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Saturday Night Live is one of the most iconic and long-running television shows to ever hit the airwaves. For decades, it has been a proverbial mountaintop for comedy. Spots on the cast are a rare opportunity, tirelessly sought after by comedians across the United States. The selective induction process and grueling work environment have spawned hundreds of immediately recognizable and cherished skits. It’s eclectic, ever-changing cast and writers keep the show relevant for different time periods, though the massive backlog of sketches often remains funny for new viewers. The show’s mixture of satire, political impersonations, spoofs, and a host of zany original characters make light of social circumstances and pop culture in a pointed and often hilarious manner.
Along with its years of standout comedic material, the show has kick-started the careers of numerous individuals that have gone on to do bigger and better things, many of whom have come to be household names. While a great deal of the show’s alumni have enjoyed blossoming careers after their stints on the show, there are some that have soared to true super stardom through the subsequent release of their own original work. Check out some of the most prolific SNL alum below.
10 Tina Fey
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Tina Fey’s beginnings at SNL were humble. She started as a writer, beginning with parody and satire bits, and gained enough traction with the creators to begin appearing in sketches. She later made history as the first woman host of The Weekend Update, and helped to revitalize that portion of the show. After her tenure at SNL, she went on to make 29 films and a host of shows. Fey created 30 Rock and Mean Girls, both of which are staples of popular culture. She has also appeared in recognizable titles such as Date Night, Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, Soul, Free Guy, and Only Murders in the Building.
9 Chris Rock
Chris Rock got his start at SNL during one of its so-called “Golden Years,” appearing with Chris Farley, David Spade, and Adam Sandler. Along with his tenure on the show, Rock began releasing stand-up comedy specials. His bombastic personality, stage presence, subject matter, and unique voice made his work very popular. He began working in films during his time in SNL, and moved on to more well-known productions such as Madagascar, The Longest Yard, The Bee Movie, and Grownups 1 and 2. He is also the creator of Everybody Hates Chris, a hilarious and important sitcom based on parts of his own life as a young Black boy. Rock went on to display his dramatic acting ability in FX’s Fargo as the central antagonist in season 4. In all, the comedian has appeared in 47 shows and 43 series.
8 Jason Sudeikis
Jason Sudeikis was a featured member on SNL from 2005 until 2013 and starred in number of classic bits. Some of Sudeikis' best SNL characters include his portrayal of an A-hole in "Two A-holes" and impressions of George Bush, Mitt Romney, and Joe Biden. Nearing the close of his SNL career, he secured a role in Horrible Bosses alongside Charlie Day and Jason Bateman. A year later, he landed the leading role in Hall Pass. Since his early main roles, he has gone on to appear in several classic modern comedies including The Campaign and We’re the Millers. He played multiple recurring roles in The Cleveland Show, and went on to display the full extent of his acting prowess with the smash hit from AppleTV, Ted Lasso. He even appears in the new animated comic book series Hit Monkey. His strong and varied career has brought him many roles in both TV and Film, as he has appeared in 39 films.
7 Julia Louis-Dreyfus
Julia Louis-Dreyfus may have fewer appearances than others on this list, but her appearances are sweeping in their magnitude. Many are unaware of her tenure on SNL, which lasted from 1982 to 1985. It was here that she met Seinfeld creator Larry David. Prior to her appearance on Seinfeld, she saw regular work as smaller roles in films such as Hannah and Her Sisters and Christmas Vacation. In 1989, she first appeared in Seinfeld as Elaine Benes and solidified her position in pop culture and comedy history in portraying perhaps the best woman character to exist in a sitcom. Then, in the 2000s she starred as Selina Meyer in the hit HBO series Veep, in which she plays a fictitious Vice President of the US. This role garnered 6 Emmy wins and a host of other awards, in addition to her Emmy from Seinfeld. Since then, she has gone on to star in films alongside James Gandolfini and Will Ferrell, and has even joined the Marvel cinematic Universe as Valentina Allegra de Fontaine. In all, she has appeared in 18 films and 23 series.
6 Mike Myers
Mike Myers was on the SNL cast from 1989 until 1995. It was here that he first starred as Wayne Cambell, who would go on to be the main character in Wayne's World and Wayne's World 2, both of which are acclaimed by their cult following. Several years later, he introduced the spy parody Austin Powers and took the world by storm. All three installments of the title are considered classics and continue to bring audiences laughter to this day. Then, Myers' notoriety gained a significant bump for a third time with his vocal representation in Shrek. The Shrek films garnered praise and massive viewership that continues to grow. He’s appeared in a number of other films and will be returning to the screen in Netflix’s Pentaverate, in which he plays at least eight characters.
5 Eddie Murphy
At just 19 years old, Eddie Murphy joined the cast of SNL and subsequently revitalized the show itself. He added an attitude of irreverence never before seen to his sketch performances. In the coming years, he would release two of the most celebrated comedy specials of all time, Raw and Delirious, which included filthy and scathing remarks most at that time would have never dared to utter. As for acting, Murphy has appeared in a number of classics including Trading Places, Beverly Hills Cop, Coming to America, Harlem Nights, The Nutty Professor, and Shrek. He also played a more dramatic role in Dolemite is My Name, which chronicled the life of Rudy Ray Moore, a multitalented artist credited with launching in some regard Blaxploitation, stand-up comedy, and rap music. In all, he has appeared in 41 films and 15 series.
4 Bill Murray
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Bill Murray has become one of the most recognizable men in Hollywood as a result of his voluminous and varied work. He began at SNL in only its second season, and certainly helped to steer the show into what it would become. After winning an Emmy writing on the show, he departed in 1980 and scored one of his first recognizable roles in Caddyshack. From there he went on to appear in other comedy classics such as Stripes, Ghostbusters, and Groundhog Day. Later in his career, he has come to work closely with Wes Anderson and has made lengthy appearances in Hyde Park on Hudson, The Royal Tenenbaums, The Life Aquatic, The Darjeeling Limited, Fantastic Mr. Fox, Moonrise Kingdom, Isle of Dogs, and The French Dispatch. In addition to these titles he also plays a serious role in Sophia Coppola’s Lost in Translation. His total film appearances number at 84.
3 Bill Hader
Bill Hader was notorious for breaking character on SNL, which somehow only made his presence all the more funny. His massive range of voices and impressions make him magnetic and hilarious on the screen. He stayed with the show from 2005 to 2013, and was a large part in creating another Golden Age within the series. During his time on the show, he played a number of roles outside SNL, including Hot Rod, Superbad, Pineapple Express, and Adventureland. After his tenure, he went on to star in Trainwreck alongside Amy Schumer and in the star-studded adult animation Sausage Party. He is also a creative consultant, producer, and actor on South Park. Perhaps most impressive, he is currently serving as the creator, lead actor, writer, director, and executive producer on the hit HBO series Barry, which follows a troubled hit man as he attempts to become an actor. In all, Hader has appeared in 51 Films, 14 Series.
2 Will Ferrell
Will Ferrell is quite possibly one of the funniest and best-known working actors on the planet. His SNL sketches are iconic to say the least. Ferrell began his career at SNL in 1995 and remained on the cast until 2002, when he left to focus on his career in film. His impeccable timing and delivery, as well as his unique speech patterns, turn just about anything he says into comedic gold, especially when done up in costume. Following his time on the show, he has starred in and helped create some of the best comedy movies to ever hit the big screen. Some of these beloved and often quoted titles include Anchorman, Wedding Crashers, The Other Guys, Step Brothers, Taledega Nights, Blades of Glory, Semi Pro, Elf, Land of the Lost, and Get Hard. In all, he has appeared in 55 films and 36 series.
1 Adam Sandler
It seems probable to say that just about everyone has seen Adam Sandler appear in something. Audiences have a love-hate relationship with the superstar, and he gets bashed a good deal by the public for a number of films deemed less than good. He has actually received six solo Razzie Award nominations, and 26 more with films that he was attached to. In spite of his many, many misses, Sandler has created a slew of excellent and lasting comedies and has even divulged into far more serious roles. Some of his classic hits include Billy Madison, Happy Gilmore, The Wedding Singer, The Waterboy, Big Daddy, 50 First Dates, The Longest Yard, You Don’t Mess With The Zohan, Grownups 1 and 2, The Cobbler, Murder Mystery and Hubie Halloween. In 2002, he wowed audiences and critics alike with his portrayal of Barry Egan in Paul Thomas Anderson’s Punch Drunk Love. Similarly, in 2019, Sandler truly flabbergasted the world as the nearly unrecognizable Howard Ratner in the Safdie Brothers' Uncut Gems. He disappeared into the role and produced a pulse-pounding performance that viewers won’t soon forget. While he’s got several questionable releases such as Jack and Jill, Sandler’s comedy often stands the test of time, and his acting ability has proven to be top-notch. In all he has appeared in 74 films and 23 series.