Former ‘Saturday Night Live’ Stars: Where Are They Now?
No longer live from New York! Saturday Night Live has catapulted the careers of many of today’s most popular comedians, including Will Ferrell, Eddie Murphy, Tina Fey and Adam Sandler. In fact, the NBC sketch comedy series has become a launching pad for hit talk shows, films, sitcoms and game shows since its 1975 premiere.
Murphy, for his part, appeared as a cast member from 1980 to 1984. He went on to become a lucrative movie star, but tension between him and the show arose after David Spade joked about the Coming to America actor’s career in a 1995 sketch. “Look, children, it’s a falling star!” the Joe Dirt actor quipped following the releases of Murphy’s films Vampire in Brooklyn and Harlem Nights, which failed to win over the box office.
“What really irritated me about it at the time was that it was a career shot. It was like, ‘Hey, come on, man, it’s one thing for you guys to do a joke about some movie of mine, but my career?’” Murphy told Rolling Stone in 2011. “I’m one of you guys.”
The Nutty Professor star briefly returned to Saturday Night Live in 2015 for the show’s 40th anniversary special. However, he did not take the Studio 8H stage by force again until December 2019, when he hosted an episode that earned him his first Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series.
“You don’t want to wait 30 years to come back and the show ain’t s—t,” Murphy told the Today show ahead of his hosting gig. “It be like people clapping, going, ‘I thought he was going to be so much funnier than this.’”
The comedian’s return came amid a high point in his film career. “The timing couldn’t be better,” he said. “That’s why I feel like [I’m in] a dream.”
Murphy is not the only former cast member to make a major comeback on the long-running series. Maya Rudolph ended her tenure in 2007 but returned in 2019 to portray Vice President Kamala Harris.
“I’m so grateful always to be a part of that place, and then, when in my wildest dreams did I think there would ever be a candidate that looks remotely close to whatever this is?” Rudolph explained during an October 2020 appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. “I realize I started working there 21 years ago. How am I still standing? … I love it.”
Scroll through the gallery below to see where former Saturday Night Live stars are now!
Ferrell left the show in 2002 and went on to star in a string of comedy hits, including Elf, Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby and Step Brothers. He also guest-starred on The Office, 30 Rock, The Last Man on Earth and Drunk History.
The actor has been married to Viveca Paulin since 2000. The couple share three sons: Magnus, Mattias and Axel.
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Fey moved on to 30 Rock after her 2006 departure from SNL. She also starred on Great News, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Baby Mama, Date Night, Sisters, Modern Love and Wine Country. She has created and produced several sitcoms, including Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt and Mr. Mayor. She released her book, Bossypants, in 2011.
The actress wed Jeff Richmond in 2001. They are parents of daughters Alice and Penelope.
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Poehler departed in 2008 for a leading role on Parks and Recreation. She also starred in Sisters, Wine Country, Inside Out, Welcome to Sweden, Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp and Moxie. She made her film directorial debut in 2019 with Wine Country, while her book, Yes Please, came out in 2014.
The actress was married to Will Arnett — with whom she shares sons Archie and Abel — from 2003 to 2016, announcing their separation in 2012. After their split, she dated Nick Kroll from 2013 to 2015.
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Murphy became a bankable actor, starring in Coming to America, The Nutty Professor, Doctor Dolittle, Shrek, Dreamgirls and Dolemite Is My Name. He has also released five studio albums.
The comedian has 10 children: Eric, Bria, Christian, Miles, Shayne, Zola, Bella, Angel, Izzy and Max. He has been engaged to Paige Butcher since 2018.
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Meyers left in 2014 to take over as the host of Late Night With Seth Meyers. He also cocreated Documentary Now! and The Awesomes and released a Netflix comedy special titled Seth Meyers: Lobby Baby in 2019.
The comedian married Alexi Ashe in 2013. They share sons Ashe and Axel.
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Hader moved on to Barry, The Skeleton Twins, Trainwreck, Documentary Now! and It Chapter Two after his 2013 exit.
The actor finalized his divorce from Maggie Carey in 2018. The exes are parents of daughters Hannah, Harper and Hayley. He dated Rachel Bilson from 2019 to 2020.
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Following his 2003 departure, Morgan starred on 30 Rock, The Tracy Morgan Show, Fist Fight, What Men Want, The Last O.G. and Coming 2 America. He was involved in a car crash in June 2014 but recovered from his extensive injuries.
The actor filed for divorce from Megan Wollover in July 2020; they share daughter Maven. He is also the father of sons Gitrid, Malcolm and Tracy Jr. from a previous marriage.
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Chase went on to appear in Caddyshack, National Lampoon’s Vacation, Fletch, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, Community and a slew of other popular projects after leaving SNL in 1976.
He has been married to Jayni Luke since 1982 and is the father of four kids: Bryan, Cydney, Caley and Emily.
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Sudeikis stayed on the comedy track after his 2013 exit, starring on Ted Lasso, Horrible Bosses 2, Sleeping With Other People and The Last Man on Earth.
The Golden Globe winner called it quits with fiancée Olivia Wilde in 2020. They share son Otis and daughter Daisy.
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Before Rudolph returned to SNL to portray Harris, she appeared in Bridesmaids, Away We Go, Grown Ups, Wine Country, Up All Night and The Good Place.
The actress shares four children — Pearl, Lucille, Jack and Ida — with Paul Thomas Anderson.
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Jones has hosted Supermarket Sweep, starred in Coming 2 America and released a Netflix comedy special titled Leslie Jones: Time Machine since her 2019 departure.
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Myers left the show in 1995 and went on to star in the Austin Powers franchise, Shrek, The Cat in the Hat, The Love Guru, Inglourious Basterds and Bohemian Rhapsody.
The actor shares three children — Spike, Sunday and Paulina — with Kelly Tisdale, whom he wed in 2010.
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Samberg began helming Brooklyn Nine-Nine after departing SNL in 2012. He has also starred on Cuckoo, Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping, Palm Springs and Hotel Transylvania.
The comedian married Joanna Newsom in 2013, and they have one daughter.
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The Oscar nominee moved on from SNL in 2012. She has since appeared in Wonder Woman 1984, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, Her, The Skeleton Twins, Ghostbusters, Mother!, The Last Man on Earth, Where’d You Go, Bernadette and Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar.
Us Weekly broke the news in June 2020 that Wiig welcomed twins Luna and Shiloh via surrogate earlier that year. She confirmed in February 2021 that she married Avi Rothman.
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Following his 1995 exit, Sandler starred in Happy Gilmore, The Wedding Singer, The Waterboy, Big Daddy, Mr. Deeds, 50 First Dates, The Longest Yard, Grown Ups and Uncut Gems.
The actor tied the knot with Jackie Sandler in 2003. They are parents of daughters Sadie and Sunny.
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