Forgotten Faces: Celebrities Who Once Called SNL Home

We gotta have more cowbell—because Saturday Night Live is ringing in a major milestone.

Saturday Night Live (SNL) is commemorating its 50th season with the airing of SNL50: The Anniversary Special on Sunday, February 16 at 8 p.m. EST, both on NBC and Peacock. This special event will see appearances from a variety of notable figures, such as Adam Driver, Ayo Edebiri, Bad Bunny, Dave Chappelle, Kim Kardashian, Paul McCartney, Miley Cyrus, Pedro Pascal, Sabrina Carpenter, Tom Hanks, Steve Martin, and several others.

As a lifestyle enthusiast, let me share some exciting news with you! The star-studded event I’m referring to will feature an array of former SNL celebrities gracing the stage. Among them are Adam Sandler, Amy Poehler, Chevy Chase, Chris Rock, Eddie Murphy, Will Ferrell, Tina Fey, and Tracy Morgan. Furthermore, you can expect appearances from Fred Armisen, Jason Sudeikis, Jimmy Fallon, John Mulaney, Kate McKinnon, Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Molly Shannon, Pete Davidson, Seth Meyers, Andy Samberg, and many more!

In a recent interview with The New York Times, SNL creator Lorne Michaels expressed his anticipation for the reunion, stating, “There’s going to be a lot of emotional moments seeing people I last saw when they were 25.” So, get ready to witness a remarkable gathering of some of the most talented comedians in one place!

It’s like calling it a grand gathering for the SNL clan, a term Kate herself might use to describe the close-knit atmosphere Lorne Michaels cultivates backstage at Studio 8H, located at New York’s 30 Rockefeller Plaza.

Kate explained to the press, “He aims to foster a family feeling.” She wasn’t just referring to the organization, but also to the audience.

Given the incredible array of stars who have appeared on SNL over the past five decades, it’s possible some famous faces from the show might slip your mind. But don’t fret! We’re here to refresh your memory.

In celebration of Saturday Night Live’s 50th anniversary, here’s a reminder of more celebrities who were once part of the SNL team.

Back in the day, even before Iron Man graced our screens in the Marvel Universe, I was just another enthusiastic fan, part of the Saturday Night Live universe. Yes, you heard that right! The charismatic Robert Downey Jr., a name synonymous with superhero success today, was once a member of this iconic late-night sketch comedy series.

It was during season 11 when I joined the SNL family, coinciding with the return of creator Lorne Michaels, who had taken a five-year hiatus prior to this. The Peacock documentary ‘SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night’ labeled that period as “The Weird Year,” a challenging time for Lorne as he fought tirelessly to prevent the show from being canceled.

As Robert himself admitted on a 2016 episode of The Howard Stern Show, our stint together wasn’t exactly groundbreaking. However, he reflected fondly on those times and acknowledged it as invaluable experience that served as great training for his future endeavors. In fact, when I returned to host SNL in 1996, Robert candidly shared with Howard Stern that it was “probably the most exciting week you can have on Earth.

Role: Main Act in Saturday Night Live (SNL)
Time spent on SNL: 2004-2005

If you’re seeking guidance on manifestation, consider reaching out to Rob Riggle. This Let’s Be Cops star shares his journey from aspiring pilot to gracing the stage of SNL, which he achieved by focusing on his goals and intentions.

He reflected during a 2024 episode of the Diggin’ Deep Podcast that he had never given up on anything in his life. He said, “If I give something up, it has to mean something significant. It needs to count, so what am I going to do about it?” The first thing he wrote down was ‘I’m going to appear on Saturday Night Live,’ in that book. Ten years later, amidst two wars, a marriage, and a child, almost exactly in September 2004, he made his debut on Saturday Night Live. In essence, he got his start in show business with this opportunity. He further shared during a 2023 interview with The A.V. Club that this was his dream come true, as his first job ever was on Saturday Night Live.

Role: Prominent cast member
Time on SNL: A fleeting stint, approximately four episodes in 1989

Ben Stiller had a brief tenure on Saturday Night Live. In fact, according to The New York Times, the star of Zoolander graced the sketch comedy series for merely four episodes. He still recalls Lorne Michaels’ reaction when he decided to quit.

“He said, ‘Alright, Ben’s going to do what Ben’s going to do,'” Stiller recalled during a January 2025 episode of The New York Times‘ The Interview podcast. “It wasn’t great, but I knew that I couldn’t excel there because I wasn’t adept at live performing.”

Stiller admitted he got too anxious on the show and didn’t relish it. He desired to create short films instead, and was intrigued by the idea of doing 1990’s The Ben Stiller Show on MTV.

“Being on Saturday Night Live had been my dream,” the director of Severance reminisced about his decision to leave, “but looking back, I don’t recall exactly how I found the courage, but for some reason, I followed that impulse.”

However, Ben has occasionally returned—hosting in 1998 and 2011 as well as making surprise appearances over the years.

Role: Writer on Saturday Night Live (SNL) from 1987 – 1995

You might want to let your friends know that Bob Odenkirk, who stars as Saul Goodman on Better Call Saul, was previously a writer for SNL. In fact, the famous sketch where Chris Farley played Matt Foley—the motivational speaker living in a van down by the river—was written by him.

During an interview on The Howard Stern Show in 2021, Bob explained that he wrote the sketch alone at his apartment in Chicago while they were working together at Second City. He mentioned that it was one of the few sketches he’d written where the initial idea came to him when he sat down to write, and Chris Farley’s performance took it to another level.

The actor even won an Emmy for his writing on SNL. However, he has shared regrets about his behavior during that time. On a 2021 episode of PeopleTV’s Couch Surfing, Bob admitted, “I wish I wasn’t such a stuck-up young man. I wish I was a sweeter fellow because I had a great opportunity there. I made the most of it and learned a lot about comedy writing, but I still wish I handled it better.” He went on to say, “You always wish that about your younger self, don’t you?

Role: Briefly appeared as guest performer

Time on SNL: Had two brief appearances, one in 1981 and another in 1988

If you don’t recall seeing Laurie Metcalf on Saturday Night Live, it’s likely because her appearances were short-lived. During a conversation with SNL alum Seth Meyers on Late Night, she recounted that her first appearance was in 1981, where she participated in a “man on the street” skit, and her second was in 1988 as part of the “Laurie Has a Story” sketch with Catherine O’Hara.

As the actress from Lady Bird put it in 2019 to Vulture, the experience felt like a dream due to its long-past nature and the rapid pace of her New York visit. She admitted that she didn’t know anyone during her stay, was put up in a hotel, dressed in business attire, and sent out on the street with a small film crew. Despite her initial discomfort and lack of experience, she pushed through because there is documented evidence of her participation. Upon revisiting this footage, she realizes how naive and courageous she was to accept such an unfamiliar task, as she simply replied, “Okay, you want me to do this? Okay, let’s go.

The tale of how Larry David, formerly a writer for Saturday Night Live from 1984-1985, decided to resign due to constant sketch cancellations will undoubtedly amuse audiences.

As he recounted on a 2015 episode of The Howard Stern Show, Larry’s sketches often performed well during rehearsals but were repeatedly axed week after week. One evening, with just five minutes remaining before the show was set to start, another sketch of his was discarded. Frustrated, he approached executive producer Dick Ebersol and exclaimed, “This show is terrible! It’s garbage! I quit! I’m leaving! I hate this! I’m out!”

In the cold, Larry later realized his impulsive decision and the financial consequences. So, he returned the following week as if nothing had happened. During a Monday morning writers’ meeting, Larry sat down among his colleagues who had heard his outburst. The producers asked each writer about their upcoming projects, reaching Larry fifth in line.

“Well, I’m considering a circus sketch,” he said, managing to keep his job but only for approximately another year. It was during this time that the Seinfeld creator met the sitcom’s star, Julia Louis-Dreyfus. Over the years, Larry has returned to Saturday Night Live as both host and guest, even portraying Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders on the show.

Role: Cast Member on SNL (Saturday Night Live)

Duration: 1982-1985

Although Julia Louis-Dreyfus is widely recognized for her roles in Seinfeld and Veep, her time as a cast member on SNL might not be as well-known. Remarkably, she was hired to join the show while she was still attending college.

However, despite sharing the stage with her husband Brad Hall who was also on SNL, Julia admitted that her experience on Saturday Night Live wasn’t particularly enjoyable. In a 2020 interview with Andy Cohen on Radio Andy, she stated, “I didn’t have tons of fun. But I did learn a lot.” At just 21 years old, Julia entered the show quite green, leading to a rapid learning curve.

Julia likened her time on SNL to a comedy graduate school and acknowledged that it significantly influenced her future career decisions. She recalls setting her priorities straight after SNL, realizing that the experience didn’t provide the same joy as improv shows and Second City in Chicago. If such opportunities didn’t exist, she decided she wouldn’t continue with this line of work.

Despite her initial reservations, Julia has returned to Saturday Night Live multiple times. In 2006, she made history by becoming the first female former cast member to host, a role she took on two more times thereafter.

Damon Wayans, in a candid conversation on The Breakfast Club in 2020, revealed that he intentionally got fired from Saturday Night Live (SNL) after less than a season in 1986. According to him, Lorne Michaels, the show’s creator, was trying to shield him from being compared to Eddie Murphy who had recently left the show. Wayans felt stifled and wanted more creative freedom, so he switched characters during a live taping without permission, ultimately leading to his dismissal. Interestingly, years later, Michaels invited Wayans back to host SNL, which he saw as a sign of reconciliation. This eventual firing and subsequent return were crucial for Wayans’ career, as it paved the way for his creation of In Living Color.

Jenny Slate’s tenure on Saturday Night Live wasn’t her best. In an interview with Off Camera with Sam Jones in 2017, she expressed that while everyone was kind to her, the experience was both good and disappointing for her. She felt incredibly disappointed in herself as it was one of her childhood dreams, but she found the environment to be quite uncomfortable and risk-averse. Contrary to what she expected, the show wasn’t as wild as she thought, with Belushi and Gilda Radner in mind. In the end, Jenny stayed on the show for only one season.

Following her dismissal, Jenny felt profound humiliation. She was ashamed of her behavior, feeling that she wasn’t strong or joyful, and assumed everyone cared about her. However, she realized that no one truly cared. The experience left her with stage fright, causing her to momentarily abandon stand-up comedy. Yet, she refused to let the experience take away her passion and told Sam Jones that she underwent hypnosis to cure her stage fright.

“I do not need to let that experience take this thing away from me,” she concluded, “the one thing that I do on my own.

Position: Main actor
SNL Tenure: 1993-1994
Although Sarah Silverman only spent one season on Saturday Night Live, she cherishes her time there. In a January 2025 episode of The Tonight Show hosted by fellow SNL alum Jimmy Fallon, Sarah reminisced, “I had a great time! I got along with everyone, and I was scrappy. I remember being surprised by the behavior of adults. I thought, ‘I can’t believe grown-ups act this way.’ There were even physical fights back then. But it was amazing.”

She also recalled an unusual pastime she enjoyed in her office. “I discovered a craft where you could dip tampons in water and throw them against the wall,” Sarah shared. “They would splat and stick to the wall, never coming off.”

Fast forwarding 10 or 15 years, Sarah returned to SNL and found that her office was still adorned with the tampon craft. Producer Mike Shoemaker informed her, “Guess what’s still in your office?” And there it was!

2025-02-16 14:17

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