It would have been easy to include all of the original 1970s cast among our Top 30, and we do have Dan Aykroyd, John Belushi, Chevy Chase, Bill Murray and Gilda Radner spread out among our choices. In addition to being the cast member who lasted the longest, he was also the oldest cast member in SNLs run (at age 53) when he left the program. Chevy Chase was the first breakout star on SNL, and helped make the show a breakout hit in its first season back in 1975-76, as well as cement SNL as a cultural phenomenon. Among his most notable parts are his Jimmy Carter impression, one of the Two Wild and Crazy Guys, Beldar of Coneheads, and his Point/Counterpoint parody Jane Curtin. He had big shoes to fill taking over for Chevy Chase when he left, but Bill Murray rose to the challenge and made the most of his time on SNL in the late 1970s.
However, the outright hilarity of Murphy in"James Brown's Celebrity Hot Tub Party" and "Buckwheat" were enough to capture the zeitgeist and turn the young Murphy into an overnight A-Lister. Even after he left the show, his career keeps growing in movies. Its a daunting task since there have been over 150 regular and featured repertory members and each fan has a favorite cast grouping (often from when they were watching in high school or college). As SNL head writer, and anchor of Weekend Update, Tina Fey exerted huge influence over the show in the early 2000s. However, during her five-year stint on SNL, Hooks was a force of nature and established herself as one of the funniest women ever on the program. In fact, Chase was so influential on SNL, that most people dont realize he was only on the program for one season! His many, many memorable characters include The Church Lady, Hans and Franz (with Kevin Nealon) and of course Garth in the hyper-popular Waynes World skits alongside Mike Myers. Her work with Will Ferrell produced some classic sketches, such as the hyperactive Spartan Cheerleaders and the goofy Morning Latte talk show hosts. Considering that the show has been on air for more than 40 years, and that its alumni are a whos who of comedians who have defined what it means to be funny for nearly half a century, it can be extremely difficult (some say impossible) to come up with a list of the very best SNL cast members. A one-stop shop for all things video games. Just witness how this famed comedian masterfully morphs into Clint Eastwood, Al Pacino, Julian Assange, Alan Alda, Harvey Fierstein, Vincent Price, and other celebrities. The 15 Best Saturday Night Live Cast Members of All Time, Ranked, The best SNL movies originating from SNL skits. Murray also played plumber Todd DiLaMuca and, notably, the Star Wars Nick the Lounge Singer. The longest-serving cast member in SNL history at 14 seasons, Darrell Hammond was the king of impressionists on the show. By any measure, Murphy is beyond comparison. Ironically, Murray's foray into Hollywood has been even more successful than Chase's, even if the latter did front theNational Lampoon's VacationandFletch franchises. Lorne Michaels had taken a break from the show for a few years, and the soul was missing.
Not too shabby. Chase would have been higher since he was the first big star on the variety sketch show, but he departed after one full season and a handful of second season episodes. The 10 Most Underrated SNL Cast Members From The 2010s, According To Reddit, Resident Evil: 10 Burning Questions After The Netflix Series Premiere, What We Do In The Shadows: The 15 Scariest Creatures In The Shared Universe, 10 Kids' Show TV Theme Songs Guaranteed To Give You Nostalgia, 8 Signs Your Favorite TV Show Has Been Around Too Long, The Terminal List: 10 Best Shows Starring MCU Actors, Ranked By IMDb, The 10 Best Westworld Episodes, According To Ranker, 10 Biggest Reveals & Takeaways From House Of The Dragon Full Trailer, 8 Biggest Ways to Instantly Ruin a Show, According To Reddit, Modern Family: 13 Saddest Things About Mitchell, 10 Best-Written Current TV Shows, According To Ranker, Castlevania: 10 Characters And Their Historical Or Literary Inspirations, 10 Hilarious Better Call Saul Memes That Would Even Make Mike Laugh. Oteri also created many memorable characters of her own on SNL, including prescription pill addict Collette Reardon and testy employee Nadeen, who was always telling people to simma down now. In addition, she did great impressions of Fran Drescher and Barbara Walters while with the show. Radners smart-aleck style of comedy stood out from among the original cast, and it served as a perfect foil for sarcastic Chevy Chase, straight-woman Jane Curtin, and showy John Belushi. Will Ferrell joined SNL during a time when there was a need for fresh talentand boy, that talent led him to places. While Myers would only see his star brighten afterSNLcourtesy ofShrekandAustin Powers, he still stood as one of the most reputable cast members throughout his seasons on the show. Carvey joined the show in 1986 and was partially responsible for its upswing after the decade's poor start in the wake of Lorne Michaels' leave of absence. Like other breakout stars from the show, Will Ferrell was a near one-man show during his time on SNL from 1995 to 2002. Some have had remarkable long runs (Phil Hartman, Kate McKinnon, Kenan Thompson) while others werent on there long at all (Chase, Billy Crystal, Chris Rock). She also wrote and starred in some of SNLs all-time great skits and fake commercials, notably Mom Jeans, and earned rave reviews and an Emmy Award for her impersonation of Vice-Presidential candidate Sarah Palin. Ben Hathaway is a Senior Writer (Lists) for Screen Rant. Her spot-on take of the Alaskan governor made her more successful, both on and behind the camera. Unfortunately, she passed away at a young age but she still managed to left such a huge impact. He also performed perfect impressions of U.S. President George Bush, Johnny Carson and Mickey Rooney.
Hands down one of the funniest and most memorable cast members in SNL history, Chris Farley left a major impression with his take no prisoners humor. Enjoy! Olivia Colman, The Favourite (1910) One of the most outright important cast members to ever be part of the show, Fey's true brilliance shows up in her writing, but she could stilldeliver a Sarah Palinimpression with stunning accuracy when the need struck. Here are the best cast members weve ever seen on SNL. It wasn't long before he was headlining studio comedies, usually withSNLcostar David Spade by his side. And Crystal was at the centre of the hilarity, with characters that included Willie and Frankie (with Christopher Guest), Buddy Young, Tony Minnettis Boxing Stories, and of course the recurring Fernandos Hideaway, where Crystals character Fernando Lamas tells everyone he meets You look Mahvalous, which became one of SNLs biggest catchphrases of all time. Like John Belushi, Chris Farley passed away at the early age of 33 due to a drug overdose. Never a great impressionist, Sandler was nevertheless a prolific writer on the program and was a regular guest on Weekend Update segments, where he was often featured playing his guitar and singing a little ditty. Funny enough, her most notable role on SNL came after she left (to go off and do 30 Rock), making waves for her impersonation of Republican candidate Sarah Palin.
Despite that fact, Carvey was hugely influential on SNL in the late 1980s and early 1990s, and helped to save the show after a dreadful 1985-86 season. We want to hear from you! For geeks, by geeks!
Farley also seemed to be off to a promising movie career, unfortunately he died from partying too hard at the tender age of 33. When not working, he is writing and self-publishing (on Amazon) novels under the name Scott Gray. As an original writer and performer on SNL, Dan Aykroyd created some of the most popular and best remembered characters and sketches in SNL history, including the Coneheads, the Wild and Crazy Guys (with Steve Martin), the Blues Brothers (with John Belushi) and pitchman Irwin Mainway. One of the first female SNL stars to break out was Gilda Radner. Click the video below to watch our exciting live nominations announcement for the 2022 Gold Derby TV Awards, Watch our lively chats with Juno Temple (Ted Lasso) and over 150 more nominees, including. Earlier this month, Saturday Night Live brought back alumni from the show's 40 year history for a massive prime time special. They either played straight roles next to male actors that were usually the ones doing all the physical comedy or they played stereotypical "dumb girl" characters. Just so many of them to choose! Her humour is sharp, biting and takes no prisoners, and her sharp tongue reinvigorated Weekend Update, injecting new life into a segment that had been growing flat at the time she took over. Its the pinnacle of his bizarre SNL roles. Over its 40+ years of history, Saturday Night Live helped launch the careers of todays biggest comedians. If that werent enough, Aykroyd also delivered hilarious impressions of U.S. President Jimmy Carter, chef Julia Child and actor Ricardo Montalban. But Will Ferrell is probably best known for his funny as hell impressions of people ranging from U.S. President George W. Bush, crooner Robert Goulet, Jeopardy host Alex Trebek and sportscaster Harry Caray. According toSNL Fandom, Aykroyd starred on the show from 1975 to 1979 but left with Belushi once drugs had consumed the set. But his best role? What makes Eddie Murphy the best SNL cast member of all time? I think that before she came around, women were not seen as capable to succeed in comedy. From his bloody and classic portrayal of chef Julia Child to "Fred Garvin: Male Prostitute," Aykroyd pushed the show in directions it otherwise wouldn't have gone and was critical to the success ofSNL's formative years. That made him perfect for the roles of Stuart Rankin in All Things Scottish, Linda Richman in Coffee Talk, and Dieter in Sprockets. Yet his most popular is Wayne Campbell in Waynes World, the role that made him a star. While with the show, Murray specialized in playing sarcastic and sleazy characters, and he had a great rapport with fellow cast members Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi. With just his inflections, Belushi could pull off any magnetic character that SNL had in the bag. However, his career post-SNL was not as successful (except perhaps The Secret Life of Pets movies). But thats no reason not to try, so here is our list of the SNL cream of the crop. BeforeNational Lampoon's Animal HouseandThe Blues Brothers, however, Belushi was one of the sketch comedy series' first cast members, and it wasn't long before he became the favorite. Regardless of his parts, he remained a charming presence thats hard to deny. He was only on SNL for one season, but what a season it was! Speaking of larger-than-life performers, John Belushi was one of the first performers to appear in SNLs first sketch. All the latest gaming news, game reviews and trailers. I'm surprised Gilda isn't higher on this list. A member of the cast from the mid-1980s to the mid-1990s, Hartman was integral to the show's development and survival in the former decade as well as its thriving in the latter.
I was not alive when she was performing on SNL but she still became a huge influence in my life. Consistently butting heads with Sean Connery, Burt Reynolds, and other absurd caricatures of popular celebrities, playing Trebek gave Ferrell to be funny even when playing the most level-headed person in the room. His most memorable SNL character has to be Nick the Lounge Singer, who spent more time bantering with the audience than singing. Related: The best guest stars on The Simpsons. Yet when the part fits her perfectly, she truly stands out.
His everyman persona made him perfect for everything from straight-man roles to celebrity impressions of politicians. But when Gilda came around, she dismissed all these previous stereotypes and she just did her own thing. Is Titanic still the king of the world? He occasionally appeared in Weekend Update to deliver his hot takes on pop culture and current events. After SNL, Rudolph played parts in hit comedies like Grown Ups, Bridesmaids, and Sisters, plus voice roles in Big Hero 6, Luca, and The Mitchells vs. And, of course, Molly Shannon was featured in one of the all-time funniest SNL skits, the Schweddy Balls skit co-starring cast member Anna Gasteyer and guest host Alec Baldwin. Send us a tip using our anonymous form. All Rights Reserved. This guy was better than the whole original cast. Jones, Monty Norman), Emmys 2022 Predictions: Comedy Categories (Part 13). While Michaels' first season back proved misguided, with short-lived cast members like Robert Downey Jr., season 12 brought on Carvey, Hartman, Jan Hooks, and Victoria Jackson, all of whom were capable of carrying a full sketch, with Carvey's "the Church Lady" proving especially popular with her catchphrase: "Isn't that special?!" Plus, his appearances on Weekend Update opposite Jane Curtain are some of the funniest moments in the shows history.
All of his impersonations were sopt-on and pure genius. But Bill Murrays greatest moments on SNL came when he was paired with fellow cast member Gilda Radner, notably in the Nerds sketches, where Murrays character Todd would tease girlfriend Lisa (played by Radner) and give her noogies. Whether it was going shirtless as an overweight Chippendales dancer, warning people that theyll be living in a van down by the river as motivational speaker Matt Foley or just barreling around the set and destroying things as he went, Chris Farley was a force on SNL in the early 1990s. Motivational speaker Matt Foley. As for her post-SNL career, shes involved both in front and behind the camera, with her best-known role being Leslie Knope of Parks and Recreation. But Murphy's range didn't stop with portraying odd versions of real figures from life and pop culture, he also created the Mr. Robinson bits, which have gone on to become some of the most famous sketches in the show's long run. Among them included pianist Marty Culp, Spartan cheerleader Craig, and hosts James Lipton and Alex Trebek. Sadly, Phil Hartman was murdered by his wife in 1998 during a tragic domestic violence incident. "Livin' in a van down by the river! " However, even those two legends aren't fans' most beloved cast members. Before he was starring in Ivan Reitman's best movies, Bill Murray was brought ontoSaturday Night Livefor its sophomore season in the wake of Chevy Chase's swift departure for Hollywood. Related: The best SNL movies originating from SNL skits. With an astounding vocal range and a willingness to push himself anywhere for a laugh from the audience. All Rights Reserved. While this decision led toThe Blues Brothersand, eventually,Ghostbusters, the sketch comedy series suffered from the loss of his unique comedic mind. Her boundless energy was infectious and worked in every skit she was in. Nevertheless, she made splashes as a Weekend Update anchor with her fiery jokes, endless quips, and clever snaps at timely topics. Ferrell slotted himself into playing dad roles, over-the-top characters, and several popular celebrities. See who managed to outrank Eddie Murphy, Bill Murray and Kristen Wiig, NBC/NBCU Photo Bank/Getty; Al Levine/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank/Getty; Jim Spellman/WireImage/Getty. Phil Hartman was considered the glue who held the SNL cast together from the late 80s to the early 90s. Most notable was his take on George W. Bush,an impression that made numerous appearances throughout the man's first few years in office. Molly Shannon is best remembered for creating the original character Mary Katherine Gallagher, the oh so awkward Catholic School girl who went on to star in her own feature film, 1999s Superstar. 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Share your views! 2022 Rolling Stone, LLC. She climbed to the top with memorable characters like the Female A-Hole, the excitable Target Lady, the childish Dooneese, the mischievous Gilly, the nervous Kat, and the overdramatic Shana. With Dan Aykroyd, Belushi brought to life the Blues Brothers, a sketch so successful that it became an equally successful comedy movie. But from 1980 to 1984, SNL revolved around Joe Piscopo and Eddie Murphy. He performed more than 70 different characters on SNL and was in more sketches during his time with the show than any other cast member. Here are the results. Hader effortlessly captures their recognizable voices and iconic mannerisms. In fact, Murphy was so wildly popular and influential on the show that he actually hosted SNL while still a cast member. During his eight year run on SNL, cast member Phil Hartman was so funny, so consistent and so reliable that his nickname was The Glue. This guy was always funny no matter the character. Since leaving the show, he has returned to host SNL many times. Should the Unlimited Nominating Ballot Stay or Go. In fact, she was so good on Weekend Update that she replaced original anchor Chevy Chase when he left to pursue movies without missing a beat. For instance, Matt Foley's speech about "Living in a van down by the river" is one of the most iconic pieces ofSNLhistory outside of "More cowbell." RIP. During the 80s, SNL went through a rocky period behind the scenes: due to constant changes in producers, the show failed to retain its cast. His most popular parts include Eugene the Anal Retentive Chef, the Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer, Ronald Reagan, and Bill Clinton. If you buy anything through links on our site, we may earn a commission. Just seeing him dance for a Chippendales audition let you know who the comedian was. Related: The best geeky TV shows on NBCs Peacock. 
Like Carvey, Myers started to gain some cinematic power midway through, mostly courtesy ofWayne's World(1992) andWayne's World 2(1993). She really brought something very fresh, unique and interesting to the table. Even still, it's hard to imagine a player more formidable, ranged, and beloved as McKinnon and Bryant, but that doesn't necessarily mean they hold the show's top two spots of all time. 2022 Gold Derby Media, LLC.
Thank you for all the laughs! In addition, Fey had great chemistry on the show with both Will Ferrell and Jimmy Fallon, who were the top dogs on SNL during her tenure. Original cast member Gilda Radner knocked peoples socks off on SNL with her quirky style and willingness to take comedy to the limit. Dvsn Goes Hella 'Toxic' on Jay-Z-Sampling 'If I Get Caught', Trump Ignored a Call from the Pentagon During Jan. 6 Capitol Attack as He Kept Trying to Steal the Election, Watch: Josh Hawley Frantically Fled From the Jan. 6 Riot He Helped Stoke, The 8 Biggest Revelations From the Jan. 6 Hearing on What Trump Did During the Capitol Attack, All But 10 House Republicans Voted Against Ensuring the Right to Contraception, Macklemore on His Rebirth, Sobriety Challenges, and Life After the Ultra A-List, David Crosby on Donald Trump, Forgiving an Abusive Parent, and the JFK Assassination, Tim Ripper Owens on Judas Priest: Theyve Kind of Erased My Time. Certified legend! Enough said. From memorable sketches to legendary characters, these cast members were able to pivot their fame and flow seamlessly into Hollywood success. Bill Murrays time in SNL started the brand of dry humor hes associated with. Beyond SNL, Hartman gave memorable voice roles in The Simpsons as well as supporting roles in comedies (both notorious and unsuccessful). Bill Murray has also turned out to be a damn good screen actor as well. However, it was her pairing with Amy Poehler that made for comedic gold, much like the subsequentteaming of Maya Rudolph and Kristen Wiig as well as McKinnon and Bryant. Yet despite the shows head honcho not getting him, Sandler still had an impressive run on SNL. Murray also has the distinction of being one of the most successful SNL alumni, as his post-SNL career includes hit movies such as Stripes, Ghostbusters, Groundhog Day and Lost In Translation. Thanks to his SNL connections, Murray got his name on cult classics like Stripes and Meatballs, plus hit comedies like Caddyshack and Ghostbusters. There's ain't no party like a Liz Lemon party Never got this guy's humor until he did his Lounge Lizard character singing the Star Wars theme. short-lived cast members like Robert Downey Jr. From there, the rest is history. Saturday Night Livelostfour popular cast membersthis season, including thebeloved duo of Aidy Bryant and Kate McKinnon. Part of anyones assignment in SNL is mastering impressions, and one of the shows best impersonators has always been Bill Hader. However, while the performer has created an impressive stable of characters from theatrical films such asZoolanderandAnchorman, he brought even more eccentric goofballs to the sketch comedy show. Her most popular characters include the hyperactive 10-year-old Kaitlyn, the one-legged Amber, and Bronx Beat co-host Betty Caruso. Even withstanding the fact that Stefon is the most overrated SNL character of all time, Bill Hader is the most talented, unique, and inspiring cast member ever (arguably rivaling Phil Hartman, Will Ferrell, Chris Farley, Amy Poehler and Tina Fey). Saturday Night Live was a launching pad for todays biggest comedians. We often recommend media and products we like. https://www.ho", 2021-2022 TV Memoriam (Gregory Itzin, Larry Storch, Tony Sirico,Taurean Blacque), "+ Colman He was just hilarious! But, if history is any indication, they'll be replaced by comparably talented cast members in due time. One of them is Dana Carvey, who made a name for himself by playing several of the shows most outrageous characters. There, I said it. But for those who rose to stardom, its impressive to see what theyve been able to achieve starting with their time at SNL.
Here are our picks for the best Saturday Night Live cast members of all time and how they helped define Saturday Night Live. However, while he was with SNL, Chase proved himself to be one of its funniest cast members ever. In ranking these cast members, we used an incredibly scientific process involving the following three criteria: overall influence, variety of characters and longevity. He has a gift of making a simple puppet hilarious. And, while he was never better than in his energetic sketches like "Chippendales Audition," Farley was also an asset to Weekend Update, where he showed his range by creating characters that could capture the audience's attention, hold it, and make them laugh at the same time. Jack Sackman has been writing about movies and TV for Goliath since 2013. Myers could dole out impressions of figures like Mick Jagger and Howie Mandel, but it was his original characters of Wayne Campbell, Dieter, Linda Richman, and the juvenile Simon that endeared him to the hearts of fans long after he'd left the show. Many became bona fide stars, while others turned to careers behind the scenes. After all, it takes a pretty funny person to hold their own opposite John Belushi in top form. Theres a group of SNL guys who always specialize in weird parts. The Machines. Other memorable characters created by Molly Shannon on the show included Sally OMalley (Im 50!), Dog Show host Miss Colleen and Joyologist Helen Madden. SNLhas had an impressive history spanning over 40 years and, while some decades are notably inferior to others, particularly the 1980s, even the show's worst years have at least one major standout performer ifRanker's list is any indication. Quantity and quality were part of the criteria in the rankings. Carvey is also responsible for some of the most memorable SNL catchphrases, including Well, isnt that special! and Shes chopping broccoli! Despite his movie career tanking, Dana Carveys SNL legacy is secure.
Want more Rolling Stone? That success propelled her to star in movies like Bridesmaids, Despicable Me 2 & 3, Welcome to Me, and The Martian. Like Chris Farley after him, Belushi would throw his entire body into the sketch, going to great, perhaps even dangerous, lengths to secure laughs and applause. After the original cast and creator Lorne Michaels left the show in 1980, ratings and critical reviews took a big fall. In This Article: Eddie Murphy was so funny on SNL that he made viewers forget about the original cast, and launched himself a movie career that included hits such as Trading Places, 48 Hours, Beverly Hills Cop, Shrek, Dr. Doolittle and The Nutty Professor. The Schweddy Balls skit was so funny, it is now shown every year on SNLs Christmas retrospective. But he also created other memorable SNL characters such as Linda Richman, the New York host of Coffee Talk, Simon, the British boy who talks about his drawings in the bathtub, and Dieter, the German art aficionado and host of the dance show Sprockets. Mike Myers was also a prolific writer on SNL and a proud Canadian, who often worked references to his home country into his sketches and wore hockey jerseys on the program. Saturday Night Live, SNL. Also, her sparring matches with Belushi and Dan Aykroyd were legendary, resulting in the infamous line Jane, you ignorant slut!. She really set the tone for not only future SNL cast members, but female comics in general. In addition to being one half of the Blues Brothers, John Belushi gets a spot in second place for giving us an array of characters that included Samurai Fatuba, the Killer Bees, hilarious impressions of Captain Kirk and Henry Kissinger, as well as being the guy in the restaurant who exclaims Cheeseburger, cheeseburger, cheeseburger. And a few fell off. The go-to source for comic book and superhero movie fans. Consider his characters: Gumby, Buckwheat, James Brown, Velvet Jones, Mr. Robertson, Stevie Wonder, Bill Cosby, Little Richard and Ronald Reagans illegitimate son Dion, all instant classics. Not only was he featured in seemingly every sketch on the program, but he delivered a tone of hilarious original characters, including being one half of the Spartan Cheerleaders with Cheri Oteri and the lethargic music teachers who were known to break into song with Anna Gasteyer. Of all the performers on this list, Tina Fey had the smallest presence in sketches since she was mostly a head writer during her time at SNL. Another great SNL alumnus whose career after the show never reached its potential is Dana Carvey. Eventually, she joined Tina Fey in Weekend Update, making them the first female co-anchor team. Pepsi. Plus, John Belushi was drop dead funny on Weekend Update most memorably when he was tearing into anchor Jane Curtain. We put together a ranking of all 141 cast members, and like any list, it drew some dissent, particularly from a certain mid-1990s Weekend Update host who does a pretty good David Letterman impression. Original SNL cast member Jane Curtain often gets overlooked on these types of lists, because she was always cast as the straight woman opposite her wilder co-stars, such as John Belushi and Bill Murray. And while Eddie Murphy has had the better movie career and his work on SNL is more fondly remembered, the truth is that Eddie Murphy would not have been as great a success without his collaborations with Piscopo. He was also a master impressionist, with his takes on Bill Clinton and Frank Sinatra making frequent appearances during his time on the show. If any star fromSNLhas had a great film career, it's Will Ferrell. Mulligan The actress, who went on to star on other popular television shows such as Kate & Allie and 3rd Rock From The Sun, mastered a deadpan delivery, which worked perfectly for her as an anchor on the Weekend Update segments. We figured it was only fair that we threw this back to the masses, so we had our readers cast their votes.