Since its first broadcast in 1975, Saturday Night Live has created a lot of great and memorable live TV moments. Some of the show’s performers are certainly not as clearly remembered. We’ll show you 20 former cast members had their first steps on SNL. Would you have guessed that they were once part of the crew?
1. Robert Downey Jr.
Robert Downey Jr. was just 20 years old and thus relatively inexperienced when he joined the cast of SNL from1985 to 1986. However, the actor never really found his footing in the show. His first season was also to be his last. Instead, he was later able to gain a foothold in Hollywood. Today he is a very sought-after actor.
2. Ben Stiller
Ben Stiller was hired to join the cast of SNL in 1989. He was 24 years old. He wasn’t even on it for a season, though. Ben dropped out and headed to Los Angeles to pursue a film career. It wasn’t until about ten years later that Ben became famous with his starring role in There’s Something About Mary.
3. Damon Wayans
From 1985 to 1986, Damon Wayans was a sketch comedian at SNL. However, he was fired when he made a change to his character without the producers’ approval. But as we know, Damon later became a famous sketch comedy star. His four seasons in the Fox series In Living Color ensured a great career as a comedian.
4. Sarah Silverman
Sarah Silverman’s time on SNL was rather low-key. She participated in only a few sketches and not one of the sketches, written by her, made it to television. Later, Silverman released three comedy specials and was on countless TV appearances. In addition, she had roles in movies such as School of Rock and Wreck it Ralph.
5. Billy Crysta
Billy Crystal was no stranger to the NBC comedy soap because of his role as Jodie Dallas when he joined the cast of SNL in 1984. However, he left the show after just one season. After that, he had a huge success with the classic comedy “When Harry Met Sally”. He also hosted the Oscars nine times.
6. Gilbert Gottfried
After Lorne Michaels left SNL in 1980, associate producer Jean Doumanian took over the show. Gilbert Gottfried became part of the crew. However, after twelve episodes, Doumanian was replaced. Gottfried and several other members of the cast were fired. Gottfried later gained fame through comedy classics such as The Howard Stern Show and Comedy Central’s Celebrity Roasts.
7. Joan Cusack
In 1985, Lorne Michaels returned to produce SNL. He hired all new cast members, including Joan Cusack. Since the season had low ratings, Michales fired almost everyone, including Joan. Later she received Oscar nominations for her roles in Working Girl and In & Out. She was nominated four times for an Emmy for her role in Shameless.
8. Randy Quaid
When Randy Quaid joined SNL in 1985, he already had an Oscar nomination for his supporting role in The Last Detail in 1979. In recent years, the actor has received more attention off-screen. But his starring role as Cousin Eddie in National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation will surely be remembered forever.
9. Laurie Metcalf
In 1981, Laurie Metcalf made her first appearance on SNL. After a writers’ strike forced the show to take a break, SNL was restarted without Metcaf. Later she won three Primetime Emmys for her role in Roseanne and for her role in Lady Bird she was nominated with an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress.
10. David Koechner
David Koechner was on SNL from 1995 to 1996. During that time, he starred in a few memorable characters, including the sycophantic British jerk Fagan. Koechner’s time after SNL was quite successful. He later played roles such as sportscaster Champ Kind in Will Ferrell’s 2004 ensemble comedy Anchorman and traveling salesman Todd Packer from The Office.
11. Julia Louis-Dreyfus
Julia Louis-Dreyfus was at SNL from 1982 to 1985, longer than most others on our list. In her final year, she met writer Larry David, who wrote for the show. They became friends and five years later David convinced her to star in the famous sitcom Seinfeld, making her very famous.
12. Rob Riggle
Rob Riggles joined SNL in 2004. He was only on the show for one season. After his time at SNL, Riggles became a correspondent for The Daily Show and then went on to star as a comedian in Step Brothers, The Hangover, The Other Guys and 21 Jump Street.
13. Christopher Guest
Christopher Guest joined the SNL cast after he starred in the 1984 documentary This is Spinal Tap. He left the show after just one season. After that, Guest was able to establish himself as a real force in the comedy industry through his work as a filmmaker. Just think of A Mighty Wind or Waiting for Guffman.
14. Michael McKean
Michael McKean landed on SNL in 1993. But after about two years in 1995, he left the show and starred in the movies Best in Show and A Mighty Wind directed by his colleague Christopher Guest. Later he received critical acclaim for his role as Chuck McGill in the AMC series Better Call Saul.
15. Chris Rock
Chris Rock was on SNL for three seasons. Three years after he appeared on stage for SNL, his HBO comedy special Bring the Pain won two Emmy Awards. Rock continued to snag Grammy and Emmy Awards with his subsequent specials and albums. He is one of the most successful comedians of his generation.
16. Janeane Garofalo
When Janeane Garofalo joined the cast of SNL in 1994, she was already known for her supporting role on The Larry Sanders Show. Garofalo’s experience at SNL was rather unpleasant, but it did not slow down her career. Her further work in The Larry Sanders Show earned Garofalo two Emmy nominations.
17. Harry Shearer
Harry Shearer also appeared in This is Spinal Tap. He joined the SNL cast shortly after the film’s release. For him, however, it was not the first time: he had already been part of the cast of the show from 1979 to 1980. Later Shearer became a fixture on The Simpsons, where he lent his voice to various characters.
18. Martin Short
Martin Short appeared on SNL from 1984 to 1985. Before that, he had a successful role on SCTV. Short left SNL after one season. After that, the actor had memorable appearances in such films as Three Amigos, Innerspace, and the 1992 remake of Father of the Bride, roles that made him one of the most popular comedians.
19. Jenny Slate
Jenny Slate was part of the cast of SNL from 2009 to 2010. After her time on SNL, Slate played roles in Bob’s Burgers, Lady Dynamite and Parks and Recreation. She also co-authored a New York Times best-selling children’s book. The actress received praise for her starring role in the 2014 indie film Obvious Child.
20. Anthony Michael Hall
Anthony Michael Hall, like most of the SNL cast from 1985 to 1986, was only around for one season. He had enjoyed success with roles in Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club and Weird Science before that. After his time on SNL, Hall played dramatic roles in Edward Scissorhands and Pirates of Silicon Valley.
