Top 11 SNL Cast Members
- CJ Tiernan
- Oct 28, 2025
- 4 min read
By CJ Tiernan
Saturday Night Live (SNL) has just entered its 51st season. That is an impressive run in a genre that is ever-evolving: comedy. It is a show that has been on for so long, it has touched and shaped the comedic sensibilities of generations. I've seen clips of some of the shows that came out before I as born, but with one or two exceptions, my list is comprised of people that were on the show when I was old enough to watch. Below is a list of my 11 favorite comedians that have ever graced the stage of Studio 8H at 30 Rock as cast members of Saturday Night Live.
1. Kate McKinnon (2012-2022)
The Performer - Kate was able to inhabit a character like few others. She was fully committed to the bit. She was able to be weird or play it straight. Well, mostly she was weird, but in the best and most complimentary way.
2. Darrell Hammond (1995-2009)
The Chameleon - Darrell was a great impressionist. He played countless politicians and news broadcasters. He wasn't bigger than the character, he let the idiosyncrasies of the person speak for themselves. Except for his Sean Connery impression. That one on Celebrity Jeopardy was delightfully over the top.
3. Dana Carvey (1986-1993)
The Impressionist - Dana was one of the best imitators I've ever seen. He is great with accents and dialectics but never loses sight of the fact the impression was a conduit to laughter.
4. Chris Parnell (1998-2006)
The Stoic - Chris was often foisted into the straight-man role. At the spelling bee, he is the guy reading the words. His earnest delivery made him the perfect pitchman in a fake ad or a newscaster in a breaking news report. He had such an established type that, whenever he'd get a chance to play against it, he always killed.
5. Kristen Wiig (2005-2012)
The Goofball - Kristen may have had some of the zaniest characters in the history of the show. The Target Lady (pronounced TIR-git) was loud and effervescent but she was great even as a side character with her ridiculous accents and willingness to improvise. That character with the small hands lives rent-free in my nightmares.
6. Bill Hader (2005-2013)
The Character - Bill had some wild characters. Stefon, obviously, was untethered. He had great chemistry with Kristen and Fred Armisen in "The Californians." I kinda just liked when he was a weirdo, like the old interviewer, Herb, that shoved microphones in people's faces or that time he played Alan, the future of entertainment. He was also a great impressionist (His Alan Alda in the Jurassic Park auditions is too good).
7. Phil Hartman (1986-1994)
The Charmer - Whether he played the guy you root for, or the guy you root against, you rooted for Phil Hartman. He oozed charisma. He was so great at playing the comedy right at the audience (or to the audience? With the audience?).
8. Will Ferrell (1995-2002)
The Energy - Will was the ultimate "commit to the bit" performer. He brought everything he had to the role. He could ham it up and milk every ounce of laughter out of his character. It's a talent he brought with him to Hollywood.
9. Kenan Thompson (2003-?)
The Glue - Kenan's longevity is second to none. He's just seven seasons away from having been on the show for half of it's entire run. He brings an unbridled charisma to the show. He will often play the straight man that just turns to the audience as if to say "I agree, this guy is crazy." He is so much fun and can so effortlessly turn a bomb into a classic.
10. Andy Samberg (2005-2012)
The Game-Changer - Andy, in partnership with his fellow "The Lonely Island" collaborators Jorma Taccone and Akiva Schaffer, helped usher in a new wave of Saturday Night Live. They brought non-live sketches to air in the form of "Digital Shorts." Consistently, Andy delivered funny sketches, bringing them to life in a new format (and made some absolute musical bangers along the way).
11. Chris Farley (1990-1995)
The Presence - Chris Farley was special in his run on SNL. He brought an energy and physical comedy to his performances that really hasn't been matched since. His ability to shout comedically was unparalleled, and he could also steal the show with his soft spoken, timid characters.
Final Thoughts
For a show to last 50 years, it has to catch a few breaks. This show has found some really talented comedians over the years, and while they may feel that SNL was their big break, it was a bit of a break for the show to have all this talent. There are countless greats that I left off my list. From Eddie Murphy and John Belushi, to Amy Poehler and Tina Fey, there are too many to list all of the wonderful people that have made SNL the enduring legacy it is today. Please let me know which of your favorites I left off my list in the comments below. Thanks!
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