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Feb 12, 2025 - Culture

"SNL" at 50: The list of cast members and writers from Chicago

Justin Kaufmann

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Photo of three actors doing a comedic bit on a television show — 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

Photo of a man sitting in a chair holding a t-shirt in his hands — Dan Aykroyd during the "Pantygrams" skit on March 26, 1977. Photo: NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images

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

Photo of a woman in a red dress with sunglasses on — Aidy Bryant during the "Aidy B" sketch in 2018. Photo: Rosalind O'Connor/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images

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)

Photo of a woman doing a comedy scene on set during a television show. — Rachel Dratch as Debbie Downer during the "Debbie Downer" sketch in 2005. Photo: Dana Edelson/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images

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

Photo of three actors eating food during a comedy sketch on television — Chris Farley as Todd O'Connor, Robert Smigel as Carl Wollarski, Mike Myers as Pat Arnold during "Weekend Update" on May 16, 1992. All three spent time in Chicago before getting hired at "Saturday Night Live." Photo: Alan Singer/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images

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

Photo of actors dressed up like babies in a crib for a comedy sketch on television. — Robin Williams (L) as Cody, Robin Duke as baby, Tim Kazurinsky as baby and Eddie Murphy as Otis during the "New Bad Babies" sketch in 1984. Photo: Al Levine/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank

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

Photo of two actors in a fake taxi cab doing a comedic scene for television. — Chris Farley (L) is a passenger and Tim Meadows is a driver during the "Taxicab Confessions" sketch in 1995. Photo: Alan Singer/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images

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

Photo of an actor singing at a cafe in a theater scene on stage. — Bill Murray as Nick Summers during the "Nick Summers" skit in 1977. Photo: NBC/NBCU Photo Bank/Getty Images

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

Photo of an actor doing a comedic bit on a television set — Julia Louis-Dreyfus during "Weekend Update" on March 19, 1983. Photo: Alan Singer/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank

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

Photo of two actors doing a comedic scene on a set during a television show — Tina Fey and Amy Poehler (R) during "Weekend Update" on December 10, 2005. Photo: Dana Edelson/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images

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

Photo of two people in suits doing a comedic sketch on television. — Sarah Sherman (L) as CJ Rossitano and anchor Colin Jost during "Weekend Update" in 2024. Photo: Will Heath/NBC via Getty Images

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

Photo of two women in red dresses doing a comedy sketch on television. — Vanessa Bayer (L) and Cecily Strong (R) during the "Dolce & Gabbana" sketch in 2015. Photo: Dana Edelson/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images

Jason Sudeikis (2005-2013)
Julia Sweeney (1990-1994)
Denitra Vance (1985-1986)
Nancy Walls (1995-1996)
Brooks Wheelan (2013-2014)

Writers

And finally: Del Close "House Metaphysician" (early 1980s)

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