The 30 Greatest Saturday Night Live Cast Members

The thirty greatest alumni of Saturday Night Live.  Ranking are a combination of equal parts time spent on the show and subsequent career.

  1. Will Ferrell (1995 – 2002)
    Signature sketches: Celebrity Jeopardy, More Cowbell, W. Bush, James Lipton, Harry Carry, Robert Goulet, The Lovers.      SNL Rating: 10
    Extracurriculars: Anchorman, Step Brothers, Old School, Talladega Nights, Elf, Zoolander, Funny or Die.      Post SNL Rating: 9.5
    Total Score: 19.5
  2.  Eddie Murphy (1980 – 1984)
    Signature sketches: Mr. Robinson’s Neighborhood, White Like Me, Buckwheat, Gumby, Prose and Cons, Stevie Wonder, John David Stutts, James Brown’s Celebrity Hot Tub Party.        SNL Rating: 10
    Extracurriculars: Stand-up, Trading Places, Beverly Hills Cop, Coming to America, Shrek, 48 Hrs.      Post SNL Rating: 9.3
    Total Score: 19.3
  3.  John Belushi (1975 – 1979)
    Signature sketches: Samurai Futaba, Blues Brothers, Olympia Restaurant, Joe Cocker, The Singing Bee.      SNL Rating: 9.2
    Extracurriculars: Animal House, Blues Brothers.   Post SNL Rating:  7.2
    Total Score: 16.4
  4.  Phil Hartman (1986 – 1994)
    Signature sketches:Bill Clinton, The Anal Retentive Chef, The Sinatra Group, Ronald Reagan, Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer.SNL Rating: 9.7
    Extracurriculars: NewsRadio, The Simpsons.     Post SNL Rating: 6.6
    Total Score: 16.3
  5.  Bill Murray (1977 – 1980)
    Signature sketches: Weekend Update, Nick the Lounge Singer.        SNL Rating: 7.4
    Extracurriculars: Caddyshack, Groundhog Day, Ghostbusters, Kingpin, Rushmore, Stripes, Lost in Translation, Meatballs.       Post SNL Rating:  8.5
    Total Score: 15.9
  6.  Chris Farley (1990 – 1995)
    Signature sketches: The Chris Farley Show, Matt Foley Motivational Speaker, The Chippendales Audition, Bill Swerkski’s Super Fans, Bennett Brauer, El Niño, Schmitts Gay Beer.         SNL Rating: 9.6
    Extracurriculars: Tommy Boy, Black Sheep, Dirty Work, Billy Madison.       Post SNL Rating: 6.2
    Total Score: 15.8
  7.  Dan Aykroyd (1975 – 1979)
    Signature sketches: Blues Brothers,  Irwin Mainway, Beldar Conehead, Fred Garvin, Bass-O-Matic, Julia Child, and One Wild and Crazy Guy.        SNL Rating: 8.3
    Extracurriculars: Ghostbusters, Coneheads, Blues Brothers. Post SNL Rating:  7.3
    Total Score: 15.6
  8.  Tina Fey (2000 – 2006)
    Signature sketches: Head Writer, Sarah Palin, Weekend Update.        SNL Rating: 7.8
    Extracurriculars: 30 Rock, Mean Girls, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Baby Mama, Date Night, Sisters.         Post SNL Rating: 7.7
    Total Score: 15.5
  9.  Adam Sandler (1991 – 1995)
    Signature sketches:Opera ManThe Hanukkah SongCanteen BoySchmitts Gay Beer.      SNL Rating: 7
    Extracurriculars: Billy Madison, Happy Gilmore, Uncut Gems, Punch Drunk Love, The Waterboy, The Wedding Singer, Big Daddy, five comedy albums.  Post SNL Rating: 8.4
    Total Score: 15.4
  10.  Chevy Chase (1975 – 1976)  Also a 9-time host, the most of any former cast member.
    Signature sketches:Weekend Update, Gerald Ford, Land Shark.       SNL Rating: 7
    Extracurriculars: National Lampoon, Caddyshack, Fletch, Vacation, The Three Amigos, Community, Spies Like Us.        Post SNL Rating: 8
    Total Score: 15
  11.  Dana Carvey (1986 – 1993)
    Signature sketches:Church Lady, Garth Alger, Hanz, The Grumpy Old Man, Chopping Broccili, Bush I.     SNL Rating: 8.3
    Extracurriculars: The Dana Carvey Show, Wayne’s World.       Post SNL Rating:  5.8
    Total Score: 14.1
  12.  Seth Meyers (2001 – 2014)
    Signature sketches: Weekend Update, Head Writer.   SNL Rating: 7.8
    Extracurriculars: Late Night With Seth Myers, The Awesomes.     Post SNL Rating: 6.2
    Total Score: 14.o
  13.  Mike Myers (1989 – 1995)
    Signature sketches:Wayne Campbell, Sprockets, Coffee Talk.        SNL Rating: 6.2
    Extracurriculars: Austin Powers Trilogy, Shrek Quadrilogy, Wayne’s World.       Post SNL Rating: 7.7
    Total Score: 13.9
  14.  Bill Hader (2005-2013)
    Signature Sketches: Stefan     SNL Rating: 7.9
    Extracurriculars: Barry, Trainwreck, South Park, Documentary Now!, Superbad, Forgetting Sarah Marshall      Post SNL Score: 5.9
    Total Score: 13.8
  15.  Kristen Wiig (2005-2012)
    Signature sketches:The Target Lady, Kat, Penelope, Michele Bachmann.      SNL Rating: 8
    Extracurriculars: Bridesmaids, MacGruber.       Post SNL Rating: 5.7
    Total Score: 13.7
  16.  Chris Rock (1990 – 1993)
    Signature sketches: The Dark Side With Nat X, I’m Chillin’.      SNL Rating: 4.4
    Extracurriculars: Legendary stand-up, Everybody Hates Chris, The Chris Rock Show, I Think I Love My Wife, Top Five.   Post SNL Rating:  9.1
    Total Score: 13.5
  17.  Jane Curtin (1975 – 1980)
    Signature sketches: Weekend Update, Pymaat Conehead.       SNL Rating: 6.7
    Extracurriculars: Kate & Alley, 3rd Rock From the Sun, The Coneheads.     Post SNL Rating: 6.6
    Total Score: 13.3
  18.  Amy Poehler (2001 – 2008)
    Signature sketches: Weekend Update.       SNL Rating: 6.8
    Extracurriculars: Parks and Rec, Baby Mama.     Post SNL Rating: 6.4
    Total Score: 13.2
  19.  Al Franken (1977 – 1980, 1985 – 1986, 1988 – 1995)
    Signature sketches: Daily Affirmations With Stuart Smalley, Prolific writer.      SNL Rating: 6
    Extracurriculars: US Senator, Author, Radio commentator.     Post SNL Rating: 7
    Total Score: 13
  20.  Jimmy Fallon (1998 – 2004)
    Signature sketches: Weekend Update, Barry GibbSully and Denise.       SNL Rating: 4.6
    Extracurriculars: The Tonight Show, The Jimmy Fallon Show. Post SNL Rating: 8.2
    Total Score: 12.8
  21.  Andy Samberg (2005 -2012)
    Signature sketches:Lazy SundayDick in a BoxMother Lover, I’m On a Boat, Mark Wahlberg Talks to Animals.      SNL Rating: 7.5
    Extracurriculars: Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Lonely Island, Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping.     Post SNL Rating: 5.2
    Total Score: 12.7
  22.  Tracy Morgan (1996 – 2003)
    Signature sketches:Brian Fellow’s Safari Planet, Uncle Jemima, Star Jones, Woodrow the Homeless Man.     SNL Rating: 6.6
    Extracurriculars: 30 Rock, Stand-up, The Tracy Morgan Show. Post SNL Rating: 5.5
    Total Score: 12.1
  23.  Norm Macdonald (1993 – 1998)
    Signature sketches: Weekend Update, Burt Reynolds, Bob Dole, Stan Hooper.    SNL Rating:  6.7
    Extracurriculars: Stand-up, Dirty Work, The Norm Show.    Post SNL Rating: 5
    Total Score: 11.7
  24.  Julia Louis-Dreyfus (1982 – 1985)
    Signature sketches: Televangelist April May June, Consuela, Weather Woman.      SNL Rating: 1.3
    Extracurriculars: Seinfeld, Veep, The New Adventures of Old Christine.      Post SNL Rating: 9.2
    Total Score: 10.5
  25.  Kenan Thompson (2003 – present)
    Signature sketches: Black Jeopardy, What’s Up With That? SNL Rating: 9.4
    Extracurriculars: Fat Albert, The Awesomes  Post SNL Rating: 1
    Total Score: 10.4
  26.  Darrell Hammond (1995 – 2009)
    Signature sketches: Sean Connery, Bill Clinton, Donald Trump, Al Gore, John McCain, Dick Cheney.       SNL Rating: 9
    Extracurriculars: Assorted bit roles       Post SNL Rating: 1
    Total Score: 10 
  27.  Molly Shannon (1995 – 2001)
    Signature sketches: Mary Katherine Gallagher, Schweddy Balls, Sally O’Malley.       SNL Rating: 6.9
    Extracurriculars: Superstar!, Assorted bit roles.          Post SNL Rating: 2.2
    Total Score: 9.1
  28.  Gilda Radner (1975 – 1980)
    Signature sketches: Roseanne RosannadannaEmily LitellaBaba Wawa.      SNL Rating: 7.5
    Extracurriculars: Gilda Radner – Live From New York.                Post SNL Rating: 1.5
    Total Score: 9.0
  29.  David Spade (1990 – 1996)
    Signature sketches:Hollywood Minute, Buh-bye guy.      SNL Rating: 4
    Extracurriculars: Just Shoot Me!, Tommy Boy, Rules of Engagement.    Post SNL Rating: 4.3
    Total Score: 8.3
  30.  Jon Lovitz (1985 – 1990)
    Signature sketches: Tommy Flanagan the Pathological Liar, Harvey Fierstein, Master Thespian, Hanukkah Harry.     SNL Rating: 4.7
    Extracurriculars: The Client, Newsradio, The Jon Lovitz Comedy Club.     Post SNL Rating: 3.5
    Total Score: 8.2

 

Honorable Mentions:   Kate McKinnon (2011-Present), Maya Rudolph (2000-2019), Fred Armisen (2002 – 2013), Tim Meadows (1991 – 2000), Ana Gasteyer (1996 – 2002), Bobby Moynihan (2008-2017), Jim Breuer (1995 – 1998), Chris Kattan (1996 – 2003), Joe Piscopo (1980 – 1984), Jason Sudeikis (2005 – 2013), Martin Short (1984 – 1985), Colin Jost (2005-Present), Harry Shearer (1979 – 1980, 1984 – 1985), Chris Parnell (1998 – 2006), Rachel Dratch (1999 – 2006), Cheri Oteri (1995 – 2000), Kevin Nealon (1986-2001), Dennis Miller (1985 – 1991), Horatio Sanz (1998 – 2006), Will Forte (2002 – 2010), Jan Hooks (1986 – 1991), Cecily Strong (2012-Present), Aidy Bryant (2012-Present)

 

Host Hall of Fame:  Steve Martin (15 appearances), Alec Baldwin (16), John Goodman (12), Buck Henry (10), Tom Hanks(8), Christopher Walken (7) and Justin Timberlake (5).

 

Flashes in the Pan Who Went On To Bigger Things:  Conan O’Brien (writer, 1987-1991), Robert Downey Jr (1985–1986), Billy Crystal (1984-1985), Steven Colbert (writer, voice in Ace in the Ambiguously Gay Duo), Steve Carell (voice of Gary in The Ambiguously Gay Duo), Christopher Guest (1984-1985), Michael McKean (1994-1995), Sarah Silverman (1993-1994), Chris Elliott (1994-1995), Joan Cusack (1985-1986), Gilbert Gottfried (1980-1981), Randy Quaid (1985-1986).