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“Saturday Night Live” premiered October 11, 1975 on NBC with a group of fresh-faced cast members known as the “Not Ready For Prime-Time Players.” None of those original stars (including Laraine Newman, John Belushi, Jane Curtin, Gilda Radner, Dan Aykroyd, Garrett Morris and Chevy Chase) lasted for more than five seasons, but they all made their mark on the late night sketch series that is still going strong nearly five decades later.
Over the past 49 seasons (and counting), who are “SNL’s” longest-running cast members ever? Kenan Thompson currently holds the record at a whopping 21 seasons. His closest competition is Darrell Hammond, who starred for 14 seasons before leaving and then returning as the show’s announcer. Scroll through our “Saturday Night Live” photo gallery below to see more long-time cast members. Originally published January 2023.
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Kenan Thompson
Image Credit: Virginia Sherwood/NBCUniversal 21 seasons
2003-Present
Popular characters: Diondre Cole, Steve Harvey, Darnell Hayes, Bill Cosby, Diner Lobster, Lorenzo McIntosh and Reese De’What
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Darrell Hammond
Image Credit: Will Heath/NBC 14 seasons
1995-2009
Popular characters: Sean Connery, Dick Cheney, Jay Leno, Johnny Cash, Bill Clinton and Regis Philbin
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Seth Meyers
Image Credit: Courtesy of NBC 13 seasons
2001-2014
“Weekend Update” anchor
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Fred Armisen
Image Credit: Courtesy of NBC 11 seasons
2002-2013
Popular characters: Lawrence Welk, David Paterson, Ian Rubbish, Regine, Garth, Fericito and Stuart
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Al Franken
Image Credit: Courtesy of NBC 11 seasons
1977-1980, 1986, 1988-1995
Popular characters: Stuart Smalley, Al Goldstein, George Jessel, Henry Kissinger, Lyndon LaRouche and Pat Robertson
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Kate McKinnon
Image Credit: Rosalind O'Connor/NBC 11 seasons
2012-2022
Popular characters: Rudy Giuliani, Colleen Rafferty, Hillary Clinton, Debette Goldry, Ruth Bader Ginsberg, Elizabeth Warren and Jeff Sessions
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Cecily Strong
Image Credit: Will Heath/NBC 11 seasons
2012-2022
Popular characters: Cathy Anne, Jeanine Pirro, Kari Lake, Princess Jasmine, Melania Trump and The Girl You Wish You Hadn’t Started a Conversation With At a Party
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Aidy Bryant
Image Credit: Will Heath/NBC 10 seasons
2012-2022
Popular characters: Ted Cruz, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Trend Forecaster, Carrie Krum, Aidy B and The Sexual Woman
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Colin Jost
Image Credit: Will Heath/NBC 11 seasons
2014-Present
“Weekend Update” anchor
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Tim Meadows
Image Credit: Courtesy of NBC 10 seasons
1991-2000
Popular characters: Leon Phelps, Dr. Poop, Tiger Woods, Sammy Davis Jr., O.J. Simpson and Captain Jim
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Michael Che
Image Credit: Will Heath/NBC 10 seasons
2014-Present
“Weekend Update” anchor
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Kyle Mooney
Image Credit: Courtesy of NBC 9 seasons
2013-2022
Popular characters: Baby Yoda, John Kennedy, Bruce Chandling, Leslie Jones’ lover, Scooter Rineholdt, Prank Posse member, Buff Kyle and Pope Francis
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Bobby Moynihan
Image Credit: Will Heath/NBC 9 seasons
2008-2017
Popular characters: Drunk Uncle, Mark Payne, Kirby, Demeter, Janet Peckinpaugh, Riblet and David Pumpkins’ assistant
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Kevin Nealon
Image Credit: Courtesy of NBC 9 seasons
1986-1995
“Weekend Update” anchor
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Maya Rudolph
Image Credit: Will Heath/NBC 9 seasons
2000-2007
Popular characters: Oprah Winfrey, Donatella Versace, Whitney Houston, Beyonce, Jodi Dietz, Maya Angelou, Megan and Kamala Harris
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Jason Sudeikis
Image Credit: Courtesy of NBC 9 seasons
2005-2013
Popular characters: DJ Supersoak, The Devil, Zeus, ESPN Reporter, “What Up With That” dancer, Joe Biden, Mitt Romney and A-Hole