Feb 12, 2025 - Culture
"SNL" at 50: The list of cast members and writers from Chicago
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Dan Aykroyd (L), Bill Murray and John Belushi perform in the "Miracle in Chicago" sketch in 1978. Belushi plays former Mayor Richard J. Daley. Photo: NBC/NBCU Photo Bank/Getty Images
Chicago's Second City has played a huge role in making "Saturday Night Live" a hit show for the past 50 years.
The big picture: Fifty cast members and writers from Second City have been hired at "SNL."
- Plus, a handful more did comedy elsewhere in Chicago before making it to Studio 8H at Rockefeller Center.
Zoom in: Here's a list of SNL cast members and writers who spent time in Chicago before being hired.
Cast members

- Dan Aykroyd (1975-1979)
- Peter Aykroyd (1979-1980)
- Fred Armisen (2002-2013)
- Vanessa Bayer (2010-2017)
- Paul Brittain (2010-2012)
- Aidy Bryant (2012-2022)

- Jim Belushi (1983-1985)
- John Belushi (1975-1979)
- Beck Bennett (2014-2021)
- Beth Cahill (1991-1992)
- Joan Cusack (1985-1986)
- Brian Doyle-Murray (1979-1980; 1981-1982)
- Rachel Dratch (1999-2006)

- Robin Duke (1981–1984)
- Nora Dunn (1985-1990)
- Chris Farley (1990-1995)

- Tina Fey (1997-2006)
- Ana Gasteyer (1996-2002)
- Mary Gross (1981-1985)
- Brad Hall (1982-1984)
- Melanie Hutsell (1991-1994)
- Tim Kazurinsky (1981-1984)

- Molly Kearney (2022-2024)
- David Koechner (1996–1997)
- Gary Kroeger (1982-1985)
- Tim Meadows (1991-2000)

- Laurie Metcalf (1981)
- Seth Meyers (2001-2014)
- Jerry Minor (2000–2001)
- Alex Moffat (2016-2022)
- Bill Murray (1977-1980)

- Mike Myers (1989-1995)
- Luke Null (2017-2018)
- Julia Louis-Dreyfus (1982-1985)

- Michael Patrick O'Brien (2009-2014)
- Amy Poehler (2001-2008)

- Gilda Radner (1975-1980)
- Chris Redd (2017-2022)
- Tim Robinson (2012–2016)
- Tony Rosato (1981–1982)
- Horatio Sanz (1998-2006)
- Sarah Sherman (2021-current)

- Martin Short (1984–1985)
- Robert Smigel (1985-1993, 1996-2008)
- Cecily Strong (2012-2022)

- Jason Sudeikis (2005-2013)
- Julia Sweeney (1990-1994)
- Denitra Vance (1985-1986)
- Nancy Walls (1995-1996)
- Brooks Wheelan (2013-2014)
Writers
- Paul Barrosse
- Hannibal Buress
- Liz Cackowski
- Megan Callahan-Shah
- Cindy Caponera
- Steve Castillo
- Stephen Colbert
- Matt Craig
- Ali Farahnakian
- Tom Flanigan
- Leslie Fuller
- Alison Gates
- Tom Gianas
- Shelly Gossman
- Nate Herman
- Joe Kelly
- Alan Linic
- John Lutz
- Michael McCarthy
- Adam McKay
- Drew Michael
- Claire Mulaney
- John Mulaney
- Lori Nasso
- Don Novello
- Bob Odenkirk
- Katie Rich
- Gary Richardson
- Rob Riley
- T. Sean Shannon
- Rich Talarico
- Eliot Wald
- Asha Ward
- Christine Zander
And finally: Del Close "House Metaphysician" (early 1980s)
