Saturday Night Live Cast Then and Now

1. Martin Short - THEN

Image Source: Salon

Martin Short was on Saturday Night Live for only one season back in 1984. During that short time on the show, he made quite the impact, giving us many memorable characters. This isn't surprising given his background in sketch comedy. His most notable character was the neurotic and nerdy Ed Grimley.

2. Martin Short - NOW

Image Source: IndieWire

Martin is currently starring alongside his friend and longtime collaborator, Steve Martin, in Only Murders In The Building

on Hulu. The show also stars Selena Gomez, and he received a Golden Globe nomination for his performance. His other notable roles with Steve Martin include Three Amigos

and Father Of The Bride

.

3. Tina Fey - THEN

Image Source: NBC News

Tina Fey is ranked (by Rolling Stone) as the third-best SNL cast member of all time. Joining the show in 2000, she was on SNL until 2006. She was initially hired as a writer in 1995. When she first appeared onscreen in 2000, she became the co-anchor of the famed "Weekend Update" segment with Jimmy Fallon.

4. Tina Fey - NOW

Image Source: Today

During her time on SNL, Tina also wrote and starred in the beloved film Mean Girls

, which she has since helped turn into a successful Broadway musical. She starred in Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt

on Netflix and most recently served as Executive Producer on Girls5Eva

on Peacock. She also wrote a best-selling memoir called "Bossypants." What a woman!

5. Eddie Murphy - THEN

Image Source: Entertainment Weekly

Eddie Murphy burst onto the SNL scene back in 1980. He's considered the second-best SNL cast member by Rolling Stone, only behind the legendary John Belushi. He was only 19 years old when he joined the cast and became one of the biggest stars the show had seen.

6. Eddie Murphy - NOW

Image Source: Deadline

After leaving SNL, Eddie went on to star in films like Beverly Hills Cop 

and Coming To America

. He received an Oscar nomination for his role in Dreamgirls

, and recently reprised his role as Prince Akeem in Coming 2 America

. He's rumored to be returning to the Beverly Hills Cop franchise as well.

7. Jenny Slate - THEN

Image Source: CinemaBlend

Jenny Slate was a series regular cast member on SNL from 2009 - 2010. Her stint on SNL was short-lived, and while it's speculation, many believe the reason she was released from the show is because she dropped the F-bomb, which is a no-no on live network TV. The show denies that that is the reason for her being fired.

8. Jenny Slate - NOW

Image Source: The Daily Beast

Jenny has went on to appear in feature films such as Obvious Child

, and television series like Parks and Recreation

. She most recently had her film Marcel The Shell With Shoes On

nominated for an Oscar around a character she created. She also had a role in the Oscar-winning Everything Everywhere All At Once

.

9. Maya Rudolph - THEN

Image Source: Vulture

Maya Rudolph graced our screens from 2000 - 2007 on SNL. One of the things she was most known for on the show was her incredibly perfect Beyonce impersonations. She left the show in 2007 because she wanted to spend more time with her daughter. Her partner is filmmaker Paul Thomas Anderson, known for Licorice Pizza

.

10. Maya Rudolph - NOW

Image Source: Slash Film

Since leaving SNL, Maya has been booked and busy. She joined fellow SNL castmate Kristen Wiig in the highly successful comedy Bridesmaids

. She was also nominated for back-to-back Emmys for her role in The Good Place

. You can currently catch her on the Apple TV+ series Loot

.

11. Jay Pharoah - THEN

Image Source: The Hollywood Reporter

Jay Pharoah was first seen on Saturday Night Live in 2010. He was suddenly let go after 6 seasons in 2016. Jay gave us fantastic impersonations of Kanye West and Barack Obama. The reason for his departure is unknown as NBC simply said that he was departing the show to pursue other opportunities.

12. Jay Pharoah - NOW

Image Source: ComicBook.com

You may have seen Jay in a few feature films such as Ride Along

starring Kevin Hart. He also starred in a Netflix rom-com called Resort To Love

. He's currently hosting the Nickelodeon game show Unfiltered

. It seems he has a few other things in the works, so we can't wait to see what he does next!

13. Amy Poehler - THEN

Image Source: NBC

Amy Poehler gave us 8 incredible seasons on SNL. Perhaps most notable is her impersonation of Hillary Clinton, which became a fan favorite. In 2004, she took over Jimmy Fallon's co-anchor spot of "Weekend Update." Fans quickly gravitated towards her and Tina Fey as a team, and they went on to collaborate on other projects.

14. Amy Poehler - NOW

Image Source: People

Amy appeared in Tina Fey's Mean Girls

and the two also starred together in the comedy Baby Mama

. She, of course, starred in the hit television series Parks and Recreation 

and directed a feature film called Wine Country

. She's quite the producer now, having worked on projects such as Russian Doll

and Broad City

. She and Tina Fey are doing a comedy tour together this year.

15. Danitra Vance - THEN

Image Source: Vulture

Danitra Vance was only on SNL for one season, but she literally made history. Danitra was the first Black woman to become a primary cast member on the show. Her main character during her time on Saturday Night Live was in a sketch called "That Black Girl," where her character was constantly getting overlooked for roles.

16. Danitra Vance - NOW

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When she left Saturday Night Live, Danitra went on to star in a few feature films, including the dramatic movie Jumpin' At The Boneyard

. Unfortunately, Danitra passed away at the very young age of 40 due to breast cancer in August of 1994. However, her time on SNL paved the way for so many others!

17. Pete Davidson - THEN

Image Source: YouTube

At the age of 20, Pete Davidson was one of the youngest cast members to join the Saturday Night Live lineup. His performance on the show landed him on the Forbes' 30 Under 30 list. Pete was on the show for eight season, leaving SNL in 2022. He was known for his character "Chad," and made quite the name for himself.

18. Pete Davidson - NOW

Image Source: People

Pete is perhaps most known for his dating life. From Ariana Grande to Kim Kardashian, Pete has become Hollywood's boyfriend. Beyond his love life, Pete has starred in various feature films and has released multiple stand-up specials. He most recently starred opposite Kaley Cuoco in the 2022 rom-com Meet Cute

.

19. Leslie Jones - THEN

Image Source: Rolling Stone

While Pete was one of the youngest cast members, Leslie Jones joined the cast in 2014 and became the oldest person to join the show. She received Emmy nominations for her performances on SNL and also made the Time 100 Most Influential People list in 2017.

20. Leslie Jones - NOW

Image Source: Salon

Leslie starred in films such as Ghostbusters

and Mastermind

. She joined Saturday Night Live alum Eddie Murphy in Coming 2 America

, and she has recently been hosting Supermarket Sweepstakes

, putting out comedy specials, and is a recurring character in HBO Max's series Our Flag Means Death. 

And, in huge news, she's replaced Trevor Noah as the host of The Daily Show

!

21. Kate McKinnon - THEN

Image Source: The Daily Beast

After ELEVEN seasons, Kate McKinnon became the longest-serving female cast member on Saturday Night Live. She won multiple awards for her time on the show, including a couple of Emmys and a Critics' Choice Award! Kate took the mantle from Amy Poehler for the Hillary Clinton impersonations, and was the show's first openly lesbian cast member. She left the show in 2022

22. Kate McKinnon - NOW

Image Source: Slash Film

Fans were sad when Kate decided to leave SNL, but there's much to look forward to. While still on the show, Kate starred with SNL alum Leslie Jones in Ghostbusters

. She has an upcoming voice role in DC's League of Super Pets

, and she will also make an appearance in the highly anticipated Barbie

movie later this year.

23. Jimmy Fallon - THEN

Image Source: BroBible

Jimmy Fallon is likely most known for being the guy that "breaks" during sketches. He was on Saturday Night Live from 1998 until 2004, and it was rare for him to get through a sketch without laughing. Perhaps most memorable from his cowbell sketch, and of course, "Debbie Downer." He hosted "Weekend Update" with Tina Fey from 2000 - 2004.

24. Jimmy Fallon - NOW

Image Source: AwardsDaily

Jimmy starred in the film Taxi

with Queen Latifah and Fever Pitch

with Drew Barrymore. He then went on to host Late Night with Jimmy Fallon

, and you can currently catch him hosting The Tonight Show

. He's been hosting The Tonight Show

since 2013, interviewing celebrity guests and playing outrageous games.

25. Kristen Wiig - THEN

Image Source: Junkee

Kristen Wiig is best known for her Saturday Night Live characters such as Gilly and the incredibly beloved Target Clerk. She was on the show for seven years, first appearing all the way back in 2005. She's a fan favorite cast member, with many people still referencing her sketches and characters from her time on the show.

26. Kristen Wiig - NOW

Image Source: Slash Film

Kristen starred alongside SNL alum, Maya Rudolph, in the film Bridesmaids.

She was also in the 2019 reboot of Ghostbusters

, and she appeared in the incredibly wild Darren Aaronofsky movie Mother!

with Jennifer Lawrence. She was in the Wonder Woman sequel Wonder Woman 1984

and also in the sneaky hit comedy Barb and Star Go To Vista Del Mar

. If you haven't seen Barb and Star

, it's a must-watch!

27. Tracy Morgan - THEN

Image Source: The Hollywood Reporter

Tracy Morgan was part of the Saturday Night Live cast from 1996 - 2003. He created famous characters such as Astronaut Jones and Safari Jones. He also gave fans impeccable impersonations of Aretha Franklin and Samuel L. Jackson. Little did he know at the time what else life had in store for him.

28. Tracy Morgan - NOW

Image Source: MSN

After SNL, Tracy worked with Tina Fey on the television series 30 Rock

. The show was a huge success. In 2014, Tracy was in a bad accident where he suffered life-threatening injuries. He made a full recovery six months later. Once he recovered, he returned to Saturday Night Live to host the show, thanking fans for their love and support.

29. Billy Crystal - THEN

Image Source: Rolling Stone

Billy Crystal is another comedian who only appeared on one season of Saturday Night Live back in 1984 but made a big impact. By the time he joined the cast, he was already a well-known comedian with his own variety show. He recorded a single called "You Look Marvelous" as his most memorable character, Fernando Lamas."

30. Billy Crystal - NOW

Image Source: People

Billy went on to become a HUGE movie star, with lead roles in films like When Harry Met Sally

, and the voice of Mike Wazowski in Monsters Inc. 

He's also hosted the Oscars nine times! He was nominated for two Tony Awards in 2022 for his musical "Mr. Saturday Night," which he wrote and starred in.