATURDAY NIGHT!”

Memorable moments from Wheelan’s run with “SNL” include a sketch in which Melissa McCarthy hit him in the head with a camera, as well as his impressions of Harry Styles and Matthew McConaughey.

After “SNL,” Wheelan, now 38, made appearances in “Girls” and “Hawaii Five-0.” He also starred in “Big Hero 6: The Series” from 2017 to 2019. He guest-starred in an episode of Mike O’Brien’s show “AP Bio” in 2019. He hosts the podcast “Entry Level with Brooks Whelan,” which posts episodes sporadically.

Kyle Mooney joined the “SNL” cast in 2013. He’s known for hosting man-on-the-street-style interviews and doing impressions of celebrities such as Baby Yoda, Bradley Cooper, Macklemore, and Jeff Bezos.

In addition to “SNL,” Mooney, 40, has most recently starred in “Miracle Workers” and “Arrested Development.” He also starred in and cowrote the 2017 film “Brigsby Bear.” Additionally, he co-created “Saturday Morning All-Star Hits!” on Netflix.

Mooney left “SNL” after season 47. Since then, he has made his directorial debut with the film “Y2K,” which stars Rachel Zegler and Jaeden Martell — Mooney also has a small role in the film. It premieres in December after screening for the first time at SXSW in March 2024.

Beck Bennett, 40, joined “Saturday Night Live” in 2013. A few of Bennett’s notable performances include impersonations of Mitch McConnell, Vladimir Putin, and Mike Pence. He’s also known for his iconic AT&T “It’s not complicated” campaign.

Bennett and his “SNL” costar Kyle Mooney have been best friends since they attended USC together and joined the cast the same year. They also co-starred in the 2017 film “Brigsby Bear,” which Mooney wrote. In 2020, he appeared in “Bill & Ted Face the Music,” as Ted’s younger brother.

Ahead of the season 47 premiere, Bennett announced he was leaving the show after eight seasons.

Post-“SNL,” Bennett had a voice role in the Oscar-nominated animated film “The Mitchells vs. the Machines” and wrapped up his role in “DuckTales.” In 2025, he’ll join the DCU as Tom Lombard in “Superman.”

Colin Jost has been an “SNL” writer since 2005, according to NBC. In 2014, the 42-year-old joined the cast midseason as a co-anchor of the “Weekend Update” series, replacing Seth Meyers, who left to host “Late Night with Seth Meyers.”

He was a head writer on the show from 2017 to 2022.

In May 2019, Jost and Scarlett Johansson got engaged. She then hosted the show in December 2019, exhibiting some rare PDA. They tied the knot in 2020 and welcomed a son in 2021. He had a small role in her 2024 film, “Fly Me to the Moon.”

He released his memoir, “A Very Punchable Face,” in July 2020, and he starred in the live-action “Tom and Jerry” film in February 2021. He and fellow “SNL” star Pete Davidson — with whom he bought a decommissioned Staten Island ferry — are going to costar in a wedding comedy “Worst Man,” according to Variety.

Sasheer Zamata, 38, was a part of the “SNL” cast from 2014 until 2017. She’s known for her hilarious portrayals of Beyoncé, Diana Ross, Michelle Obama, and others. When she was hired in 2014, she became the first Black woman on the show since Maya Rudolph’s departure in 2007.

In 2015, Zamata was announced as the American Civil Liberty Union’s Celebrity Ambassador for the Women’s Rights Project.

The actor, comedian, and writer also went on to host her own show called “Sasheer Zamata Party Time” in 2017. She currently co-hosts the “Best Friends” podcast with “Nailed It!” co-host Nicole Byer.

Zamata also starred in the Hulu series “Woke” and currently appears on the Disney+ Marvel series “Agatha All Along.”

In September 2024, Zamata came out as a lesbian during an interview with Them. That makes her the third Black queer cast member in the show’s history.

When Leslie Jones joined the “SNL” cast in 2014, she became the oldest person to join, at 47, according to E! News. Previously, the oldest actors to join as cast members were George Coe and Michael McKean.

Jones’ performances on “SNL” earned her a 2018 Emmy nomination and placed her on Time’s 100 Most Influential People in the World list in 2017. 

Outside “SNL,” Jones, now 57, has also starred in “Ghostbusters” and “Mastermind.”

Variety reported in August 2019 that Jones would not return for season 45. Instead, she starred in the “Coming 2 America” sequel, hosted the new version of “Supermarket Sweep,” and released a new stand-up special “Time Machine” on Netflix. Jones also recurred in the Max series “Our Flag Means Death.”

Pete Davidson joined “SNL” in 2014. Davidson, now 30, was one of the youngest members of the current cast for years, according to NBC. He was also the first cast member to be born in the ’90s. His “SNL” performances landed him a spot on Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list in 2016 at age 22. 

Beyond his career in comedy, Davidson’s name made headlines in 2018 following his and former fiancée Ariana Grande’s relationship and ultimate split. He went on to publicly date Kate Beckinsale, Kaia Gerber, Phoebe Dynevor, Kim Kardashian, Chase Sui Wonders, and, most recently, Madelyn Cline, though they broke up in July 2024.

Davidson cowrote a film with Judd Apatow called “The King of Staten Island,” which debuted in 2020 to video-on-demand services. He also voiced Marmaduke in the Netflix film of the same name, and had small roles in “The Suicide Squad” and “I Want You Back.”

In 2022, he starred alongside Kaley Cuoco in the rom-com “Meet Cute” and appeared in the A24 horror satire “Bodies Bodies Bodies.” He also officially announced his departure from “SNL” during the season 47 finale. He returned to host in season 49.

Since then, he has created and starred in his own Peacock show, “Bupkis.” According to Variety, the show ended after one season because Davidson decided he did not want to continue it, even though it had been renewed for a second season.

Michael Che, 41, has starred on “SNL” since 2014. Che cohosts the show’s “Weekend Update” segment with Colin Jost. The comedian has garnered headlines and awards for his work on and off “SNL,” and he cohosted the Emmy Awards in 2018 with Jost. 

Since joining the “SNL” cast, Che has released an hourlong comedy special, “Michael Che: Shame the Devil” on Netflix and starred in his own sketch show on Max called “That Damn Michael Che,” which aired for two seasons.

Jon Rudnitsky was the only cast member to join “SNL” for season 41, and he only lasted for a season. Among Rudnitsky’s notable “SNL” moments were his impressions of John Mayer, Vladimir Putin, and CNN anchors Anderson Cooper and Wolf Blitzer.

Since then, Rudnitsky, 34, has starred in the 2017 romantic comedy “Home Again,” the Netflix TV series “Red Oaks,” the Netflix romantic comedy “Set It Up,” and the Hulu adaptation of “Catch-22.”

In 2024, Rudnitsky appeared in the films “I Love You Forever” and “Our Little Secret.” Next year, his movie “Stealing Pulp Fiction” will be released.

Melissa Villaseñor joined the “SNL” cast in 2016. Villaseñor’s character portrayals have included Lady Gaga, Celine Dion, Sarah Silverman, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. When she was hired in 2016, she became the first Latina cast member in the show’s history.

The 37-year-old has also voiced roles in “Toy Story 4” and “Ralph Breaks the Internet.”

Villaseñor’s departure ahead of season 48 of “SNL” was announced by Deadline in September 2022. Since leaving, she’s mainly focused on voice acting.

Mikey Day, 44, was a writer for “SNL’s” 39th season in 2014 before joining the cast in 2016. Day’s impersonations of Donald Trump Jr. and Prince Harry are among his most iconic performances.

His recent impression of Butthead from “Beavis and Butthead” broke both the internet and his cast members, most notably Heidi Gardner. Day and Ryan Gosling (his on-screen Beavis) even walked the red carpet of “The Fall Guy” together.

Outside the show, Day co-wrote and appeared in the “Home Alone” reboot “Home Sweet Home Alone,” and has appeared in films such as “Little,” “Brittany Runs a Marathon,” and “Hubie Halloween.” He also hosts the Netflix show “Is It Cake?“

Alex Moffat joined “SNL” in 2016 and became famous for his impressions of Eric Trump and Anderson Cooper, and his Weekend Update character “Guy Who Just Bought a Boat.”

Moffat, 42, has also voiced a character in “Ralph Breaks the Internet.” He’s recently been in movies like “The Opening Act,” “80 for Brady” and “Dating in New York.” Moffat also has a recurring role in the Apple TV+ series “Bad Monkey” and appeared in four episodes of “The Bear.”

Moffat was one of the comedians who left “SNL” ahead of season 48 in 2022.

Chris Redd joined the “SNL” cast as a featured player in 2017. Redd, now 39, won an Emmy for his “SNL” original song, “Come Back, Barack.”

Prior to “SNL,” Redd starred in the TV show “Disjointed” alongside Kathy Bates, as well as the film “Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping.” He recently starred in “Candy Cane Lane,” and also co-starred in “Kenan.”

Redd co-created the Peacock series “Bust Down,” which he also stars in. It premiered in March 2022.

Redd announced his departure from the sketch show after five seasons in September 2022.

Heidi Gardner joined the “SNL” cast in 2017 and has played a range of characters, from Angel, the stereotypical movie boxer’s girlfriend, to a teen movie critic named Bailey Gismert. 

Gardner, 41, also starred alongside Melissa McCarthy in “Life of the Party.” Recently, she appeared in the second season of “Girls5eva” and the first season of “Shrinking.”

Luke Null joined the “SNL” cast in 2017 and spent one season on the show. He starred in a variety of memorable sketches from season 43, including “Late for Class” with actress Saoirse Ronan.

In an interview with Vulture, the 34-year-old said following his short time on the show, he’s spending his time working on an album and writing comedy songs. The album, “Guitar Comic,” was released in 2019.

Ego Nwodim, 36, joined “SNL” in 2018. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Nwodim shared her excitement for joining the cast and pitching ideas for her own sketches, saying, “I have had a few pitches make it through, and that feels like a freaking celebration.”

At this point in her tenure, she’s had multiple viral hits and characters, including Lisa from Temecula and Charlotte the Stingray.

Ahead of season 46, Nwodim was promoted to repertory player. She also appeared in the 2020 rom-com “The Broken Hearts Gallery,” the 2022 film “Spin Me Round,” and the 2024 Netflix rom-com “Players.”

Nwodim also appeared in two episodes of “Love Life,” an episode of the Apple TV+ anthology series “Roar,” and has a main role in the Peacock series “Mr. Throwback.”

Bowen Yang joined “SNL” for the 44th season as a writer. During that season, he wrote popular sketches like “Cheques,” which starred host Sandra Oh. He also appeared on the show as Kim Jong-Un while still a writer.

In September 2019, it was announced that Yang was transitioning from writer to actor on SNL. He became the first Chinese-American cast member in the show’s history and the sixth out gay cast member.

He wrote and starred in the instantly iconic “Sara Lee” sketch and as the iceberg from “Titanic” during Weekend Update. Yang became the first featured player to get nominated for an Emmy in 2021. He was then promoted to repertory player for season 47, and subsequently received another Emmy nod. He was nominated again in 2024.

Simultaneously, Yang, 33, co-hosts a popular podcast called “Las Culturistas.” He has appeared in “High Maintenance” and “Broad City” and starred in the Comedy Central series “Nora from Queens.” Forbes named him among the 30 Under 30 in the entertainment category in 2019.

Since joining “SNL” and becoming one of its true breakout stars, Yang has appeared in movies such as “Fire Island,” “Bros,” “The Lost City,” “Dicks: The Musical,” and “The Garfield Movie.”

This November, he’ll appear in “Wicked: Part 1,” one of the most anticipated movies of the year — but that busy schedule hasn’t slowed him down. Yang has already delivered a hilarious performance as Moo Deng, the pygmy hippo, during season 50.

Chloe Fineman, 36, made a name for herself on Instagram, garnering thousands of followers by impersonating some of the world’s biggest names. Her most-viewed video is her impression of Elizabeth Holmes, the eccentric Theranos founder. 

She has also impersonated Melania Trump, Timothée Chalamet, Gigi Hadid, JoJo Siwa, Drew Barrymore, Maisie Williams, and Jennifer Lawrence. 

She was promoted to repertory player ahead of season 47.

Outside of “SNL,” Fineman has appeared in films such as “White Noise,” “Babylon,” “Despicable Me 4,” and “Megalopolis.”

Dismukes, 29, was announced as one of the three new additions for season 46. As local news outlet KVUE reported, Dismukes first got attention after performing at a Montreal comedy festival soon after he graduated from college in 2017. 

According to IMDb, he’s been writing at “SNL” since season 43 but was bumped up to an on-camera role in 2020.

Holt, 33, was the second of three comedians to be added for season 46. Her first on-screen role was in the music video for Lady Gaga’s powerful song about sexual assault, “Til It Happens to You.” After that, she appeared in multiple shorts and the YouTube series “The Filth.” She also was a frequent performer at the Upright Citizen’s Brigade.

Lorne Michaels told Vulture that Holt was actually supposed to be brought in at the end of season 45, but due to the pandemic, it was postponed until the following season.

Holt did not return for season 47.

Since leaving the show, she had a small role in “Barbie” and will appear in the 2025 film “You’re Cordially Invited” alongside Will Ferrell and Reese Witherspoon.

Johnson, 39, was the third and final comedian added for season 46. She’s been steadily working in comedy for years, appearing in shows such as “Space Force,” “Crank Yankers,” “A Black Lady Sketch Show,” and “Adam Ruins Everything,” among others.

Johnson is only the second Black gay cast member in “SNL” history, after Danitra Vance back in the ’80s. (Sasheer Zamata came out years after she appeared on the show.)

Besides “SNL,” Johnson has also been in “Space Force,” “Love Life,” “Bottoms,” and “Ghosts.”

In August 2024, Johnson announced on Instagram that she would not be returning for season 50.

Athari, 33, has been part of the comedy scene for years. He was part of former “Patriot Act” host Hasan Minhaj’s sketch comedy group Goatface (along with “WandaVision’s” Asif Ali). Goatface starred in a Comedy Central special in 2018, per GQ.

He also appeared in the comedy series “The Coop,” and, probably most famously, in the final season of “Silicon Valley.”

During season 47, Athari was able to turn his character Angelo into a recurring sketch, but it wasn’t enough for him to stay for a second season. Deadline announced his departure in September 2022.

After leaving the show, Athari appeared in two episodes of “Hacks.” In 2025, he’ll have a role in “M3GAN 2.0,” the highly anticipated sequel to “M3GAN.”

Sherman, 31, was one of three featured players added to the cast of season 47.

Her credits include time as a creative consultant for “The Eric Andre Show,” writing for “Magic for Humans” and “Sarah Vaccine,” and appearing in “The Megan Stalter Show,” “Magical Girl Friendship Squad,” and “Winner Winner Dinner Dinner.”

Sherman made a solid impression during her first season, most notably as a correspondent on Weekend Update as a version of herself dedicated to getting Colin Jost canceled. Since then, Sherman has become a reliably kooky presence on the show.

In 2023, she played a rabbi in “You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah.”

Johnson, the last addition for season 47, is best known for his uncanny Trump impression that went viral in 2020 (see this video of him as Trump complaining about Scooby Doo).

He’s also appeared in episodes of various shows, such as “All Rise,” “Tuca & Bertie,” “Future Man,” and “Better Call Saul.”

Johnson, 35, also has a recurring role on the animated series “Fairview” and appeared on the Netflix miniseries “The G Word.” He voiced the character Pouchy in “Inside Out 2.” Later this year, he’ll appear in the Bob Dylan biopic “A Complete Unknown.”

During season 47, Johnson became the go-to Trump impersonator, a role that he still holds today.

Hernandez is the fourth Latino cast member in history, and he brought a sizeable following with him. He had 35,800 followers on Instagram and an impressive 344,000 followers on TikTok — that’s since ballooned to 1.4 million and 2 million followers, respectively.

The 27-year-old was promoted to repertory status for season 50. Since he joined, Hernandez has become a certified short king and internet boyfriend after his appearances on “Weekend Update” talking about men’s mental health and baseball players, his sketches with Pedro Pascal, and, most recently, as Mr. Steal-Yo-Girl, Domingo.

Kearney, 32, was one of the four new cast members announced for season 48 and made “SNL” history: They were the first nonbinary cast member in the sketch show’s history.

In addition to “SNL,” their screen credits include the short film “Significant Others,” the Prime Video series “A League of Their Own,” and the Disney+ series “The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers.”

The comedian left the sketch show after two seasons, reported Variety.

Longfellow, 30, was another addition to the cast for season 48. He’s done stand-up on “Conan,” “Laugh After Dark,” and “Bring the Funny.” He also appeared on one episode of the series “How to Be Broke.”

He was promoted to repertory status ahead of season 50.

Walker, 33, was the final addition to the season 48 cast. His most prolific credit before “SNL” was his work as a writer on Phoebe Robinson’s Freeform sitcom “Everything’s Trash.” He’s also done stand-up on Comedy Central.

He was promoted to repertory status ahead of season 50.

Troast, 27, was the only new cast member added for season 49. Even though she had a few breakout sketches like “Little Orphan Cassidy” and “Get That Boy Back,” she was not asked back for season 50.

“Hey all, I was going to wait to post, but Deadline beat me to it. Unfortunately, I was not asked back to ‘SNL’ this season. I wish I was going back to be with all the amazing friends I made there, it truly felt like home. But it wasn’t in the cards,” she wrote on Instagram.

Fans were not happy with the decision.

Padilla, 31, is one of three comedians who joined “SNL” for its 50th season. Prior to the show, she appeared in “Night Court,” “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” and the film “Summer Camp.”

Wakim is the second new cast member of “SNL 50,” and the first Lebanese-American on the show. The 26-year-old has performed stand-up on “The Tonight Show” and was named one of Vulture’s “Comedians You Should Know” before he was announced as part of the cast.

Wickline is the most well-known of the three new additions to the cast. The 25-year-old has 1 million followers on TikTok and 45.7 million likes on the platform.

Of the three newbies, Wickline has also had the most screen time. She had a solo slot during “Weekend Update” and a prominent role in this “Water Park” sketch.