I watched John Candy: I Like Me for the first time on an airplane, and I was prepared to full out bawl at the content. While it did get emotional in moments, Colin Hanks’ documentary mostly gives you a warm picture of a man that lit up the room every time he walked in, a man who had struggles of course, but always wanted to take care of others. There’s a darker version of John Candy, the man that often gets compared to funnymen Chris Farley and John Belushi, who also died too young. But Hanks stands by not going there.

The documentary director put out I Like Me, a title nodding back to Candy’s iconic Planes, Trains and Automobiles movie, in late 2025. Months later, it’s still making an impact on his fans. Hanks recently admitted there was a more “salacious” version of the Prime Video movie he could have made, but chose not to, mentioning to THR:

John Candy died in 1994, a dozen years after fellow comedian and former SNL star John Belushi died of a drug overdose. Chris Farley, often compared to Candy as another over-the-top comic personality, passed away in 1997 also from a drug overdose. Candy died in his sleep while making the movie Wagons East! He famously wasn’t taking good care of himself at the time, but it wasn’t drugs that took him from his friends and family.

People make parallels between the three men because they were all taken from us too young. They were all funny, and that comedy masked some pain. John Candy’s story was different, though, and he’d made such an impression on Colin Hanks at a young age, the director wanted his movie to allow that version of Candy to be the lasting one.

It’s not just Hanks he made an impression on either. There’s the great advice he gave Mike Myers about getting into comedy. There’s the time he got real with Conan O’Brien about doing comedy. There’s the lovely way he looked out for Macaulay Culkin when his own dad wasn’t on the set of Uncle Buck. Everyone who knew John has a story about him like this.

The darkest I feel the documentary gets has to do with career choices Candy made, both about keeping up weight for Hollywood roles, but also saying “yes” to too many people that maybe took for granted that willingness to say “yes.” Hanks said he saw Candy as a person as an “everyman.” He wanted the documentary to be relatable. The end result is a mesmerizing watch that certainly encapsulates the impression the actor made on others.

If you haven’t given it a watch yet, it’s worth checking out with your Amazon Prime subscription. Spaceballs 2 is also coming without him, but his castmates have done a lot to reassure us Josh Gad is pulling from the right place.

Whenever I turn on the news these days, it seems like there is a dire warning about the growing El Niño shaping up in the Pacific Ocean, ready to wreak havoc on North America over the next few months. I’m not trying to be flippant about the seriousness of the weather pattern, or to minimize the impact it could have on large parts of the United States. Still, I can’t help but giggle a little when I hear the words “El Niño,” and it’s all because of a Saturday Night Live skit from decades ago starring Chris Farley. IYKYK, but if you don’t, stick with me.

The First Time I Heard The Term Was In 1997

I’m not a meteorologist, so I’m not going to even try to explain what causes the phenomenon. The USGA says:

All I know for sure is that it is an unusual weather pattern and that I was in college in the late ‘90s when I first heard the term “El Niño.” The one that occurred that year was big news in the media, and for a few months, it was all over TV and the early version of the internet. I don’t even specifically remember what kind of weather it produced over the next year, but it was certainly talked about all the time.

It was such a big deal that SNL couldn’t help but work it into a sketch, and unlike the weather in 1997, I clearly remember the sketch. I can’t take the weather seriously when all I can think about is Farley. Farley was the host that night, not a cast member, and sadly, it was just a few months before he died.

The Sketch Is Short But Sweet

The sketch opens with Will Ferrell as a host of a Weather Channel show who explains that the Weather Channel has satellite images of the weather phenomenon. Instead of a radar showing clouds, it’s Farley. It’s classic Farley, too. He’s shirtless, dressed like a professional wrestler, and channeling his inner Macho Man Randy Savage. He is as over-the-top as ever, as the weather pattern that had gobbled up all the ink in all the papers that year. There was nothing that could be done that Farley couldn’t do ten times bigger, including playing “El Niño.”

Still, all these decades later, I still find myself quoting him when he explains that “El Niño” is Spanish for…”The Niño.” It's one of the best Chris Farley quotes ever, if you ask me. So you’ll have to pardon me when I say I can’t watch a news report about a “Super El Niño” without thinking of an even bigger, badder, and more ridiculous version of the late Chris Farley saying “Super El Niño” over and over.

It’s tough to find a good version of the sketch on YouTube, but if you have a Peacock subscription, it’s easy to find the episode from October 25th, 1997 (Season 23, Episode 4 with Farley hosting and The Mighty Mighty Bosstones as the musical guests). It’s worth watching again, trust me, and I promise, as this weather system gets more serious, so will I.

Nearly three decades after Chris Farley’s death, the larger-than-life comedian’s funniest SNL lines are still quoted and his best roles are memed and replayed as if he never left. But for his family, especially his brother Tom Farley, the legacy isn’t just about the sketches that made his castmates laugh or the box office hits like Tommy Boy. It’s about the version of Chris they knew offstage and the version they were just beginning to see of the rising Saturday Night Live breakout star emerge before his untimely passing.

In a recent exclusive with People Magazine, Tom Farley opened up about what he misses most about his late brother, who died on December 18, 1997 at age 33 from an apparent drug overdose. For years, Tom says, the memory that came to mind was simple and physical. In his words:

Born and raised in Wisconsin, the late comedian cut his teeth at Chicago’s Second City before being tapped by Lorne Michaels for Saturday Night Live in 1990. Over five seasons, he delivered unforgettable characters: Matt Foley, the Chippendales dancer, and the Gap Girls’ Cindy, to name but a few. He was chaos and commitment rolled into one.

But behind the scenes, addiction shadowed much of his adult life. The Beverly Hills Ninja actor went to rehab more than a dozen times and was sober for three years before relapsing in 1995. According to Tom, those sober years were transformative. He continued:

That part hits differently. We often talk about Farley’s explosive energy, but Tom is describing something more layered. Someone who was actively finding his footing just as his career was peaking. Even after his firing from SNL in 1995, alongside his friend Adam Sandler, the enduring fan favorite found major success in films like Tommy Boy and Beverly Hills Ninja. But Tom’s reflections suggest the real breakthrough wasn’t just professional, but personal. Who knows where the fan-favorite funnyman would be today, but it's easy to imagine him being another SNL veteran who could thrive in dramatic roles.

And perhaps most revealing is how Tom reframes Chris Farley's myth as “just” a character actor. Of his brother, he added:

That’s the throughline. Tom Farley says that some of his best roles were simply Chris being Chris. As kids, they’d perform skits for family, and while he tried to “play” someone else, Chris leaned into who he already was.

Tom Farley used to joke that his brother's mission in life was to push his buttons. Now, it seems he sees it differently. He believes his brother was simply being himself, something that ultimately became his greatest strength. Decades later, the sketches still get laughs. But for him, what stands out isn’t the fame or the characters. It’s the brother he feels he was just beginning to truly discover.

You can revisit Chris Farley’s five-year run, along with all 51 seasons of Saturday Night Live, streaming now with a Peacock subscription.

Over the course of his illustrious career, Adam Sandler has made countless people laugh due to his on-screen antics, including his work on Saturday Night Live. Sandler, of course, enjoys a good laugh himself, and there have been instances in which other stars have made him chuckle. One of the people who managed to do that was Chris Farley, Sandler’s equally iconic SNL co-star. Just recently, Sandler revealed that one particular sketch involving Farley made him laugh the most on air, and it’s really good.

Sandler recently took part in an awards season conversation with Timothée Chalamet, during which they discussed their work. As part of that, the two also took part in a rewatch segment for Vanity Fair (which was posted to YouTube). The “Sandman” and Chalamet were soon shown a clip from a particular sketch that aired in 1993 during Season 19 – “The Herlihy Boy House-Sitting Service.” The comedian went on to mention one of his good buddies while discussing his work on the sketch:

In the sketch, which has over two million views on YouTube as of this writing, Adam Sandler plays the role of Herlihy Boy. Formatted as a faux commercial, the segment sees Herlihy trying to convince potential customers to let him water their plants, sleep in their beds and more while they’re away. Helping Herlihy convince people is the emphatic Mr. O’Malley, who’s hilariously played by Farley. During his recent conversation, Sandler explained how the whole sketch came together quickly and at the last minute:

The Waterboy icon can be seen trying his hardest not to break during the sketch and, as it turns out, Chris Farley was intentionally trying to make that happen. Sandler went on to recall exactly how Farley would aim to make him crack:

I wouldn’t blame Adam Sandler for cracking up, not one bit, considering just how funny Chris Farley was. The late Tommy Boy star knew how to generate laughs, and he definitely did so with the Herlihy Boy sketch. Just hearing Mr. O’Malley making his appeal in the loudest way possible is enough to make me chuckle. Take a look at the segment down below:

Honestly, it’s somewhat hard not to get a bit emotional while watching that sketch, as it’s a stark reminder of a talented star who’s no longer with us. Farley – who battled drug addiction – died of an overdose in 1997. Today, though, Farley is far from forgotten, as he’s still mentioned by his peers and his work is considered to be seminal.

Adam Sandler has paid tribute to his good friend many times over the years, and he’s been cited for his performances of “The Chris Farley” song. It’s sad to think it’s been years since Sandler had the opportunity to share the screen with Farley. However, it’s still sweet whenever Sandler shares warm remembrances of his pal and his work. On that note, fans can check out Farley’s performances by streaming classic episodes of Saturday Night Live with a Peacock subscription.

Adam Sandler has a deep appreciation for the art of comedy, but there's a particular sport that also holds a special place in his heart – basketball. Sure, Sandler is known for wearing basketball shorts on a regular basis but, even now, the actor occasionally plays a pickup game or two. Unsurprisingly, the beloved comedian would also hit the court when he was a younger man, and he would even hoop it up with some big stars. I’m particularly envious of the fact that he balled with the likes of George Clooney and Chris Farley.

The Happy Gilmore icon does indeed have some famous friends, and he met a number of them when he worked on Saturday Night Live back in the ‘90s. Among the brightest stars Sandler met during his stint as a cast member on the sketch comedy series was Clooney, who was emerging as the star of ER at the time. During an awards season event (which THR attended), Sandler recalled the time at which Clooney hosted SNL and remembered taking in a game of b-ball along with Farley. Seriously, the nostalgia is real:

Oh, to have been a fly on the wall within that recreation center to not only witness that game of basketball but also hear the conversations that were being had. (I also wouldn’t be surprised if there was a bit of trash-talking as well.) What I’m also curious about are the identities of the other comics who apparently joined Sandler, Farley and Clooney on the court. Regardless, based on the Waterboy’s recollection, he had a great time with his peers, and I just find this memory to be so cool.

It’s always sweet to hear Adam Sandler share great anecdotes about his friends, including those who are no longer with us. Chris Farley – one of SNL's most iconic stars – sadly passed away at the age of 33 in 1997 due to a drug overdose. While it’s been nearly 30 years since Farley’s passing, Sandler still pays tribute to him as do other comedians. Sandler’s performances of the Farley song are also particularly moving.

The “Sandman” also goes back a ways with George Clooney, and one of their first public outings as friends was a trip to a New York Knicks game. Overall, the event proved to be a humbling experience for Sandler, who admitted to feeling “invisible” next to Clooney. Despite having known each other for so long, Sandler and Clooney haven’t worked together until just recently, as they co-star in the 2025 movie release Jay Kelly. That film is actually the reason Sandler was at that awards event in the first place along with Marty Supreme’s Timothée Chalamet. Funny enough, their chat took place at Fairfax High School in LA where they played basketball against students.

Honestly, I’m not sure what I love more – Adam Sandler’s love of basketball or his sweet stories about his celebrity friends. It’s rare that those two elements sync up but, when they do, it’s incredibly sweet. Here’s hoping that Sandler has more pickup basketball games with his famous chums moving forward.

In the meantime, check out George Clooney’s episode of Saturday Night Live – which is part of Season 20 – by streaming it with a Peacock subscription. There are also plenty of great installments that highlight the comedic brilliance of the great Chris Farley.

Paul Walter Hauser isn’t just starring as Chris Farley; he is now fan-casting the rest of the movie in his head. And, when it comes to one of the most important supporting roles in the upcoming biopic, Hauser already has an actor in mind. Hauser specifically knows who he wants to see play Saturday Night Live creator Lorne Michaels in the film, and I give this two big thumbs up.

While speaking with Variety at AFI Fest on Wednesday night, Hauser revealed his pick and made a direct pitch for the role of Michaels. So who did the I, Tonya star pick? Well, the person in question is an iconic character actor with an Oscar under their belt Hauser said in the interview:

He’s not wrong, because that casting makes a lot of sense. Rockwell has the range to nail Michaels’ signature mix of cool detachment and behind-the-scenes power, and his chemistry with Hauser is already proven. The two previously worked together on Clint Eastwood’s Richard Jewell (which Hauser gave a mid-review of) in 2019, and a reunion in a film like this feels like a no-brainer.

Paul Walter Hauser also told the outlet he’s just received the newest draft of the script, written by 500 Days of Summer duo Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber, calling it “the best yet.” Cameras could roll as early as early-to-mid next year, as long as the official greenlight comes through from New Line and Warner Bros.

The Chris Farley biopic, first announced in April 2024, is an upcoming book-to-screen adaptation of The Chris Farley Show: A Biography in Three Acts. The book is a deeply personal portrait of Farley’s life co-written by his brother, Tom Farley Jr. and Tanner Colby. Plot specifics are still under wraps, but the project promises to explore both the comedy legend’s meteoric rise and his complicated offstage struggles.

Ask anyone to name a standout cast member from SNL’s '90s era, and Chris Farley is bound to come up. His over-the-top physical comedy and unforgettable characters made him a legend on the show and in films, delivering some of the most hilarious quotes. However, his story is also one of deep personal struggle, which makes this biopic especially meaningful. Hauser stepping into the role feels like the right move, and him teaming him up with Rockwell could be a dream come true for longtime SNL fans.

If Sam Rockwell comes on board as Lorne Michaels, the film could have a duo strong enough to do justice to Farley’s legacy, with the heart and humor it deserves.

While we wait to see if Rockwell takes the role or we get more updates on the biopic, there’s no shortage of Paul Walter Hauser’s recent work to check out. For laughs, The Naked Gun is streaming now with a Paramount+ subscription, and for something more serious, catch him in the 2025 movie release, Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere, currently in theaters.

Many still feel the absence of Saturday Night Live star Chris Farley, who passed away due to a drug overdose in 1997. In his five-season run on SNL, Farley brought an entertaining blend of high energy and outrageous physical comedy, which he infused into unforgettable characters. Given Farley's impact, it's not surprising that a biopic about him is in the works, with Paul Walter Hauser steps into his shoes, Now, Hauser is opening up about talking to Lorne Michaels, David Spade and Tim Meadows about Farley.

Work on the Chris Farley biopic has yet to officially begin, as Paul Walter Hauser recently revealed to EW that an official green light has yet to be given. While Hauser hasn't started preparing to deeply, his conversations with those in Farley's inner circle have apparently been invaluable for him. On the subject of having spoken to so many SNL bigwigs, Hauser said:

I can understand the pain that comes with talking about a Hollywood icon who didn’t make it past the age of 40. Fans may mourn the loss, but it's hard to compare those feelings to those of the people who knew Farley personally. But, at the same time, it looks like Lorne Michaels and co. are doing their late cohort's memory well by sharing their "funniest stories" of him. These are personal recollections, but I'd be lying if I said I wouldn't want to be a fly on the wall while they're being shared.

Lorne Michaels, David Spade and Tim Meadows were close with the Airheads actor, but they all had different stories to tell Paul Walter Hauser. The Americana actor got real about what made each conversation different to him:

I’d love to know what Lorne Michaels’ anecdotes on the comedy actor were about David Spade -- who was a good friend of Chris Farley's -- surely has some wonderful stories. And, since Tim Meadows got his start on Second City with Farley in 1989, he can likely speak to the Coneheads actor’s early comedic genius.

Previously, Paul Walter Hauser said the most “difficult” part of getting to play Farley had been worrying about how audiences would judge his portrayal. Biopics can be tricky for an actor, as they're about more than just putting on an impression or impersonation. An actor has to embody the spirit of the person they're portraying. Still, Hauser is smart to be chatting with those who knew Farley, and I'd imagine that a story like the one Tim Meadows shared with him will help inform his work:

The Chris Farley biopic may still be in the early stages of development, but I’m already confident Hauser has got this big role in the bag. He’s shown his acting chops in films like I, Tonya, Richard Jewell and BlacKkKlansman. Of course, he's also a natural born comedic actor, as evidenced by his work in the 2025 movie releaseThe Naked Gun and the hit show Cobra Kai. The Emmy winner is a multi-faceted actor who I'm sure can play out Farley’s comedic highs as well as his tough battles with addiction and more.

Paul Walter Hauser just continues to prove just why he's one of the most thoughtful actors working in show business today. Here's hoping that he's able to use those stories from Chris Farley's friends and colleagues to help his performance in the film, which I also hope does get the green light. In the meantime, check out Hauser in both Americana and The Fantastic Four: First Steps, which are in theaters now.

Chris Farley is an example of an SNL alum who made a huge impact in the five seasons he was on. Whether he was dancing shirtless with Patrick Swayze or delivering one of his funniest sketch comedy quotes about his “van down by the river,” he always knew how to make an audience laugh. However, considering his untimely death in 1997, SNL 50 writer Dan Bulla got real about why mentions of the Tommy Boy actor these days always “steer” toward the emotional (especially when Adam Sandler is involved).

Chris Farley was a Hollywood star who never made it to 40, and we’ll always wonder what would have become of the comedic actor if he were still alive. If he were able to come on the 50th Anniversary Special with his other SNL alums, I know he would have stolen the show the moment he stepped on stage. During SNL 50, they still paid tribute to him, though, and writer Dan Bulla told Vulture that he and Adam Sandler knew how emotional it would be, explaining:

It’s natural that anytime you write a song about a friend who’s passed away, no matter how funny the lyrics are, the emotions will still kick.

Adam Sandler’s first time singing “The Chris Farley Song” was on his Netflix special 100% Fresh on the 21st anniversary of the actor’s death. When he returned as a Saturday Night Live host for Season 44, he played the song again for live-studio audiences. You couldn’t help but get emotional seeing the clips behind the 50 First Dates actor of the two starring in sketches together, like “Lunch Lady Land” and “Zagat’s.”

And, of course, The Sandman had to mention his best buddy in his and Bulla’s song “50 Years” that played during the 2025 TV release, SNL50: The Anniversary Special. After all, it'd be hard to pay tribute to one of the best sketch comedy shows without mentioning Farley.

There’s a reason why Adam Sandler works with his friends multiple times in his movies (including Chris Farley). He clearly likes working with familiar faces that he can have fun with and make humorous magic together. But despite how funny he can be onscreen, Dan Bulla reminded us that the talented actor is never afraid to wear his heart on his sleeve:

With both these tribute songs, it makes perfect sense why they're so emotional. Sandler is a loving guy, and he loved and still loves Farley deeply.

The Billy Madison actor has said himself that he’s played Chris Farley’s tribute song “maybe 100 times,” but the tune still gets to him. You could hear when Sandler’s voice breaks up a little when he’s playing that heartwarming number. But, the Uncut Gems star said he loved hearing the audience still “go nuts” when he mentions his pal’s name, showing the love fans have for Farley will never die.

Considering how close Adam Sandler was to Chris Farley, it’s always going to be emotional when he pays a tribute to his beloved friend. But, I’d like to believe he’s making Farley proud in keeping his memory alive and constantly reminding us that his spirit was defined by the joy and laughter he brought to everyone.

SNL 50 and all of your favorite sketches are available with a Peacock subscription.

River Phoenix, Corey Haim, and Brittany Murphy are three big names who we all lost too soon under tragic circumstances, but they are hardly the only ones. Over the years, going back to the earliest days of Hollywood, some of the biggest stars have died before even making it to 40 years old. This list is dedicated to them, the stars we lost before they even had a chance to the "over the hill."

Corey Haim (38)

Corey Haim and Corey Feldman starred in seven movies together, and they will be forever linked as "The Two Coreys" from their heyday in the late '80s. Haim starred in a slew of Gen X classics like The Lost Boys, Lucas, Dream A Little Dream, and License to Drive. Sadly, once his fame faded a little, he never had a chance to make a comeback before he died of pneumonia in 2010 after battling addiction for years.

James Dean (24)

"Live fast, die young, and leave a good-looking corpse," is a famous quote often associated with James Dean, who did just that. Though he only starred in three movies, his star status has remained constant in the seven decades since his death. Dean died in a car wreck in 1955.

Jayne Mansfield (34)

Jayne Mansfield was only 34 when she was killed in a car crash in 1967. Her young children, including future Law & Order: SVU star Mariska Hargitay, were in the car with her, and luckily they did survive the crash. For many years, Hargitay spoke little of the event of her famous mother, but opened up in an HBO Max documentary in 2025.

Brandon Lee (28)

One of the most tragic deaths in Hollywood in the 1990s was the shocking death of Brandon Lee was killed while filming The Crow. The movie was going to be Lee's breakout, coming out from under the shadow of his famous father, Bruce Lee. The junior Lee was just 28 when he was killed on the movie set after being shot with a blank.

Marilyn Monroe (36)

Despite her death at just 36 in 1962, Marilyn Monroe's legacy is alive and well more than six decades after we lost one of Hollywood's biggest stars. Movies are still being made telling her tragic story, like the controversial Blonde in 2022 starring Ana de Armas as the screen legend.

Heath Ledger (28)

For many reading this list, there is no question that the first name they probably thought of after reading the headline is Heath Ledger. Ledger's career was rising to a new level when he sadly died of an overdose in 2008. Though he had been a star for about a decade when he died, he was coming off two legendary performances that have since defined the late Australian's career. The first, of course, is Brokeback Mountain, and the second is his Oscar-winning turn as The Joker in The Dark Knight. Ledger won the award posthumously, and fans felt the pain all over again, wondering how many more great performances we would have gotten from the actor.

Brittany Murphy (32)

Brittany Murphy had her breakout role as Tai Frasier in Clueless in 1995, and for the next decade, she continued to wow us in films like Drop Dead Gorgeous, Riding in Cars with Boys, and 8 Mile. Her death at just 32 in 2009 was shocking, and in the years since, it's still as mysterious as it was then.

Chris Farley (33)

Chris Farley was one of the most beloved members of the SNL cast ever, both by fans and by his fellow actors on the show. On SNL, he never failed to make everyone belly laugh at his over-the-top antics, and on the silver screen, whether in a small role like in Billy Madison or as a star in Tommy Boy, he was among the funniest ever. We never got to see enough of the star, though, as he died of an overdose at just age 33 in 1997.

Aaliyah (22)

There is something especially tragic about a plane crash. Especially when you are talking about a pop star. Aaliyah was more than a pop star, though, and she was just getting started in her acting career when she was killed in a crash in the Bahamas in 2001, not long after her film debut in Romeo Must Die.

Michelle Trachtenberg (39)

Michelle Trachtenberg is most famous for playing Georgina Sparks in Gossip Girl, but her seemingly endless number of credits proves she was great in a variety of roles. Her sudden death at age 39 in early 2025 shocked everyone, and while we may never be able to close the book on why she died, we will always have her work to look back on.

Bruce Lee (32)

It's almost hard to believe that Bruce Lee was only 32 when he died in 1973. He left an incredible legacy of films both in the US and in Hong Kong and has become a legend since his death. The martial arts master opened so many doors for Asian actors and films that it's impossible to measure his impact on Hollywood. It is exceptional.

John Belushi (33)

The first breakout star in SNL history was unquestionably John Belushi. Even in a cast that included Gilda Radner, Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, and many others, Belushi stood above them all. He parlayed that into a wonderful, yet painfully short movie career with legendary roles in Animal House and The Blues Brothers, which is arguably the best movie based on an SNL character ever.

River Phoenix (23)

In the same way that Heath Ledger's death marks a moment in time for Millennials, River Phoenix's death in 1993 is the same for Gen X. Though Phoenix was only 23 years old, he was already a veteran actor, having gotten his start in Hollywood in commercials in the early 1980s. He rose to prominence with fantastic performances in movies like Stand By Me, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Mosquito Coast, and My Own Private Idaho. Phoenix earned an Oscar nomination for his role in Running on Empty at just age 18.

Brad Renfro (25)

Brad Renfro burst onto the scene as an 11-year-old in The Client, co-starring Susan Sarandon and Tommy Lee Jones. He put in a brilliant performance and followed it up with another 20 or so credits, including in Ghost World, Sleepers, and Apt Pupil. He tragically died of an overdose in 2008 when he was just 25 years old.

Cory Monteith (31)

There are some who claim there is a curse hanging over the cast of Glee. Whether you believe in such things or not, the show does have an unsettling history when it comes to actors dying young. Cory Monteith, who played Finn Hudson in the hit show, died in 2013 of an overdose. He was the first young cast member to die, but he wouldn't be the last.

Dana Hill (32)

Who doesn't love a great movie about a vacation gone wrong? National Lampoon's European Vacation, the second movie of the series, is wildly underrated, and Dana Hill's performance as Audrey in it is equally underrated. Sadly, Hill died at age 32 due to complications from diabetes.

Tupac Shakur (25)

Pretty much everyone knows the story of legendary rapper Tupac Shakur's murder in 1996. Though plenty of conspiracy theories surround the events, it remains unsolved. Tupac was best known for his music, but he also had some fantastic acting chops, as he showed in movies like Above the Rim and Poetic Justice. It's hard to believe he was only 25.

Anton Yelchin (27)

One of the more bizarre ways to go on this list is what happened to Anton Yelchin, the young star of the rebooted Star Trek movies. The actor, who played Pavel Chekov in Star Trek, Star Trek Into Darkness, and Star Trek Beyond, was killed when he was pinned against a post by his own SUV.

Lee Thompson Young (29)

A generation of kids grew up with Lee Thompson Young as the titular star of the Disney show The Famous Jett Jackson. They followed him as a high school student in the original Friday Night Lights movie, and then in his biggest role as an adult on Rizzoli & Isles. That would be Young's final role as he took his own life in 2013.

Heather O'Rourke (12)

In just twelve short years in this world, Heather O'Rourke made a huge impact. She is most famous, of course, for Poltergeist, and her legendary line "They're heeeeere," she also appears on TV in Happy Days and Webster, and reprised her role in two Poltergeist sequels, the final of which was released after her death in 1988.

Sharon Tate (26)

In 1969, Sharon Tate's murder by the Manson Family became the most notorious crime in Hollywood history. The talented young actor, who was pregnant at the time, was just coming into her own as a star when her life was snatched from her at just age 26. It's a murder that Quentin Tarantino reimagined in Once Upon A Time In Hollywood with the happy ending we all long for it to have been for Tate.

Angus Cloud (25)

In a horrible case of life imitating art, Euphoria star Angus Cloud died of an overdose at age 25 in 2023. The actor rose to prominence on the controversial show about teen addiction, and before his career really got going, we lost him.

Naya Rivera (33)

The circumstances behind the death of Glee star Naya Rivera may never be fully understood. The actress drowned while boating with her young son, and though she was known to be a good swimmer, according to her son, she struggled to get back on the boat after they both went for a swim. Her body was found five days later. Rivera was only 33 when she died in 2020.

Andy Kaufman (35)

Now, should Andy Kaufman be on this list? Many believe that the enigmatic comedian actually faked his own death. Though this isn't true, he was taken by cancer at age 35 in 1984, the late Kaufman would love the idea that people still believed he was alive and in hiding somewhere. It's exactly the kind of prank he would pull while he was living.

Cameron Boyce (20)

Though his career only lasted about 12 years and he died at age 20, Cameron Boyce crammed a ton of acting into his short life. Boyce has almost four dozen credits to his name, though he is certainly best known for playing Carlos in the Descendants film series.

Chance Perdomo (27)

Chance Perdomo's big break came with a starring role in Gen V, the spinoff of The Boys from Amazon Prime. Sadly, he died in a motorcycle crash in Upstate New York before the second season of the show was shot, so we never got enough of Perdomo.

Ryan Dunn (34)

In a lot of ways, the tragic death of Ryan Dunn wasn't all that surprising. That's not to say it was very sad, because it was, but for the Jackass star to go out in a car crash seems very "on brand" for Dunn. He lived life fast and crazy, and that's how he went out. It's not exactly poetic, but there is something that makes sense about it, which is rare for this list.

Jean Harlow (26)

Hollywood's original "blonde bombshell" was the great Jean Harlow. Harlow's most famous role came in the Howard Hughes-directed classic Hell's Angels, and she's also well known for a string of comedic roles in the 1930s, before she died due to Kidney failure in 1937. She was only 26 at the time of her death.

Freddie Prinze (22)

Freddie Prinze is probably best known by most people today as the father of Freddie Prinze, Jr. Tragically, before the younger Prinze was even one year old, the senior Prinze took his own life at just age 22.

Jonathan Brandis (27)

Teen heartthrob Jonathan Brandis, like so many other actors, got his start in soap operas. His most prominent role came as Lucas Wolenczak on seaQuest DSV, which is where he truly became a beloved star. His fame faded somewhat after seaQuest DSV ended, and he tragically took his own life in 2003.

Dominique Dunne (22)

The Dunne family is Hollywood and literary royalty. Dominique Dunne, whose father was writer Dominick Dunne and whose brother is actor Griffin Dunne, was horrifically killed by her boyfriend in 1982 at just age 22. She was the first of two young stars to die from the cast of Poltergeist, along with Heather O'Rourke.

Thuy Trang (27)

The Mighty Morphin Power Rangers have become a much-loved franchise over the years, and it all started with the original cast of the first show. Thuy Trang was the first actor to play the Yellow Ranger on screen before she was killed in a car crash with her friend and fellow actor Angela Rockwood in 2001. Rockwood suffered a spinal injury that left her unable to walk, and Trang succumbed to her injuries before making it to the hospital. Like all the actors on this list, she sadly didn't make it 40, as she was just 27.

Saturday Night Live, now in its 50th season as part of the 2025 TV schedule, has showcased many stars. But none quite like the late Chris Farley. A whirlwind of energy and comedic talent, Farley's iconic sketches helped shape SNL in the '90s and continue to be celebrated. But his struggles with addiction are a sobering reminder of another SNL legend, John Belushi. Lorne Michaels, the show's creator, aimed to ensure that history wouldn’t repeat itself.

In a recent conversation on Dax Shepard’s Armchair Expert podcast, Susan Morrison, author of Lorne: The Man Who Invented Saturday Night Live, spoke candidly about how deeply Belushi’s 1982 overdose affected Michaels and, in turn, how that shaped his handling of Farley. According to the author:

That lesson hit home when Farley, who rocketed to stardom with his physical, no-holds-barred sketches, began struggling openly with addiction. According to Morrison, Michaels would “ban” Farley from the show for weeks at a time in a desperate attempt to curb his self-destruction. She revealed:

The strategy wasn’t just disciplinary, it was a lifeline. Michaels knew what SNL meant to Farley, who had made a huge impact on the show in just five years. Removing him from the one thing he loved most was reportedly an attempt to reach the man behind the manic sketches. Morrison continued:

That contradiction defined Farley’s time on the show: a man desperate for approval but unable to escape the habits threatening to destroy him. Michaels wasn’t just his boss; he became an unwitting guardian, trying every method he could to steer the Tommy Boy actor off a path he’d seen before.

After one of his stints in rehab, Farley briefly got clean, only to relapse again. Michaels sent him to a facility in Alabama, one rooted in “tough love.” It wasn’t punishment, but an attempt at prevention.

But the ending was painfully familiar. On December 18, 1997, just two months after hosting SNL, Chris Farley died of an overdose at 33. Cocaine and heroin, the same fatal mix that took Belushi. It was the tragedy Michaels had tried to avoid repeating. But even with all the interventions and hard decisions, addiction proved too powerful.

Peacock subscription holders can revisit SNL’s most iconic moments and see who is hosting Saturday Night Live Season 50 next by streaming on the platform.

Over the five decades that Saturday Night Live has been a staple of late-night television, it has been responsible for some of the funniest impressions of political figures in popular culture. It's invented words, like "strategery," and never failed to get the public talking. Some of the greatest cast members in the show's history have played the most famous and infamous politicians in United States history. This list is hardly exhaustive; that would be impossible, but they are some of the best.

Bill Clinton - Phil Hartman

Phil Hartman was one of the most versatile performers in SNL history and had some amazing moments on the show. He could do it all, including impersonating President Bill Clinton. In 1992, he appeared on one of the true classic skits that sees Clinton on the campaign trail, meeting people at a McDonald's. Most of the time, he's just stealing fries and taking bites of people's food.

George W. Bush - Will Ferrell

Who will ever forget Will Ferrell uttering the word "strategery" during an SNL debate? Ferrell's George W. Bush is a classic. He portrayed the former president as a little dimwitted, but generally affable. While "Dubya" is smarter than he lets on, he is certainly easygoing, just as Ferrall played him. He was so good as Bush that he later played him in a one-man show after leaving SNL and has occasionally returned to the show, as well.

Al Gore - Darrell Hammond

Will Ferrell's George W. Bush is legendary, and like all the best performances, he needed a partner to play the foil, and Darrell Hammond's portrayal of Al Gore, Bush's opponent in 2000, was perfect for the role. Like Gore himself, Hammond's take on the former VP was very dry - but make no mistake, it's pitch perfect and hilarious.

Sean Spicer - Melissa McCarthy

When Melissa McCarthy first appeared on SNL as Donald Trump's press secretary Sean Spicer, she completely stole the show. Though she wasn't a full cast member, the impression was so funny, she returned a number of times to reprise it. It's impossible not to die laughing when she starts shoving gum in her mouth, playing on one of Spicer's own habits.

Gerald Ford - Chevy Chase

The first cast member to send up a president was Chevy Chase, who became legendary for his performances as then-president Gerald Ford. Chase basically played Ford as though the president was a complete idiot, and while that might not be exactly what Ford was like, it didn't matter, because it was hilarious whenever Chase played him. Just don't make him do any math.

Vladimir Putin - Beck Bennett

Occasionally, Saturday Night Live branches out into foreign politics, and in recent years, we've had the pleasure of watching Beck Bennett as a shirtless Vladimir Putin. Is it a spot-on impression? No, but no matter, it perfectly mocks Putin's machismo that is so often on display in Russian propaganda, including his lack of shirt in pretty much every appearance.

Janet Reno - Wll Ferrell

Cast members playing across genders has a long tradition at SNL, and that certainly applies to political impressions on the show. Take, for example, Will Ferrell's hilarious impression of former attorney general Janet Reno. Especially the "Janet Reno's Dance Party" skit. Though Ferrell says he regrets the impression these days, it still should be appreciated for what it was in its time.

Ben Carson - Jay Pharoah

Jay Pharoah is hands down one of the greatest impressionists who has ever graced the SNL studio. He never failed to land just about any impersonation he took on, like former Republican presidential candidate and neurosurgeon Ben Carson. Pharoah perfectly captured Carson's sleepy appearance and gentle manner.

Michael Dukakis - Jon Lovitz

Like Al Gore, former Democratic presidential candidate Michael Dukakis was often criticized for being too dry and too much of a policy wonk. Jon Lovitz nailed the former Massachusetts governor perfectly by playing him in an almost boring manner. It wasn't boring to watch during the 1988 election, however.

Newt Gingrich - Chris Farley

Saturday Night Live legend Chris Farley wasn't known for his impressions, but that doesn't mean when he did them, they weren't top-notch. In fact, his Newt Gingrich was so good, he was even invited by House Republicans to perform as the former Speaker of the House. Right in front of the man himself! Of course, Farley nailed it.

Donald Trump - James Austin Johnson

Everyone and their brother thinks they can nail an impression of Donald Trump, but none do it better than James Austin Johnson on SNL. A ton of cast members (and guest stars) have "done" Trump in the past, including most famously Alec Baldwin, but if we're honest, none of them come close to Johnson's. It's all about the subtleties.

Sarah Palin - Tina Fey

When Sarah Palin first emerged as a vice presidential candidate in 2008, fans of the show and its former head writer and star, Tina Fey, started clamoring for her to come back to do an impression of the Alaskan governor. Fey did, of course, and in the process made the impersonation legendary. She even returned in 2018 to reprise the role.

Bob Dole - Norm Macdonald

The best thing about Norm McDonald's impersonation of Senator Bob Dole was just how little the SNL star did. It was basically just McDonald holding a pen in his hand, as Dole did, and calling himself "Bob Dole" in the third person a lot. It's absolutely hilarious.

Jimmy Carter - Dan Aykroyd

Jimmy Carter, who some would argue might be the best person to ever be president, but none would argue he was particularly effective as a president. That's exactly how Dan Aykroyd played him, too. He was a great man, willing to help out anyone he could, but maybe a little out of his depth as the leader of the free world.

Hillary Clinton - Amy Poehler

You have to wonder just how much Amy Poehler took from her impression of Hillary Clinton into her Parks & Rec character, Leslie Knope. We know Leslie idolized Clinton, just as it seemed Poehler did, especially when they appeared together on the show in 2016.

Joe Biden - Kevin Nealon

Years before Joe Biden became VP, and hence a regular target of SNL, he was a senator from Maryland leading the Senate's investigation into Clarence Thomas when Thomas was nominated for the Supreme Court. The hearings were front-page news, and SNL landed an amazing skit with Kevin Nealon playing the younger Biden.

George H. W. Bush - Dana Carvey

For Gen X, there is no more famous impersonation than Dana Carvey's George H.W. Bush. His version of the 41st president was a little nerdy, but very forthright. He also copied some absolutely classic lines, like "1000 points of light," that have become cultural touchstones. Carvey has done a lot of impressions for SNL, both as a cast member and later as a guest star, but Bush I remains his most famous.

Ted Kennedy - Phil Hartman

The great Phil Hartman may best be remembered for his version of Bill Clinton, but his take on Senator Ted Kennedy in the famous skit about Clarence Thomas' Supreme Court hearing was at least as good and really, really funny. It's always fun to do a Massachusetts accent, even for Hartman.

Bernie Sanders - Larry David

For over a decade now, Saturday Night Live has been great at bringing in guest stars to do the biggest political players these days. One of the most hilarious was when they convinced former SNL writer and Seinfeld co-creator Larry David to play Bernie Sanders. David seemed to enjoy his time playing the independent Senator from Vermont, but he admitted later he would not have wanted Sanders to win and have to play him more than he did.

Ross Perot - Dana Carvey

The 1992 Presidential election was a wild one. George H.W. Bush, was the incumbent, and he was challenged by and young upstart named Bill Clinton. A third candidate, Ross Perot, jumped into the race with a self-funded career as a financial centrist. Dana Carvey was already famous for his Bush, and he added Perot to his repertoire during this election, too.

David Paterson - Fred Armisen

One of the more underrated impressions has to be Fred Armisen's version of the former governor of New York, David Paterson. To some, it was offensive, but Paterson himself seemed to be ok with it, as he joined Armisen for an appearance in one skit.

Donald Trump, Jr - Mikey Day And Alex Moffat - Eric Trump

Sure, usually the kids of Presidents are off-limits for sketch comedy, but when they are such visible members of the campaign, like Eric and Donald Trump Jr. were, they are fair game. Alex Moffat and Mikey Day aren't really perfect impressions, but they are hilarious.

Ronald Reagan - Phil Hartman

Early in his SNL career, Phil Hartman did an amazing impression of Ronald Reagan. The skit shows Reagan as a kindly old man, much like the image he projected to the public, but things changed when the eyes were off Reagan in the script, and he was a ruthless leader with all kinds of schemes.

Elizabeth Warren - Kate McKinnon

Emmy Award winner Kate McKinnon has dozens of amazing sketches in her SNL portfolio. She was legendary in her time on the show for her impressions, including such political luminaries as Hillary Clinton and Kellyanne Conway. One of her best has to be Elizabeth Warren, who McKinnon got to play for a little bit when Warren ran for president in 2020.

Cory Booker - Chris Redd

Cory Booker was an up-and-coming Senator from New Jersey when he through his hat into the presidential ring in 2020. Chris Redd did a very funny impression of the former Newark mayor that emphasized Booker's wide eyes.

Jeanine Pirro - Cecily Strong

Though she was a local politician early in her career, Jeanine Pirro is most famous for her Fox News talk show. On Saturday Night Live, Cecily Strong nailed Pirro's unique speech pattern and made the impression incredibly effective and funny.

Rudy Giuliani - Kate McKinnon

Before he went overboard after Donald Trump's loss in 2020, Rudy Giuliani was one of the most popular politicians in the country. After his wild claims of election interference in 2020, he lost a lot of that respect. That's the version of Giuliani that Kate McKinnon played brilliantly in the aftermath of the election.

Richard Nixon - Joe Piscopo

Early on in SNL's history, Richard Nixon was played by Dan Aykroyd. In the mid-80s, the role was picked up by Joe Piscopo, who, frankly, was even better than Aykroyd. Nixon is one of those celebrities that everyone thinks they can imitate, but it takes real skill to do it as well as Piscopo did on the show.

Barak Obama - Jay Pharoah

Jay Pharoah is one of the most talented mimics in SNL history, and his most famous impression has to be Barack Obama. He crushes the part every time he does it. Though Pharoah had a falling out with the producers on the show, he'll forever be remembered as the show's best Obama.

Paul Simon - Al Franken

We just had to include this one. Even though Paul Simon, a Democrat from Illinois, isn't really remembered by anyone born after 1990, he was a prominent member of the committee that held the Clarence Thomas hearings in '91. For the now-famous skit on SNL, he was portrayed by none other than Al Franken, who himself would later be elected to the Senate.

Michael Bloomberg - Fred Armisen

Fred Armisen's Michael Bloomberg is pretty much pitch-perfect for the smart, but sometimes whiny-sounding former mayor of New York. Armisen captured both sides of Bloomberg perfectly. It's not as famous as "The Californians," but it was still a spot-on impression.

Jeff Sessions - Kate McKinnon

Former Attorney General Jeff Sessions was one of the most prominent members of Donald Trump's first cabinet, and s,o of course, he had to get his comeuppance on SNL. Kate McKinnon had the hono,r and like all the other impressions she did on the show, she nailed Sessions.

In my eyes, and many other fans of the movie Tommy Boy, it’s a hilarious masterpiece and is by far one of the best comedies of the '90s. And now that it’s officially 30 years old (and counting), even more detailed facts about the Farley & Spade classic are coming to light. The film’s director Peter Segal recounted Matthew McConaughey’s bid to play Paul Barish (Rob Lowe’s character) and his unforgettably stinky filming location.

Segal talked all things Tommy Boy with EW during the film’s big anniversary and of its 4K re-release. One of the many highlights of the conversation was when he shared McConaughey’s audition and the experience surrounding it. While the 50 First Dates director was only familiar with Dazed & Confused in regards to the young star, he had him try out as production began. This is where he says it got weird, though–the location McConaughey chose to perform in was covered with mouse droppings:

Yikes. I’m sure audition locale stories are full of wild and weird specificities like this one, but it’s quite a choice regardless. I don’t think many productions would be receptive to that kind of take in an audition, except maybe for Dave Eggers and his live rats on Nosferatu. Even still, it doesn’t add up for the 1995 midwestern comedy.

Segal was frank about the situation but added their original pick, Brat Packer Rob Lowe, was able to come back on board. He shared:

You can say that again. What odd choices, but I do think the Interstellar star could’ve done the no-gooder ‘step brother’ part justice. I’m glad it worked out as it did, and Tommy Boy isn’t anywhere on Matthew McConaughey’s best movies. Who knows whether or not the already troubled project would’ve gotten the official ax it was slated for if Lowe hadn’t been available? (I’d rather not think about it!)

Another notable casting happening for the Farley film was that Bo Derek joined Tommy Boy essentially at the last minute. Derek played Beverly, the scheming stepmother to Tommy Callahan. While she was unsure of what actually happened, she believes someone dropped out or another conflict happened quickly BTS. Regardless of what happened there, I’m glad that she and the Parks & Rec actor teamed up to try and wreak havoc for everyone connected to the Callahans.

As for McConaughey missing out on Tommy Boy for his choice of audition location–we all know he made out just fine. His newest movie (of two this year), The Rivals of Amziah King, is his return to live action after a 6 year hiatus (not counting his tiny cameo in the MCU universe) and received high praise. Let’s just hope he learned his lesson about filming around animal excrement. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go rewatch Tommy Boy for the millionth time with Tubi and sit with the fact it's been around for 30 years.

Often considered one of the best comedies of the ‘90s, Tommy Boy is a movie with no shortage of great actors giving iconic and outrageous-yet-hilarious performances. That includes Bo Derek, who famously played Beverly Burns-Barish, Chris Farley’s on-screen step-mother who tried to take Callahan Auto for all it was worth. However, it turns out that the 10 star wasn’t the first choice for the part.

I recently sat down with Derek to talk all about Tommy Boy, which celebrates its 30th anniversary on March 30th, and in the middle of our chat, she told me a behind-the-scenes story I’ve never heard before. Basically, as Derek put it, she didn’t get the part until right before the start of shooting:

The actress, who also appeared in movies like Fantasies, Tarzan, the Ape Man, and Malibu’s Most Wanted, didn’t disclose any specifics about the person who was originally supposed to play the character, but she was still intrigued by what had gone down, even 30-plus years after filming.

We got on the topic of this last-minute casting change after I asked if her first scene in Tommy Boy – the one where she slowly walks out of the pool to meet Tommy Callahan III and reveals she was marrying his father (played by the late Brian Dennehy) – was meant to have a reference to 10. Though she didn’t know for sure, Derek did still laugh about it and told CinemaBlend:

In fact, the legendary pool sequence was actually the first thing Derek filmed after taking over the role of Beverly from the mystery actress. She told me it was early in the morning and she was jet-lagged but: “that’s our business.”

It all worked out, as Derek got to share the screen with one of the funniest comedians of all time, and the moment has gone on to live in the hearts of audiences for the past several decades.

This is just one of the great stories I’ve heard from those involved with Tommy Boy. Previously, director Peter Segal told me about the real-life stories that made it into the film’s script after he and screenwriter Fred Wolfe had to change up the script as well as the time a physical comedy scene got a little too real on set.

If you want to revisit this classic moment and so many other unforgettable Tommy Boy scenes ahead of the film’s 30th anniversary, you can stream it with an AMC+ subscription or on physical media, including a recently released 4K Blu-ray set.

The late, great Chris Farley was known for his unique brand of physical comedy. Whether it was during some of his most iconic Saturday Night Live sketches or in movies like Tommy Boy, which saw the hilarious funnyman push the craft to the extreme, Farley would do anything and everything for a laugh. But sometimes, some of those stunts were too close for comfort.

I recently sat down with director Peter Segal to discuss the Tommy Boy 30th anniversary and was able to pick his brain about one of my all-time favorite comedies. We talked about everything from the backstory for some of the funniest scenes to the film’s legacy, but there was one hilarious (and painful) behind-the-scenes moment that still makes him laugh all these years later:

In case you need a little history lesson, the fight in question comes immediately after the whole hood blowing up on the highway scene about halfway through Tommy Boy. After Richard Hayden (David Spade) tears into Tommy Callahan III (Chris Farley), the out-of-his-element auto plant heir challenges his road trip buddy to a fight on the side of the road. After a series of punches and wise-cracking remarks from Tommy, Richard pulls out a random two-by-four and cracks him over the head. The softened section of the board was supposed to make contact with Farley’s face, but instead, the exposed wood hit him with full force.

Though this was the one time Farley was on the receiving end of actual pain, Segal recalled numerous stories about the comedian giving it his all during the movie’s more physical moments. For example, there’s the famous plant sequence in the beginning when Tommy tries to dodge the machinery with his “cat-like reflexes.” Segal went on to share:

And boy did he sell it! The factory scene, much like the fight at the prehistoric forest later in the movie, helped make Tommy Boy not only one of the best comedies featuring SNL stars, but also one of the best ‘90s movies.

After chatting with Peter Segal, I went back and rewatched the all-time great Midwestern movie, and the comedy was just as hard-hitting today as it was back then. If you want to do the same, Tommy Boy is streaming on AMC+, and it’s also available on 4K Blu-ray.

Released 30 years ago this month, Tommy Boy is one of the most iconic ‘90s comedies and an all-time great comedy filled with one ridiculous and hilarious scene after another. As strange as it may sound, a lot of those moments came from real-life events. And better yet, a lot of those ideas came about when the Chris Farley and David Spade classic was on the verge of almost not happening.

Ahead of the Tommy Boy 30th anniversary, I sat down for a chat with director Peter Segal. During our conversation, he opened up about how shooting around Farley and Spade’s Saturday Night Live schedule was initially something that almost led to him quitting before he and screenwriter Fred Wolfe took a step back and retooled everything. As Segal put it, they started over and pulled from their memories to create what would end up being some of the movie’s best moments:

The hood blowing up on the highway, Tommy breaking Richard’s car door, and all those other unforgettable moments were stories that Segal and Wolfe peppered in throughout Tommy Boy, which allowed them to start piecing together a great road trip comedy.

Segal, who would go on to direct hilarious Adam Sandler movies like The Longest Yard and 50 First Dates, added that the great scene where Tommy and Michelle’s (Julie Warner) date is ruined by a group of heckling kids on shore was inspired by something that had happened to him prior:

All of this came out when I asked Segal how Farley’s outrageously funny “Fat Guy in a Little Coat” scene came to be. Basically, it was something that the late comedian would do on the SNL offices for laughs, and they thought it’d be a good bit to include.

After hearing these behind-the-scenes stories from what has been one of my favorite movies for 30 years, I think it’s about time to watch it again (maybe I’ll even show it to my kids). And with multiple ways to watch Tommy Boy, including streaming on AMC+ and the new 4K Blu-ray, maybe it’s time I retire that old VHS copy of mine.

When a performer says goodbye to the Saturday Night Live cast, it does not necessarily mean forever. Often, the sketch comedy TV show will invite an esteemed alum to appear in an episode either as a special guest or as a headliner, sometimes resulting in a hall-of-fame hosting gig. The following are some of our favorite times a former SNL star made a grand impression when they came back to Studio 8H.

Eddie Murphy

After leaving SNL in 1984, Eddie Murphy came back to host (actually his second time, having hosted while still on the cast in 1982) for an episode later that year, on which he debuted, arguably, his best SNL sketch, "White Like Me." After being honored at the 40th anniversary special, the Academy Award nominee came back to host a third time, resulting in one of the most acclaimed episodes of Season 45.

Ben Stiller

You might have forgotten that Ben Stiller was a cast member since he only lasted four episodes in 1989, which he acknowledged when he first came back to host in 1998 after becoming a bigger name in comedy. He would return to host again 2011 in, followed by a series of recurring appearances as Donald Trump's former attorney, Michael Cohen, in 2018.

Norm Macdonald

Famously, Norm Macdonald was fired from the SNL cast in 1998 for, as the NBC executives at the time claimed, not being funny. Just a year and a half later, he came back to host an episode, during which he joked in his monologue that he had not gotten any funnier but the show had gotten "really bad" since his exit.

Robert Downey Jr.

Before becoming one of the most beloved A-list actors in Hollywood, Robert Downey Jr. was one of the most heavily criticized cast members from one of the most heavily criticized seasons of SNL from 1985 to 1986. He only came back to host once in 1996, during which he proved was the supremely talented performer we know and love and, eventually, became the first former SNL cast member to win an Oscar for Oppenheimer in 2024.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus

Julia Louis-Dreyfus would not become a comedy icon until after her three-year stint at Studio 8H from 1982 to 1985 when she joined the Seinfeld cast as Elaine Benes. In 2006, fresh off her Emmy win for The New Adventures of Old Christine, she became the first female former SNL cast member to return as a host, which she would follow with two more gigs.

Jimmy Fallon

After a successful six years at SNL from 1998 to 2004, Jimmy Fallon would return for three hosting gigs and countless cameos. Each time the late-night TV host comes back to Studio 8H tends to be a celebrated affair, especially because there is a good chance that his friend, Justin Timberlake, will show up to participate in a new edition of "The Barry Gibb Talk Show" or some other sketch.

John Mulaney

While he was never part of the SNL cast, John Mulaney would perform a few funny segments on "Weekend Update" during his five years on the writing staff. He would later become one of the biggest names in stand-up comedy and such a beloved host that he joined the Five-Timers Club within only four years.

Dan Aykroyd

Sometimes, for a cast veteran, the key to a memorable hosting gig is to wait an exceptionally long time to come back as an SNL host, much like Dan Aykroyd did. The legendary, Canadian-American comedy star, known for sketches like “The Coneheads” and “Super Bass-o-Matic ‘76” from his tenure as a Not Ready for Primetime Player, headlined an episode in 2003, more than two decades after leaving the show.

Sarah Silverman

Sarah Silverman is actually one of several SNL cast members who only lasted one season but still ended up becoming a huge success in the end. Two decades after she was let go from the series, the acclaimed comedian hosted a funny episode from Season 40.

Martin Short

It is hard to believe that a performer like Martin Short was only an SNL cast member for one season but he has, luckily, continued to demonstrate his dynamic comedic talents through memorable hosting gigs. His first hosting gig from 1986 was shared with his Three Amigos co-stars, Chevy Chase and Steve Martin – the latter of which he would co-host with again in 2022.

Adam Sandler

Surprisingly, despite making a couple of cameos over the years, Adam Sandler would not host SNL until 2019, which resulted in an instant favorite episode in which he sang two memorable songs. The former "SNL Bad Boy's" first tune (including a Chris Rock appearance) was during his monologue and discussed how he was fired after four seasons in 1995 and the other was a tribute to Chris Farley.

Kate McKinnon

After 10 wonderful years at SNL, the great Kate McKinnon would return a year and a half later to host the last episode of 2023, which proved to be a very successful episode, and not just because it featured cameos by Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, and her Barbie director, Greta Gerwig. Also, in Season 49, she would also come back for one more appearance as alien abduction victim Colleen Rafferty to make host Ryan Gosling laugh uncontrollably once again.

Chevy Chase

Only two weeks after his final episode as an SNL cast member, Chevy Chase made a hilarious, self-mocking cameo in the cold open as himself, performing music for tips outside of 30 Rock. He would continue to return for more cameos and eventually became the first host to join the Five-Timers Club before the idea of it had been suggested by Tom Hanks.

Billy Crystal

In a unique twist on this topic, Billy Crystal was actually meant to appear on the very first episode of SNL in 1975 but was ultimately cut for time, as depicted in the 2024 movie Saturday Night. As his notoriety increased, the comedian was asked to host twice in 1984 before being hired later that year as a cast member, during which he lit up the screen with his impersonation of Fernando Lamas and other notable characters.

Tina Fey

Having served as both "Weekend Update" host and head writer near the end of her nine-year tenure, Tina Fey was a true SNL MVP but some of her most memorable moments on the show occurred after her 2006 exit. Prior to her Five-Timers Club induction, the 30 Rock creator and star made numerous appearances as Sarah Palin that earned rave reviews.

Dana Carvey

A key element to SNL's new golden era from 1986 to 1993 was Dana Carvey and his wonderful talent for impressions, which he would continue to lend to Studio 8H in the years since his exit. The Wayne's World star is one of the most frequent returning cast members, especially in Season 50 as President Joe Biden.

David Spade

Many of David Spade's funniest quotes originate from his six years on SNL in the early-to-mid-1990s. His blunt, sarcastic, and sometimes unapologetically brutal delivery of mockery at other celebrities' expense would serve him well in his hosting gigs – the first of which included a cold open featuring Brad Pitt as his therapist.

Kristen Wiig

The final episode of SNL's 37th Season was the final episode for a few notable cast members but it ended with a grand send-off purely dedicated to Kristen Wiig's esteemed seven years, which included some hilarious quotes. It was not long before the Oscar nominee was asked to bring back her famous characters as a host and her Season 49 episode saw her induction into the Five-Timers Club.

Chris Farley

After becoming one of SNL's most esteemed icons during his five-season run and proving to be a box office draw with movies like Tommy Boy, Chris Farley was at the height of his fame when he came back to host two years after leaving. However, his October 1997 episode is now remembered more somberly because, only two months later, he would pass away from a drug overdose at the age of 33.

Maya Rudolph

Maya Rudolph proved herself as an all-time great during her seven years on SNL in the 2000s. She would return for multiple hosting gigs and an innumerable amount of special guest appearances, most notably as her Emmy-winning portrayal of Kamala Harris.

Pete Davidson

For his clever "Weekend Update" commentaries, fascinating personal life, and title as the youngest SNL cast member on record, Pete Davidson was one of the series' most talked about performers when he left at the end of Season 47. He was initially meant to return as a host for the following season but, due to the Writers' Strike, he instead returned for the Season 49 premiere, which featured a viral pre-filmed bit poking fun at his post-SNL career inspired by Barbie's "I'm Just Ken."

Tracy Morgan

Impersonations of the likes of Al Sharpton and Oprah Winfrey and hilarious original characters like Brian Fellow and Astronaut Jones made Tracy Morgan a force to be reckoned with during his seven years on SNL. As a result, each of the 30 Rock cast member's returns to the Studio 8H stage as a host or guest have been warm celebrations of his best moments as a cast member.

Paul Shaffer

Starting off as a member of Studio 8H's house band, Paul Shaffer later made history as the first person to drop the F-bomb on SNL during his 1979-1980 stint on the cast. Of course, he bounced back from the incident without issue and would make cameos on the show and host an episode from 1987 after being David Letterman's bandleader greatly increased his notoriety.

Damon Wayans

One of the most infamous SNL cast firings is that of Damon Wayans, who changed the nature of a character on the fly in the middle of a broadcast in 1986. The comedian would find even greater success as a member of the In Living Color cast and, in 1995, was asked to come back as a host.

Phil Hartman

It is easy to understand why some argue that Phil Hartman is the greatest SNL cast member of all time and why, just two years after his exit, he was asked to host twice in 1996. We have no doubt we would have seen more of the Emmy winner gracing the Studio 8H stage again if not for his untimely murder in 1998 at the age of 49.

Chris Rock

The first "Bad Boy of SNL" to return as a host was Chris Rock in 1996, which was three years after his departure. At that point, the comedian had found decent subsequent success by making appearances on the show's biggest competitor at the time, In Living Color.

Jason Sudeikis

While he would make several post-exit guest appearances, Jason Sudeikis' first time hosting in 2021 was eight years after he left the show, which was actually a year later than he had intended. The gig was a big moment, given his Emmy-winning success on Ted Lasso at the time and his heartfelt opening monologue celebrating his time as a writer-turned-cast member.

Will Ferrell

Despite a hiccup or two in his early days on the cast, Will Ferrell became one of the most beloved SNL cast members of the 90s and early 2000s. His many appearances since, including five hosting gigs, have resulted in some of the show's most celebrated moments in recent years.

Amy Poehler

Amy Poehler's impeccable skills of impersonation and arsenal of uproarious characters made her seven years on SNL a one-of-a-kind era. Her many notable appearances since include co-hosting with her friend and one-time "Weekend Update" co-anchor Tina Fey in 2015 and making cameoing as Leslie Knope alongside her fellow former Parks and Recreation cast member, Aubrey Plaza, in 2023.

Darrell Hammond

One of the all-time longest-standing SNL cast members is Darrell Hammond with 14 seasons but his time at Studio 8H would not stop there after all. In addition to making special appearances – most notably in "Celebrity Jeopardy!" sketches as Sean Connery – the actor would succeed Don Pardo as the show's announcer when Pardo passed away in 2014.

Molly Shannon

Three-time Emmy nominee Molly Shannon is the driving force behind one of the most iconic SNL characters to earn their own movie, Mary Katherine Gallagher. The misfit Catholic high school student is just one character she has brought back for her numerous appearances on the show since leaving in 2001, including two hosting gigs.

Bill Murray

After Chevy Chase left in 1976, stepping in to join the Not Ready for Primetime Players was Bill Murray, who hilariously acknowledged his struggle to make an impression on SNL early on in a famous sketch. Of course, the Oscar nominee would quickly achieve wild notoriety in the 1980s, which made his subsequent five hosting gigs and additional cameos much-celebrated occasions.

Of the many '90s comedies that I hold near and dear to my heart, few rank anywhere near Tommy Boy. Fortunately, the 1995 Chris Farley movie is still as funny and delightful to me today as it was decades ago. As fun as it is to revisit Chris Farley’s best quotes from his various projects, I absolutely love any opportunity I have to dive right into Tommy and Richard’s shenanigans. There’s just something about the combination of Chris Farley’s goofy humor and David’s Spade’s ultra-dry sarcasm that does the trick every time. And this movie makes the absolute most of that dynamic in every scene the duo share, as the two characters set off across the midwest to try to save Tommy's family's auto parts company. So let’s get into the funniest and most ridiculous scenes and quotes from Tommy Boy.

"I Got A D+! I'm gonna graduate!"

We’re introduced to Tommy (Chris Farley) through a series of mishaps that give us a pretty good indication that he’s not the sharpest tool in the shed. That impression is sealed when we see him celebrate his D+ grade after taking a college final. He passed!

"And did I catch a niner in there? Were you calling from a walkie talkie?"

While many might be polite enough to let Tommy’s awkwardness slide, Richard (David Spade) isn’t among them. In fact, he’s quick to call Tommy out when he starts rattling off phone numbers in his attempt to prove he called about his flight earlier. (Tommy was not actually calling from a walkie-talkie, as Richard inquires. It was a cordless.)

"A lot of people go to college for seven years." "I know, they're called doctors."

Tommy clearly feels no shame about having spent the better part of a decade in college. After all, plenty of people take just as long to get their degree. Of course, as Richard has to point out, those are typically doctors.

"Your brain has the shell on it."

While Tommy’s sure that the thin candy shell around the M&Ms will protect Richard’s dashboard from melted chocolate, he’s not nearly as confident about the comeback he delivers after Richard tells him his brain has a thick candy shell.

When Tommy Faces Off With The Hooks

Tommy may be smart enough to put on his hard-hat (eventually, and only after he walks into something), he’s still going to get up to mischief if left to his own devices at the auto parts plant. That includes facing off using what seems like his own brand of martial arts when confronted by a series of assembly line hooks.

"Anything that you want to keep cool."

This line might seem random to you but it’s actually one that I find myself quoting more often than others, usually when someone lists a few too many examples (and only if I know they’ll get the reference). I don’t know why it’s so funny to me. Maybe it’s the way Tommy’s father, “Big Tom” (Brian Dennehy) says it so patiently in response to Tommy listing off all of the drinks and snacks he plans to store in his new office mini-fridge.

"Holy Schnikes"

Tommy apparently has his own way of reacting to something he just can't believe. "Holy Schnikes" is the first thing he says as he takes in the sight of the beautiful woman emerging from the pool. Of course, that's right before he learns that she's about to be his stepmother.

"Brothers don't shake hands. Brothers gotta hug!"

If Paul (Rob Lowe) thought he was going to be able to waltz into the Callahan house and not make any attempt to bond with his new "step-brother," he had it all wrong. Tommy makes that clear the moment Paul arrives and Tommy insists that they hug.

"I'm a maniac!"

While some might be upset to find themselves covered in mud and… well, whatever else is all over Tommy after he takes his new brother cow-tipping, Tommy sees the hosing-off process as an opportunity to go full Flashdance, and it’s glorious.

"LUKE! I am your Faaa-ther"

What would you do if someone just left a perfectly good fan on your desk and you had nothing better to do with your time? Well, if you’re Tommy Callahan, you’d do your best Darth Vader impersonation. Lo-la-la-lo-laaaa.

"I have what doctors call a bit of a weight problem"

Tommy’s more self-aware than you might think. And he’s not too awkward to point out what doctors might call a bit of a weight problem… which is literally how he describes his situation when Michelle (Julie Warner) offers him a donut, which he politely declines.

"Watch your language in front of the lady, punk!"

Tommy might stand for a group of “rascals” making fun of him and his rowboat, but he will not tolerate kids using foul language in front of Michelle. Fortunately, she also has a low tolerance for their behavior and manages to one-up his outburst, but I still just love the way he yells from the boat.

"I swear to everything holy that your mothers will cry when they see what I've done to you."

Michelle seems like a very sweet, charming woman, but when she sees the three kids being relentlessly cruel to Tommy while they're trying to enjoy a private boat ride, she lets loose on them with the kind of threat that these kids don't want to test.

"It's a clip on" "Hehe, are you sure?"

Ok, Richard is less than impressed with Tommy’s tie, which is — as he points out — a clip-on. But he did show up dressed up for the sales pitch, so that’s something, right?

Tommy Uses Model Cars For His Sales Pitch

We’re all Richard in this scene, watching with severe apprehension as Tommy does a demonstration with the potential break-pad purchaser’s prized model cars. You’d think Tommy would’ve stopped the demonstration after he brutally crashed the car, but no, he goes as far as to light it on fire.

"I'm picking up your sarcasm." "Well, I should hope so because I'm laying it on pretty thick."

As much as I absolutely love Chris Farley’s brand of goofy humor, I’m also a massive fan of David’s Spade’s dry delivery. The fact that this scene offers a bit of both — with Tommy seen in the background desperately trying to fix the car door — makes it a must-include for the list. Also, extra credit has to be given to Dave Huband as the gas station attendant, because his “22 mileszzzz away” gets me every time.

"What'd you do?!"

Richard’s car goes through a whole lot throughout the run of this road trip comedy. In this hilarious scene, when the car was still more or less in one piece, Tommy basically tore the door off of its hinges after backing the car up without closing it near the gas pump. But does he take the blame for it? Absolutely not. Instead, he gets the door back in place, forgets about pumping gas altogether and lets Richard take the blame the moment he touches it and the door falls off of the car.

"Poor little furry thing."

It’s not all happy moments throughout Tommy Boy. Yes, tears are shed more than once in this movie, and that includes when a distracted Richard doesn’t manage to stop the car in time to avoid a deer in the road. Poor little furry thing. (Fortunately, the deer just needed a rest, it was fine later.)

Richard: "Why not? I'd take you to the vet." Tommy: "Yeah, I'll take you to the..." Richard: "Got that?" Tommy: "Shut up"

Chris Farley being awkward is my favorite version of the SNL icon, and Tommy's version of awkward is to mumble or trail off when he doesn't have a good comeback. While Richard (being Richard) never hesitates to spit back a quick retort.

"No, it's gotta be your bull."

You can’t accuse Tommy of not trying, though it doesn’t always go so well. In this case, he’s attempting to use a phrase his father once delivered with ease in a sales pitch, except Tommy gets it all mixed up and well, it gets awkward.

"No way that just happened."

Remember the time Tommy and Richard hit the deer with the car? Well, being the good people that they are, they loaded the presumably deceased deer into the back of the car, only for it to turn out not to be dead. Upon waking, the deer panics and literally tears through the roof of Richard’s car, leaving Tommy and Richard in complete shock.

Tommy Tries To Make Richard Laugh By Wearing His Coat

Tommy’s not the kind of guy to let the mood sour, even if he and Richard are down on their luck. He’s the kind of guy who will do whatever it takes to lighten things up. That includes putting on Richard’s jacket (in a scene inspired but an actual bit between Farley and Spade), which is much too small for him, and singing the “fat guy in a little coat” song until his friend laughs (or until the coat rips down the seam, whichever comes first).

Tommy and Richard Singing To The Carpenters

There’s a moment in any true friendship where you have to decide if you’re ok singing tearfully along to a cheesy song together. For Richard and Tommy, that moment comes when “Superstar” by The Carpenters comes on. They act indifferent for a moment or two before giving in to the emotional song at full force.

"Nope. Ship shape."

During a fight outside, Richard may have taken things too far when he broke a piece of wood over the side of the side of Tommy’s face. Soon after, a bewildered Tommy is concerned about the pain in the general area of his face where the wood hit him, but Richard’s acting as though there isn't a giant bruise forming there. Ship shape!

"I love my little naughty pet. You're naughty!"

It happens when the stakes are low, and maybe that’s all it took for Tommy to find his salesman groove. After being told by the server at a diner that the ovens are off, Tommy goes into an elaborate tale about his struggles, using a piece of bread to play the role of his naughty little pet, which he inevitably destroys. And somehow, this works to win over the woman, who agrees to get an order put in for him.

"Tommy likey. Tommy want wingy!"

Of course, Tommy is happy when he succeeds in convincing the server to take his order, but he’s barely aware of what he did when Richard points it out to him. All he cares about is that he’s getting his wings.

"Do you know where the weight room is? Ill check it out."

If you’re wondering if Tommy has a line for the ladies, well, he does. We see him use it when he spots a pretty woman near the pool at a motel they’re staying at. Apparently, flexing his muscles and asking where the weight room is in a deep voice is how he goes about it.

"I gotta go."

The moment we see Michelle's pneumatic tube system set up at Callahan’s, it seems obvious that something funny is going to happen with it. Sure enough, it does when Paul gets caught using Michelle’s computer, and then casually stands near one of the tube openings, causing the suction to literally rip his shirt off of him and transport it to… wherever that tube goes. Paul decides it’s best not to acknowledge that he’s now shirtless and abruptly leaves.

"Please go away let me sleep for the love of god!"

Being on the road is exhausting, so it’s no surprise that Tommy loses his temper when Richard pretends to be a cleaning person and keeps knocking on the door.

"Bees!"

When Tommy and Richard are about to be pulled over, Tommy quickly uses one of his father’s techniques to evade arrest by immediately running away from the car while screaming about bees and ensuring the cops that their firearms are useless against them. Somehow it works.

Richard and Tommy's safety announcements

David Spade is already well remembered for the flight attendant sketch on SNL (including the hilarious “buh-bye” catchphrase). While he isn’t especially rude to the passengers in this role, he does put his talent at sarcasm to good use while posing as a flight attendant with Tommy and doing the safety announcements, while Tommy demonstrates how to inflate the life preserver.

"Listen up, this'll only take a second."

In what has to be one of the most random moments of hilarity in the entire movie, Tommy’s attempt to find Zalinsky goes awry quickly when he decides to shout to get everyone’s attention in a bank lobby. When people understandably panic and drop to the floor in response, he realizes his mistake.

"Great, you've pinpointed it. Step 2 is washing it off."

SNL legend Dan Aykroyd makes a grand cameo in Tommy Boy as Zalinsky, the successful businessman Tommy and Richard need to do a deal with in order to save Callahan Auto Parts. They manage to find him as he’s boarding an elevator, and Zalinsky is quick to point out that Tommy went a little heavy on the pine cone perfume. When Tommy explains that it’s from a car air freshener, Zalinsky offers some helpful advice on what to do next.

When Richard Gives Tommy A Hand

There are more than a few jokes referencing Tommy's weight throughout Tommy Boy, but this one came at his lowest point. Just as Tommy is listing off all of the things that have recently gone wrong, his side of the bench he and Richard are sitting on breaks. Farley's delivery with the "could've done without that" line is perfect, but what I actually love most about this scene is the way Richard refrains from making any kind of comment and instead quietly offers Tommy his hand to help him to his feet. It's a mark of how far their relationship has come.

"It looks real."

Tommy and Richard get to know each other pretty well throughout their adventures. But we learn that there’s one thing Tommy doesn’t know about Richard, and it creates a moment of major awkwardness for both of them. A puff of air sends Richard’s hairpiece momentarily airborne, which is amusing on its own, but it’s the way that Tommy tries to not react that makes it truly hilarious.

When Paul Becomes The Test Dummy

It was always sort of obvious that Paul was the worst, but that becomes clearer and clearer throughout the movie as he continues to try to thwart Tommy and Richard’s efforts to save the company. So it’s hard to feel bad for him when he attempts to flee after being found out, and ends up on the front end of a test vehicle. It only gets worse for him from there.

When Tommy Becomes President Of Callahan Auto

It was a tough road, but Tommy and Richard pulled it off. The payoff at the end of the movie is seeing Tommy celebrate having saved the jobs of everyone at the plant and proving he can lead the company as he's named president of Callahan Auto Parts. (But not before making a couple of awkward admissions during his speech.)

One might assume that a long filmography will ensure an actor has a long and enduring legacy but that is not always the case. Some of Hollywood's greatest icons and other performers you would likely recognize are noted for having relatively short careers, particularly on the silver screen. See for yourself as we look back on some of our favorite actors who were only in a handful of movies.

John Belushi

As one of the most iconic members of the original Saturday Night Live cast, it is no surprise that John Belushi went on to have a noteworthy film career, though a short one, with just seven film credits. Before he passed in 1982, he was the standout of National Lampoon's Animal House, shared the screen with his friend Dan Aykroyd in 1941, The Blues Brothers (one of the best movies based on an SNL character), and Neighbors, starred opposite Jack Nicholson in Goin' South, and was in a forgotten '80s rom-com called Continental Divide.

Mara Wilson

While she has returned to acting on the small screen a number of times in more recent years, Mara Wilson's last movie (before cameoing in 2015's Billie Bob Joe) was 2000's Thomas and the Magic Railroad, which she has claimed is the gig that made her one of the most notable child stars who stepped away from Hollywood. She had previously starred in just four other films including her debut in Mrs. Doubtfire, Miracle on 34th Street, Matilda in the title role, and 1997's A Simple Wish.

Jake Lloyd

Former child actor Jake Lloyd might have been in more than just six movies — including the Arnold Schwarzenegger-led underrated holiday comedy, Jingle All the Way — if he had a better experience playing Anakin Skywalker (a young Darth Vader) in 1999’s Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace. He would later openly discuss his struggles with criticism he faced from Star Wars movie fans about his performance which, ultimately, led him to abandon acting.

Amanda Bynes

Amanda Bynes' rise to fame on Nickelodeon as part of the All That cast and the lead of her own sketch comedy series, The Amanda Show, led to starring roles in nine films, including Big Fat Liar, She's the Man, Sydney White, and Easy A. Said 2010 high school movie would be her final acting effort after announcing via Twitter that she was retiring from acting, which was followed by reports that she was seeking treatment for her mental health.

Chadwick Boseman

Even if we count all of his Marvel movie appearances as T'Challa (including his smash-hit, 2018 solo film, Black Panther), Chadwick Boseman's cinematic filmography amounts to just 13 tiles before his untimely death in 2020 after a battle with Stage 3 Colon Cancer. Yet, he gave a stunning performance every time, from playing Jackie Robinson in 42 to James Brown in Get On Up, and his Academy Award-nominated role in Netflix's Ma Rainey's Black Bottom.

Chris Farley

Throughout his career, Chris Farley delivered countless hilarious quotes on SNL and in a total of 10 movies — such as Tommy Boy and Beverly Hills Ninja — before his passing in 1997. A part of us still wishes we could have seen him voice the title role of Shrek, which ended up going to his Wayne's World co-star, Mike Myers.

River Phoenix

One of Hollywood's most infamous tragedies is the 1993 passing of 23-year-old River Phoenix, who starred in 13 films released between 1985 and 1994. In that short time, the Academy Award nominee (for his supporting role in 1988's Running on Empty) amassed a remarkable resume that includes Explorers, Stand By Me, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade as Young Indy, and My Own Private Idaho, most notably.

Shannen Doherty

If we leave out her many cameos and just count starring roles, Shannen Doherty's film career amounts to only 13 titles, including The Secret of NIMH, Girls Just Want to Have Fun, and Heathers. Sadly, we will never get to see her reprise her role as Rene in Kevin Smith's long-awaited Mallrats sequel following her passing in 2024.

John Cazale

Before his untimely death at the age of 42 due to lung cancer, John Kazale only appeared in five films — namely The Godfather (Parts I and II), The Conversation, Dog Day Afternoon, and The Deer Hunter. However, each of these titles received a Best Picture Oscar nomination, with The Godfather movies and The Deer Hunter taking home the gold.

James Dean

Sometimes we wonder if James Dean would still be one of the most enduring icons of Hollywood's Silver Age had he not succumbed to a tragic car accident in 1955 at just 24 years old. Also the definitive poster boy for "cool," the two-time Oscar nominee's talents are immortalized in just three big screen classics, namely East of Eden, Rebel Without a Cause, and Giant.

Jonathan Taylor Thomas

Most famous for playing Randy in the Home Improvement cast and voicing Simba in 1994's The Lion King, Jonathan Taylor Thomas was one of the most beloved teen idols of the '90s, but stepped away from Hollywood almost as soon as he hit adulthood. His last real movie, also his 17th total, was an obscure animated film from 2006 called Thru the Moebius Strip and, before that, he was in 1999's Walking Across Egypt, with not much since except for a few appearances on Last Man Standing.

Willow Smith

After making her debut in one of the best Will Smith movies, 2007's I Am Legend, as her real-life father's onscreen daughter, Willow Smith went on to star in 2008's Kit Kitteridge: An American Girl and Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa, alongside her mother, Jada Pinkett Smith. That trio amounts to her entire film career as her primary focus ever since has been her music.

Jeff Cohen

Despite being one of the funniest standouts of the Goonies cast, the 1985, family-friend adventure classic remains Jeff Cohen's only film. He revealed to The Daily Mail that, after growing up and losing weight, his career in front of the camera began to slow down, leading him to become an entertainment lawyer who even represents his Goonies co-star, Academy Award nominee Ke Huy Quan.

Taylor Momsen

At seven years old, Taylor Momsen made quite an impression with her breakout role as Cindy Lou Who in 2000’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas — the second of nine movies she stars in, including We Were Soldiers, and Spy Kids 2: Island of Lost Dreams. However, during her stint in the Gossip Girl cast, she formed a rock band called The Pretty Reckless, which has been her primary career ever since.

Peter Ostrum

Peter Ostrum will forever be remembered as Charlie Bucket from 1971's Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, which remains his sole acting effort. Today, he makes a living as a veterinarian for large animals like cows which, we suppose, means he does continue to make some contribution to the chocolate industry after all.

Jennette McCurdy

Jennette McCurdy is known mostly from TV, particularly as Sam Puckett on Nickelodeon's iCarly, but would appear in 12 feature films, including Hollywood Homicide with Harrison Ford and Josh Hartnett in 2003 and 2016's Pet. After writing and directing a short film called Kenny in 2018, she officially retired from acting for reasons she would detail in her best-selling memoir, I'm Glad My Mom Died.

Angus T. Jones

The peak of Angus T. Jones' acting career was playing Jake Harper — the "half man" on Two and a Half Men, which he would leave due to its raunchy material before retiring from acting altogether. However, he does have six movies on his resume, including See Spot Run from 2001, 2002's The Rookie, and, in 2003, Bringing Down the House and a straight-to-video sequel to George of the Jungle as the titular jungle dweller's son.

Ross Malinger

In the 1990s, Ross Malinger led a very promising career as a child actor with 10 major film roles that included playing one of Arnold Schwarzenegger's students in Kindergarten Cop, Tom Hanks’ son in Sleepless in Seattle, and Jean-Claude Van Damme's son in 1995's Sudden Impact. However, despite many other TV credits, such as voicing T.J. on Recess, he did not star in very many other films and, according to THR, grew up to manage a car dealership.

Barret Oliver

One of the top child actors of the 1980s was Barret Oliver, who had memorable starring roles like Bastion in The NeverEnding Story, the eponymous android from D.A.R.Y.L., David in the Cocoon movies, and Vincent from Tim Burton's original Frankenweenie short. After acquiring a total of 10 major motion picture releases on his resume, he stopped acting in 1989 and now works as a a photographer who specializes in 19th-century printing processes.

Alisan Porter

Modern audiences might recognize Alisan Porter best for winning Season 10 of The Voice. Before then, she starred in seven well-known films, such as Ron Howard's Parenthood and John Hughes' Curly Sue in the title role.

Danny Lloyd

Danny Lloyd has only been in three movies: Stanley Kubrick's 1980 horror movie classic The Shining, a made-for-TV film called Will: The Autobiography of G. Gordon Liddy from 1982, and 2019's Doctor Sleep. However, Mike Flanagan's sequel to The Shining only featured him in a small cameo instead of seeing him reprise his role as psychic Danny Torrance, who was then played by Ewan McGregor.

Lisa Jakub

Amid numerous TV appearances, the most notable of Lisa Jakub's nine film credits include Matinee from director Joe Dante, Mrs. Doubtfire with Robin Williams, and the alien invasion movie classic, Independence Day. In 2000, she decided to walk away from acting and now makes a living as a motivational speaker.

Ben Savage

Following in the footsteps of his older brother, Fred Savage, Ben Savage got his own TV show, leading the Boy Meets World cast for seven years. However, his notable acting credits outside of playing young Cory Matthew are slim, including a film career made of just 10 titles that are not very well-known, save 1989's Little Monsters and 1994's Clifford.

Ariana Richards

As a child actor in the 1990s, Ariana Richards acquired a unique claim to fame by taking on man-eating beasts in classic monster movies Jurassic Park and Tremors. After starring in 10 features, she would go on to make a living as a painter since 2000.

Jeremy Suarez

While best known for playing Jordan Thomkins on The Bernie Mac Show, Jeremy Suarez put out 10 cinematic acting efforts, including Jerry Maguire, voicing Koda in Disney's Brother Bear, and Angry Video Game Nerd: The Movie. His career slowed down the older he got and led him to pursue more normal jobs.

Carrie Henn

Carrie Henn made an impressive acting debut in one of the most iconic roles from the Alien movies, "Newt," who is discovered by Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) after becoming the sole survivor of a devastating Xenomorph attack. However, after the success of 1986's Aliens, the world never saw Henn grace the silver screen again as she would instead follow her true dream of being a teacher.

Jamie Waylett

Fans of the Harry Potter movies would surely be able to recognize Jamie Waylett as Vincent Crabbe, but they would not be able to recognize him (or spot him) from anything else. The first six installments of the coming-of-age fantasy movie franchise based on the popular book series are the only projects he has ever acted in.

Danielle Fishel

Aside from hosting Style Network's The Dish from 2008 to 2010 and co-hosting Pod Meets World with Rider Strong and Will Friedle since 2022, Danielle Fishel is best known as Topanga on Boys Meets World and, to be frank, not that much else. Her film resume is also pretty obscure and only consists of seven titles, including National Lampoon Presents Dorm Daze and its sequel and 2015's Boiling Pot.

Ansel Elgort

Following his debut in the 2013 adaptation of Carrie, Ansel Elgort would go on to star in 12 other films, including The Fault in Our Stars, two Divergent movies, Baby Driver, and Steven Spielberg's West Side Story. His TV appearances are even scarcer, with his lead role on HBO's Tokyo Vice being the only small screen credit.

Luise Rainier

German actor Luise Rainier actually a relatively busy career throughout the 1930s, and even won an Academy Award for 1936's The Great Ziegfeld, but slowed down significantly beyond that decade. Between 1939 and 2003, she only appeared in three films: 1943's Hostages, 1997's The Gambler, and 2003's Poem: I Set My Foot Upon the Air and It Carried Me, bringing her grand total to 14.

Charlie Korsmo

Before becoming a lawyer, Charlie Korsmo had a short but impressive run in movies like Warren Beatty's Dick Tracy, Steven Spielberg's Hook, and the party movie favorite, Can't Hardly Wait. He would return to acting a few times to appear in 2018's Chained for Life and his ninth movie, A24's A Different Man in 2024.

Gina Carano

Gina Carano starred in 13 films, including Haywire, Deadpool, and Fast and Furious 6, but her biggest acting role would be Cara Dune from The Mandalorian. However, the former MMA star's career would slow down after she exited the Star Wars spin-off series following controversial social media posts.

Almost a year ago, tragedy struck Dana Carvey when his 23-year-old son passed away from an accidental drug overdose. The SNL alum received support from many loved ones to help him during the healing process. One important person who reached out to the comedian after his son’s passing was Chris Farley’s mom.

In January, Dana Carvey reunited with SNL co-star David Spade to return to their podcast Fly on the Wall where he spoke about his tragic loss and his healing process. On the podcast episode “Welcome Back Dana!,” the Tommy Boy actor mentioned a very important person who reached out to Carvey after losing his son:

I can only imagine all of the emotions that must have poured through Dana Carvey once he eventually read that letter. If there’s anything that can help someone heal through grief, it’s being able to share it with someone who’s been through similar tough moments. Even just a kind simple gesture can be helpful like when SNL’s Weekend Update Colin Jost paid tribute to the Wayne’s World actor and family by holding up a sign that said “We love you Dana and Paula” during the show's end credits. Little efforts like this can make all of the difference.

Chris Farley’s mother had dealt with a painful loss as well after her son passed away from a drug overdose when he was 33. The Airheads actor made a lasting impression on his family, friends, and everyone else who knew him. His Tommy Boy and SNL co-star David Spade makes sure to honor the film/television actor. The world truly lost a talent like no other.

With the great legacy that Chris Farley left through his hilarious lines from movies, TV shows, and physical comedy, The Chris Farley Show Biopic is in the works. Based on the 2009 oral history book that contains interviews from his loved ones, the ups and downs of the talented actor’s life will be told on the big screen with SNL creator Lorne Michaels producing it. The upcoming movie will be a great way to honor and celebrate such a beloved actor.

Dana Carvey continued to talk about how people offered to do anything they could to help in the wake of tragedy and shared his heartfelt reaction:

People can be so amazing to take the time to be there for someone who really needs it. It sounds like Dana Carvey had plenty of love from his family and friends to help him through this tragic time.

Our hearts at CinemaBlend go out to the Carvey family as they’re going through this difficult time. Be sure to watch Carvey’s classic SNL sketches on your Peacock subscription.

Less than two months before the tragic death of Chris Farley, the actor and comedian returned to the place that made him a household name. Chris Farley was one of the youngest stars hired for Saturday Night Live and in 1997 he came back to host it. Robert Smigel, probably most known for the animation he created on SNL also wrote several of the show’s most memorable sketches. Of course, not everything he wrote made it to air, but we now have a look at one of the sketches that Farley could have done when he hosted the show.

Smigel recently appeared on the Inside Late Night podcast and, while the writer said “I may regret this,” he read out the entire sketch that saw Chris Farley play then talk show host Rosie O’Donnell. At least, that’s where the sketch started. After a minute the sketch would go meta, Smigel said that Farley…

From this Farley came out in an entirely different wig, though otherwise looking like Rosie, and claimed he was now Marlon Brando. But Farley would stop again, claiming he couldn’t remember how to be Brando. Lorne Michaels and Tracy Morgan would then come out and start to brainstorm the names of fat celebrities trying to figure out who Chris should try to be. The sketch would then shift to focus on Farley, and he would begin singing…

Chris would sing about all the thin celebrities he could play, with images of Farley costumed as them appearing as if from his imagination. The audience would, of course, love this, ultimately making the “sketch” a hit, and Lorne Michaels happy. Smigel explained the point of the sketch saying…

Chris Farley is one of the biggest stars to come from SNL but he was frequently “the fat guy” in roles that he played both on SNL and in film. Farley’s friend Bob Odenkirk, who also wrote on SNL during Farley’s original tenure has lamented that fact, especially criticizing the Chippendale sketch Farley did with Patrick Swayze, possibly the most well-known sketch Farley was in. Smigel himself has specifically defended that sketch, saying it wasn’t simply about a “fat guy” wanting to be an exotic dancer, but showed off Farley’s ability to move, something most probably wouldn’t expect he’d be able to do, and that was the joke.

This sketch seems like it would have covered similar ground. Maybe it wasn’t a sketch ”about” Chris Farley’s size, but it could easily be interpreted as poking fun at that alone. It sounds like that possibility was at least part of the reason the sketch didn’t it to air. Maybe it’s a lost masterpiece. More than likely it’s best as a memory that we never saw.

A biopic about Chris Farley is on the way, and we can be sure that the film will deal with the comedian's size and the way it was used, or misused to get a laugh. Perhaps even this sketch could make an appearance.

Chris Farley is a comedy legend known for delivering the funniest lines from TV shows and movies like SNL, Tommy Boy, and Airheads to name a few. Paul Walter Hauser will be filling in some massive shoes to portray the American comedian in The Chris Farley Show. However, the Golden Globe winner gets real about the most “difficult” part of playing the SNL alum.

This wouldn’t be Paul Walter Hauser’s first time depicting a real-life figure. His best movies and TV shows include playing murderer Larry Hall in the Apple TV+ series Black Bird as well as security guard Richard Jewell in the Clint Eastwood biopic. Even though Hauser has been “practicing to play Chris Farley my entire life,” he admitted to Variety the “difficult” part of playing the comedy legend:

I can imagine it being a real dream to get to portray the man responsible for making an impact on SNL for less than five seasons. While Chris Farley made audiences laugh very hard in his celebrated works, he had a tough life outside of acting. The Second City Theatre member struggled with alcoholism and drug addiction, eventually passing away from an overdose at the age of 33. In his short life, he left a huge impact on those lucky to know him.

After news of the Chris Farley biopic broke, Paul Walter Hauser described his new movie as “a glory story” ready to honor the comedy actor. This is a big relief considering Farley seemed like an actor so full of life. The best way to honor a late actor’s big life is by celebrating all that they offered audiences instead of a large focus on any tragedies they faced.

Based on what we know so far about The Chris Farley Show biopic, audiences will get to experience the story of Chris Farley’s life and career. There’s a good chance this means we’ll see a reenactment of Farley’s best sketches like “Lunch Lady Land,” “Bennett Brauer,” and “Matt Foley: Motivational Speaker” as well as scenes from his well-known movies. 

The upcoming biopic will also be based on the oral history book The Chris Farley Show: A Biography in Three Acts written in 2009 by his brother, Tom Farley Jr., and Tanner Colby. With the bestselling book featuring interviews by his peers and the man behind the legend, it looks like we’ll get a real in-depth look at a prolific performer. Frozen’s Josh Gad will be directing the new movie with Farley’s SNL creator/producer Lorne Michaels coming on as producer. With fans of theTommy Boy actor and those who knew him working on the biopic, I have a feeling we’ll see Farley’s authentic spirit shine through.

It may be “difficult” for Paul Walter Hauser to portray Chris Farley due to the perceptions audiences may have. But, I’m confident that with the Cobra Kai actor being a big fan of the comedy legend, he’ll use his comedy and emotional chops we’ve seen in his previous works to bring Chris Farley to life on the big screen. 

Take a look at our 2025 movie releases in case The Chris Farley Show ends up there. You can also watch Chris Farley’s sketches in SNL on your Peacock subscription.

Many of comedy’s most esteemed legends were once part of the Saturday Night Live cast, but that does not necessarily mean that NBC’s long-running series marked the beginning of their career. Some Studio 8H veterans first cut their teeth as part of The Second City — a Chicago-based improv troupe that also served as a jumping-off point for the likes of John Candy, Eugene Levy, Catherine O’Hara, and more. As for the many SNL stars who performed with Second City, we have them listed for you below.

Dan Aykroyd

Famous for co-creating the Blues Brothers and the Festrunk Brothers (arguably his single best SNL sketch), Not-Ready-For-Primetime Player Dan Aykroyd is also a veteran of Second City. In fact, the future Ghostbusters star and writer performed with the troupe in both his native Canada and Chicago.

Amy Poehler

Second City was actually just one of a few places where Amy Poehler studied improvisational comedy in the early 1990s before becoming an SNL all-star. The future Parks and Recreation cast member also trained at iO (then called ImprovOlympic) and was a founding member of the Upright Citizens Brigade.

Martin Short

Some of Martin Short’s funniest characters from his one-season stint on SNL actually originated from his time at Second City and on the troupe’s own sketch comedy series, SCTV. The most notable example would have to be childish pop culture obsessive, Ed Grimley.

Tina Fey

The dynamic power duo of Tina Fey and Amy Poehler first came to be when they performed at Second City together. Before becoming SNL’s first female head-writer, Fey also made history as a member of Second City’s first gender-equal cast.

Bill Murray

Before Bill Murray became Chevy Chase’s replacement Not-Ready-For-Primetime Player, he practiced improv at Second City. He recalled to Jimmy Fallon on The Tonight Show that he started at the same time as John Candy and described his first-day performance as “pretty bad.”

Julia Louis-Dreyfus

Despite her subsequent success in the Seinfeld cast, leading Veep, and other accomplishments, there are still many people who are not aware or have forgotten that Julia Louis-Dreyfus was on SNL. Even fewer people probably know about her early days studying improv at the Second City.

Rachel Dratch

During an interview with Today, Rachel Dratch — known best for playing Debbie Downer on SNL — discussed her days as part of Second City. She said — while noting how every Second City performer probably feels this way — that she believes she was part of a “golden age” for the troupe’s touring company, during which future icons like Tina Fey and Stephen Colbert were involved.

Cecily Strong

One of the few SNL stars who lasted at least 10 years on the show, Cecily Strong developed her impeccable comedic skills as part of Second City. The Emmy winner spoke to The Chicago Tribune about touring with the troupe on a cruise line of all places.

Chris Farley

Bob Odenkirk was the writer of the iconic SNL sketch in which Chris Farley first performed as motivational speaker Matt Foley at Studio 8H. However, the late comedic first introduced his character at Second City, which is where he was first discovered by SNL creator Lorne Michaels.

John Belushi

Before John Belushi made history on SNL, his rise in the comedy world began at Second City. It was at the company’s Chicago club where Belushi met Dan Aykroyd, starting a legendary partnership that led to the creation of, arguably, the best SNL-inspired movie, The Blues Brothers.

Bill Hader

Bill Hader’s experience with show business dates back to when he worked as a production assistant on the set of movies like the Arnold Schwarzenegger-led Collateral Damage, as he told Conan O’Brien once. However, it was his days performing with Second City that really paved the way for the star and co-creator of Barry to eventually join SNL.

Tim Meadows

Tim Meadows’ Second City stint began in 1989, when he began writing and performing revues like The Gods Must Be Lazy. Two years later, he began what would be a record-breaking run on SNL at the time, lasting 10 seasons, during which he made Leon “The Ladies Man” Phelps a household name.

Gilda Radner

Even before debuting on SNL (then called NBC’s Saturday Night), Gilda Radner became acquainted with fellow Not-Ready-For-Primetime Players like Dan Aykroyd as part of The Second City. It was there that she created Emily Litella, who went on to become an all-time great “Weekend Update” guest for her tendency to misunderstand the topic she was editorializing.

Mike Myers

Many of Mike Myers’ best characters who are most often associated with SNL were actually first introduced during his time with The Second City. The Canadian-born comic debuted Wayne Campbell and German talk show host Dieter as part of the troupe, specifically.

Jason Sudeikis

Jason Sudeikis actually had a fair amount of experience with improv even before he joined Second City, having trained at Chicago’s Annoyance Theatre and iO and forming J.T.S Brown early on. The future Emmy-winning Ted Lasso cast member was even a founding member of Second City’s Las Vegas branch before becoming an SNL writer in 2003 and, eventually, joining the cast.

Vanessa Bayer

As part of The Second City Touring Company, Vanessa Bayer performed in productions like Jewsical: The Musical and Girls’ Night Out: Uncensored. Soon after, she was on SNL impersonating Miley Cyrus, playing Jacob, the Bar Mitzvah Boy, and other memorable performances that eventually earned her an Emmy nomination the year she left Studio 8H.

Mary Gross

The versatile Mary Gross had a very successful run at Second City, having won a Joseph Jefferson award for her performance in the company’s revue of Well, I’m Off to the Thirty Years’ War in 1981. That same year, she joined the SNL cast, alongside fellow Second Citizen Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Tim Kazurinksy, and would later star alongside other veterans in Christopher Guest’s music movie favorite, A Mighty Wind.

Tim Robinson

Tim Robinson would actually find even greater success following his SNL exit as the star of his Netflix sketch comedy series, I Think You Should Leave. His pre-SNL career involved a stint at Second City when he was just a teenager, according to Vulture.

Aidy Bryant

Aidy Bryant’s time with The Second City started when she enrolled in Columbia College’s comedy studies program, which allowed her to train full-time with the company. She would perform with Second City Theatricals on Norwegian Cruise Line alongside Cecily Strong before they both were cast on SNL in 2012.

David Koechner

After studying under iO co-founder Del Close, David Koechner — also known from the Anchorman movies and despicable The Office character, Todd Packer — joined The Second City and performed in revues in Rolling Meadows, IL. Alongside fellow future SNL performers Nancy Carell and Rachel Dratch, he performed in the company’s very first long-form improv show, “Lois Kaz.”

Alex Moffat

As a Chicago native, Alex Moffat has quite a bit of experience with the city’s improv scene, having been a part of iO, Annoyance Theatre, and, of course, The Second City. In 2016, he joined SNL and became best known for impersonating the likes of Tucker Carlson and Eric Trump during this six-year stint.

Jim Belushi

Jim Belushi followed in the footsteps of his older brother, John, by performing on SNL from 1983 to 1985, but similarities between their careers do not stop at Studio 8H. While John was a Not-Ready-For-Primetime Player, the future According to Jim star performed with Chicago’s Second City group from 1977 to 1980.

Mike O’Brien

Some might call Mike O’Brien an actor SNL never quite figured out how to use in sketches, save his funny pre-taped fake biopics, like The Jay-Z Story. Despite this, his Studio 8H stint is predated by plenty of improv studies in Chicago, including training at Second City and performing in a mainstage production of “America: All Better.”

Robin Duke

Robin Duke is one of the few SNL alums who had previously starred on The Second City’s SCTV. Her best-known work from Studio 8H is, just about, the perpetually annoying Wendy Whiner.

Chris Redd

There is actually a bit of a gap between Chris Redd’s time as a Mainstage understudy at The Second City (with which he toured both the United States and Europe) and his 2017 SNL debut. After leaving Second City, he had roles on TV shows like Empire and appeared in The Lonely Island’s 2016 mockumentary, Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping.

Brian Doyle-Murray

Bill Murray’s older brother, Brian Doyle-Murray, is an alum of both the Toronto and Chicago branches of The Second City, having served in the troupe in the early 1970s. In the early 1980s, he was a featured player on SNL, most notably as a “Weekend Update” host. 

Tony Rosato

Tony Rosato is probably best known for playing bumbling kitchen chef Marcello on SCTV. The late, Italian-born comedian never quite achieved an SNL moment as memorable, having joined the cast during the much-maligned first season without Lorne Michaels as EP.

Horatio Sanz

Horatio Sanz became a founding member of the Upright Citizens Brigade with other comedians he met while taking classes at The Second City. Some of those same comedians wound up sharing the stage with him on SNL, during which he appeared in multiple sketches that did not go according to plan, sometimes due to his own laughter.

Peter Aykroyd

Peter Aykroyd briefly became an SNL cast member in 1980 after his older brother, Dan, left the show. The late Emmy-winning writer and actor also had a stint at The Second City in common with his sibling.

Jerry Minor

While living in Detroit, Jerry Minor started writing and performing with other local sketch comedy groups before getting into improv at The Second City’s mainstage. In 2000, he was cast on SNL for what would be one season, during which he, most notably, played Grand Master Rap and impersonated notable figures like Al Sharpton.

Tim Kazurinsky

Tim Kazurinsky might be better known for his time at The Second City in the 1970s than his SNL stint in the early 1980s. In fact, he might even be better known for writing movies like About Last Night and starring in the likes of Police Academy than both.

Nancy Carell

It was while they were both performing for The Second City where a woman then known as Nancy Walls met her future husband, Steve Carell. However, between the two of them, she was one who became an SNL cast member for a year in 1995.

While a spot on SNL is something most aspiring comedians long for, it is still an amazing honor to have The Second City as their first gig.

There are a plethora of upcoming music biographical dramas hitting the 2024 movie schedule and beyond, but it's a recent sans-music biopic announcement that has truly piqued my interest. According to a recent report, the late Chris Farley, perhaps the most influential ‘90s SNL cast member, is getting the biopic treatment. Since the news broke, the film's star, the talented Paul Walter Hauser, has shared his take on it, adding a layer of anticipation and excitement to the project. 

Screen Off Script, a movie-focused outlet, shared the news on is official Instagram account, exciting followers with details about the upcoming film based on the life of the Beverly Hills Ninja star. The development alone would be thrilling as is, but what was particularly exciting was the fact that Hauser, who Variety reported would be stepping into the comedic shoes of Chris Farley, showed up in the comments. In doing so, he gave audience members an idea of what we should expect when the bio drops. The Richard Jewell star commented:

As a die-hard Saturday Night Live and Chris Farley fan, I find this news thrilling. Ever since the release of the biopic parody Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story, which amusingly features a fictional band I wish existed, I've found the typical "cradle to the grave" biopic format overly cliché and repetitive. However, this new take on the Matt Foley Motivational Speaker performer’s life might break the mold. Similarly to the structure of the Steve Jobs biography, the film will hopefully focus on one (or a couple) distinct and pivotal moments in the comedian's life, offering a fresh perspective on biographical storytelling. Also, a lot has been made of the late actor's "tragic life," so, it would be nice to see a movie that is more a celebration of his work and the joy he brought to people. 

According to Deadline, Josh Gad, known for voicing Olaf in the Frozen franchise, is set to make his directorial debut with the flick. The film will be produced by none other than SNL head honcho Lorne Michaels, who originally cast the Almost Heroes star on the late-night variety show in the '90s. Michaels, a seasoned veteran in the industry, will produce the film through his company, Broadway Video. The film will be based on the 2008 biography co-written by Farley’s brother, a testament to its authenticity. 500 Days of Summer and The Disaster Artist writing duo Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber are tackling the script. 

Before his untimely passing in 1997 due to a drug overdose, Chris Farley became a comedic icon during his five seasons on Saturday Night Live. During his tenure, he starred in a series of memorable sketches, such as "Lunch Lady Land" alongside Adam Sandler, one of the greatest SNL sketches featuring an A-list host "Chippendale's Audition" with Patrick Swayze, and the unforgettable "Matt Foley, Motivational Speaker"—the character was written and co-created by Better Call Saul star Bob Odenkirk was known for his residence "in a van down by the river." Check out the Chippendale's sketch down below:

Filling the shoes of such a legendary comedian is a formidable challenge for any actor. However, if you are familiar with Paul Walter Hauser's work, you know that the character actor has demonstrated he possesses the requisite talent and range to pull it off. He showed off his chops through his scene-stealing role in I, Tonya, his work in Clint Eastwood’s Richard Jewell (available to stream with a Prime Video subscription), and most recently, with his gripping and Emmy-winning role in Black Bird. I am eagerly anticipating his portrayal of Chris Farley and his dynamic presence on the big screen.

As we wait for more news about this upcoming biopic, you can revisit some of Hauser’s most captivating work, starting with the limited series Black Bird, available with an Apple TV+ subscription. Or, if you want to smile, revisit Chris Farley’s charming star-making role in Tommy Boy, available for Paramount+ subscribers to stream.

What is it that makes a Saturday Night Live character worthy of becoming the star of their own recurring sketch? Is it the way they dress or style their hair, the general ridiculous nature of their given situation, or is it their manner of speaking? We would actually say that much credit goes to that last example of criteria, based on the many great SNL character catchphrases we have compiled below.

“Well, Isn't That Special?” - The Church Lady

The chameleonic Dana Carvey has portrayed many recurring characters, but perhaps his single funniest SNL sketch is “Church Chat,” in which he plays Enid “The Church Lady” Strict. The deeply religious TV host has returned to Studio 8H several times and the secret to her enduring success is her hilariously sarcastic delivery of her signature line with a raised eyebrow.

"Yeah, That's The Ticket" - Tommy Flanagan

The phrase, “That’s the ticket,” is not exactly unique to Jon Lovitz’s Tommy Flanagan — the president of Pathological Liars Anonymous (or so he claims). However, it became imbedded in the SNL character’s legacy by the way it accompanies his most amusing fibs.

"We Are Two Wild And Crazy Guys!” - The Festrunk Brothers

Legendary Not Ready For Primetime Player Dan Aykroyd and Steve Martin — arguably the greatest SNL host of all time — make up the swinging Czechoslovakian duo called the Festrunk Brothers. Of course, most people might know them better as the “Two Wild and Crazy Guys” from their vigorous mantra.

"New York's Hottest Club Is..." - Stefon

“Weekend Update” hosts just want Stefon (Bill Hader as the wild character he and John Mulaney created) to talk about the best family-friendly activities in New York. Instead, he would start his spiel by announcing the city’s new popular after hours joint, and it would only get funnier from there.

"We're Not Worthy!" - Wayne And Garth

Wayne Campbell (“Wayne’s World” creator Mike Myers) and Garth Algar (Dana Carvey) have come into contact with several celebrities (both on their cable access program and in their classic SNL spin-off movies). But, rarely have they been able to keep their cool around them, resorting to dropping to their knees, bowing, and declaring their undeserving presence.

"... I Live In A Van Down By The River!" - Matt Foley

The definitive performance by, arguably, the definitive ‘90s-era SNL cast member, Chris Farley, is his gut-busting portrayal of Matt Foley. In addition to being one of the most iconic divorced TV characters, the ill-advised motivational speaker’s most recognizable trait is his unfavorable place of residence (“a van down by the river”), which he reminds people of any chance he gets.

"Oooh, It's A Lady!" - Leon "The Ladies Man" Phelps

The most iconic character played by Tim Meadows (one of SNL’s longest-running cast members) is Leon Phelps, who would receive calls from men and women alike during his live romantic advice program. However, he always made it clear that he especially enjoyed attention from the opposite gender, which is exactly why they called him “The Ladies Man.”

"Cheeburger, Cheeburger, Cheeburger" - Pete Dionisopoulos

When Don Novello created the beloved SNL sketch from Season 3, “The Olympia Restaurant,” he might not have realized that simply repeating the word “cheeseburger” would create such an impact. Yet, John Belushi’s distinct pronunciation of it as the cafe’s Greek manager, Pete Dionisopoulos, served up a decadent comedy feast. 

"I’m Good Enough, I’m Strong Enough And Doggone It, People Like Me" - Stuart Smalley

Easily one of the most wholesome SNL characters ever conceived is Stuart Smalley, played by longtime series veteran and former U.S. senator Al Franken. He would begin each episode of his talk show, Daily Affirmations, with this personal affirmation that, perhaps, we should all be starting our days with.

"I'm Verklempt" - Linda Richman (Coffee Talk)

For various reasons — be it her strained relationship with her daughter or Barbra Streisand’s latest Oscar “snub” — Linda Richman often found herself overcome with emotion as host of “Coffee Talk.” By referring to these episodes as her being “verklempt,” the catchphrase became one of Mike Myers’ funniest quotes and never failed to get the audience howling.

"... Makin' Copies!" - Richard Laymer

Office worker Richard Laymer (Rob Schneider) is better known as “the Richmeister,” in reference to his tendency give his colleagues similar-sounding nicknames. This was typically followed by Rich acknowledging they were “makin’ copies” with the machine that just happened to be near his desk, much to their chagrin.

"We Want To Pump You Up!" - Hans And Franz

Austrian fitness “experts” Hans (Dana Carvey) and Franz (Kevin Nealon) had a pretty apt slogan for their program, Pumping Up, stating that they “want to pump [clap] you up!” However, we would discover that they failed to earn the respect of their famous bodybuilder cousin, Arnold Schwarzenegger, when he appeared in one of the most jaw-dropping SNL cameos as himself.

"Party On..." - Wayne And Garth

It was always a party on Wayne’s World, as co-hosts Wayne and Garth often reminded  audiences with this endearing, celebratory greeting. Of course, this phrase is also associated with another famous duo from the same era: Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter’s titular dudes from the Bill and Ted movies.

"I’m Chevy Chase And You’re Not" - Chevy Chase (Weekend Update)

We can sum up Chevy Chase’s signature style of charming smugness and dry wit in just six words. It is with this same phrase that the future Community cast member began nearly every “Weekend Update” segment he hosted during his short, but memorable run on SNL in the 1970s.

"... But I Love Him" - Jodi Deitz (Bronx Beat)

The talk show Bronx Beat was, essentially, an excuse for New York housewives Betty Caruso (Amy Poehler) and Jodi Deitz (Maya Rudolph) to voice their boisterous, and sometimes condemning, opinions on various subjects — with Jodi’s husband being a frequent topic. However, her complaint over her spouse’s moronic tendencies was always accompanied with a tearful affirmation that he still made her happy.

"Give Me A Break" - Ed Grimley

It’s hard to believe that a legend like Martin Short was only on SNL for one season, especially with his impressive assortment of characters like Ed Grimley. The pop-culture obsessed, erratic man-child — borrowed from the actor’s SCTV days — had a few different catchphrases, but his delivery of and situational choices for using “Give me a break” made it a classic.

"It Just Goes To Show Ya, It's Always Somethin'. If It's Not One Thing, It's Another" - Roseanne Roseannadanna

One of the most iconic “Weekend Update” guest characters was Roseanne Roseannadanna, who ended each of her nauseating appearances declaring that, “It’s always somethin’.” The phrase would serve as the title for the late, great Gilda Radner’s memoir, in which she reveals she borrowed it from her own late father’s favorite expression. 

"Superstar!" - Mary Katherine Gallagher

While her intentions may have been hard to interpret at face value, Mary Katherine Gallagher’s commitment to becoming a “superstar” was made clear in the way she exclaimed the phrase with an irresistible gusto. As such, Superstar became the name of a 1999 movie that put Molly Shannon’s quirky Catholic school student in the cinematic spotlight.

"Would You Like To Touch My Monkey?” - Dieter (Sprockets)

West German talk show host Dieter (Mike Myers) is another one of those characters who had many iconic catchphrases at his disposal, with the most famous being “Would you like to touch my monkey?” While it initially sounds a bit suggestive, he is genuinely curious if the guests on his show, Sprockets, would be interested in petting his pet, Klaus.

"Oh No!" - Mr. Bill

Few SNL bits are more traumatic than the short films starring Mr. Bill. The meek, indefensible clay figure could never do anything to prevent the painful situations he found himself in, but to exclaim, “Oh no!” right before they occurred.

"Bring It On Down To ...-Ville!" - Dancing Mascot

Nearly every one of Five-Timers Club member Justin Timberlake’s SNL gigs see him dressed in a ridiculous outfit, performing spoofs of hit songs to promote a local business — such as Omeletteville or Wrappingville — and upstage the competition on the same sidewalk. The pop star and actor even referenced the recurring sketch and its signature quote during a “Weekend Update” appearance when he imagines a non-existent Thanksgiving episode in which we would have brought it on down “Turkeyville.”

"Talk Amongst Yourselves. I'll Give You A Topic..." - Linda Richman (Coffee Talk)

When in need of a moment to compose herself after becoming “verklempt,” Linda Richman always avoided leaving her Coffee Talk audience empty-handed by offering them a conversation piece to pass the time. Examples of her given discussion topics include “Rhode Island is neither a road, nor is it an island” and “Ralph Fiennes is spelled neither rafe nor fines” among many others.

"Buh-Bye" - Flight Attendants

One of the funniest David Spade quotes comes courtesy of a flight attendant who wastes no time letting passengers know he does not want to be there. The character and his iconic “Buh-bye” debuted in a Season 19 SNL sketch also starring Helen Hunt as his equally rude colleague.

"Oh. Well, That’s Different. Nevermind!" - Emily Litella

As the elderly Emily Litella, Gilda Radner appeared on “Weekend Update” numerous times to present an opposing viewpoint to an editorialized topic, only to be informed that her supposed hearing problems led her to dish on something entirely different from the intended subject. Some of the most classic examples include “violins on television” instead of “violence on television” or questioning why the Supreme Court made a decision on a “deaf penalty” when, in fact, it was a decision on the “death penalty."

"What're YOUUUU Doin' Herrre?" - Stuart (The Californians)

The key as to why a sketch as simple as “The Californians” has stood the test of time is Fred Armisen’s preposterously over-the-top West Coast accent when portraying Stuart, especially when asking why certain acquaintances are in his house. Apparently, as Bill Hader shared with Seth Meyers on Late Night, he and Kristen Wiig did not know Armisen would pronounced “What’re you doing here?” so cartoonishly, causing the sketch to not go quite as planned with their uncontrollable laughter.

"You Look Marvelous" - Fernando Lamas

The peak highlight of Billy Crystal’s brief SNL stint was his portrayal of Fernando Lamas as a talk show host who often gushed over how “mahvelous” his guests looked. The Argentinian actor’s son, Lorenzo Lamas, even said that his father actually loved the impression.

"It's Reno Time!" - Janet Reno

For as long as Janet Reno served the U.S. Attorney General, Will Ferrell played her for years as the misplaced host of a teen-centered musical program called “Janet Reno’s Dance Party.” On the final edition of the sketch, the real politician herself crashed through a brick wall to shout out her SNL doppelgängers catchphrase.

"... Is That Bad To Do Do Do...?" - Junice Merill

No character portrayed by Academy Award-nominated SNL star Kristen Wiig is really known for having any definitive catchphrases, but Junice Merill does have her own “catch-lyric.” When she and her sisters appear on The Lawrence Welk Show, she takes one moment of their performance to confess something grotesque and possibly illegal before asking if it is “bad” in song.

"Delta Delta Delta! Can I Help Ya, Help Ya, Help Ya?" - Delta Delta Delta Sorority Sisters

One of the youngest SNL cast members (being 23 at the time) is Melanie Hutsell, whose most famous character was a sorority pledge named Di. She and her fellow sisters (played by Siobhan Fallon and Beth Cahill) would answer the sorority house phone in this most hilariously upbeat way.

"I Got A Fever And The Only Prescription Is More Cowbell!" - Bruce Dickinson

One of the most iconic SNL sketches prominently featuring an A-list host is a faux clip of Blue Öyster Cult recording “Don’t Fear the Reaper” under the supervision of Christopher Walken as Bruce Dickinson. His likening of Gene Frenkle’s (Will Ferrell) cowbell as a cure for his metaphorical illness in this one-off sketch may not exactly count as a catchphrase, but is undeniably one of the most celebrated lines in the series’ history. In fact, Walken claims it “ruined” his life with how often people quote it at him.

"Don't Look At My Bum" - Simon

Mike Myers stars in a recurring sketch as a young British boy named Simon, who likes to show the audience his drawing from a bathtub. In many instances, as he would turn around to reach for another example of his artwork, the child felt compelled to remind his viewers not to stare at his “bum.”

"That's What Your Mother Said Last Night" - Sean Connery (Celebrity Jeopardy!)

For no discernible reason, Darrell Hammond’s Sean Connery was more interested in spending the entirety of his appearances in SNL’s best Celebrity Jeopardy! sketches taunting Will Ferrell’s Alex Trebek than winning the game. Most of his insults involved the host’s mother, whom he jokingly claimed to have a relationship with.

These SNL catchphrases prove that, sometimes, it is not what you say, but how you say it. These characters said it hilariously.

In its several decades on air, Saturday Night Live has made icons out of many of its cast members. For some — including some of SNL’s one-season wonders — you might argue that the sketch comedy series is the peak of their careers, until you remember the acclaimed and widely beloved movies and TV shows they would go on to star in. Take a look at our picks for the finest work some of our favorite SNL stars have put out beyond their time at Studio 8H.

Eddie Murphy (Coming To America)

48 Hrs. and Beverly Hills Cop made him a movie star, but Coming to America might be the absolute best Eddie Murphy movie, especially as the first to show just how far the comic’s extraordinary talents extend. He gives his most heartfelt performance as an African prince searching for love in New York City, but that is far from his only role in this dazzling romantic-com from 1988.

Kristen Wiig (Bridesmaids)

Along with her writing partner, Annie Mumolo, Kristen Wiig joined the club of Oscar-nominated SNL stars for penning this 2011 instant classic comedy. She also transcends what made her a Studio 8H all-star by leading the Bridesmaids cast with her most down-to-earth performance yet as a baker suffering an existential crisis after her best friend (played by Maya Rudolph) gets engaged.

Adam Sandler (Uncut Gems)

Some argue that an SNL star who should have been nominated for an Oscar is Adam Sandler for his performance in one of the best A24 movies, Uncut Gems. If self-destructive jeweler Howard Rattner had been played by anyone else but the guy behind “The Hanukkah Song” and movies like Happy Gilmore, it might have been tough to root for the protagonist of Josh and Benny Safdie’s anxiety-fueled, 2019 crime drama.

Kate McKinnon (Barbie)

After previously working with Margot Robbie in Bombshell and making the A-lister laugh uncontrollably in an SNL sketch, Kate McKinnon reunited with the Australian actor in the Barbie cast in 2023. The Emmy-winner is perfect as “Weird Barbie” — now a real doll in Mattel’s catalog — in co-writer and director Greta Gerwig’s cleverly satirical and surprisingly moving blockbuster based on the legendary toy.

Will Ferrell (Stranger Than Fiction)

We love Will Ferrell in funny movies like Elf and Talladega Nights, but never has he given a performance as tender, reserved, and relatable as his Golden Globe-nominated role in Stranger Than Fiction. That is only one reason director Marc Forster’s inventive 2006 dramedy is his best movie in our eyes.

Molly Shannon (Wet Hot American Summer)

The Wet Hot American Summer cast is full of actors who went on to become superstars, but one of the biggest names among that ensemble at the time was SNL great Molly Shannon. She stars in the 2001 cult-favorite summer comedy classic as camp counselor Gail, who seeks consolation for her second divorce from surprisingly mature adolescent campers.

Bill Murray (Lost In Translation)

To this day, many believe that Bill Murray should have won the Academy Award for his performance in one of the best movies of the 2000s, Lost in Translation. Also one of the best movies produced by Focus Features, he stars in writer and director Sofia Coppola’s Oscar-winning sophomore effort as a disillusioned actor who strikes up a unique bond with a young woman (played by Scarlett Johansson) who is also struggling to navigate her life after meeting in Japan. 

Tina Fey (Mean Girls)

From her time on SNL as a cast member and head writer to her development of beloved comedies like 30 Rock and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Tina Fey has had one of the most impressive careers in comedy, let alone show business in general. However, her one credit that has best stood the test of time is her sharply satirical high school movie, Mean Girls, which she adapted from Rosalind Wiseman’s book and also stars in as Ms. Norbury.

Dan Aykroyd (The Blues Brothers)

Dan Aykroyd may have a Best Picture Oscar winner under his belt (Driving Miss Daisy, for which he also received an acting nomination) and also wrote and starred in one of the beloved Ghostbusters. However, the movie that he will always be best known for is 1980’s The Blues Brothers, which is arguably the all-time best movie based on SNL characters (Ayrkoyd and John Belushi’s brotherly musicians, Jake and Elwood Blues) and one of the most important movies set in Chicago as well.

Gilda Radner (Haunted Honeymoon)

Highlights of Gilda Radner’s post-SNL career included sharing the screen with her husband, Gene Wilder, such as 1986’s Haunted Honeymoon, in which they play a couple staying in a spooky house to cure the groom’s anxieties. Unfortunately, the fun horror-comedy movie would also be her final film before she passed away in 1989.

Chevy Chase (Community)

After making a huge impact in so little time on SNL (not even two full seasons), Chevy Chase had a memorable film career (especially with National Lampoon’s Vacation movies), but it was his return to the small screen in the late 2000s that really had us especially impressed. He starred in the Community cast as Pierce Hawthorne — one of many Greendale Community College students experiencing often strange circumstances and meta pop-culture references in creator Dan Harmon’s inventive sitcom.

Chris Farley (Tommy Boy)

Perhaps the most influential ‘90s SNL actor was the late Chris Farley, whose one-in-a-million, energetic comedic talent made him a legend. He also made an impeccable team with fellow SNL actor David Spade in the hilarious road trip comedy, and one of the funniest and most iconic movies of the ‘90s, Tommy Boy.

Jimmy Fallon (Almost Famous)

Jimmy Fallon has had a stellar career, from his memorable SNL stint to hosting The Tonight Show, but most of his movies did not quite have the same impact — save his Oscar-winning feature-length debut in 2000. Fallon starred in writer and director Cameron Crowe’s Almost Famous cast as the touring manager for Stillwater, Dennis Hope.

Amy Poehler (Inside Out)

Amy Poehler is the kind of performer who brings a sense of joy to everything she does, from her SNL days to the Parks and Recreation cast as Leslie Knope. Thus, it only makes sense that she would star as the personification of “Joy” in one of Pixar’s best movies: 2015’s Inside Out.

Will Forte (Nebraska)

We all know and love the masterfully goofy Will Forte from the “MacGruber” sketches and as the star and creator of a show canceled too soon called The Last Man on Earth, but 2013’s Nebraska showed a rare side of the actor we cherished seeing. He gives a somber, yet beautifully endearing, performance in director Alexander Payne’s Oscar-nominated drama as a man accompanying his estranged father (played by Bruce Dern) on a trip to collect a supposed million-dollar prize.

Maya Rudolph (The Way Way Back)

Maya Rudolph’s career outside SNL has been nothing short of impressive, but we were most impressed by her work in 2013’s The Way Way Back. From the Oscar-winning writing duo behind The Descendants (Nat Faxon and Jim Rash), this winning dramedy features Rudolph as Caitlin, a manager at a water park where teen protagonist Duncan (Liam James) works to escape a miserable summer at his mother’s boyfriend’s house.

Bill Hader (Barry)

Bill Hader never failed to surprise audiences with his impeccable impersonations and excellent commitment to character on SNL, but he surprised us in other ways with his first major small-screen follow-up. He played the title role of HBO’s Barry cast (in addition to co-creating the very dark comedy series), who is a hitman trying to reinvent himself as an actor.

Cecily Strong (Schmigadoon!)

One of the greatest surprises of John Mulaney’s SNL musical sketches was Cecily Strong’s smashing singing voice. It would also come in handy when she and Keegan-Michael Key led AppleTV+’s Schmigadoon! cast as a couple trapped in a world that looks and sounds like a lavish musical production.

Chris Rock (Nurse Betty)

In 2000, Chris Rock teamed up with Morgan Freeman as hitmen searching for a delusional widow (played by Renée Zellweger) convinced she is engaged to a soap opera character in director Neil LaBute’s sharp, quirky dramedy, Nurse Betty. We will, however, give an honorable mention for one of the best sitcoms starring an SNL vet, Everybody Hates Chris, which the comedian created and narrated.

Jane Curtin (3rd Rock From The Sun)

Years after playing an alien in, arguably, her single funniest SNL sketch (“The Coneheads”), Jane Curtin played one of the few human series regulars on a series also about otherworldly visitors trying to blend in. The former “Weekend Update” anchor starred on NBC’s hit sitcom 3rd Rock from the Sun as Dr. Mary Albright, a colleague, and later fiancée, of Dick Solomon (John Lithgow) at Pendleton State University.

Andy Samberg (Palm Springs)

There is only so much that we are actually willing to reveal about our pick for Andy Samberg’s best effort outside of SNL, Palm Springs, for anyone who has not seen it yet. What we will say is that the 2020 rom-com — and one of the best movies on Hulu — stars the Lonely Island member and Golden Globe-winning Brooklyn Nine-Nine actor and Cristin Milioti as wedding guests who become embroiled in a very strange predicament.

Mike Myers (Shrek)

We love almost all of the characters Mike Myers has created or portrayed, from Wayne Campbell to Austin Powers, but picking his true all-time best work outside of Studio 8H is easy. Myers put on his best Scottish accent to voice the title role of 2001’s Shrek — the first movie to win the Best Animated Feature Oscar, for its sharp send-up of fairytale tropes and heartwarming unlikely romance.

Pete Davidson (The King Of Staten Island)

There have been some great Pete Davidson movies and TV shows over the years, but the former SNL star’s best work might also be one of his most personal. The Bupkis cast member based The King of Staten Island (which he co-wrote with director Judd Apatow) on his own life as the son of a firefighter who tragically passed on 9/11. 

Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Seinfeld)

Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ time on SNL often goes forgotten, but you cannot say the same about the career she had after the show, which includes Emmy wins for shows like Veep and joining the MCU. However, she really blew up when she joined the Seinfeld cast as Elaine Benes, who was the focus of many classic and hilarious moments on the legendary sitcom.

Jason Sudeikis (Ted Lasso)

Jason Sudeikis is the kind of SNL performer who could make the Devil himself seem likable, which is why he was the perfect choice for the charming lead of the Ted Lasso cast for Apple TV+. Indeed, his Emmy-winning performance as the titular American football coach hired to manage an English football (a.k.a. soccer) team is key to its jubilant success.

Norm Macdonald (Dirty Work)

In 1998, the same year that the late Norm Macdonald was infamously fired from SNL, the actor came out with one of his best movies, Dirty Work. Also written by Macdonald and directed by Bob Saget, the comedy about a man who literally becomes a specialist in the business of revenge has gained a cult following despite getting bad reviews in the 90s.

Kenan Thompson (D2: The Mighty Ducks)

Before he became one of the longest-running SNL cast members, Kenan Thompson was part of Nickelodeon’s more kid-friendly sketch comedy, All That. However, before then, the Emmy winner made his acting debut in one of the greatest hockey movies, D2: the Mighty Ducks as the inventor of the Knuckle Puck, Russ.

Ana Gasteyer (Happiest Season)

As the creator of beloved sketches like “NPR’s Delicious Dish” and the astonishing ability to hide when sketches don’t go as planned, Ana Gasteyer’s SNL days do not get talked about enough. In 2020, she appeared alongside the Happiest Season cast in a brief, but memorable, role in the acclaimed LGBTQ+ romance dramedy.

Fred Armisen (Portlandia)

While he was still on SNL, Fred Armisen was the driving force of a whole different kind of sketch comedy series called Portlandia. In partnership with non-SNL sketch comedy actor Carrie Brownstein, the pair poked fun at life in Portland in a Monty Python-esque style of quirky and bizarre bits.

Tim Meadows (Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping)

Despite his impressively long tenure, Tim Meadows is one of the most criminally underrated SNL actors and his big-screen presence is no different. Case in point: even one of his most prominent movie roles is from a vastly underrated, mockumentary-style comedy, Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping, from 2106 as Harry, manager to conner4real (Andy Samberg).

Tracy Morgan (30 Rock)

How fitting that one of Tracy Morgan’s greatest successes after being a sketch comedy show performer was playing a sketch comedy show performer. The comic stole every scene in creator and star Tina Fey’s brilliantly surreal broadcasting satire, 30 Rock, as over-the-top actor, Tracy Jordan.

Aidy Bryant (Shrill)

Even before she left SNL (a bit later than she anticipated as a result of Covid-19), Aidy Bryant had already ventured on with a series of her own called Shrill. The actor received an Emmy nomination for her performance on the Hulu original comedy (which she also co-created) as an overweight journalist aspiring to change who she is inside without changing who she is outside.

Even if Saturday Night Live is what these actors are remembered best for, that does not mean it will always be the best thing they are remembered for.

Usually, when you think of people who get their start in show business early, you think of famous child actors. However, the same could be said about SNL cast members — many of whom can say they first got hired onto the show when they were just in their mid-20s, or even younger. The following are some of the youngest performers to grace the stage Saturday Night Live yet.

Anthony Michael Hall

According to The Independent, when Anthony Michael Hall became an SNL regular in 1985, he set the record for the show’s youngest cast member at just 17 years old. By then, he was already a teen idol from starring alongside fellow Studio 8H vet Chevy Chase in National Lampoon’s Vacation and standing out in now-iconic ‘80s movie classics like Sixteen Candles and Weird Science.

Dan Aykroyd

One of the youngest members of SNL’s original run from 1975 to 1980 was Dan Aykroyd, who became a Not Ready For Primetime Player at 23 years old. His high-energy performance style and bizarre ideas — he wrote beloved sketches like The Coneheads, among others — ensured a glorious Studio 8H tenure and his lasting legacy as an esteemed comedy icon.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus

Despite her unforgettable, Emmy-winning performances in the Seinfeld cast as Elaine Benes and Selina Meyer in the Veep cast, an actor you may have forgotten was on SNL is Julia Louis-Dreyfus. The sketch comedy series was the multi-Emmy winner’s big break in 1982 when she was just 21.

Pete Davidson

When Pete Davidson made his “Weekend Update” debut in 2014, the then-20-year-old was aptly referred to as SNL’s “Resident Young Person” and would frequently appear in sketches as a very convincing teenager. The comedian, who left the show in 2022, would soon grow up to be one of the biggest stars of his day, from co-creating and leading his own series, Bupkis, to joining blockbuster franchises like the Fast and Furious movies and the Transformers series.

Eddie Murphy

An often credited for coming to SNL’s rescue during its struggles in 1980 was Eddie Murphy, who was the first cast member hired while still under the age of 20 (19, to be exact). With unforgettable characters like Mister Robinson or his iconic take on Gumby, he showed a voracious talent way beyond his years that soon secured his place as one of Hollywood’s brightest stars. 

Joan Cusack

As she recalled to Terry Gross on the Fresh Air podcast, Joan Cusack did not have the best experience when she was cast on Saturday Night Live from 1985-1986 (not considered the show’s best season either) at age 23. Fortunately, after becoming the first SNL actor nominated for an Oscar two times (for Working Girl and In & Out), getting the chance to act alongside her siblings (including John Cusack) multiple times, and other memorable achievements, it seems things got better for her.

John Belushi

One of the first faces that most longtime fans picture when they think of SNL is John Belushi, whom you might assume already had decades of comedic work under his belt before being hired on the show in 1975 based on his staggering talent. As it turns out, the future star of The Blues Brothers — one of the greatest SNL movies ever made — was only 26 at the time.

Jay Pharoah

A then-22-year-old Jay Pharaoh quickly made a grand impression on Studio 8H when he appeared on “Weekend Update” with a spot-on impression of Will Smith in 2010. This would be only the first of many hilarious impersonations he demonstrated week after week until he, unfortunately, was fired from SNL in 2016.

Aidy Bryant

When Aidy Bryant was first hired in 2012, the then-25-year-old would often play teenagers, such as in one of SNL’s most popular sketches on YouTube in which she plays a high school student unaware she is an adult film character. The Shrill star would continue to play younger roles throughout her decade-long SNL tenure (which was actually longer than she had intended, due to Covid).

Robert Downey Jr.

Talk about starting early — Robert Downey Jr. earned his first IMDb credit at 5 years old when his father cast him in a bizarre avant-garde drama called Pound in 1970. Fifteen years later, after the future MCU star turned 20, he joined the SNL cast for just one season, during which he realized sketch comedy was not really his game, as he revealed to Sam Jones on Off Camera later.

Jimmy Fallon

Even as the host of The Tonight Show from 2014 on, Jimmy Fallon has, impressively, looked around 24 years old the entire time. However, that was actually the age at which the skilled impressionist, whose tendency to laugh often caused some sketches to not go as planned, joined the SNL cast in 1998. 

Sarah Silverman

With two Emmy Awards, a Disney franchise (the Wreck-It Ralph movies, as the voice of Vanellope), and an acclaimed stand-up career, Sarah Silverman has done a pretty good job navigating show business. According to her interview with Perri Nemiroff for Collider Ladies Night, she credits her brief SNL tenure, from 1993 to 1994, when she was just 22 as a great help in that area.

Kenan Thompson

Kenan Thompson got his start in sketch comedy even earlier than many can say, having been cast on Nickelodeon’s All That at age 15. About a decade later, in 2003, the then-25-year-old graduated to Studio 8H and went on to become one of the longest-tenured SNL actors in the show’s history.

Chris Farley

Chris Farley is a prime example of a showbusiness icon who achieved much in little time. The high-energy comedic talent, known for characters like motivational speaker Matt Foley and, later, movies like the fan favorite 1995 classic, Tommy Boy, was hired on SNL in 1990 at 26 and passed away just seven years later.

Laraine Newman

Arguably, one of the most underrated Not Ready For Primetime Players is Laraine Newman, who might be best known as Beldar (Dan Aykroyd) and Prymaat’s (Jane Curtin) daughter, Connie, from the “Coneheads” sketches. She was also one of the original SNL cast’s youngest members, having been hired in 1975 at 23.

Chris Rock

His blistering, hilarious satirical commentaries on “Weekend Update” made Chris Rock, easily, one of the sharpest ‘90s SNL cast members. Those appearances also stood as proof that he was wise beyond his years, having joined the cast in 1990 at age 25.

Gilbert Gottfried

Before the late Gilbert Gottfried became known for movies like Beverly Hills Cop II and 1992's Aladdin (as the voice of Iago), one of his first (and lesser-known) gigs was Saturday Night Live. The comedian started his 12-episode stint as part of the cast in 1980 when he was 25.

Abby Elliot

Abby Elliott was already 7 years old when her father — future Schitt’s Creek cast member, Chris Elliott — joined the SNL cast for the 1994-1995 season. Fourteen years later, in 2008, the future member of FX’s The Bear cast became part of Studio 8H's legacy at age 21.

Damon Wayans

Years before performing bits like “Homey D. Clown” and “Men on Film” in the In Living Color cast made him a comedy all-star, Damon Wayans was hired on SNL 1985 when he was 25. As he recalled in a Weekender interview, his stint only lasted 11 episodes because he decided to go off-script while a sketch was live in progress.

Andrew Dismukes

Andrew Dismukes is one of those SNL cast members who can be seamlessly inserted into a sketch set at a high school or as a family’s teenage son. One might even be surprised to learn that the actor — who also shined as a Joker-obsessed wedding bestman in a sketch that is somehow both terrible and amazing — was as old as 25 when he joined the show in 2020.  

Ben Stiller

Five weeks after joining the SNL cast, then-23-year-old Ben Stiller quit the show, wanting to just create short films instead of perform live sketches, according to an interview with Howard Stern from 2018. The actor and filmmaker later would do exactly that on the short-lived The Ben Stiller Show — also starring non-SNL sketch comedy performer, Bob Odenkirk — but eventually came back for a few SNL hosting gigs and a recurring role as Donald Trump’s former lawyer, Michael Cohen.

Yvonne Hudson

Yvonne Hudson officially became the first Black female SNL cast member (and third Black cast member overall after Garrett Morris and Eddie Murphy) when she was 25. According to a Vulture interview with fellow Season 6 cast member Mitchell Kriegmann, Hudson was actually Studio 8H’s receptionist before she was brought onto the ensemble in 1980, which may explain why she has no other acting credits to her name.

Marcello Hernandez

One of the underrated Marcello Hernandez’s most popular SNL sketches — which spawned a sequel featuring Bad Bunny — saw him playing a college student bringing his girlfriend (Chloe Fineman) home to his overprotective, Spanish-speaking mother (Pedro Pascal). The comic’s college days were actually not too far away from him when that bit aired during his introductory season, having been hired in mid-2022 when he was 25.

Adam Sandler

Before Adam Sandler’s movies started to really launch him toward icon status in his 30s, the comic was making a name for himself on SNL while still in his 20s. The actor behind characters like Opera Man and songs like “Lunch Lady Land” first came onto the show when he was 25 in 1991.

Ellen Cleghorne

Ellen Cleghorne, SNL’s second Black, female cast member, was hired in 1991 when she was 26 and stayed on until 1995. Outside of Studio 8H, she is known for appearing in blockbusters like Armageddon as well as several comedies featuring fellow SNL veterans, such as Little Nicky opposite Adam Sandler and Old School with Will Ferrell.

Jay Mohr

Highlights of Jay Mohr’s two-year SNL stint, which began in 1993 when he was 23, include his impressive impersonations of celebrities like Christopher Walken and Billy Idol. Highlights of the comic’s career since include his antagonistic role in Jerry Maguire, his Emmy nomination for executive producing Last Comic Standing (which he also hosted, originally), and appearing in the Air cast for Amazon.

Melanie Hutsell

Best known for playing Jan Brady in “Weekend Update” segments and Di for the Delta Delta Delta sorority, Melanie Hutsell came on to SNL as a featured performer in 1991 when she was 23. Some may also recognize her from her small appearance alongside the Bridesmaids cast, a recurring role on Netflix’s Lady Dynamite, and more.

Brad Hall

According to People, when Brad Hall joined the SNL cast in 1982, the then-24-year-old had already met his co-star and future wife, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, as students at Northwestern University. The couple would go on to work together again when he created her first follow-up to Seinfeld, Watching Ellie.

Laura Kightlinger

Laura Kightlinger was 25 when she joined the SNL cast in 1994, during the show’s 20th season. After a year, she found even greater success as a producer of sitcoms like Will & Grace and 2 Broke Girls, on which she also made guest appearances.

Gary Kroeger

Al Franken is not the only SNL cast member to go into politics later on. According to the Des Moines Register, Gary Kroeger, who was hired in 1982 when he was 25 years old, ran for Congress in his home state of Iowa in 2015.

Tom Davis

Tom Davis was actually hired at SNL as a writer during the first season when he was 23, but would not be brought on as a cast member until two years later in 1977. Before he passed away in 2012, he also made a cameo in the sort-of Christmas movie classic, 1983’s Trading Places, alongside Al Franken, helped write the Coneheads movie from 1993, and more.

Peter Aykroyd

When Dan Aykroyd and the rest of the Not Ready For Primetime Players left the show in 1980, his then-25-year-old younger brother, Peter, briefly joined the cast the following season. Also an Emmy-winning SNL writer and former member of the Second City comedy troupe, Aykroyd sadly passed away in November 2021 at the age of 66.

Sometimes the brightest SNL stars turn out to be among the youngest as well.

The “will they, won’t they” trope refers to when a TV show traces the blossoming romance of two central characters — such as Jim and Pam from the U.S. version of The Office cast or the two original lead Cheers characters, Sam and Diane. But, what about the characters who led a major storyline that involved the end of their relationship and, more specifically, the end of a marriage? We thought we would give some of the most iconic divorced TV characters their due by highlighting our favorites below.

Ross Gellar (Friends)

The ultimate TV divorcee — in sitcoms, at least — is easily Ross Gellar (David Schwimmer), who is splitting from his first wife, Carol, in the Friends pilot. In Season 4, his marriage to Emily Waltham (Helen Baxendale) is ruined during the ceremony because of his oft-debated history with Rachel (Jennifer Aniston), who later becomes his third wife by a drunken mistake in Vegas. 

Joyce Byers (Stranger Things)

Before Joyce Byers (Winona Ryder) and the rest of the Stranger Things cast faced off against Demagorgons and other creatures, she had another monster to contend with: her husband. The selfish, deceitful, and abusive Lonnie (Ross Partridge) did not even care about the disappearance of his own son, Will (Noah Schnapp), in Season 1 of the Netflix sci-fi drama and blamed Joyce, who eventually — and quite thankfully — found romance with longtime friend, Jim Hopper (David Harbour).

Don Draper (Mad Men)

The seemingly picture-perfect union of Don Draper and Betty Hofstadt (Mad Men cast members Jon Hamm and January Jones) came to an end by the AMC period drama’s fourth season after unsuccessful attempts to reconcile amid each other’s affairs. However, it was not the ad executive’s last or even first marriage. Previously, his union with Anna Draper (Melinda Page Hamilton) — widow of the man whose identity he stole — was annulled and he and his third wife, Megan Calvet (Jessica Pare), began to grow apart in the penultimate season.

Reba Hart (Reba)

One of the best country music singers-turned-actors, Reba McEntire, became sitcom royalty with her Golden Globe-nominated performance as the lead of her own comedy on The WB (and, later, The CW). Lasting six seasons, Reba was the story of a Southern single mother of three struggling to maintain a relationship with her ex-husband (played by Christopher Rich) and the woman he left her for (Melissa Peterman). Luckily, as the theme song says, she’s a survivor.

Seong Gi-hun (Squid Game)

In one of the best Netflix TV shows, Squid Game, the central protagonist Seong Gi-hun (Emmy winner Lee Jung-jae) chooses to leave for the deadly tournament after surviving the first round. But, after learning that his daughter is about to move to the United States with his ex-wife and her new husband, which is what convenes him to reenter the games. However, in the Season 1 finale, he ditches his chance to reconnect with his daughter in favor of taking down the tournament, which we will see playing when Season 2 of the South Korean hit premieres.

Frasier Crane (Cheers, Frasier)

On Cheers, Frasier Crane (Kelsey Grammer) meets and eventually weds fellow psychiatrist, Lilith (Bebe Neuwirth). After she left him for another man before later pleading reconciliation, the long-running series ended with their marriage facing an uncertain fate. When Frasier’s self-titled spin-off premiered, it was revealed that he had left for good before packing up for Seattle, where they would sometimes reunite, including on Paramount+’s revival series in 2023.

Toby Flenderson (The Office)

The HR representative at Dunder-Mifflin’s Scranton branch, Toby Flenderson (The Office writer Paul Lieberstein), is divorced — a fact his self-described enemy, branch manager Michael Scott (Steve Carell), often uses to taunt him. Toby and his ex-wife had a daughter named Sasha (Delaney Ruth Farrell), whom we meet in one of the most cringe-worthy episodes of The Office, “Take Your Daughter to Work Day.”

Dorothy Zbornak (The Golden Girls)

What led Dorothy Zbornak (Bea Arthur) to move in with her mother, Sophia (Estelle Getty), Blanche (Rue McClanahan), and Rose (Betty White) is her split from Stan (Herb Edelman). Nonetheless, Dorothy’s ex-husband would remain a recurring staple of The Golden Girls, and the former spouses’ lasting, yet imperfect, affection for one another made for a uniquely charming pair.

Bobby And Pam Ewing (Dallas)

The only thing as captivating as the mystery of who shot J.R. Ewing (Larry Hagman) on Dallas was the marriage of Bobby Ewing (Patrick Duffy) to Pamela (Victoria Principal), who comes from the rival Barnes family. The Romeo and Juliet-style romance which turned many against them was initially the central focus of the primetime soap (one of the most popular TV shows of its time), until the couple ended up turning against each other.

Kirk And Luann Van Houten (The Simpsons)

In Season 3 of The Simpsons, we meet Milhouse’s parents, Kirk (Hank Azaria) — one of the most popular Simpsons characters to enter the series late — and Luann Van Houten (Maggie Roswell). In Season 8 — after a disastrous game of Pictionary at Homer and Marge’s dinner party — the couple called it quits and Kirk’s many efforts to salvage their union — including penning a song called “Can I Borrow a Feeling” — could not redeem it, unfortunately.

Grace Adler (Will & Grace)

Interior designer Grace Adler (Will & Grace cast member Debra Messing) almost got married in the pilot before finally finding her match in Dr. Leo Marcus (Harry Connick, Jr.), until his one-night-stand on a Cambodian Doctors Without Borders assignment ruined things. While they managed to work things out, remarry, and raise their daughter together in the finale, the 2017 revival series (which ignores the previous series’ ender) reveals that Grace, unable to trust Leo for his past mistake, left him again.

Michael And Jane Mancini (Melrose Place)

At the beginning of Melrose Place, the heart and soul of the Beverly Hills, 90210 spin-off was surgeon Michael (Thomas Calabro) and fashion designer Jane Mancini (Josie Bissett). However, by Season 2, Michael’s suddenly villainous transformation — complete with a terrible attitude and adulterous habits — saw the end of the marriage.

Matt Foley (Saturday Night Live)

When Chris Farley’s most famous SNL character, Matt Foley, made his SNL debut — in a beloved sketch written by Bob Odenkirk — the motivational speaker provided three important facts about his life: he is 35, divorced, and lives in a van down by the river. In subsequent editions of the bit, we learn he has actually been married “thrice” and even winds up in jail for failing to pay alimony at one point.

Cleveland Brown (Family Guy)

One of the funniest Family Guy characters, Cleveland Brown (Arif Zahir, who replaced Mike Henry) was married to Loretta (Alex Borstein) until she was caught cheating with Quagmire (Seth MacFarlane). When he got his own spin-off, The Cleveland Show, he reunited with his childhood friend and secret crush, Donna Tubbs (Sanaa Lathan), and his dreams came true when they married.

Larry David (Curb Your Enthusiasm)

After years of putting up with the neurotic and selfish behavior of her husband, Larry David (creator Larry David), the final straw for Cheryl (Cheryl Hines) came late in Curb Your Enthusiasm’s sixth season when he was too preoccupied with a TiVo installer to comfort her during a turbulent flight over the phone. Larry would later attempt a few schemes to win her back, including casting her as the wife of a character he inspired, George Costanza (Jason Alexander), for an in-show Seinfeld cast reunion special. 

Alan Harper (Two And A Half Men)

Initially, the premise of the long-running CBS sitcom, Two and a Half Men, saw Charlie Harper (Charlie Sheen) reluctantly take in his brother, Alan (Jon Cryer), and nephew, Jake (Angus T. Jones), after Alan’s wife, Judith (Marin Hinkle) kicks him out. Alan later meets and marries the young, ditzy Kandi (April Bowlby) in an impromptu ceremony, but she splits with him because of — as it is eventually revealed — their differing opinions on having children… and his ear, nose, and chest hair.

Selina Meyer (Veep)

For, just about, the entire duration of their 12-year marriage, Andrew Meyer (David Pasquesi) cheated on his wife, Selina (Emmy winner Julia Louis-Dreyfus) almost constantly. Still, upon their reunion on Veep — a show Parks and Rec fans will love —  the attraction between them remains strong, which results in some increasingly ridiculous hijinks behind the scenes of Selina’s political career.

Lucious And Cookie Lyon (Empire)

We learn at the beginning of Empire that Lucious Lyon (Terrence Howard) divorced Cookie (Taraji P. Henson) while she was still in prison — kicking off a volatile personal and professional relationship between the music industry magnates upon her release. While they would remarry in Season 4, the sixth and final season began with them separated before, eventually, finalizing their second split.

Maura And Shelly Pfefferman (Transparent)

At the beginning of Amazon’s Emmy-winning dramedy, Transparent, Maura Pfefferman (Jeffrey Tambor) — then known as “Morton” — revealed to her wife, Shelley (Judith Light) that she was transgender, Shelley could not accept this news and opted to split up. Eventually, however, despite a brief chance at rekindling their romance, they prove to be much stronger friends.

Jules Cobb (Cougar Town)

After the series finale, Friends cast member Courteney Cox’s most successful follow-up was an ABC (later TBS) original sitcom called Cougar Town. She played Jules Cobb: a single, forty-something mother to Travis (Dan Byrd) — whom she had with ex-husband, Bobby (Brian Van Holt) — who eventually remarries when she falls for her neighbor, Grayson Ellis (Josh Hopkins).

Lou Grant (The Mary Tyler Moore Show)

One of the first TV characters depicted as a divorcé was Lou Grant, portrayed by the late Ed Asner to multi-Emmy-winning acclaim on The Mary Tyler Moore and on his more dramatic self-titled spin-off. The TV news producer’s marriage to Edie (Priscilla Morrill) ends roughly halfway through the series, but they remain in touch and Lou even attends Edie’s nuptials to Howard Gordon.

Erica Kane (All My Children)

One of the most notorious divorcés in TV history is Erica Kane, played by the legendary Susan Lucci on All My Children. Over the course of four decades on the ABC daytime soap opera, the businesswoman was seen tying the knot a staggering eleven times.

Angela Bower (Who's The Boss?)

Years before Judith Light portrayed a divorcé on Transparent, she played single mother Angela Bower on the hit ABC sitcom, Who’s the Boss? The advertising executive would eventually find love again with her widowed live-in housekeeper, Tony Micelle (Tony Danza).

Rhoda Morgenstern (Rhoda)

When Valerie Harper left the Mary Tyler Moore Show to star in her own spin-off, Rhoda, the title character would meet and marry a divorced man named Joe Gerard (David Groh). Their relationship would only last a couple more years and we discovered much later in a 2000 TV movie called Mary and Rhoda that she found a new French husband named Jean-Pierre Rousseau, but that marriage did not last either.

Niles Crane (Frasier)

Arguably the funniest recurring gag in Frasier is that Niles Crane’s (David Hyde Pierce) wife, Maris, is never once seen — due to the characters’ increasingly bizarre descriptions making her impossible to cast — even after their marriage falls apart in Season 4. Thankfully, Niles would later fall in love with his brother’s housekeeper, Daphne (Jane Leeves).

Angela Martin (The Office)

After her engagement to Andy Bernard (Ed Helms) ends due to her affair with Dwight Schrute (Rainn Wilson), Angela Martin’s (Angela Kinsey) marriage to state senator Robert Lipton (Jack Coleman) ends due to his affair with Oscar Martinez (Oscar Nunez) in the final season of The Office. Soon after, she and Dwight finally and openly admit their love for each other and wed in the series finale, which actually counts as their second after Dwight fooled her into a marriage while she was still engaged to Andy.

Alexis Morrell (Dynasty)

Much of the most intense drama on the long-running primetime soap opera, Dynasty — which was later rebooted for The CW — stemmed from the relationship between former spouses Alexis Morrell (Joan Collins) and Blake Carrington (John Forsyth). The marriage was actually the first of four for the socialite, who also went on to marry Cecil Colby, Dex Dexter, and Sean Rowan.

Bill Dauterive (King Of The Hill)

For all 13 seasons of King of the Hill, Bill Dauterive (voiced by Stephen Root) never quite got over his ex-wife, Leonare (Ellen Barkin). There was a time in Season 5 when he had a chance at finding love again with former Texas governor Ann Richards (voicing herself), which ultimately went nowhere, but was almost ruined by one of Leonare’s schemes.

Mike and Gloria Stivic (All In The Family)

The conservative Archie Bunker (Carroll O’Connor) would constantly butt heads with the more liberal Mike Stivic (future filmmaker Rob Reiner), who was married to his daughter, Gloria. However, by the end of the groundbreaking run of All in the Family, the couple separated. Archie initially assumed it was by Mike’s doing, until Gloria admitted to her own infidelity.

Mr. Big (Sex And The City)

The classic “will they, won’t they” relationship between Carrie Bradshaw (Sex and the City cast lead Sarah Jessica Parker) and John James “Mr. Big” Preston (Chris Noth), would eventually result in marriage (until his death, as revealed in the sequel series, And Just Like That…), which was the entrepreneur’s third. He was previously married to a woman named Barbara and, during a time when he and Carrie were apart, married a younger woman named Natasha (Bridget Moynahan).

Louie (Louie)

Much like in real life, Louis C.K.’s fictionalized version of himself in the acclaimed FX series, Louie, is a divorced comedian. In fact, one of its sharpest elements is its almost tragically hilarious depiction of single parenthood from his perspective.

Henry VIII (The Tudors)

Borrowed straight from the history books, Showtime’s The Tudors incorporates a truly heinous depiction of a marriage ending. Because divorce is against her religion, Catherine (Maria Doyle Kennedy) has her marriage to King Henry VIII (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) annulled due to his obsession with Anne Boleyn (Natalie Dormer). As a result, she is exiled. 

Breaking up is hard to do, but in the case of these divorced characters, it made for great television.

Leading characters draw us into the movies. But every once in a while, a strong supporting player can leave us talking about their scene-stealing performances, or the untapped potential they left on the table because they didn’t get as much screen time as we thought they deserved. The following characters all stood out in their respective films. And the main thing they all have in common is that we all wish they got more time on screen, because they were so much fun.

Les Grossman

The Hollywood satire Tropic Thunder took huge swings at the entertainment industry, with a group of spoiled actors tasked with making a war picture getting mistaken for actual soldiers and getting captured behind enemy lines. But it was an unrecognizable Tom Cruise, playing tough-talking studio executive Les Grossman, who danced away with the picture. There was talk of a Les Grossman movie coming out one day. I hope that’s still on the table. 

Lester Bangs

There’s nothing better than when a young up-and-comer finds the perfect mentor. Philip Seymour Hoffman played that role to perfection in Cameron Crowe’s Almost Famous. Rock journalist Lester Bangs showed William Miller (Patrick Fugit) what his future could hold, and it wasn’t always bright. But in Hoffman’s hands, it was raw, honest, real, and very uncool.

Blake

Always be closing. It’s a mantra we can all recite because Alec Baldwin was so convincing in the movie adaptation of the brilliant stage play Glengarry Glenn Ross. His character, Blake, is supposed to be motivating a team of salesmen, played by a murderer’s row of character actors (Al Pacino, Ed Harris, and Jack Lemmon). So for any actor to come in and dominate that room is impressive. Plus, the moment Blake’s gone from the screen, you immediately want him back. Leave them wanting more.   

Megan Price

It takes a lot to emerge from the pack of gifted comedians assembled for Bridesmaids and be the one that people are talking about. Kristen Wiig and Maya Rudolph were at their peak, while Rose Byrne and Ellie Kemper were making noise leading into it. But Melissa McCarthy ripped Bridesmaids away from those ladies, partially by doing something nasty in a sink, but also by creating an unforgettable character who had quirks, compassion, and a formidable funny bone.

Floyd

We didn’t realize at the time of True Romance that we were watching an actor who would go on to become one of the biggest movie stars on the planet. But in his scant few scenes as couch surfer Floyd, Brad Pitt demonstrated his ability to completely lose himself in a character, sell a vibe, and hang with fellow heavy hitters like James Gandolfini and Christian Slater. A star was born. 

Spider-Ham

When the multiverse opened up in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) met all sorts of strange versions of his spider hero. The strangest, and most interesting, had to be the heroic Spider-Ham, a pig in costume who… ate hot dogs? Spider-Verse remains one of the best Spider-Man movies ever made, and it’s because of unexpected inclusions in the cast like this. 

Rod Tidwell

Show him the money, Jerry. At its heart, Jerry Maguire is a love story. It’s also a human journey, where a self-centered sports agent learns how to love himself again. But Jerry Maguire takes flight every time Cuba Gooding Jr. lights up the screen. His football star Rod Tidwell gives Jerry purpose, and Gooding gave Cruise the ideal foil on screen. Like so many people on this list, the role was so good, it earned him an Oscar win. Well deserved.

The Wolf

His name is Winston. He solves problems. He shows up in Quentin Tarantino’s masterpiece, Pulp Fiction, at a time when Jules (Samuel L. Jackson) and Vincent (John Travolta) have a very big one. Harvey Keitel owns the role, but there are so many questions we have regarding The Wolf (including the party he’s throwing, his tuxedo, and how he got to be known for this task), you could easily do a Pulp Fiction spinoff all about him, and I’d watch it a thousand times.

Spike

We have a few people on this list who are bummy roommates stealing scenes by loafing around. That’s how Rhys Ifans steals Notting Hill away from Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant. The film is as romantic as they come, but Ifans makes sure all of his scenes as Spike are equally hilarious.

Ken

There are so many Kens to choose from. Barbie Land has its fair share of male dolls. But I have to go with Simu Liu’s competitive Ken, who holds a grudge against Ryan Gosling’s Ken, seems to have the upperhand on him at every turn, and practically demands more screen time so we can figure out what makes this Ken tick.    

Mark Hanna

I don't exactly know what Matthew McConaughey is channeling in his The Wolf of Wall Street scene. I know it's primal. I know it's unpredictable. I know it's unlike anything I have ever seen before. And I know that the movie needed more of it... whatever it is. Now, start beating your chest. 

Captain Dickson

Ice Cube might be a teddy bear in real life, but he portrays “angry” so easily that if he were to yell at me, I’d turn into a puddle. So there’s something special about the way that he yells at Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill in 21 Jump Street and its sequel. He makes it funny. Still scary. But also pretty hysterical.

Paloma

The most recent James Bond thriller, No Time to Die, was structured as a sendoff for Daniel Craig. But throughout it, we met a new 007 in Lashana Lynch, and watched Bond fight alongside a feisty agent, Paloma (Ana de Armas), who we’d love to see on screen again.

The Critic

Pixar’s classic, Ratatouille, focuses on a fledgling cook and the rat who helps him create vivid dishes. But they mostly want to please a discerning critic, who picks and chooses his moments, then excels with a return to his childhood courtesy of a bite of food that brings him back. I loved every scene with the Critic in Ratatouille, and wanted more of him. 

Nigel

The three women at the head of The Devil Wears Prada dominate the scene, Meryl Streep is flawless as a fashion editor, while Anne Hathaway and Emily Blunt excel as worker bees earning her favor. But the character I wish we had more time with is Nigel, played to crisp perfection by the wonderful Stanley Tucci. He has history with Miranda Priestly, and more story to be told there. 

Rudy Reyes

In a superhero movie, all eyes are on the hero (and also usually the villain). And DC’s most recent Blue Beetle delivered plenty of exciting new twists to the story of Jaime Reyes (Xolo Mariduena), including leaning on his family. And in that tight-knit group we found Rudy Reyes (George Lopez), the paranoid uncle with one eye on the government who also ended up being one of the funniest characters in the DCU. More Rudy, whenever Blue Beetle shows up again in James Gunn’s comic universe. 

Grace

Edie McClurg is a legend. She created so many memorable characters in classic 1980s comedies. For the purpose of this feature, I’m going to single out the clueless receptionist Grace that she played in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. She made a pencil funny. But there has to be an extra shout out for her turn opposite Steve Martin in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles. The lady knew how to make the absolute most of her screen time, and it was never enough. 

Chet

The late Bill Paxton made every movie better. Be it Aliens, Apollo 13, Twister, or the hilariously bizarre Weird Science, Paxton committed fully, and demonstrated immense range. Chet might be one of the worst characters created for the screen… but he’s so deliciously evil to his brother in the teen comedy that we relished every moment Paxton was on the screen. Even when he was a blob of garbage. 

Emma Watson

This is a fun aspect of this list. Some people are able to steal scenes by playing themselves. The armageddon spoof This is the End allowed several celebrities to play enhanced versions of their Hollywood personas, and Harry Potter icon Emma Watson seemed to really enjoy lampooning her image during her too-brief cameo. 

Gin Slagel

Bernie Mac left us too soon. The man was a powerhouse comedian, a larger than life personality that owned the screen every moment he occupied it for a comedy, or even a comedic thriller (like as part of the ensembles of the Ocean’s movies). Some might forget that he was a part of Bad Santa, a holiday staple marked by Billy Bob Thornton’s memorably dark performance. But Mac’s role as mall security makes him the ideal foil for Thornton, and he needed plenty more time on the screen. 

Pizza Poppa

If there’s one thing we know about Pizza Poppa (Bruce Campbell), it’s that he gets paid. Sam Raimi loves Campbell. And we love Campbell in Raimi movies, including  when he showed up for an all-too-brief and strange (no pun intended) cameo in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. The appearance makes good use of Campbell’s physical comedy, and also leads to a spot-on end credits scene.  

The Bus Driver

There’s a trend on this list. Comedic performers who left us too soon. Chris Farley belongs on that list. And while he will always have his standalone hit in Tommy Boy, but it’s his cameos that hit me the most. I loved him in Adam Sandler’s Billy Madison as the disgruntled bus driver, who amuses himself by stealing kids’ lunches. 

Boris Podgorny

Another one of the classic mentor roles, this one appearing in Steven Spielberg’s autobiographical winner, The Fabelmans. Young Sammy Fabelman needed a voice of reason at an important point in his maturation. It came in the form of his visiting uncle (Judd Hirsch), who shared tales of the circus, and a life spent entertaining. Hirsch was a spark that ignited the story, and his absence was felt during the remainder of the film. 

T.D.K.

Mind you, almost everyone in the opening scene of James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad could be on this list. They all exit the screen in spectacular fashion, and much earlier than anticipated. But I’m going with Nathan Fillion’s T.D.K., mainly because of what his power is. And if you don’t know yet, go put this movie on now and enjoy.

Large Marge

Alice Elizabeth Nunn doesn’t have a long list of acting credits. If you, like me, grew up on Tim Burton’s Pee-wee’s Big Adventure, though, you will remember her as Large Marge. Her legend grows by the day. So when you get to the rest stop, tell them Large Marge sent you.

Steven

John Cena has mastered the art of scene stealing. The all-star wrestler seamlessly transitioned over to the silver screen, thanks to hilarious and go-for-broke performances like the one he gives opposite Amy Schumer in Trainwreck. Part of me wishes that Cena got the girl in this movie. Alas, it wasn’t meant to be. 

Gloria Cleary

I miss the days when Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson were good for an annual comedy. Wedding Crashers probably ranks as the duo’s best, and while many single out Will Ferrell’s bathrobe-wearing bachelor as the standout character, I wanted more screen time with the irascible Isla Fisher, who goes toe-to-toe with Vaughn and emerges as the most memorable comedian in this wild ensemble. 

Trudi Frazer

Quentin Tarantino is a master at creating unforgettable characters. Even one of the smaller roles will still grab you, and not let go. Young Julia Butters owns the screen opposite Leonardo DiCaprio in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. She’s a savvy kid actor with more confidence than DiCaprio’s Rick Dalton will ever have. I want to know the type of career that Trudi went on to have, because she’s a fascinating slice of a complicated pie that only Tarantino can cook up.

Whiskey

On the surface, it seems like Whiskey (Madelyn Cline) doesn’t belong with the group that has gathered on the island in Glass Onion. But the more that you learn about her, the more you realize she has as many games to play as the rest of them. Cline leaves us wondering how Whiskey earned her seat at the table, but that’s the point of this list. Lingering questions surround almost all of these interesting characters.

Peter

Sugar Bear. Peter (Rob Delaney) is Deadpool’s favorite member of his new super-powered team, X-Force. Peter has no powers. He’s just positive, and willing to play along. He’s the best part of Deadpool 2, and the movie definitely needed more of him.

Gary

"How can that be profitable for Frito Lay?" All that Gary (Jesse Plemons) wants to do is participate in Game Night. Sure, he’s socially awkward. But given the problems that surface in the group as the movie unfurls, Gary would be an ideal player. Just, keep the blood off of his dog, please. 

Chirrut Imwe

Listen, I want more Donnie Yen in everything. He blew us away in John Wick: Chapter 4, and has a rich history of dominating Asian cinema. But it’s his blind hero in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story that I think demands more time. And given the existence of Disney+ shows like Andor, I think more Donnie Yen in that Galaxy far far away is a distinct possibility. 

We could talk forever about our favorite SNL actors and their funniest sketches, but when was the last time we showed our appreciation for the people who were the real brains behind the operation? That is what we intend to do here as we look back at some of Saturday Night Live’s most celebrated bits and characters as we share the stories behind those who wrote them into reality.

NPR's Delicious Dish: Schweddy Balls (Ana Gasteyer)

The glorious piece of suggestive comedy that is “Schweddy Balls” is just one — let alone, arguably, the funniest — edition of a recurring sketch called “NPR’s Delicious Dish,” which was the brainchild of one of its stars, Ana Gasteyer. The Happiest Season cast member recalled to NPR — of all places — that she was still part of the improv comedy troupe, The Groundlings, when gastronomic radio shows from LA called “The Splendid Table” and “Good Food” inspired her to write the bit. 

Close Encounter (Mikey Day and Streeter Seidell)

We have SNL actor Mikey Day and writing partner Streeter Seidell to thank for what is widely considered one of Kate McKinnon’s best SNL sketches, “Close Encounter.” According to Day and Seidell’s talk with Vulture, they knew that host Ryan Gosling would not be able to stop laughing at Colleen Rafferty’s horrendous experience with an alien abduction because he wasn’t able to hold it together during any of the rehearsals.

The Olympia Cafe (Don Novello)

Comedian Don Novello is best known for playing Father Guido Scarducci on SNL, but he is also the unsung hero of “The Olympia Cafe,” which some may recognize better as the “cheeseburger, cheeseburger, cheeseburger” sketch. According to Ultimate Classic Rock, the bit was inspired by an actual Chicago restaurant called the Billy Goat Tavern, which Novello and the sketch’s star, John Belushi, would frequent.

Matt Foley: Van Down By The River (Chris Farley, Bob Odenkirk, And Robert Smigel)

After seeing Chris Farley perform at Second City as his character, Matt Foley, Bob Odenkirk was inspired to write the sketch that introduced the motivational speaker to SNL in 1993. However, as the former Breaking Bad cast member revealed on Hot Ones, it was Robert Smigel’s last-minute idea for Farley to fall down onto the table.

More Cowbell (Will Ferrell) 

According to Rolling Stone, the faint sound of the cowbell on Blue Öyster Cult’s “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper” inspired Will Ferrell to write a now-classic sketch — that Christopher Walken believes ruined his life — revolving around the one playing the obscure instrument on the 1976 hit. He later discovered from an SNL art department employee whose father worked on the Agents of Fortune album that he had unwittingly captured the characteristics of the song’s real cowbell player… save the low-cut sweater and overzealous gyration.

Church Chat (Dana Carvey And Rosie Shuster)

On an SNL 40th Anniversary retrospective by People, Dana Carvey recalls performing as the Church Lady in his pre-SNL days at clubs, where he spontaneously improvised her famous catchphrase, “Isn’t that special?” He teamed up with writer Rosie Shuster to develop the character’s SNL debut, leading to the creation of “Church Chat” — which Carvey would revive as a host in later years.

Wayne's World (Mike Myers)

According to Primetimer, when Mike Myers showed then-SNL writers Conan O’Brien, Robert Smigel, Bob Odenkirk, and Greg Daniels his idea for “Wayne’s World,” they politely advised him against pitching it in the writer’s room. Well, the joke is on those nobodies because the sketch — a cable access program filmed in Wayne’s (Myers) basement and co-hosted by Dana Carvey’s Garth — was a huge hit that inspired one of the best SNL movies ever.

Haunted Elevator (Ft. David S. Pumpkins) (Bobby Moynihan, Mikey Day, and Streeter Seidell)

Wanting to break free from the political-heavy humor of SNL’s 42nd season, Bobby Moynihan, Mikey Day, and Streeter Seidell — after much trial and error — crafted a sketch for the Halloween show featuring a strange man who would become one of Tom Hanks’ best SNL characters: David S. Pumpkins. According to Vulture’s oral history, the trio was astonished by the success of “this dumb, dumb thing” that even inspired an animated special on NBC the following year.

Mom Jeans (Tina Fey)

In an interview with Jess Cage for Sirius XM, Tina Fey recalls purchasing a “really unfortunate pair of jeans” at J. Crew, and she decided to use that as fuel on writing night at Studio 8H. The result was one of SNL’s funniest commercial parodies, for which the future 30 Rock cast member and creator wore a prosthetic stomach and rear end.

MacGruber (Jorma Taccone)

Played by Will Forte, easily distracted special forces agent MacGruber was first envisioned by Jorma Taccone — one-third of the Lonely Island — according to Vanity Fair’s oral history. Having later spawned a feature film and a Peacock original series, you could argue that the recurring sketch hit a level of attention that resembled the love for the TV show that inspired it, MacGyver (whose star, Richard Dean Anderson, cameoed in one edition).

Two Wild And Crazy Guys (Dan Aykroyd, Steve Martin, Marilyn Suzanne Miller)

In collaboration with writer Marilyn Suzanne Miller (according to Ultimate Classic Rock), Dan Aykroyd partnered with SNL host hall-of-famer Steve Martin to create the Festrunk Brothers, who are better known as the “wild and crazy guys!” The Czechoslovakian swingers became a staple of the show, and they would return in more recent years alongside another famous duo: Justin Timberlake and Andy Samberg’s highly inappropriate R&B singers.

Sarah Palin and Hillary Clinton Address the Nation (Seth Meyers)

One of SNL’s sharpest pieces of political satire sees Sen. Hillary Clinton (Amy Poehler) struggling to remain civil during a non-partisan appearance alongside Gov. Sarah Palin (Tina Fey) in response to the latter’s Vice Presidential nomination. According to Vulture, then-head writer Seth Meyers penned that legendary SNL cold open, which also featured a few jokes by Poehler and Fey and Palin’s iconic line “I can see Russia from my house,” courtesy of Late Night producer Mike Shoemaker.

Stefon (Bill Hader And John Mulaney)

At The New Yorker Festival in 2014, Bill Hader recalled how a flamboyant barista he frequently bumped into and a strange email John Mulaney received about an aspiring club owner’s bizarre ideas — including “a room full of broken glass” — were the catalysts for Stefon. Hader also mentions that he tested the character in a particularly forgettable sketch opposite host Ben Affleck before making him Weekend Update’s city correspondent. The former Barry cast lead has never been able to play the role without laughing and covering his face, thanks to Mulaney’s last-minute cue card additions and Seth Meyers’ immaculate patience.

Lazy Sunday (The Lonely Island, Chris Parnell)

Chris Parnell was SNL’s resident rap star before the emergence of The Lonely Island (Andy Samberg, Jorma Taccone, and Akiva Schaffer), which is why they asked him to collaborate on a music video about him and Samberg seeing The Chronicles of Narnia. As they recall in Variety’s oral history, “Lazy Sunday” made SNL Digital Shorts a celebrated event, skyrocketed The Lonely Island’s stardom, and, most importantly, dawned a new era of viral comedy.

The Coneheads (Dan Aykroyd)

In the book Live From New York: The Complete Uncensored History of Saturday Night Live, Dan Aykroyd recalls how he was watching TV in a heightened state of mind, and he noticed that people’s heads rarely hit the top of the screen. This gave him the idea for a sketch about characters with noggins that are several inches taller than the average humans, who eventually became the out-of-this-world family known as The Coneheads. 

Celebrity Jeopardy! (Norm Macdonald)

As the late Norm Macdonald revealed to Howard Stern (via SoundCloud), we have SCTV to thank for "Celebrity Jeopardy!” The comedian — who also played Burt “Turd Ferguson” Reynolds — took inspiration from the Canadian sketch comedy series’ game show parody “Half Wits” when crafting this recurring bit featuring Will Ferrell as an Alex Trebek driven mad by absent-minded famous people and taunting from Sean Connery (Darrell Hammond).

Debbie Downer (Rachel Dratch And Paula Pell)

Rachel Dratch recalled to Salon that while vacationing she told someone at a communal dining table that she was from New York, to which the stranger replied, “Were you there for 9/11?” That ultimately inspired her to team up with Paula Pell — with whom she later reunited for Wine Country — to create the character Debbie Downer, whose debut SNL sketch did not go as planned, but was all the more memorable for it.

Spelling Bee (Will Forte)

On a Reddit AMA hosted by Will Forte (via AMATranscripts.com), one user asked if the actor’s insanely long misspelling of the word “business” in Season 31’s “Spelling Bee” was recited as written or all spontaneous. The MacGruber cast lead revealed that the bit originated from his days on the improv comedy troupe, The Groundlings, and that he would have listed off even more random letters in the SNL sketch if he wasn’t being directly followed by musical guest Neil Young.

The Ladies Man (Tim Meadows, Dennis McNicholas, and Andrew Steele)

A character as lewd and crude as Leon Phelps might not be so successful these days, but, then again, it’s hard not to be charmed by any role portrayed by Tim Meadows. While promoting the 2000 movie, The Ladies Man, the Mean Girls cast member revealed to The Crimson that the lispy voice was his biggest contribution to the character, who was initially conceived by Dennis McNicholas and Andrew Steele.

The Californians (Bill Hader, Fred Armisen, And James Anderson)

While speaking to Seth Meyers on Late Night, Bill Hader shared how he and Fred Armisen would kill time before table reads by mockingly describing how they would get around in LA while donning over-the-top West Coast accents. Sometime later, Hader learned that Armisen and writer James Anderson took that gag, made it into a soap opera, and, thus, “The Californians” was born.

Girl Watchers (Conan O'Brien, Robert Smigel, Bob Odenkirk, And Greg Daniels) 

Retired late-night talk show host Conan O’Brien actually came up with a few of Tom Hanks’ best SNL sketches, such as “Girl Watchers,” in which the Oscar winner and Jon Lovitz comment on their losing streak with the ladies with contrarian confidence. O’Brien shared on Dax Shepard’s podcast, Armchair Expert, how he jokingly demonstrated this characteristic on a whim while hanging out with fellow SNL writers Robert Smigel, Bob Odenkirk, and Greg Daniels, who all worked together to turn into the classic sketch.

Hans And Franz (Kevin Nealon And Dana Carvey)

While Arnold Schwarzenegger has never hosted SNL, he would make a cameo alongside fellow Austrian bodybuilders, Hans and Franz. It probably comes as no surprise that the Terminator star — who was even interested in doing the scrapped Hans and Franz movie — is also the inspiration for the characters. Kevin Nealon told Juice that it all started when he and Dana Carvey caught an interview with the actor on TV that compelled them to talk like him for days.

Diner Lobster (John Mulaney And Colin Jost)

Season 43’s “Diner Lobster” was an instant classic that started a tradition of Broadway-inspired sketches anytime John Mulaney hosts SNL, but its road to success was longer than you may think. The comedian and Weekend Update anchor Colin Jost revealed in a featurette that they actually wrote the sketch eight years earlier, but no one wanted to touch it at the time.

Lunch Lady Land (Adam Sandler, Bob Odenkirk, Tim Herlihy, And Allen Covert)

One of Adam Sandler and Chris Farley’s funniest collaborations was a musical sketch set to a song called “Lunch Lady Land,” which the Uncut Gems star did not write himself. According to Uproxx, his co-composers were Bob Odenkirk, Tim Herlihy (father of Please Don’t Destroy’s Martin Herlihy), and Allen Covert.

Weekend Update: The Iceberg On The Sinking Of The Titanic (Bowen Yang And Anna Drezen)

The bit that made Bowen Yang one of SNL’s biggest stars was his viral “Weekend Update” appearance as the Iceberg that sank Titanic, who believes he is the real victim of the tragedy. He spoke to former SNL star-turned-Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon about how writer Anna Drezen texted him about the concept months before they decided to give it a try, despite not having much faith in it at the time.

Mary Katherine Gallagher (Molly Shannon)

Apparently, an unnamed SNL writer did not believe that Molly Shannon’s character Mary Katherine Gallagher had a chance of making it onto the show, as she told People in 2015. Luckily, the nervous schoolgirl did make it onto air and the White Lotus cast member’s energy and commitment to the role made her a hit. Even Whitney Houston would agree to appear alongside this superstar.

What Up With That? (Kenan Thompson, Bryan Tucker, And Rob Klein)

According to Rolling Stone, Kenan Thompson — the longest-running SNL cast member — came up with an idea in 2009 for a talk show host who becomes obsessively unable to stop singing his own theme song. After bringing the idea to fellow writers Bryan Tucker and Rob Klein and teaming up with musical director Katrees Barnes for the song, the idea eventually made it onto the show as “What Up With That?” which became a recurring hit.

Target Lady (Kristen Wiig)

Academy Award-nominated SNL star Kristen Wiig could be the show’s greatest female cast member, judging purely on the amount of diverse characters she has brought to the table, such as “Target Lady.” She told James Lipton on Inside the Actors Studio that the role — originally conceived for The Groundlings — was inspired by an actual Target cashier she met with an “eggy” voice.

Papyrus (Julio Torres)

Ryan Gosling gives one of his funniest performances ever in a pre-taped SNL bit as a man driven insane by the fact that the logo for one of the most popular movies of all time, Avatar, is just a modified version of the common font “Papyrus.” Julio Torres told EW that this was initially a joke he used in stand-up until the Oscar-nominated actor suggested turning it into the hilarious viral hit that even James Cameron responded to.

Super Bass-O-Matic ’76 (Dan Aykroyd)

A 12-year-old Dan Aykroyd once witnessed his aunt — a Canadian cooking show personality — dump a whole fish, bones and all, in a blender for a bouillabaisse. That story, which he revealed to The Food Channel, was his inspiration for one of his funniest faux infomercials, “Super Bass-O-Matic ’76.”

The Barry Gibb Talk Show (Jimmy Fallon, Steve Higgins, Ken Scarborough)

Out of Jimmy Fallon’s many great collaborations with Justin Timberlake, one of the funniest is “The Barry Gibb Talk Show.” While having the actual surviving Bee Gees as guests on Late Night, Fallon recalled how he and his future sidekick, Steve Higgins, actually crafted the sketch together with fellow writer Ken Scarborough, who went on to become the head writer of Sesame Street.

Foreign Man: Mighty Mouse (Andy Kaufman)

On the very first episode of SNL, Andy Kaufman appeared, nervously starring at the audience while playing the theme song to Mighty Mouse and only exhibiting a more confidant demeanor to lip-sync the lyric, “Here I come to save the day!” According to Fandom’s SNL wiki page, the very bizarre bit — something totally on brand for the legendary comedian — was a branch of his character known as “Foreign Man,” which was one of his earlier and most iconic acts.

If you have ever found yourself watching one of these classic SNL sketches and wondered who came up with these ideas and how, now you know.

While Saturday Night Live is constantly changing with the times, one segment that’s remained a constant throughout the decades is Weekend Update. The bit anchored by a cast member or two goes over the headlines of the week, and also features a cast of characters visiting the desk. From Bill Hader’s viral character Stefon and Gilda Radner’s legendary Roseanne Roseannadanna, the list of Weekend Update guests is extensive and incredible, here are 32 of the most iconic characters to appear on the SNL segment.

Stefon (Bill Hader) 

Do you need to know what “New York’s hottest club” is? Well, Bill Hader’s Stefon has you covered. Famously, this beloved character was written by Hader and John Mulaney, after he received a weird email, and the latter would add outrageous lines at the last minute to try and make the actor crack up. It almost always worked, leading to Stefon covering his hands with his face in that signature pose. Overall, the voice, the look, and all those absolutely wild club descriptions are what led to Stefon becoming one of the most iconic SNL characters. 

The Girl You Wish You Hadn’t Started A Conversation With At A Party (Cecily Strong) 

While I think it’s safe to say none of us would actually want to run into Cecily Strong’s The Girl You Wish You Hadn’t Started A Conversation With At A Party, when she showed up on Weekend Update to bug Seth Meyers, it sure was funny. Her sporadic thinking and sassy tone mixed with the fact that most people have probably been lured into a conversation like this makes her such a fabulous Update guest. 

The Iceberg On The Sinking Of The Titanic (Bowen Yang) 

For the anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic, Bowen Yang played the iceberg that sank it. However, the iceberg was not there to talk about the tragic event, he was there to promote his new album Music. Eventually, he defended himself though, because, as he put it, the boat “came to where I live, and you hit me.” It’s an ultra-sassy and completely iconic sketch that has easily become a modern SNL classic.

Pete Davidson 

SNL helped launch Pete Davidson’s career in TV and movies, and some of his best bits came when he showed up as himself on Weekend Update. He’d come on to talk about his own life, politics, and more, and every time he’d kill it with his signature sense of humor. 

Marcello Hernández

Before Marcello Hernández’s killer sketches with Bad Bunny made many realize he should be a full-time player, it was his Weekend Update bits that had me convinced he was going to be an SNL star. In his first season on the sketch show (Season 48) he made a few appearances at the desk as himself. His infectious energy and comedic physicality are hysterical.

The Trump Brothers (Mikey Day and Alex Moffat)  

During Donald Trump’s presidency, Alex Moffat played Eric Trump and Mikey Day played Donald Trump Jr., and they would come onto Weekend Update to discuss their father’s political career. Day’s brother takes over, and speaks in a fairly diplomatic way, while Moffat plays the other brother, who never says the right thing. And that’s all funny, but what makes this bit iconic is Eric trying to mimic his brother and his silly comments about his dad and the state of the world. 

Peyton Manning Explaining Emily In Paris

While he wasn’t an A-list host during this episode (although he did nail it when he hosted), Peyton Manning was brought on to Weekend Update as a guest to talk about football in 2022. However, he’d been binge-watching the new season of Emily in Paris, and he needed to talk about it. Using NFL lingo to describe the “plays” that were going on during the Netflix show, he's the last person you ever expected to describe this series, explained it, and the lessons he learned while watching, in the funniest way. To this day, if Emily in Paris is brought up, you better believe that Peyton Manning’s recap is also at the top of mind.

Drunk Uncle (Bobby Moynihan)

It’s highly likely we all know someone who is like Drunk Uncle, which is probably why he’s so funny. Typically, around the holidays, Bobby Moynihan would play this inebriated family member, and he’d come to lament to Seth Meyers about technological advancements, kids these days, and his general frustrations with how the world has changed. 

Sarah Sherman 

Every time Sarah Sherman rolls up to the Update desk, you know you're in for a treat, because she’s about to roast Colin Jost! Sherman and the ensemble of Season 47 were one of SNL’s best casts, and that’s in part because of how committed they are to their bits. And let me tell you, this is on full display when you see the hilarious camaraderie between Sherman and Jost as she absolutely demolishes him. 

Cathy Anne (Cecily Strong)

Any time there was major breaking news (that was typically political) the lady who was always yelling out Michael Che’s window, Cathy Anne, would come up to talk about it. Using a silly Southern accent and wild hand gestures, Cecily Strong’s character would share her hot takes, and some absolutely unhinged stories. 

The Devil (Jason Sudeikis) 

These days we know Jason Sudeikis as the titular character on one of Apple TV+’s best shows, Ted Lasso. However, before that, he was playing tons of fun characters on SNL, including this Weekend Update staple, The Devil. He’d come on to talk about the controversial news of the week, and how it’s impacting his work as the leader of the underworld. 

Trend Forecasters (Aidy Bryant and Bowen Yang) 

If you need to know what is “in” and “out,” Aidy Bryant and Bowen Yang’s Trend Forecasters are here to help. The two self-proclaimed trendy characters would come on Update to aggressively go over the trends of the season, and passionately tell the audience what is “in,” before looking deep into the camera and dramatically explaining what is “out.” 

Garth and Kat (Fred Armisen and Kristen Wiig) 

Even though Garth and Kat were never prepared, they were always hysterical, and that’s why Fred Armisen and Kristen Wiig’s musical bit worked so well. For years, they’d show up at the desk to sing some holiday songs, however, the catch was, that they were never written in advance. What resulted was hilariously chaotic improvised tunes that only these two incredible comedians could have come up with. 

Jacob Silj (Will Ferrell)

Jacob Silj is the state department attache who suffers from voice immodulation. This means whenever Will Ferrell’s character came on to update the world about the state of politics he couldn’t control the pitch or volume of his voice. 

Nicolas Cage and Nicolas Cage (Andy Samberg and Nicolas Cage)

“Get in the Cage with Nicolas Cage” had been an ongoing bit Andy Samberg did for a long time, and then, in 2012, the legendary actor joined him for it. However, the twist is, the real Nicolas Cage is playing a clone of himself, and Samberg’s version is the “real” version. However, throughout the sketch, the real actor, who is well aware he’s a meme legend, roasts both himself and the comedian's impression of him. 

Jebidiah Atkinson (Taran Killam) 

Taran Killam’s 1860s newspaper critic Jebidiah Atkinson would appear from time to time to chat about his passionate takes on both historic moments, like the Gettysburg Address, and more modern pop culture topics, like holiday movies. His opinions were brutal and hysterical, and every moment was always topped off with him aggressively yelling “Next!” and throwing his note card into the wind.  

Adam Sandler's Hanukkah Song

“Put on your yarmulke, it’s time for Hanukkah!” Adam Sandler sang in 1994 to celebrate the Jewish holiday. During the tune, the comedian names various celebrities who are Jewish, half Jewish, a quarter Jewish and not Jewish to an extremely catchy melody.  It was a hit then, and it’s a hit now. Even after all these years, Sandler sings his legendary song live, and it’s always present during SNL’s holiday specials. Talk about iconic.

Jacob the Bar Mitzvah Boy (Vanessa Bayer)

It was always fun when Seth Meyers would welcome his podiatrist’s son, Jacob, to teach the audience about Judaism. Vanessa Bayer played the nervous boy who would bring his little folder to the desk, nervously read it, and then crack some cheesy, yet brilliant, jokes.  

Tim Calhoun (Will Forte) 

Will Forte’s soft-spoken Tim Calhoun would appear on Weekend Update every once in a while to explain why everyone should vote for him for president. However, the thing is, he’s not that good at talking, he would occasionally use song lyrics to convey a point, and he tended to lose his place in his notecards while speaking directly into the microphone using a very funny ASMR-like voice. 

Guy Who Just Bought A Boat And Guy Who Just Joined Soho House (Alex Moffat and Ryan Gosling)

While Ryan Gosling has been serving Ken-ergy ever since Barbie, he was also unintentionally showing off big Ken energy long before he got the role. This happened when he joined Alex Moffat on Weekend Update to play Guy Who Just Bought A Boat’s friend, Guy Who Just Joined Soho House. Greta Gerwig even admitted that she saw his potential to play Ken through his performances on SNL on the SmartLess podcast, specifically referencing this great Weekend Update bit where these two sleazy dudes talk about their bougie lives.  

Roseanne Roseannadanna (Gilda Radner)

One of Gilda Radner’s greatest SNL sketches was her bit as Update’s health correspondent Roseanne Roseannadanna, especially when she came on to talk about smoking. Yelling to the camera, Radner would give audience members advice and tell stories as her outspoken correspondent. Her character is so legendary Emma Stone even recreated the OG Update personality for SNL’s 40th reunion. 

Bennett Brauer (Chris Farley)

Chris Farley’s character Bennett Brauer rolled up to the desk to tell Kevin Nealon his latest commentary. Using lots of air quotes, he spent the majority of his segment commenting on himself, until he quite literally flew away. In true Farley fashion, it was a physical comedy masterclass.

Opera Man (Adam Sandler)

If you want to have your news sung to you, Adam Sandler’s Opera Man has you covered. With a thick accent, a white handkerchief and some very useful captions, the performer relayed the current events, ending every phrase with “oh” so they all rhymed. 

A Grumpy Old Man (Dana Carvey) 

He’s “old” and he’s “not happy” about the world being “improved.” Dana Carvey’s Grumpy Old Man bit has big “back in my day we had to walk uphill both ways” energy, and he brought that aggressive vibe to the Update Desk in the funniest ways. 

Baby Yoda (Kyle Mooney)

Whenever there was Star Wars news to talk about, Kyle Mooney’s Baby Yoda would visit the Update desk to chat about his fame and success. The over-the-top prosthetics the comedian wore were truly impressive and juxtaposed with Baby Yoda’s hype beast mentality, the bit is hysterical. 

Dr. Wenowdis (Kate McKinnon)

Any time Weekend Update needed a medical expert, especially in 2020 or 2021, Kate McKinnon’s Dr. Wenowdis would show up to tell us if “Wenowdis” or “this, we do not nowdis.” While the bit itself is very funny as the comedian talked about various medical situations, what makes it iconic is when both McKinnon and Colin Jost would break and start laughing over it all. 

Bailey Gismert (Heidi Gardner)

Heidi Gardner’s Bailey Gismert is Update’s teen movie critic, and she’s the star of her YouTube channel “Bailey at the Movies.” She’s kind of a nervous wreck, but what teen wouldn’t be if they ended up on Weekend Update? And while she’s there to talk about movies, it almost always ends with her trying to flirt with Michael Che. 

Leslie Jones

Over the course of Leslie Jones' run on Saturday Night Live she appeared on Weekend Update to share her thoughts on topics like “her perfect man,” “vacation,” “being hacked,” “summer beach bodies,” and so much more. She was also the segment’s “relationship expert,” and her commentary on love, dating and relationships was always entertaining. 

Emily Litella (Gilda Radner)

During the first season of SNL, Gilda Radner’s Emily Litella would appear on Update to give her editorial replies. However, she typically misunderstood what she was responding to, which would lead to her creating a response centered around the wrong topic, like violins instead of violence, for example. 

Rebecca LaRue (Kristen Wiig)

If you need a flirting expert, Rebecca LaRue probably isn’t your gal, despite her title, but boy is she funny. During the viral SNL sketch, Kristen Wiig used her physical comedy skills to make the audience crack up as she waved her arms in the air, winked constantly, and tried desperately to flirt with Seth Meyers.

Tommy Flanagan (Jon Lovitz) 

Jon Lovitz’s Tommy Flanagan, the president of Pathological Liars, would come on Weekend Update to talk about the news and how lies play into them. The thing is, he’s also lying the whole entire time.  

Mr. Subliminal (Kevin Nealon) 

Before he started anchoring Weekend Update, Kevin Nealon played Mr. Subliminal. As he shared his take on news, at the end of each sentence, he’d share his hot takes by sliding in one-word quips. 

As you can see, there are so many iconic characters played by legendary comedians, actors and even athletes. Weekend Update has been a constant on Saturday Night Live since the beginning, and it along with the cast of characters who sit at the desk, help make the sketch comedy show what it is. 

We’ve seen a great number of young actors live long and productive lives, with some continuing to find tremendous success well into their later years. However, there have unfortunately been dozens of cases of beloved Hollywood stars dying before they even reached the age of 40.

Below is a list of actors and actresses from the worlds of film and television whose lives and careers were cut tragically short, as well as the events that led to their early passing.

River Phoenix

River Phoenix, the star of movies like Stand By Me and My Own Private Idaho, was one of the most promising young actors in the latter part of the 20th century. However, his life came to an abrupt end in October 1993 when the 23-year-old died of a drug overdose, according to the Los Angeles Times. The impact of his death can still be felt 30 years later.

Marilyn Monroe

Marilyn Monroe, one of the most well-known actresses of all time, died at the age of 36 in August 1962, after, according to the New York Times, she was found unresponsive in her bed with pills nearby. She was in the middle of production on Something’s Got to Give at the time of her death.

Anton Yelchin

Anton Yelchin, star of films like Star Trek, Green Room, and Charlie Bartlett died when he was only 27 years old. According to the Los Angeles Times, Yelchin was involved in a freak accident in June 2016 that resulted in him being pinned between his SUV and a security gate at his Studio City home.

Brittany Murphy

Brittany Murphy, who made a name for herself with roles in movies like Clueless, 8 Mile, and Girl, Interrupted, has one of the most perplexing Hollywood death stories. According to People.com, the 32-year-old actress passed away in December 2009 as a result of a combination of pneumonia and anemia and multiple drug intoxication.

James Dean

Despite having a career that lasted only five years, James Dean remains one of the icons of Hollywood. Dean was tragically killed in a car accident in September 1955, per the Los Angeles Times, less than a month before the release of Rebel Without a Cause, his most well-known film. He received a posthumous Oscar nomination for his role in East of Eden, which landed in theaters less than six months before his untimely death. 

Heath Ledger

In January 2008, the world was shocked after hearing of the passing of Heath Ledger, who died of an accidental drug overdose at the age of 28, according to CNN. Ledger would receive a posthumous Oscar for Best Supporting Actor the following year for his unforgettable portrayal of the Joker in The Dark Knight.

Chris Farley

Chris Farley was and forever will be one of the greatest Saturday Night Live cast members, but like other greats, his life was cut tragically short. Farley, who also starred in movies like Tommy Boy, Black Sheep, and Almost Heroes (released following his death), died in December 1997 from an overdose at the age of 33, according to CNN.

Brandon Lee

In April 1993, at the age of 28, Brandon Lee, the son of Bruce Lee, died after being shot on the set of The Crow. According to the New York Times, a blank discharged from the gun during a sequence, hitting the actor who later passed from his injuries. 

Jayne Mansfield

Jayne Mansfield, a legendary actress, Playboy model, and entertainer made a name for herself with roles in movies like The Girl Can’t Help It, Promises! Promises!, and The Wayward Bus. Tragically, Mansfield died at the age of 34 after her car slammed into the back of a semi truck in southern Louisiana in June 1967, according to the New Orleans Times-Picayune.

Bruce Lee

Many of Bruce Lee’s movies are still considered landmark achievements in the martial arts genre 50 years after his passing on July 20, 1973. For years, the 32-year-old actor’s death was attributed to cerebral oedema (brain swelling), but a study carried by Variety years later proposed that his sudden death was the result of kidneys not being able to excrete excess water.

 Andy Kaufman

Andy Kaufman, the unique actor, comedian, and former women’s wrestling champion of the world, passed away in 1982 when was just 35 years old, according to the Los Angeles Times. However, some still think he’s not actually dead.

Tupac Shakur

Legendary rapper and actor Tupac Shakur was shot and killed in Las Vegas in September 1996, when he was just 25 years old. After years of his murder being an unsolved homicide case, an arrest was finally made in September 2023, according to the AP. It was believed that the Grammy winner was up for the role of Mace Windu, which eventually went to Samuel L. Jackson in Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace.

John Belushi

John Belushi, an early star of Saturday Night Live, as well as movies like National Lampoon’s Animal House and The Blues Brothers, died at the age of 33 in March 1982, per the Chicago Tribune.

Cory Monteith

Glee star Cory Monteith’s life came to a tragic end in July 2013 when he was found dead in a Vancouver, British Columbia, hotel room. ABC News later reported that the 31-year-old actor died of mixed drug toxicity.

Aaliyah

On August 25, 2001, R&B singer Aaliyah was one of several people to perish when a Cessna plane crashed shortly after takeoff in the Bahamas, per NPR. The up-and-coming actress, who had appeared in Romeo Must Die the previous year, was only 22 years old at the time of her passing.

Sharon Tate

Sharon Tate’s murder is possibly one of the most well-known crime stories in the history of Hollywood, as the actress and four others were brutally killed by the Manson family in August 1969, per the Los Angeles Times. Tate, who had appeared in movies like Valley of the Dolls and The Wrecking Crew, was only 26 years old at the time of her death.

Corey Haim

Corey Haim, the star of movies like The Lost Boys, Lucas, and Silver Bullet passed away at the age of 38 in March 2010. According to CNN, the former child actor died of natural causes.

Angus Cloud

Angus Cloud, one of the main stars of HBO’s harrowing drama series, Euphoria, tragically passed away unexpectedly at the age of 25 in July 2023. According to EW, the young actor died as a result of an accidental overdose from the combined use of methamphetamine, fentanyl, cocaine, and benzodiazepines.

Freddie Prinze

Freddie Prinze, the father of ‘90s teen heartthrob and former WWE writer Freddie Prinze Jr., was a star in his own right back in the 1970s. Known for his starring role on Chico and the Man and stand-up comedy, Prinze committed suicide in January 1977, according to the New York Times. He was only 22.

Sal Mineo

Best known for his portrayal of John “Plato” Crawford in Rebel Without a Cause, Sal Mineo was another actor from the 1955 movie to die young. According to the New York Times, the 37-year-old actor was stabbed to death in Hollywood in February 1976.

Cameron Boyce

Cameron Boyce (pictured far-right in the image above) was one of the Disney Channel’s biggest stars in the 2010s thanks to roles on shows like Jessie and Gamer’s Guide to Pretty Much Everything, as well as the Descendants film franchise. The young actor died in his sleep in July 2019, with Los Angeles-based ABC7 Eyewitness News reporting it was caused by epilepsy. He was 20 years old at the time of his passing.

Bobby Driscoll

Bobby Driscoll, the young child actor who appeared in Disney films like Song of the South before voicing the title role in the 1953’s Peter Pan, suffered what can best be described as a lonely and incredibly tragic death. According to EW, Driscoll died in March 1968 when he was only 31 years old, but at the time, his body was unclaimed and then buried in New York City’s Potter’s Field on Hart Island.

Jonathan Brandis

With big roles in movies like The NeverEnding Story II: The Next Chapter, Ladybugs, and Sidekicks, it felt like Jonathan Brandis was everywhere in the early 1990s. However, the former child actor and model wouldn’t survive the next decade, as he committed suicide in November 2003, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. He was 27 years old at the time of his passing.

Anna Nicole Smith

Anna Nicole Smith, who was at the center of the 2023 Netflix series, You Don’t Know Me, led quite the eventful life, one that saw her go from Guess model to Playboy Playmate to B-movie actress to one of the biggest names in reality television. The pop culture figure tragically died in February 2007 when she was only 39 years old. According to the New York Times, her death was ruled an accidental overdose.

Jean Harlow

Jean Harlow, one of the defining actresses of the pre-Code era of Hollywood, died in June 1937 when she was only 26 years old. According to the Guardian, the in-demand star had fought internal inflammation for 10 days prior to her sudden and tragic passing.

Heather O’Rourke

One of the supposed victims of the Poltergeist curse, Heather O’Rourke played Carol Anne Freeling in the 1982 horror film and appeared to have a promising career ahead of her at the time. However, six years later, the child actress would die at the age of 12 due a long-standing bowel obstruction, according to the Los Angeles Times. 

Lee Thompson Young 

Lee Thompson Young, who appeared on shows like The Famous Jett Jackson and Rizzoli & Isles, had a remarkable career on the small screen throughout his teenage years and early adulthood. But his story ended in August 2013 when he committed suicide. According to TMZ, Young died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound when he was only 29 years old.

Brad Renfro

Brad Renfro, the star of movies like The Client, Sleepers, Ghost World, and Bully, died in January 2008 when was only 25 years old. According to People.com, the young actor died of an overdose.

Nelsan Ellis

Nelsan Ellis’ Lafayette Reynolds was one of the best and most unforgettable characters on the long-running HBO supernatural drama series, True Blood, a role that allowed the dynamic actor to show off his remarkable acting talents. Tragically, Ellis died at 39 years of age in July 2017 as a result of heart failure during his attempt to quit his alcohol addiction, according to NBC News.

Ryan Dunn

Ryan Dunn, who rose to prominence on the CKY skate videos and later MTV’s Jackass TV show and movies, was involved in a fatal car crash in June 2011 that claimed his life and that of his passenger, Zachary Hartwell. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Dunn, who was 34 years old at the time of his passing, was driving at speeds reaching 130 mph before crashing his Porsche.

Johnny Lewis

Former Sons of Anarchy star Johnny Lewis, who played Kip “Half-Sack” Epps on long-running FX show, died in September 2012 when he was only 28 years old. According to People.com, the actor fell from a building in Los Angeles moments after beating his 81-year-old landlord to death.

Judith Barsi 

Judith Barsi, who voiced Ducky in The Land Before Time and Anne-Marie in All Dogs Go to Heaven, was killed by her father in a murder-suicide that also claimed the life of her mother, according to the Los Angeles Times. At the time of her death in July 1988, Barsi was only 10 years old. 

Each of these deaths are tragic in their own way, but all leave us asking “what could have been” for these actors whose careers, and lives, were cut tragically short.

Before Adam McKay worked on purely silly movies, he got to work with some incredible comedic actors like Chris Farley during his time writing for Saturday Night Live. And in more recent years, he also worked with Matthew Perry, who passed away at 54 in October, on the film Don't Look Up. (Though Perry's scene was ultimately cut.) Given those two experiences, McKay knows what it's like working with actors who've had struggles with addiction. The former SNL scribe recently recalled working with Farley on the iconic sketch series during the height of his addiction while also discussing his hopes for Perry in the apocalypse movie.

After Chris Farley was let go from his post at SNL in 1995, he returned to host two years later. At the time, his health was noticeably declining due to his drug addiction. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Adam McKay was the head writer of SNL during at that point, and he spoke about his experience seeing the Tommy Boy actor return to Studio 8H to host:

This is sad to hear, and many would agree the comedian was taken from us far too early. Chris Farley was fortunate to be part of one of SNL’s best single-season casts. As one of Season 19's stars, he worked with greats like David Spade and Adam Sandler. He was in one of the funniest sketches as well, as he played wild motivational speaker Matt Foley. Farley also had a prominent movie career, with films like Tommy Boy and Airheads under his belt. Tragically though, he passed away due to a “speedball” overdose on December 18, 1997. At the time, many stars honored him, with Adam Sandler even singing “The Chris Farley Song” numerous times in his honor. 

The Anchorman director seemed hopeful that the Beverly Hills Ninja star would be able to turn his life around. And it seems he had that same optimism when it came to his work with Matthew Perry. At the time the actor was casting, he hadn't been doing much acting. The filmmaker discussed how he hoped Perry’s small part in Don’t Look Up (which is available with a Netflix subscription) would provide him with a good comeback role:

Just as he was hoping Chris Farley's SNL return would encourage him to get clean, it seemed like Adam McKay was keeping the faith that his Netflix satire would do the same for Matthew Perry. The Talladega Nights director revealed that the Friends icon was able to shoot one scene -- in which he played a Republican journalist -- before he had to leave for rehab:

Matthew Perry faced his fair share of obstacles during his lifetime and was incredibly candid about them. In his memoir, which was released just last year, he opened up about how Friends may have saved him during a medical emergency, during which his heart actually stopped. He also got candid about how former co-star Jennifer Aniston approached him about his addiction struggles and voiced her concerns. All in all, the late star truly had a number of people in his corner.

Adam McKay was very lucky to work with Chris Farley and Matthew Perry, and we were fortunate enough to have them on our screens. While the deaths of these two extraordinary talents were very tragic, their legacies will remain intact, and fans will surely continue to enjoy their work for years to come. You can stream Farley's best episodes of Saturday Night Live with a Peacock subscription, and episodes of Friends are available for Max subscription holders. 

There are just as many great and popular Saturday Night Live sketches as there are segments that are not remembered quite as fondly. However, there also exists a strange middle ground of sketches that seem so one-note and infantile that we should feel like our time is wasted, but we don't. This is because the bizarre nature of the bit or even just one unique key component or moment makes it all feel enjoyable and worthwhile. We actually managed to come up with many examples of SNL sketches we believe you will enjoy while not quite understanding why.

Angelo (Season 47)

While he only made it one season on SNL, Aristotle Athari still had an ultra-memorable recurring character whose whole premise seemed like it would get old immediately after his Season 47 debut. Yet, somehow, international lounge singer Angelo’s improvisational songs — all nearly identical ramblings of gibberish — get big laughs every time. Maybe he truly is the genius they say he is.

SNL Digital Short: Anger Problem (Season 32) 

In their infancy, the SNL Digital Shorts were, dare we say, plagued by a shabbily random structure, like this one involving an unstable fast food manager (Fred Armisen), an exploding head mannequin, and a holiday greeting in the Lost font — supposedly in reference to host and Lost cast member Matthew Fox. Armisen’s commitment to every ludicrous threat at his employees — complete with an estimated time of attack — is what keeps this bit amusing.

Chandeliers (Season 31)

This sketch pokes fun at local ads for specialty shops from a few different angles — such as promoting the titular ceiling installation as the highway to a fancy lifestyle and an awkward attempt to include the store owners’ child (host Scarlett Johansson). Above all, however, the funniest part about the sketch might be Fred Armisen’s pronunciation of “chandelier” with a heavy Brooklyn accent.

SNL Digital Short: Daiquiri Girl (Season 33)

This Digital Short — framed as a creepy dude’s (Andy Samberg) poorly produced musical tribute to a woman who shares his love of daiquiris — kind of cheats its way onto this list. It apologetically acknowledges its own objective flaws with a cheeky text scroll explaining that musical guest Gnarls Barkley backed out of the original plan, forcing the creators to turn to alcohol for inspiration.

SNL Digital Short: The Date (Season 35) 

The joke here initially seems to be based on the unlikelihood of a woman, like host Megan Fox, dating a guy as strange as Will Forte’s character, until she appears to like him for being a S.W.A.T. team commander and his heart-wrenching confession about selling his pet lambs’ meat. The twist that even he would refuse to marry her is a bit predictable, but Forte’s unsettling manner of speaking and his tendency to turn his emotions on a dime at least keeps your attention.

Fart Face (Season 34)

When you establish the main idea of a sketch — in this case, a veteran office worker begrudgingly nicknamed “Fart Face” — and the audience responds with dead silence, you know you are in trouble, especially when this playground insult is repeated enough times to play a potentially fatal drinking game with. Leave it to host Josh Brolin to give the bit a slight boost by incorporating the same level of professionalism we have seen in all his best movies though to make it funny.

Haunted Elevator (Ft. David S. Pumpkins) (Season 42)

It is easy to understand why, according to The Hollywood Reporter, Tom Hanks was initially hesitant to play the very bewildering David S. Pumpkins. However, it is equally easy to see how the incomprehensibly charismatic goof instantly became one of Hanks’ most iconic SNL characters. After our first interaction with the silly character, he would also return with his skeleton friends (Bobby Moynihan and Mikey Day) in an animated Halloween special and a Season 48 sequel sketch. 

The Herlihy Boy House-Sitting Service (Season 19)

Sometimes, just putting Chris Farley and Adam Sandler on stage together was enough to ensure comedy gold. I think with any two other SNL cast members, this sketch — starring Sandler as a house-sitter desperate for work and Farley as his extremely supportive boss (or father or rehab sponsor, maybe?) — would have crumbled underneath its thin concept.

SNL Digital Short: Hey! (Murray Hill) (Season 34)

In the history of SNL Digital Shorts sending up modern teen TV dramas, some have been refreshingly clever (i.e., “Dear Sister"), while others offer nothing of the sort. Like this one in which the only joke is that James Franco’s character has a “tiny ding-dong.” If not for the Gossip Girl cast member Blake Lively’s rejuvenating cameo at the end, this Murray Hill episode would have been completely lost in obscurity.

Holes (Season 44)

This musical video in the style of a ‘90s power ballad is just a little too repetitive to earn the honor of being a classic, even with a guitar-shredding Adam Sander flashing some dirty, protrusive teeth for some reason. However, its concept about clothes technically counting as holes with the purpose of covering holes on the human anatomy is oddly fascinating.

I'll See You In Hell (Season 21)

By the end of this sketch — in which Joe (Jim Carrey) gets addicted to saying, “I’ll see you in Hell,” after its use on a thieving colleague earns him respect in the office — you’ll never want to hear the phrase again. That being said, Carrey keeps the one-joke bit somewhat fresh with a new take on the insult almost every time, and the final punchline is not bad either.

Joker Wedding (Season 48)

For the first half of this sketch — in which a Halloween wedding ceremony is nearly ruined by the best man (Andrew Dismukes) dressing as Heath Ledger in The Dark Knight — it seems like the only point is hearing “Joker” repeated ad nauseam. It takes a pretty fun turn, however, when the guests vote on his right to keep the costume Survivor-style, complete with a Jeff Probst cameo.

SNL Digital Short: Lettuce (Season 31)

While the legendary “Lazy Sunday” was The Lonely Island’s breakout SNL moment, their official, much-forgotten debut digital short was “Lettuce.” Honestly, we don’t blame anyone for subconsciously blocking out this bit — nothing more than Andy Samberg and Will Forte discussing a personal tragedy between big bites of leafy green vegetables — but if you can find it, you might find yourself unable to look away.

The Librarian (Season 42)

I imagine the pitch here was, “Let’s make Margot Robbie disgusting!” Well, we can’t say they didn’t nail it, and with some ideas that we truly did not see coming — eating a banana peel, “straight-up murder,” and the random appearance of Beck Bennett with a snake. Plus, setting the scenario to the iconic movie song, Yello’s “Oh Yeah,” from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off is an inspired choice.

Meatballs (Season 47)

Maybe it is not entirely fair to call this pre-taped, partially musical bit “terrible” since the concept of a woman (Sarah Sherman) with singing meatballs on her skin is pretty inventive and heightened by the participation of host Oscar Isaac and musical guest Charlie XCX. It’s just that it’s pretty gross and, therefore, not the easiest thing to sit through for the more squeamish.

SNL Digital Short: My Testicles (Season 31)

The subject matter of this ‘90s dance music parody featuring a Right Said Fred-esque duo called Ariel (Andy Samberg) and Efrim (Tom Hanks) makes us thoroughly uncomfortable and their inability to rhyme a single lyric is cringeworthy. Yet, we cannot stop watching it and can’t help but chuckle every time.  

Rap Roundtable (Season 46)

Nunya Bizness (Ego Nwodim) hosts a panel of hip-hop artists including Queen Latifah (Punkie Johnson), Questlove (as himself), and a fresh, young duo (Pete Davidson and Timothée Chalamet) whose primary contribution to the conversation is the sounds “yeet” and “skirt.” Admittedly, some of their mindless ramblings earn a chuckle or two, but Questlove slapping Davidson and then striking Chalamet’s character with his hair pick are the most satisfying moments.

Ratatouille (Season 46)

In our opinion, the night John Krasinski hosted SNL for the first time was what we might call a “terrible, yet amazing” episode, especially with this sketch. It’s a far less kid-friendly take on one of the best Pixar movies, Ratatouille, and instead of a rat helping a man with his performance in the kitchen, this rat helps Krasinski’s character with his performance in bed.

SNL Digital Short: Roy Rules! (Season 32)

Early on, it’s easy to write off this musical short in which Andy Samberg professes his unhealthy attraction toward his sister’s husband, Roy, as an egregiously raunchy one-joke throwaway bit. However, you start to see the clip in a whole new light when Andy reveals the segment is a prank on his actual brother-in-law, as he confirmed in an IGN interview in 2012. 

Potato Chip (Season 35)

When choosing SNL sketches we believed were both terrible and amazing, the first one we thought of was this thoroughly peculiar bit in which an aspiring astronaut (Jason Sudeikis) blows his chance when he steals a potato chip from a NASA recruiter’s (Will Forte) desk. For one, everyone's commitment to this asinine concept — especially host Blake Lively — is legendary, but what really takes it over the edge is when Sudeikis physically returns the chip he ate.

Short Term Memory Loss Theater (Season 38)

This is one of those sketches that is actually enhanced — dare we say, saved — by someone who couldn't stop laughing during a sketch. In this case, it was Bill Hader as a doctor who must constantly assist his patients afflicted with short-term memory loss with their lines in a play. Otherwise, the joke might have gotten too old and too fast, leaving no bearing on our memory.

Spelling Bee (Season 31)

Will Forte plays a young spelling bee contestant so nervous that he spends well over a minute spouting random letters (mostly “q’s”) while attempting to spell the word “business.” It’s a very simple premise, but Forte’s stone-cold, deadpan delivery actually keeps it afloat, and the Tenacious D cameo is a perfect way to end it.

Suitcase Boy (Season 11)

In an otherwise forgettable moment from one of SNL’s most infamous seasons, Robert Downey Jr. performs a “confrontational monologue” while housed in a suitcase for no discernible reason. The one incoherent ramble we found unintentionally interesting was when the future MCU star mentioned that he learned why whales beach themselves from Spider-Man.

Technology Hump: Emma Stone (Season 37)

This sketch featuring Andy Samberg and host Emma Stone is actually just one edition of a recurring bit in which smartphones, cameras, and other forms of technology are used to simulate intimate romance scenarios. Why? We have no idea. Why do we find it entertaining? Still totally stumped.

Waking Up (Season 48)

Pedro Pascal could not help but laugh on SNL a few times during his hosting debut, including in this sketch in which he comes out of a coma with a strange new personality and an even stranger voice. While you could see the voice as a bit annoying, the dialogue maddeningly low-brow, and the entire concept pretty lifeless, it's honestly so hilarious, and that's because the Last of Us cast member makes it charming.

What The Hell Is That? (Season 5)

We have little interest in watching two brainless individuals take turns expressing their bewilderment over an unidentifiable object without any context. We do, however, love Bill Murray (seemingly debuting his Caddyshack character here) and Steve Martin (arguably the all-time greatest SNL host), whose collaboration saves this otherwise empty bit.

America's Funniest Pets (Season 42)

Cecily Strong and Kate McKinnon play hosts of a French show presenting funny homemade clips of domestic animals who prove to have a dark sense of humor (or lack thereof) when visiting its American version. What makes the mostly one-joke premise particularly memorable, however, is that the American host is Oscar-winning filmmaker Ron Howard, portrayed with an overly-animated impersonation by a star of many Ron Howard movies, Tom Hanks.

Big Dumb Hat (Season 48)

This sketch, featuring host Amy Schumer, quickly begins to suffer from being as irritating as the titular fashion trend it is poking fun at. Luckily, it does earn some solid chuckles for a few jokes about the kind of people who do wear “Big Dumb Hats” that, as anyone who knows this kind of person can support, are pretty spot on.

Sarcasm 101 (Season 23)

Host Matthew Perry essentially plays Chandler Bing in this classroom sketch, technically making it one of three Friends parodies from this episode alone (including the monologue), for which we deduct points. Also, many of the funniest moments from this lesson in smart-alecky behavior come courtesy of the late Norm Macdonald, but in ways that almost seem unintentional from his broken cadence, giving the bit a thoroughly awkward aura.

Patrick Kelly and Gunther Kelly (Season 28)

This is actually one of several segments in which Patrick (Will Forte) and Gunther Kelly (Fred Armisen) appear on “Weekend Update” to inform people of a pressing topic with a song that actually offers no valuable information, save Forte’s ability to hit some crazy high notes. We chose to highlight this song asking viewers to “listen up” about SARS because, out of all their greatest hits, it is the weirdest and most irritating, but perhaps the biggest banger, too.

Steve's Beanie Babies (Season 47)

We’d call Lizzo a non-actor who nailed her SNL hosting gig, especially in how her uncontrollable laughter likely enhanced this sketch in which she plays the wife of a man (Andrew Dismukes) who freaks out after learning his Beanie Babies collection is worthless. The ensuing revelation of how he quit his job (talking through his butt like Jim Carrey in Ace Ventura) and ludicrous aspiration to make a living drawing Nintendo’s Mario feel so half-heartedly wedged in, but its the ludicrousness of the situation that also earns laughs.

In retrospect, maybe being a little awkward and bizarre is exactly what makes an SNL a classic.

Every few years or so, Saturday Night Live goes through a major sea change as notable cast members leave or are let go from the show. After the many long-time cast members left in 2022 between Seasons 47 and 48, it reminded viewers of a similar transition after Season 20 when popular stars like Mike Myers, Chris Farley, and Adam Sandler exited the late-night sketch series. A few years ago, Sandler claimed he and Farley’s contracts weren’t renewed between Seasons 20 and 21. The Hustle star has seemingly changed his tune on his SNL termination as he chose to clarify whether he and his late castmate were actually fired.

When Sandler and Farley were let go from the sketch series, they were two of the show’s most popular cast members. They appeared in notable sketches like “Zagat’s with Hank and Beverly Gelfand” and “Gap Girls at the Foodcourt.” But their popularity couldn’t save them from getting the axe. While Sandler claimed he and the Black Sheep star were fired, the comedian spilled to THR how the two stars were the victims of a power shift at NBC.

While the two comedy stars weren’t necessarily fired in the traditional sense, Sandler and Farley were essentially pushed out by the NBC higher-ups. So, their departures were more about the new NBC boss’s comedy taste than their performance on the long-running series. Everyone’s entitled to their comedy tastes, and the new executives weren’t huge fans of the duo’s madcap-style comedy. However, as many viewers have seen in recent shakeups, there are usually some major changes with old faces or projects being replaced by new ones. So, this practice is nothing new.

Although, Sandler and Farley didn’t need to worry following their SNL exits as both comedians were thriving in the world of film. 

Before even leaving the sketch series, Farley had starred in cult classics like Airheads (with Sandler) and the Wayne’s World films. He found even more success with 1990s classics, including Tommy Boy and Black Sheep, before his premature death in 1998 from a drug overdose. 

At the same time, Sandler kicked off his successful run of hit films with Billy Madison and Happy Gilmore. Since then, the movie star balanced his comedic timing with his dramatic chops, appearing in films like The Wedding Singer, 50 First Dates, Punch-Drunk Love, and Reign Over Me. In recent years, he’s gained critical favor (and Oscar buzz) from acclaimed dramas Uncut Gems and Hustle.

Adam Sandler isn’t going too far from his comedy roots for his next project as he and Jennifer Aniston reunite for Murder Mystery 2, which will premiere on Netflix in March. He also has the sci-fi film Spaceman and a film adaption of the young adult novel You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah in the works. Both films will be available for those with a Netflix subscription once they premiere.

December 18th will mark the 25 years since comedian Chris Farley's death. It's now become a tradition for his close friends to pay tribute to the late SNL alum on the anniversary of his passing, and this year is no different. During a two-part episode of their podcast, Dana Carvey and David Spade interviewed many guests to celebrate the late comedic actor. One of the most exciting interviews is with Top Five actor Chris Rock. During the chat, Rock revealed that when he sees Adam Sandler take on dramatic roles, like his critically acclaimed turn in Uncut Gems, it always makes him think about what the iconic Tommy Boy actor would have done had his career not been cut short. 

During his interview portion of the Fly on the Wall podcast, the legendary Bigger & Blacker comedian said he believes Chris Farley was a brilliant actor. Rock also shared why he thinks Farley could have taken on more series roles had he lived to middle age. Rock told Carvey and Spade: 

I have to agree with Chris Rock. Chris Farley's career has always been a major "what if." At the time of his death, there were hardly any comedic actors as famous as he was. He had hit movies starring his longtime and possibly closest Hollywood friend, David Spade, like Tommy Boy and Black Sheep. He was also set to serve as the voice of Shrek before his passing and was ultimately succeeded in the role by fellow Saturday Night Live alum Mike Myers. It has been rumored for years that Farley's take on the lovable ogre would have been much more serious than what we ultimately got from the DreamWorks' animated classic. Perhaps -- and somewhat ironically -- his first voice acting role in a children's film would have been a move toward a more dramatic career for the comedy star. 

Fly on the Wall co-host Dana Carvey says Chris Farley's sketches and cult films will live on as an example of his greatness. The Master of Disguise actor got real about what the late star's body of work tells us about his abilities as a performer. Carvey said: 

Chris Farley appeared on Saturday Night Live from 1990 to 1995, becoming a fan favorite with his iconic characters such as Matt Foley, the motivational speaker, and his adorably awkward celebrity interviews for The Chris Farley Show. Farley also found big laughs with other sketches, including the one that saw him peform a Chippendales routine alongside late actor Patrick Swayze. A sketch that many, including Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul Star (and past SNL writer) Bob Odenkirk, admit is not a sketch they like very much because of how it made Farley feel about himself. 

It's very common for comedic actors to take a turn for the dramatic. In recent years, Chris Rock has been very vocal about his desire to take on weirder roles like good buddy Adam Sandler, and he hopes audiences will embrace those choices. It's no wonder he's thought about what the Beverly Hills Ninja might have done with a a longer career. It's definitely an interesting and one that fans will likely ponder for years to come.

If you want to celebrate Chris Farley, you can stream one of his best comedic David Spade buddy comedies, Black Sheep, using an HBO Max subscription. For all other news and to plan your next theatre-going experience, check out CinemaBlend's 2023 new movie release schedule

Jim Belushi is a big name in his right, but some fans also know him for his connection to Saturday Night Live through his late older brother John Belushi. Jim Belushi watched firsthand what happens when a loved one gains fame and success in conjunction with an addictive personality. John Belushi suffered from a severe drug addiction that ended his life at age 33. The younger Belushi saw the same occurrence happening with John Belushi superfan and SNL star Chris Farley. Years after Farley’s death, the According to Jim star recalled bringing up his late brother’s overdose in a plea to get Farley to stop using drugs.

The Animal House star was a comedic idol to a young Farley who grew up identifying with John Belushi. The Black Sheep star eventually became obsessed with his fellow SNL alum even following him down the same path of drug addiction. The younger Belushi saw this and tried to dissuade his fellow Chicago native from going down the same path as his older brother. The TV and film actor went as far as to use the late brother’s 1982 overdose to show Farley what could happen. Belushi said on the podcast Fly on the Wall with Dana Carvey and David Spade:

Jim Belushi had witnessed the ravages of drug addiction from the inside and didn’t want Farley to suffer a similar fate. His brother John Belushi shot to superstardom through his five seasons on SNL. But at the same time, he starred in comedy classics like Animal House, 1941, and The Blues Brothers. His drug addiction worsened the bigger his star grew. 

Farley followed in his footsteps a decade later starring on the late-night sketch show for five seasons before appearing in comedy classics like Tommy Boy, Wayne’s World, and Black Sheep. Farley was battling addiction at the same time. So, the younger Belushi could see where Farley’s struggles were leading to.

But the former SNL star has been candid about losing his brother, and he could relate to Farley’s need to connect with the inaugural SNL star. The growing Belushi star did the same thing by taking drugs to grow closer to his late brother. Fortunately, the younger Belushi quit doing them before addiction took over his life. He even told his story to the late comedian to no avail. That still didn’t deter him from pointing out the older Belushi was gone.

Unfortunately, Belushi’s warnings didn’t curtail the Tommy Boy actor’s addiction as Farley suffered the same death at the same age as his idol in 1997. David Spade revealed Farley’s John Belushi obsession extended to the SNL set as his frequent co-star wore old pants worn by the original SNL cast member. After his brother’s passing, the 68-year-old actor admitted to wearing some of his brother’s wardrobe in films. Looking back at Farley and Belushi’s similar fate, the comedic actor commented on the connection between obsession and addiction.

If you want to relive the greatness of Chris Farley and the Belushi brothers, you can watch every season of Saturday Night Live with a Peacock subscription. Once you’re done, check out this season's fall finale on the 2022 TV schedule which airs on December 17 at 11:30 p.m. ET, and will feature first-time host Austin Butler and musical guest Lizzo rounding out the first half of Season 48's hosts and musical guests.

Adam Sandler is known for his silly tunes, and hilarious jokes during his live shows, but the moment that always brings the house down, according to the SNL alum, is when he sings his tribute to his friend Chris Farley. While he likes singing the song, he also opened up about how hard it still is to play even though he’s done it so many times. 

While on the Happy, Sad, Confused podcast, Sandler talked about his funny Gotham speech where he roasted Timothée Chalamet, how he and his costars dealt with tough reviews, and he reflected on his relationship with Farley, as well as how hard it is for him to sing his song about the Tommy Boy star. 

I think it makes perfect sense why Sandler would get so emotional every time. The tune is somber and the comedian doesn’t hold back from candidly singing about Farley’s death. He references the tragic parallels between his friend and John Belushi, including their deaths, however, he also talks about just how gifted Farley was as a comedian. Going through his friend’s life, and his untimely death must be an emotional task, and Sandler noted that it is, explaining: 

I’d imagine the song, while hard to sing, must be a cathartic experience too. Sandler did talk about how nice it is to hear the crowd react to his tribute to the iconic SNL alum, saying: 

In the video of Sandler singing the song in his Netflix special from 2018 you can see just how into it the crowd gets, and at the end it gets a standing ovation, check it out: 

After talking about how the crowd loves the song, Sandler mentioned that David Spade was on tour with him for a few shows. He said when that song came on Farley's Tommy Boy co-star would have to walk away for a minute because it was hard to listen to. Spade has been open about his success with Farley in the Tommy Boy movies as well as their friendship.  

Along with Spade and Sandler, many other actors and comedians have spoken about the impact Farley had on their lives. Jim Carrey once posted a tribute to Farley, explaining that he believes in angels along with a photo of the two comedians. Farley's brother, Kevin Farley included stories about Chris in his stand-up set that was both touching and hilarious. 

All this love really proves the final words Sandler said about Chris Farley in his interview: 

I love that Sandler sings about Farley in his live shows all the time, and I hope that if he returns to host SNL again he’ll be able to pay tribute to his friend -- like he did during Season 44 when he performed the song. I’d assume since Sandler’s movie Hustle (which can be watched with a Netflix subscription) is a notable entry on the 2022 movie schedule we’ll see him back on the SNL stage soon. However, for now it’s wonderful to hear the stories about his time on the iconic sketch show, and his friendship with Chris Farley. 

Rob Schneider is not afraid to share his candid opinions on Saturday Night Live, and those he’s worked with and watched on the show. After explaining the moment he thought the show was “over” a few months ago, he is now talking about how he thinks Bill Murray “hated” the ‘90s SNL cast, especially Chris Farley. 

For some background, Murray starred in the early seasons of Saturday Night Live, from 1977 to 1980, along with comedians like Dan Aykroyd, John Belushi and Gilda Radner. Schneider came in from 1990 until 1994, and worked with Adam Sandler, Chris Farley, and many others. According to THR, Murray made two appearances on SNL in the ‘90s and hosted the show in 1994. While Schneider was being interviewed on The Jim Norton & Sam Roberts Show he talked about his experience working with Murray, and it appears it wasn’t good. 

Schneider then went on to explain that one cast member Murray really hated was Chris Farley.  

What Schneider is referring to here is the comparison between Belushi and Farley. It’s widely known that the comedian known for Tommy Boy really looked up to the guy behind the Blues Brothers, and they both died of drug overdoses at the age of 33. The comedian theorized that since Murray was friends with Belushi, it was likely difficult to be around Farley, who was so similar. It’s important to note, Schneider said he only believes this about 50%, but he did double down on the fact that he thinks Muarry really hated the ‘90s cast.

He also said Murray really did not like Adam Sandler either. The comedian said, “the least of the hate was to me.” Schneider said that he “took pleasure” in that fact because Murray was his “hero.” When the interviewer asked how Schneider knew Murray hated them, he said there was an energy about him, and he could see the “naked rage.” He said he couldn’t put his finger on why he thought the Ghostbusters actor hated them, he said he just “wasn’t in the groove” with them. 

Along with these claims about Murray, Schneider explained he thought SNL was over after seeing a sketch where Kate McKinnon sang “Hallelujah” has Hillary Clinton. Following this many alums from the show spoke out against the claim; Al Franken noted that people have been saying the show was going to end since its first season, so what Schneider said was “silly.” Alec Baldwin, who played Donald Trump on SNL throughout most of his presidency, also responded to the ‘90s cast member’s claim with snarky words. 

SNL’s long history is full of many comedians, and I’d assume with each generation there are differences in how they work and what they think is funny. While Schneider has spoken out about the show, and those he worked with on it, Saturday Night Live has remained a staple of the Fall TV schedule and just started its 48th Season. 

You can watch the latest season of SNL every Saturday at 11:30 p.m. ET on NBC, you can also watch every season of the classic sketch show (including Murray and Schneiders’ seasons) with a Peacock subscription. 

Years after Chris Farley’s sudden death, generations continue to discover and watch cult classics like Black Sheep and Tommy Boy. The one thing viewers still cite is the amazing chemistry between Farley and his Saturday Night Live castmate and friend David Spade. Their off-screen friendship made the funny guy-straight man dynamic sweet and enduring. More than three decades after those movies were released, Spade reminisced about their Hollywood success and how close they were to collaborate on a third movie.

Their onscreen pairings allowed the late comedian to play the goofball while the David Spade played the snarky underling in charge of him. They fell right in place in those two movies, building on their SNL personas.

Spade opened up about his time with the late comedic actor to Esquire. He recalled meeting the comedian along with fellow SNL castmates Adam Sandler and Chris Rock on their first day at the late-night institution. The actor remembered the two actors hitting it off immediately, laughing and goofing around. He emphasized Chris Farley got every joke – high-brow or not – as the four actors shared a small office. Upon being asked about their work together, the comedian broke down why their films were so successful during the mid-1990s.

It's sweet that David Spade still has his coat from the cult classic. All I can think about is Farley swinging his arms in Spade’s jacket saying, “Fat guy in a little coat.” The fact that they were thinking of re-teaming again was a missed opportunity. It‘s bittersweet to think about the direction the duo would’ve gone in for the film. Unfortunately, the comedic actor’s career was extinguished before the duo could reunite on the big screen. At least, the Emperor’s New Groove actor can look at the late comedian’s coat to remember their friendship and movie partnership.

The comedian’s final run-in with the late actor recalled the last time fellow SNL alum Chris Rock saw Chris Farley before his death. As the late comedian was battling substance abuse, Rock felt after touring the Tommy Boy actor’s apartment that it would be the last time seeing his friend alive. Though both stories were heartbreaking, the comedy icon’s legacy has continued to live on through yearly tributes from his family and friends as well as recollections from SNL star Kenan Thompson and Dune’s Timothee Chalamet.

If you want to love Chris Farley even more, check out these cool behind-the-scenes facts. In the meantime, get your fill of Farley’s onscreen antics by watching Black Sheep and Tommy Boy through an Amazon Prime subscription.

While you may know Bob Odenkirk best from Breaking Bad and his own spinoff Better Call Saul, which has just finished shooting its final season, he certainly has a pretty expensive history in TV. Odenkirk has both written and performed in Saturday Night Live sketches, back when some of the most iconic sketches were debuting on the show. And while he's still fond of a lot of it, the actor/writer has now spoken out about why he dislikes Patrick Swayze and Chris Farley's famed “Chippendales” sketch so much, and his reasoning is both heartbreaking and understandable.

Bob Odenirk and Chris Farley were pretty close back in the ‘90s comedy scene when they were both working on SNL, and in an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Odenkirk talks about his distaste for the "Chippendales" sketch that put Farley on the map, which comes from a place of friendly compassion. The sketch featured Chris Farley dancing shirtless beside the far more ripped Patrick Swayze, earning laughs from the obvious body differences between the two. 

According to Bob Odenkirk, the sketch and the audience’s reaction to the dancing confirmed a major insecurity that Farley suffered from during his comedy career. According to Odenkirk:

Even though Bob Odenkirk did work as a writer on the episode of SNL that featured the "Chippendales" sketch, it’s unclear if he had anything to do with how the final product came out. It is true that some other writers saw value in the sketch, partially because it showed off how physically talented Farley was despite his heavier frame. However, it’s clear that at this point in life, Odenkirk vilifies that particular sequence.

In fact, in the same interview, Bob Odenkirk drops an F-Bomb when talking about the sketch, saying that he can read the foul feelings on Chris Farley's face when watching, which isn't fun for him to think about. In his words: 

“Chippendales” may have helped turn Chris Farley into more of a superstar, but some of his long-time friends and colleagues seem to think that it didn’t do much to help his self esteem. Chris Rock has also spoken out about his friend and his own distaste for the skit, with the thought that it negatively impacted Farley's confidence.

You can check out the sketch for yourself below for reference, but it’s also important to remember that Farley was a comedic actor, and his performance may not reflect his own inner thoughts on the skit:

Chris Farley struggled with addiction throughout his career, and passed away due to a drug overdose in 1997, just 7 years after “Chippendales” first aired. While the sketch certainly can’t be blamed in full for the issues that led to his death, mental health is a defining factor in a lot of addict behavior. And even though the past cannot be changed in cases like this, stars and writers like Bob Odenkirk speaking out about perceived problems such as the “Chippendales” sketch helps ensure similarly negative experiences don’t happen for others in the future. 

The anniversary of Chris Farley’s death was just a couple months ago, and stars like Kenan Thompson spoke out about how Farley impacted their life and career. SNL wouldn’t be the same today if Chris Farley hadn’t stepped on its stage, even without the “Chippendales” sketch, and we can still see his impact in the long running show today, with stars even referencing Farley in their sketches. He is still very missed.

You can check out what’s upcoming for Saturday Night Live in our schedule of upcoming SNL hosts, with new episodes airing on the titular night at 11:30 p.m. ET. While you won’t find Bob Odenkirk or Chris Farley on it, their impact is certainly still present on the stage.

SNL icon Chris Farley, known for his rambunctious comedy, is one of the most beloved cast members of the sketch series, and a beloved comedic actor in general. He wasn’t the only comedian in the family, however, ashis brother Kevin Farley is also pretty well known in the industry. The younger brother of the Tommy Boy actor recently performed a stand-up routine with some jokes tied to his late brother, and it’s a hilarious take on what life has been like from his own point of view.

In a clip from a new Dry Bar Comedy special, Kevin Farley talked about how weird it is having such a famous sibling, and even brought up what it was like going to the buffet as a family. (Spoilers: it's not quiet or extremely classy.) It’s a touching performance that shows Farley will always be thinking of his late brother in some capacity, but still has a lot of comedy to it, since that's something this family excels at. Check it out below!

That clip is definitely both a fun time as well as a heartfelt one. Despite all the weight-related jokes and the concept of being the brother of a famous person, you can see just how much Kevin Farley misses his brother. But the silver lining there is that he has all of these great family memories that he can share with the world, albeit with a comedian's hyperbolic approach. 

With the 25th anniversary of Chris Farley’s death coming up next year, his brother isn’t the only one speaking well of him recently. In September 2021, Kenan Thompson opened up about what it was like getting to work with the SNL icon on Nickelodeon’s own sketch comedy series, All That, in 1997. The appearance marked one of Farley’s last television appearances before he passed away, and Thompson recalled that the special experience was “one of the greatest days” he’d ever seen.

Chris Farley was on Saturday Night Live from 1990-95 for 100 episodes, becoming a staple on the series and in other projects throughout the series. The Madison, WI native died of an accidental drug overdose at the age of 33, permanently leaving a hole in the comedy business and on SNL. 

While it’s hard to believe that Chris Farley has been gone for nearly 25 years, knowing that Kevin Farley and the late actor's many celebrity friends are here with memories to share makes it that much more bearable to deal with. Though even without the younger Farley, the comedic’s legacy on Saturday Night Live will forever live on, and every once in a while a performer on the series pays tribute to the icon.

Hopefully Kevin Farley will keep telling stories about his big brother to keep the gone-too-soon comedian's memory alive. You can catch his full stand-up performance on the Dry Bar Comedy website now, including his stories about the late SNL star!

On December 18, 1997, the world most Chris Farley, who was a standout during his time on Saturday Night Live and starred in movies like Wayne’s World and Tommy Boy. Nearly 25 years after his death, Farley is still fondly remembered by many people, including fellow comedic actor Jim Carrey. While the two actors never starred in a project together, their paths did cross, and Carrey shared a throwback photo of one of those times.

A few days after the 24th anniversary of Chris Farley’s passing, Jim Carrey shared the below photo on his Twitter page of the two of them together. Combine that with Carrey’s accompanying caption, and you might want to have some tissues nearby.

Judging by the shirt Chris Farley is wearing that says “Championship Martial Arts Academy,” this picture was likely taken during the time he was working on Beverly Hills Ninja or sometime afterwards. Around this period, Jim Carrey was entertaining audiences with movies like Liar Liar and The Cable Guy. Carrey also hosted his first episode of SNL in 1996, although by that point, Farley had already exited the NBC sketch series. 

While it’s unfortunate that Jim Carrey and Chris Farley acted opposite one another, they do have some shared professional history. Originally Farley was approached to play The Cable Guy’s eponymous character, but when he declined the role due to scheduling conflicts, Carrey was brought in. As far as their personal history goes, Carrey recalled back in 2020 on Lights Out with David Spade the time Farley entertained a lot of children at a birthday party, no doubt just one of many memorable moments these two had while around each other. It’s good to know that after all this time, Carrey still thinks fondly of the Black Sheep actor.

Prior to his death, Chris Farley had a number of major projects lined up, such as a Fatty Arbuckle biopic and a film adaptation of A Confederacy of Dunces. Farley had also recorded most of his dialogue as Shrek’s title character, but after he died, Mike Myers was hired to take over the role. The other projects were either shelved or, like Shrek, went through necessary changes to account for the actor’s absence. Farley’s final two movies, Almost Heroes and Dirty Work, were released in 1998.

As for Jim Carrey, his recent credits include leading the short-lived Showtime series Kidding and playing Dr. Ivo “Eggman” Robotnik in Sonic the Hedgehog. He’ll reprise the latter role next year in Sonic the Hedgehog 2, which will see Robotnik teaming up with Idris Elba’s Knuckles. It was also rumored in early 2020 that Carrey was being looked at to play Theodore Geisel, a.k.a. Dr. Seuss, in a biopic about the author who penned books like The Cat in the Hat and Green Eggs & Ham, though there hasn’t been any official word on his potential involvement since then.

You can count on CinemaBlend to pass along the biggest news items concerning Jim Carrey’s career, as well as any other heartwarming pictures or stories about Chris Farley. Our 2022 release schedule is also available to look through if you’re curious about what movies are coming out next year.

Kenan Thompson has been entertaining audiences on a weekly basis for decades. While Thompson is probably best known for his Saturday Night Live work at this point, most '90s kids likely remember his time on All That. Much like this time on the NBC staple, he created many memorable characters on the iconic Nickelodeon sketch show. But Thompson’s path to the sketch comedy mecca was destined years before, thanks to a special appearance from SNL icon Chris Farley. Now, years later, the Kenan star has recalled his time sharing the screen with the late, great Farley.

Chris Farley's appearance on All That was a very big deal, and it's even more special considering it that it was one of his final TV appearances before his death. Kenan Thompson seems to treasure his time working with the late star. On the People in the ‘90s podcast, the SNL star reflected on the special experience:

Taking notes from the Almost Heroes alum seems to have panned out for the actor and comedian, as he is currently the longest-serving cast member in Saturday Night Live history. His time on the Nick variety show was definitely invaluable for him, but being able to rub shoulders with sketch comedy veteran surly helped, too. He went on to say about the Tommy Boy star:

As Kenan Thompson pointed out, it says a lot that Chris Farley is still remembered fondly and highly regarded amongst current and past SNL stars. Any of his sketches will show you just how committed he was to making the best of every moment. To see Farley and Thompson’s chaotic energy take over the “Cooking with Randy” sketch, check out the clip below:

The Kenan & Kel alum's words echo the sentiments from some other castmates, including Adam Sandler and Chris Rock. The late star's impact can be seen and heard through other celebrities as well. The Beverly Hills Ninja star is still considered one of the best stars Saturday Night Live has ever produced, and it's almost poetic that he had a chance to spend time with one of the show's future greats.

As Kenan Thompson continues to progress in his career, he's likely he'll continue to hold onto what he learned from Chris Farley. Viewers can enjoy the work he's doing now and can also revisit Farley's work through his sketches along with many of his movies, which are currently streaming.

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I recently pulled out my trusty old copy of Live From New York by Tom Shales and James Andrew Miller, who fed my fan appreciation for Saturday Night Live. The pages are dog-eared and yellow from use and age at this point -- as is often the SNL criticism “not what it used to be” -- but this time I brought it out following the death of Norm Macdonald after a private battle with cancer at age 61.

His fellow SNL co-stars and other people whose lives he touched already weighed in after the actor and comedian's passing, but just in case you haven’t been able to read Live From New York yet, I did want to share some stories from Norm himself.

Norm Macdonald On Why SNL And ‘Weekend Update’ Was A Good Job For Him

The thing about Norm is that he was always coming at jokes or even everyday concepts from his own perspective. An old-fashioned way of describing that trait might be something like a “true original” though that makes me think of art or sassy older ladies. When Norm got the job at Saturday Night Live, it was actually Adam Sandler who “liked” Macdonald and was a key person in helping him land the role. But was he nervous? No.

Norm Macdonald on Dropping An F-Bomb Live From New York On Saturday Night

Over the years a variety of celebrities and cast members have accidentally said things they shouldn’t have on the air on SNL. I remember one memorable episode Live From New York in which paired "Weekend Update" chairs Michael Che and Colin Jost managed to drop both an f-bomb and the word "shithole" in one broadcast. So, it happens. Norm was no exception, and recalled in Live From New York that he did once drop an f-bomb on the air.

On Getting Fired From SNL Right After Chris Farley Died

Norm Macdonald famously was replaced with Colin Quinn on ‘Weekend Update.’ There was an awkward transitional period that happened on the show after he broke the news during a Letterman appearance, and Macdonald stills seems bummed to recount what happened with his ultimate exit from the NBC late night show. He recalled to Tom Shales and James Andrew Miller that he found out he was being fired three hours after finding out his co-worker and pal on the show Chris Farley had died. He later said he actually had to call Ohlmeyer to ask if he was being replaced, since no one would tell him.

David Letterman would later call Norm Macdonald one of the three funniest comedians he'd ever encountered.

So, Did Norm Macdonald Regret His Time On SNL?

Norm Macdonald’s the guy who can get away with moth jokes and get away with monologues about being fired from SNL after you get fired. He also had no regrets about his time on the show, noting he “was never bitter” about how things ultimately played out.

Saturday Night Live will return on October 2 for Season 47 with Michael Che and Colin Jost in the ‘Weekend Update’ chairs and a slew of planned guests already in the works. If you haven’t picked up the 2002 behemoth Live From New York: An Uncensored History Of Saturday Night Live yet, you can and should do so.

Saturday Night Live legend Chris Farley served as the best man in comedian Tom Arnold’s wedding. If you’re assuming there must be a story there, you are, of course, correct. The funnyman apparently got the entire bachelor party kicked out of a strip club after he got on stage and took off his clothes.

Tom Arnold was recently on The Howard Stern Show and he reminisced about his buddy Chris Farley. During the conversation, he mentioned that Farley was his best man. The radio host asked him if there was a bachelor party and out came the story, which was sadly a bit light on details. You can read the basic outline of his version of events below…

Obviously I wish this story was ten minutes long and included way more details, but the basic framework here is just amazing. I love the idea of people sitting in the crowd, waiting to see the next dancer at Scores take the stage and suddenly being blindsided with a naked Chris Farley living it up. What must have been going through their heads? Did he do the Chippendale's routine he did on SNL? Was he asked to get off the stage and he refused, which led to him being kicked out? Or was it just an immediate ejection since he wasn’t one of the designated people that was supposed to be naked? I have so many questions.

Chris Farley was definitely a man capable of pushing things to the edge. That’s actually how he became friends with Tom Arnold. Longtime SNL headman Lorne Michaels apparently pushed the two together because he thought it would help the troubled comedian stay sober. Arnold later became his sponsor and helped him through a lot of ups and downs, but unfortunately, Farley ultimately passed away from a drug overdose. He was just thirty-three.

He’ll always be remembered first for how far he was willing to go for a joke. A lot of his most famous SNL sketches and movie roles involve doing things and pushing comedy to places many others would have been uncomfortable with. Even amidst those over-the-top jokes, however, there was always a more touching and vulnerable side to his comedy. He was able to be very emotionally affecting when he wanted to be, and some of his best work could be subtle and quiet (like in some moments in the Chris Farley Show sketches).

Long story short, Chris Farley is missed by fans and clearly remembered very fondly by those who knew him. I’m convinced there were some really incredible Jim Carrey-style dramatic performance in there somewhere we never got to see, but thankfully, there’s plenty we can still watch and plenty more stories still left to be told, some of which probably involve him getting naked.

Superstar comedian / actor Chris Rock has had many successes since his time on SNL. He's sold out comedy tours and giant stadiums, won several Emmy Awards, hosted his own talk show, starred in, written, and directed movies, and been called the funniest man in America by, well, more than a few people. Even with the whirlwind that his career has been, Rock still has fond memories of his time on Saturday Night Live, and of becoming friends with Chris Farley. But, Rock also has vivid memories of visiting with Farley toward the end, and recently recalled knowing that it might be the last time he'd see him.

One of the most well-known friendship groups to come out of early 1990s Saturday Night Live cast members was the quartet known as "The Bad Boys of SNL." Chris Rock, Chris Farley, Adam Sandler, and David Spade (who all joined the show as either featured players or as writers in 1990) were known for creating and starring in hit sketches on the show, as well as their behind the scenes funny business. Fans are likely aware that the surviving members of the group are still very close, working together on a regular basis, and that they all still mourn the loss of Farley, who died of a drug overdose when he was only 33 years old.

Chris Rock recently spoke to Esquire, and when asked about a famous photo of the foursome, which was taken during his first major comedy tour after his 1996 comedy special, Bring the Pain, made him one of the most successful and acclaimed comedians in the world, Rock recalled seeing Chris Farley right before he died, and noted:

Much like his friends, Chris Farley made a huge name for himself while on SNL. He was released from his contract by the end of the 1994-1995 season (along with many of the other performers who were there at the time), but went on to focus on his film career, and was making great strides there, as well, with starring roles in now-classic comedies like Tommy Boy (with David Spade) and Beverly Hills Ninja. Unfortunately, just a couple of years after leaving the late night series, Farley overdosed on a combination of morphine and cocaine, cutting his promising career short.

Farley had struggled with drug and alcohol use for several years by the time he died, and from what Chris Rock said, it sounds like his friends were very aware of his issues and the impact they were having on his young life. As with most people who deal with substance abuse, though, Farley's friends and family were mostly powerless when it came to helping him. Rock continued, and spoke about having the realization that that visit with Farley was probably going to be the last time he saw his friend:

As noted earlier, Chris Rock, Adam Sandler, and David Spade have never forgotten Chris Farley, and continue to pay public tribute to him whenever they can. Fortunately, Farley's work will always live on.

Even if you've never settled in to watch a full episode of Saturday Night Live, there are so many sketches which have become major touchstones in pop culture that you've probably seen or heard about them over the years. You've seen at least a little of Wayne and Garth. You've become acquainted with Maya Rudolph as Donatella Versace, Beyonce, and Kamala Harris. And you have, almost certainly, seen snippets of cast member Chris Farley and then host Patrick Swayze as they audition to be Chippendales dancers. But, former SNL writer Robert Smigel recently had to defend Farley's legendary Chippendales sketch.

Robert Smigel, who was known for his "TV Funhouse" cartoon shorts on Saturday Night Live and is most famous for voicing Triumph the Insult Comic Dog, appeared on The Howard Stern Show and was asked about the well-known sketch. Apparently, some people have not been happy about it during the intervening years, and while Smigel said he thinks it's a great sketch, he was "in a debate about it" recently, as some people think it led to Chris Farley's death. Here's what Smigel told Stern:

I've seen the Chris Farley / Patrick Swayze Chippendales sketch many times over the years, and it has never occurred to me that anyone would have had any serious problem with it. From what Robert Smigel discussed with Howard Stern, though, the thought of some has been that Farley, who did not look anything like your standard Chippendales dancer, doing a sketch (which you can still watch online) where he disrobes and gyrates alongside Swayze (who absolutely did look like a typical male exotic dancer) was a sure sign that Farley felt bad about himself and was ready to demean himself for millions.

Sadly, Chris Farley died of a drug overdose in 1997 at the age of 33, only a couple of years after leaving SNL behind and embarking on his film career, and there are some people who seem to think that the Chippendales sketch (which aired on October 27, 1990) was an early sign of trouble for one of SNL's biggest stars. As you can see from watching him beside Patrick Swayze, however, Smigel is correct that Farley did what many would call a fantastic job of showing that he could move basically just as well as Swayze, who had been an actual professional dancer.

Smigel went on to explain why he thinks so many people really love the sketch, adding:

Luckily, Chris Farley's legacy lives on in the great comedic work he did both in film and on SNL, and he can be remembered for the joy he brought to so many fans during his short time in the spotlight.

Saturday Night Live is simultaneously a commentary on the now and given its almost fifty year run, a celebration of the past. It’s like a famed university. Everywhere you look there are signs of great people that came before, but what’s being currently produced is directly relevant to the now. That strange and beautiful dynamic was on full display last night from Kid Cudi as the musician and actor performed two songs off his new album Man On The Moon III and found a way to pay tribute to two deceased entertainment legends: Kurt Cobain and Chris Farley.

The Kurt Cobain tributes came in the form of outfit choses honoring the beloved Nirvana frontman who passed in 1994. During his performance of “Sad People”, Kid Cudi rocked a white floral print dress with spaghetti straps that looks a whole lot like one Cobain wore a year or so before his death. Obviously a lot of fans couldn’t get enough of the look given its connection to the rock legend and its seeming endorsement and acceptance of free expression and gender fluidity.

In addition to the dress, which got the bulk of the social media attention, Kid Cudi also wore a green sweater with a white t-shirt underneath during his performance of “Tequila Shots.” The visual style is very close to what Cobain wore during his famous MTV Unplugged performance along with his Nirvana bandmates. They ran through fourteen songs in one take, including several covers and lesser known tracks, in what’s considered by many to be one of the greatest live albums of all-time. You can check out side-by-sides of the outfit choices thanks to Twitter user Zen below…

Of course if you look closely under Kid Cudi’s green sweater, that’s not the only tribute to a pop culture legend who died way too soon. The white t-shirt underneath is a headshot of Saturday Night Live legend Chris Farley who tragically passed away in 1997. The head nod is a lot more direct than the fashion inspirations he took from Cobain, but then again, Farley was a much more direct and on the nose person. That can also be seen in a tweet Kid Cudi dropped last night that looks like a sign on the SNL stage telling people to watch their heads that has “Farley” handwritten afterwards.

So many legends have passed through the Saturday Night Live halls. Many of the most important comedians of the last five decades from Eddie Murphy to Bill Murray to Will Ferrell to Tina Fey to Adam Sandler to Kristen Wiig got their starts on SNL (and many keep returning), and at the same time, so many brilliant actors and musicians have guested on the show at the heights of their popularity. Some huge stars have even returned over and over again. It really is simultaneously a celebration of the now and a tribute to the past. I love seeing guests on the show who really seem to get that, and Kid Cudi is clearly one of them.

Almost nothing spreads faster on the Internet than rumors of a popular movie possibly getting a sequel. Unfortunately, Dirty Work is not a particularly popular movie; so, it took until this morning for me, Dirty Work’s biggest fan, to find out that apparently director Bob Saget and company have approval from some “big cheeses” to explore making a sequel. They’re not there yet, but forward progress is being made. So, if everyone involved could stop uhhhh lifting weights and start writing the script, that would be great.

The off-handed comment was made this summer during Bob Saget’s appearance on The Bill Bert Podcast with Bill Burr and Bert Kreischer. The two hosts wanted to talk about SNL's Norm Macdonald because he’s a genius and an absolute legend, and the subject of Dirty Work came up. That’s when Saget dropped this little nugget that I just got around to hearing…

When Dirty Work was first released, the initial reception did not go as anyone would have hoped. The movie only made $10M at the box office (off a $13M budget), and it received almost universally negative reviews. In the time since, however, it has built up a small but very loyal cult following that proudly includes both myself and my co-worker here at CinemaBlend Cody Beck. I can’t speak to what anyone else likes about it, but for me, it’s the tone.

Throughout its runtime, Dirty Work has this weird tone that almost undermines the plot of the movie itself. A lot if it is Norm Macdonald refusing to take anything seriously and delivering most of his lines with a smirk, but everyone else involved participates to some extent too. They all follow the beats and move forward the plot, but they don’t let you forget that they’re in a stupid movie with a stupid plot.

Take one scene where Norm and his sidekick Artie Lange, who is great in the movie, get revenge on some bros they hate by telling them fake cops are robbing frat houses. They then call the real cops to report a robbery and direct address them as “real cops.” Or take the homeless characters played by veteran comedy writers Jim Downey and Fred Wolf. The movie repeatedly begins giving them breakthrough moments with sweet music where they philosophize about where they’re at in life, each of which is abruptly ruined by Norm interrupting. It’s like they’re undercutting the emotional beats of their own movie, and for a certain type of viewer (me), it’s hilarious to see.

I have no idea if the Dirty Work sequel will actually happen, but for those of us who love it, it’s really fun to think about. I’d love to see what all the characters are up to. I only wish Chris Farley was still around to bring back his fake nose.

Ready to feel old? This year marks the 25th anniversary of the release of the Chris Farley and David Spade comedy masterpiece Tommy Boy. Just like pretty much everyone my age, I still remember sitting around my parents TV with my older brother watching our VHS copy so many times we could practically recite every line in the movie. We've grown older, the TV has been replaced, and that old VHS tape is long gone, but I'm still obsessed with this movie. So what do you do when you're obsessed with a movie? Find all the behind the scenes facts you can find, duh!

Scouring the internet for all the small details about my favorite movies has become something of a staple of mine these past few years, and so to celebrate one of the favorite movies from my childhood to adulthood, I went on a mission to find the coolest facts I could find. Be warned, as some of these facts will have you screaming holy schnike!

The "Fat Guy In A Little Coat" Routine Happened In Real Life

The "Fat Guy In A Little Coat" routine has gone down as not only one of the memorable scenes in Tommy Boy but also one of the most hilarious moments of Chris Farley. But the scene wasn't something that materialized in the script. In fact, Farley had been doing the bit behind the scenes of Saturday Night Live, where he and co-star David Spade shared an office.

During a 2015 appearance on Conan, Spade explained he had grown tired of the "Fat Guy In A Little Coat" routine and that Farley would constantly try to get him to laugh, stating:

Chris Farley And David Spade Had To Balance Filming With Their SNL Schedule

One of the craziest things about the making of Tommy Boy is that production coincided with '94-'95 season of Saturday Night Live, where Chris Farley and David Spade were still full-time castmembers. This made for a chaotic production schedule as the two starts would have to balance their time between SNL in the New York and filming of Tommy Boy in Toronto.

Associate Producer Michael Ewing explained in Film School Rejects' Fat Men, Little Coats: The Oral History Of Tommy Boy just how hectic it got for the film's leading men when filming was held during the middle of SNL, stating:

The Movie Had To Change Its Original Title Thanks To Billy Madison

If it weren't for Adam Sandler's breakthrough role in Billy Madison, we probably wouldn't have seen the version of Tommy Boy we all know and love (except for Roger Ebert, but more on that later). When both films were in pre-production, the movie that would become Tommy Boy was going by the title Billy The Third: A Midwestern, as director Peter Segal remembered in the Film School Rejects Oral History, stating:

Segal went on to explain that he and writer Fred Wold (who also wrote for SNL) sat down and reworked the script to focus on the relationship of David Spade and Chris Farley, settling on the story we all know today.

Chris Farley Insisted On Doing All Of The Physical Comedy Himself

One of the things that set Chris Farley apart from other comedic actors of his time was his commitment to his roles. If a scene called for him to fall flat on his face on a coffee table while crashing to the floor, Farley was going to do it. And that's exactly what happened on the set of Tommy Boy, as Michael Ewing remembered during the Behind The Laughter behind the scenes documentary, stating:

Chris Farley Was Notorious For Downing Large Amounts Of Cappuccino On Set

It's no secret that Chris Farley had issues with a multitude of substances, but one of the late comedian's vices that is somehow surprising and not surprising at the same time is his addiction to coffee and cappuccinos. While filming Tommy Boy, Farley was known to take down dozens of cups of joe every day on set, as members of the cast and crew shared in the making of documentary that accompanied the DVD release. Throughout the section on Farley's love of cappuccino, co-star David Spade had this to say about the first day of shooting:

But Spade wasn't alone, as Bo Derek remembered watching in amazement as Farley prepared for one of the scenes they shared together, remembering:

Chris Farley and David Spade Would Often Act Like An Unhappy Married Couple On Set

For most of Tommy Boy, Chris Farley and David Spade's characters have a contentious relationship and don't really become the best of friends until the final act. Well, that was sometimes the case for the two actors on the set of the movie, as the pair would often act more like an old married couple who would go hours without speaking to one another or have passive aggressive episodes for the rest of the cast and crew to witness.

During the making of documentary, Bo Derek remembered how the Farley and Spade would act during one of their episodes, stating:

Chris Farley and David Spade Fought Over Rob Lowe

Did you know that David Spade and Chris Farley got into a physical altercation on the set of Tommy Boy? Well, it happened, but it wasn't over a girl or who would get the better line in a scene. No, it was over Rob Lowe, who appeared in an uncredited role as Tommy's step-brother Paul Barish. Spade and Lowe revealed the details behind the story during a 2015 appearance on The Late Late Show With James Corden.

During the appearance, Spade explained that he and Farley both really liked hanging out with Lowe on and off the set, with Farley being a little too obsessed with the uncredited co-star. One night when they got to Toronto for filming, Farley said he wasn't feeling well and went to bed early. When Farley found out the next day that Spade and Lowe went out for drinks, the following happened:

Later in the day, when Spade thought everything was over and done with, he saw Farley rushing towards him, remembering:

Matthew McConaughey Was Almost Cast In The Role That Went To Rob Lowe

Rob Lowe was one of the first actors attached to the project, but delays early on in pre-production almost caused the future Parks And Recreation star to almost be recast. The producers even went as far as to go through the casting process due to Lowe's uncertainty. One of the actors who auditioned for the role was none other than Matthew McConaughey, who had recently made a name for himself after a scene-stealing performance in Dazed And Confused.

Speaking with Film School Rejects for the Tommy Boy Oral History, director Peter Segal had this to say about the whole situation:

Rob Lowe Came Up With The Iconic Cow Tipping Scene

Early on in Tommy Boy, we're given one of the best moments of the movie and Chris Farley's career with the iconic cow tipping scene with him and Rob Lowe. But the scene wouldn't have been there if it weren't for Lowe, who pitched the idea to the writing team early on in pre-production, which he explained in the making of documentary, stating:

The On-Screen Chemistry Shared By Chris Farley And David Spade Inspired Shrek

It's not the biggest secret in Hollywood, but before his death in 1997, Chris Farley was hard at work on a little animated film by the name of Shrek. After Farley's death, Mike Meyers was cast as his fill-in and much of the movie was drastically changed. One thing you might not know about Shrek is that Chris Farley and David Spade's pairing in Tommy Boy helped inspire the film's writers come up with the relationship between Shrek and Donkey, as Peter Segal told Uproxx:

Despite Being A Hit With Moviegoers, Tommy Boy Fell Flat With Critics, Especially Roger Ebert

The late Roger Ebert will probably go down as the most influential film critics in the history of movie journalism, and there's a good reason for that. But sometimes, good old Roger missed the mark and gave some of the most beloved movies really bad reviews. This was very much the case for his 1995 review of Tommy Boy, which I will let Ebert explain in his own words:

And that is just the opening paragraph. Woof.

Those are just 11 behind the scenes facts about the Chris Farley classic Tommy Boy. If there is something you think I missed, make sure to let me know in the comments below. And make sure to check back on CinemaBlend to see what David Spade has been up to all these years. But until then, I need to go call my brother and see about setting up a Tommy Boy virtual watch party.