Devon Walker Exits Saturday Night Live After 3 Seasons

Devon Walker is saying goodbye to being live from New York.

As a devoted admirer, I’m compelled to share some exciting news! Our hilarious star has announced his departure from the legendary Saturday Night Live, having completed three seasons of pure entertainment. He gracefully expressed this change on Instagram, August 25th, with a heartfelt backstage photo and a caption that tugs at our hearts: “Me and baby (SNL) have parted ways.

In his post, Devon elaborated on his decision to depart, stating that working in this particular field feels akin to having multiple short-term relationships.

The 34-year-old pointed out that while some careers may provide longevity if things go well, many tend to be short-lived instead.

For three years, I shared the stage with that show, and there were times when it was genuinely exciting. However, there were also moments when it felt incredibly toxic. Despite all the chaos and dysfunction, we managed to make the best of the situation. We became an oddly functional unit in our own twisted way.

Devon, famed for his impersonations of Michael Strahan, Eric Adams (New York’s mayor), and others, expressed gratitude towards his fellow comedians and Saturday Night Live writers Alex English and Gary Richardson. He jokingly noted that the trio transitioned from managing a bar show to collaborating at 30 Rock!

TopMob News has reached out to NBC for comment about Devon’s departure but has not heard back. 

Currently, the actor has grand aspirations for his post-sketch show career, playfully hinting that upon his return from Japan, he intends to lead in a high-end drama. In his own words, “Ideally, something featuring Julianne Moore.

After the recent update, numerous individuals expressing their thoughts on Devon’s departure in the comments seemed disappointed. Chloe Fineman, a fellow star on Saturday Night Live, poignantly remarked, “I’ll really miss playing your expectant wife continually!!!

Currently, there’s no word from other cast members that they will be departing the show prior to its 51st season. However, several have been open about the demanding nature of their roles, particularly concerning the compensation, as expressed by Pete Davidson.

In a conversation with New York Magazine in December, the 31-year-old expressed, “Are you aware of our wages? They pay us around $3,000 per episode, which means a nice dinner is on me.

Jason Sudeikis, a former costar, commented, “The earnings aren’t substantial enough for major acquisitions. I believe that my NYC rental, following my initial year of writing on SNL, was likely my largest purchase.

Eager to discover more stars who might have slipped your memory from their time on Saturday Night Live? Dive in further!

Prior to becoming a star in the Marvel Universe as Iron Man, Robert Downey Jr. was once a cast member of Saturday Night Live (SNL) during its 1985-1986 season. It was during this time that Lorne Michaels, creator of SNL, returned to the show after an absence of five years. This particular season was referred to as “The Weird Year” in the documentary SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night, a period when the show was facing possible cancellation.

In his own words, Robert Downey Jr. acknowledged that his tenure on the show was not groundbreaking, but he cherishes this time as it served as valuable training for him. In fact, he stated in an interview with Howard Stern that hosting SNL again in 1996 was one of the most exhilarating experiences one could have on Earth.

Actor Rob Riggle, who you might know from “Let’s Be Cops,” was once a featured performer on Saturday Night Live (SNL) between 2004 and 2005. If you’re seeking guidance on manifesting your dreams, he could be a great person to consult since he transformed his aspirations of becoming an SNL cast member after initially training to become a pilot.

In a 2024 episode of the Diggin’ Deep Podcast, Rob recounted that he had never quit anything in his life. He explained that if he were to give up on something, it needed to be significant and meaningful. In his autobiography, he wrote down his goal of performing on Saturday Night Live. Ten years later, amidst two wars, a marriage, and the birth of a child, Rob made his debut on Saturday Night Live in September 2004, almost exactly as he had planned. He emphasized that by writing down and committing to his goals, one can make them a reality.

It was through Saturday Night Live that Rob got his start in show business. In a 2023 interview with The A.V. Club, he added that appearing on the show was a lifelong dream come true for him.

Role: Prominent actor on SNL
Duration on SNL: A brief stint in 1989, approximately four episodes

Ben Stiller’s tenure on Saturday Night Live was quite fleeting.

In the words of The New York Times, the man behind Zoolander graced the sketch comedy series for merely four episodes. And he can still recollect Lorne Michaels’ response when he decided to depart.

“He simply said, ‘Well, Ben’s going to do what Ben’s going to do,'” Stiller recalled during a 2025 episode of The New York Times’ The Interview podcast, mimicking Lorne’s voice. “It wasn’t fantastic, but I knew that I couldn’t excel there because I wasn’t skilled at live performances.”

Ben admitted he became too anxious during the show, “didn’t find enjoyment in it” and preferred creating short films instead. Furthermore, he was intrigued by the prospect of The Ben Stiller Show on MTV in 1990.

“Saturday Night Live had been my dream,” the Severance director reminisced about his decision to leave, “but looking back, I can’t quite recall how I managed it, but for some reason, I followed that impulse.”

However, Ben has periodically revisited-hosting in 1998 and 2011 as well as making unexpected appearances over time.

Occupation: Writer (Bob Odenkirk)
Period at SNL: 1987 – 1995

You should let your friends know that Bob Odenkirk, who is well-known for his role in ‘Better Call Saul,’ was previously a writer on ‘Saturday Night Live.’ In particular, he penned the popular sketch featuring the late Chris Farley as Matt Foley-a motivational speaker living by the river in a van.

During a 2021 episode of The Howard Stern Show, Bob mentioned that he wrote this sketch on his own at his apartment in Chicago while they were performing together at Second City. He also shared that it is one of the few sketches where the original idea came to him immediately, and Chris Farley took it to new heights.

The actor even received an Emmy for his work on SNL. However, he has expressed remorse over his behavior during that time.

In a 2021 episode of PeopleTV’s Couch Surfing, Bob confessed, “I wish I hadn’t been such an arrogant young man.” He added, “I had a fantastic opportunity there. I took advantage of it, learned a lot about comedy writing, and made lifelong friends. But if only I had handled things better.

Laurie Metcalf only made brief appearances on Saturday Night Live, with two cameos in 1981 and 1988. If you don’t recall seeing her, it’s likely because those were her only significant roles. During a chat with Seth Meyers, an SNL alum, she recalled that her first appearance was a “man on the street” bit in 1981, while her second was starring alongside Catherine O’Hara in “Laurie Has a Story” in 1988.

In essence, Laurie Metcalf recounted that her brief stint on SNL feels like a dream due to the passage of time and the fast-paced nature of her five-day stay in New York. The Lady Bird actress admitted that it was her initial trip to New York, she didn’t know anyone, and she was put up in a hotel. She wore a business suit and was sent out onto the street with a small camera crew. Being so far outside of her comfort zone, she had no idea what she was doing, but she persevered since there is footage to prove it. Looking back at this experience, Laurie realizes that she was both naive and brave in agreeing to do it: “Okay, you want me to do this? Okay, let’s go.

The anecdote about how Larry David, once a writer for Saturday Night Live, decided to quit his job is full of laugh-out-loud moments.

In an episode of The Howard Stern Show in 2015, Larry shared his experience, explaining that his sketches would often be well-received during rehearsals but then cut repeatedly. This pattern continued until one night, with just five minutes remaining before the show was set to start, another sketch of his was also axed. Larry had reached his limit and decided to confront executive producer Dick Ebersol.

“This show is terrible! It’s trash!” Larry exclaimed to Dick. “I’m leaving! I quit!” And with that, he stormed out into the cold night. However, as he walked home, he realized the financial implications of his decision and returned to work the following week, acting as if nothing had happened.

At the weekly writers’ meeting, Larry sat down amidst the whispers about his outburst. When it was his turn to present ideas, he suggested a circus sketch. To his surprise, he kept his job but only for another year. During this time, he crossed paths with his future Seinfeld co-star, Julia Louis-Dreyfus.

Over the years, Larry has returned to SNL on multiple occasions, even portraying Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders in some episodes.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus was a cast member on Saturday Night Live (SNL) from 1982 to 1985, but she did not enjoy her time on the show very much. She was hired while still in college and, at just 21 years old, went into it naively. However, she learned a lot quickly and considered SNL like a comedy graduate school, which helped shape her future career choices. After leaving SNL, she prioritized finding opportunities that would provide the fun and creative fulfillment she had experienced in improv shows and at Second City in Chicago. Despite not loving her experience on SNL, Julia has returned to the show multiple times, making history as the first female former cast member to host in 2006 and taking on the role twice more.

Damon Wayans’ tenure on Saturday Night Live was short-lived. He revealed in a 2020 interview on The Breakfast Club that he was fired after seven shows, as Lorne Michaels tried to shield him from comparisons with Eddie Murphy who had recently left the show. Wayans, feeling stifled, decided to change his character during a live performance, intentionally getting fired. However, it appears this move ultimately benefited him, as he was later invited back to host the show and went on to create In Living Color.

In more straightforward language: Damon Wayans worked on Saturday Night Live for less than a season in 1986 and was eventually fired after seven shows. He admitted that he purposefully acted out to get himself fired, but this decision led him to host the show later on and ultimately helped him create In Living Color.

Jenny Slate’s tenure at Saturday Night Live wasn’t particularly successful. In a 2017 interview with Sam Jones on Off Camera, she described her time on the show as both good and bad. Although everyone was friendly to her, she felt deeply disappointed in herself as it was one of her childhood dreams. However, the environment was not what she expected – it was more risk-averse than she thought it would be. She recalled envisioning John Belushi, Gilda Radner, and others being wild and unruly, but instead found it to be a television show. Despite only being on the show for one season, her experience left her feeling humiliated and developed stage fright, causing her to temporarily abandon stand-up comedy. However, she chose not to let this setback take away her passion and even got hypnotized to overcome her stage fright.

* Role: Primary cast member
* Time on SNL: 1993-1994
* During her short stint on Saturday Night Live, Sarah Silverman reminisced about her time there during a 2025 episode of The Tonight Show hosted by fellow SNL alum Jimmy Fallon. She spoke fondly of the camaraderie and the shocking behavior of grown-ups she witnessed. There were even physical fights among the cast.
* One memorable activity Silverman engaged in was using tampons to create a unique art form on her office wall. By dipping them in water and whipping them against the wall, they would stick and remain for at least a decade.
* Upon returning to SNL 10-15 years later, she found that the tampon artwork was still preserved in her old office, thanks to producer Mike Shoemaker.

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2025-08-26 04:47