Thanks to the changes made during the late 80s, Saturday Night Live started the 90s on a high. But while there was more stability and certainly more star power in this era, the show still slogged through an uncomfortable period of transition between the gold standard cast of Phil Hartman, Dana Carvey, and Mike Myers, and the cast that was fronted by Will Ferrell and Molly Shannon.
All told, there were 34 cast members that belonged to the 90s. Some blew up, some faded away, and others popped on our screens for only an instant. Read down to see what they brought to Saturday Night Live and what they’ve done since they graduated (or were tossed aside). After that, be sure to check out our look back at the 70s cast and the 80s cast…
Jim Breuer (1995-1998)
If you would have asked me at the start of the 1995 season who was going to be the breakout star of that cast, I would have said Jim Breuer. I would have screamed it, and yet that did not happen. Instead, the hyperactive Breuer had a few stand-out bits like The Joe Pesci Show and Goat Boy — both of which feel, in hindsight, extremely limited in their lifespan — but wasn’t asked back after his third season, which he blamed on Adam McKay, the show’s head writer at the time.
You can go here to read all about it, but basically, McKay contends that Lorne Michaels was forced to hire Breuer and that his success with Half Baked and a pending film career had commandeered his focus and allowed Michaels a chance to get rid of him.
Unfortunately, that movie career never really materialized, but Breuer has worked steadily since leaving SNL, particularly as a comic, putting out five one-hour specials and a book.
Beth Cahill (1991-1992)
Cahill‘s career didn’t take off after she left SNL following a forgettable season. Now she’s a sometime fashion designer and continues to do improv on the side.
Dana Carvey (1986-1993)
One of SNL‘s late-80s and early-90s saviors, Dana Carvey was a recurring character factory, launching The Church Lady, Hans of Hans and Franz, Garth, and an iconic President George H. W. Bush impression into the zeitgeist.
After SNL, Carvey struggled to find the right project for his unique skill set. 1996’s Dana Carvey Show seemed like a fit for its star, but ABC didn’t know what to do with it and it died fast despite the fact that the show featured on-screen and behind-the-scenes talent like Stephen Colbert, Steve Carell, Robert Smigel, Louis CK, Jon Glasser, Dino Stamatopoulos, and Charlie Kauffman. 2002’s Master of Disguise was a less surprising disappointment.
Giving Carvey’s post-SNL career anything other than an incomplete grade is unfair, though, since heart trouble took him out of the game for awhile in the late 90s. Lately, Carvey is in good health and regularly touring as a stand-up comic.
Ellen Cleghorne (1991-1995)
Cleghorne left SNL to star in her own series on The WB, but it died after 12 episodes. Oddly, I thought that Cleghorne! lasted a while and that Ellen Cleghorne had only been on SNL for a year or two, but that isn’t so. The things you learn…
Cleghorne has appeared sporadically on the big screen since the mid-90s, most notably in Little Nicky, Old School, and Grown Ups 2. #SandlerConnection
Chris Elliott (1994-1995)
Chris Elliott did some amazing stuff by David Letterman’s side during the NBC years, but when he graduated to SNL, it just didn’t happen for him.
Elliott co-starred in There’s Something About Mary and Scary Movie 2, voiced Dogbert in the Dilbert cartoon, and had recurring roles on Everybody Loves Raymond, and How I Met Your Mother after SNL. More recently, he starred in Eagleheart for Adult Swim and his new show, Schitt’s Creek, just premiered on something called The Pop Network. He also went back to Letterman the other night and made magic happen.
Siobhan Fallon (1991-1992)
Fallon has been a steady character actress since she left SNL. Her most notable role was in Men in Black.
Chris Farley (1990-1995)
A f*cking force of nature. Farley wasn’t the passive “fat guy fall down, make funny” kind of guy. He owned his size and used it as a tool, throwing himself around and bucking like a bull in the china shop of life.
Matt Foley and the Chippendale Dancer are legendary sketches, and Farley had a good thing going post-SNL with David Spade after Black Sheep and Tommy Boy. What I’m saying is, the church of awe that rose up after Farley’s drug-related death isn’t a result of his fame and youth, it’s real. Just like the talent that he took with him to the great wherever.
Will Ferrell (1995-2002)
Each era seems to have a star that could rightly be considered the most successful alum in SNL history. Will Ferrell is that for the 90s as much as Bill Murray was for the 70s and Eddie Murphy was for the 80s.
A part of the reboot cast of 1995 that slowly but surely filled the gap after the loss of the late 80s and early 90s standouts, Ferrell didn’t seem like he would be the one to lead the show out of the darkness. And then he was, deploying a rare ability to morph into a character and a willingness to go to some strange places for laughs.
Roger Klarvin, the incomparable Robert Goulet, Gene Frenkle, and George W. Bush. Contrast those with a straight character like Alex Trebek and you’ll appreciate Ferrell’s range. In a way, he was like a cross between Phil Hartman, Mike Myers, and Dana Carvey — the big three that had helped to rescue the show from the mid-80s doledrums.
Following SNL, Ferrell continued creating weird and wonderful characters like Ricky Bobby in Talladega Nights and Ron Burgundy in Anchorman; and he also had a hand in creating an outlet for others with Funny or Die and as one of the producers behind Drunk History, Eastbound and Down, and Between Two Ferns. Up next, Ferrell will co-star with Kevin Hart in Get Hard.
Janeane Garofalo (1994-1995)
Janeane Garofalo didn’t love her brief time at SNL and there are all kinds of stories about why (boys club atmosphere) and opinions about her opinions in Live From New York. The bottom line is: it wasn’t a good match.
In the years since, Garofalo has booked a lot of work in television, particularly dramatic work on 24, The West Wing, and the Criminal Minds spin-off. She’s also coming back for Netflix’s Wet Hot American Summer event series.
Ana Gasteyer (1996-2001)
A Groundlings alum, Gasteyer’s signature SNL moments came thanks to her topless Martha Stewart moment, her Celine Dion impression, and her team-up with Molly Shannon as the hosts of Delicious Dish.
After SNL, Gasteyer went the theater route with a role in Wicked. On TV, she co-starred on Suburgatory for three seasons and recently guest starred on both Girls and The Mindy Project.
Phil Hartman (1986-1994)
“President Reagan Mastermind” is the perfect sketch, Hartman’s Frank Sinatra pushed away the gentle affection of Joe Piscopo’s tribute to Old Blue Eyes in favor of bigger laughs, and characters like Eugene, The Anal Retentive Chef and Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer are underrated jewels.
Phil Hartman did approximately 1,000 things well on Saturday Night Live. He was more than just “the glue” that kept episodes and sketches together, he was the most important cast member from the 80s through to Will Ferrell’s prime thanks to his unheralded knack for becoming a character. Phil Hartman started the rebirth when he walked through the door and his exit from SNL kicked off the rebuild. What more can you say?
After leaving SNL, Hartman picked up a few supporting parts in film, but he really excelled on television with his iconic voice work on The Simpsons and his work as Bill McNeal on Newsradio, a criminally overlooked workplace ensemble sitcom. Sadly, Hartman’s life and career were cut short when he was murdered in his sleep by his wife. A loss that still stings.
Melanie Hutsell (1991-1994)
Patrick Weathers was an Elvis impersonator before he made it onto the show and Melanie Hutsell was a Jan Brady impersonator as a part of the Annoyance Theater’s production of The Real Live Brady Bunch. Once on SNL, Hutsell ported her Jan Brady over for the occasional appearance, but besides that, she was a minor supporting player for three seasons.
Hutsell’s post-SNL career has a big chunk missing as she retired from the business to spend time with her kids, but since 2009 she’s made a series of small appearances in projects like Grown Ups 2, Bridesmaids, Subergatory, and in the Lorne Michaels owned Above Average Video’s Clap it Up web short.
Chris Kattan (1996-2003)
Kattan had quite the stable of characters in his time on SNL — Mango, Mr. Peepers, Azrael, and one of the Butabi Brothers. Like Molly Shannon’s Mary Katherine Gallagher, Kattan and Will Ferrell’s Butabi Brothers were pushed out into the world half-formed for a movie, but while Night at the Roxbury failed to connect, that didn’t diminish Kattan’s run on SNL.
After he left the show, Kattan bounced around a bit while trying to find a fit. Eventually, he landed a supporting role on The Middle, though he’s continued to pop up in under the radar films and the occasional guest spot.
Laura Kightlinger (1994-1995)
Really great comic, but it just didn’t work out for her on SNL. She’s stayed busy in front of and behind the camera since then, most notably as a producer and writer on Will and Grace and 2 Broke Girls.
Norm Macdonald (1993-1998)
Macdonald was one of the best Update anchors in SNL history thanks to his inability to pander and his willingness to make people uncomfortable. Then he got fired from the job thanks to his repeated jokes about OJ Simpson (who had a friend in NBC president Don Ohlmeyer) whenever he was in the news. After that dismissal (which Macdonald talked about on The Late Show immediately after it happened), Macdonald stuck around for awhile so that someone would be on call to play Burt Reynolds, but the job soon lost its appeal and he split.
Since then, Macdonald has worked steadily in guest appearances and films, finding the most success across two seasons on Norm and half a season on A Minute With Stan Hooper. Presently, he works as a touring comic, does some voice work on Mike Tyson Mysteries, puts out the highly enjoyable Norm Macdonald Live podcast, and campaigns for late night talk shows. Norm for The Daily Show? Why not.
Michael McKean (1994-1995)
One of the stars of This is Spinal Tap and Laverne and Shirley, McKean had been around for a long time before joining the cast — he even hosted in 1984 and also appeared as a musical guest separately that year. I assume he was brought in to be a stabilizing force, but his time on the show wasn’t terribly memorable and he soon moved on. Since then, McKean has kept super busy, working as a part of Christopher Guest’s company of actors and constantly popping up on TV and in films. Now, he’s co-starring in Better Call Saul.
Mark McKinney (1995-1997)
Like McKean, McKinney was probably brought in to be a stabilizing force thanks to his years of experience on the Michaels produced Kids in the Hall. McKean was also a writer on SNL during the 1985-1986 season. An experience that he surely drew from when he worked as both a writer and an actor playing a sketch comedy show writer on Aaron Sorkin’s Studio 60.
In recent years, McKinney has done the guest star thing. He also reunited with the other Kids in the Hall for the Death Comes to Town mini-series. Presently, he can be seen opposite SNL alum Robin Duke in the Lorne Michaels produced FXX series Man Seeking Woman.
Tim Meadows (1991-2000)
Meadows’ stint on SNL is most notable for its longevity, but he did get the chance to make a Ladies Man movie… so that’s something.
Since leaving the show, Meadows has done a ton of guest spots on TV and played a supporting character in a number of SNL alum films like Mean Girls, Benchwarmers, Semi-Pro, and Grown Ups 2. #SandlerConnection
He’s currently co-starring in Marry Me beside another SNL alum, Casey Wilson.
Tracy Morgan (1996-2003)
Morgan’s run on SNL was solid but overshadowed by his Emmy award nominated stint on 30 Rock. Unfortunately, controversy and health woes have taken some of the spotlight from Morgan’s talent as well over the last few years. Particularly now as he works his way back from a horrific car crash.
Jay Mohr (1993-1995)
Jay Mohr’s SNL stint wasn’t successful in the conventional way — he had panic attacks on the air and plagiarized a sketch — but the exposure served as a bridge for him.
After-SNL, Mohr played Tom Cruise’s nemesis in Jerry Maguire, a photographer opposite Jennifer Aniston in Picture Perfect, a slime-ball agent in the awesome but short-lived Action, and a single dad in Gary Unmarried –which lasted for two seasons. Mohr was also the host and co-creator of Last Comic Standing. Presently, he hosts the popular Mohr Stories podcast and he does stand-up, mixing in the occasional acting role.
Mike Myers (1989-1995)
Another early 90s SNL rockstar. Myers gave us Wayne’s World, Coffee Talk, Sprockets, and so much more before he started to outgrow the show thanks to the success of the Wayne’s World movie.
After SNL, Myers continued to strive forward, creating the Austin Powers franchise and starring as the voice of Shrek.
Myers’ most recent creation, 2008’s The Love Guru, failed to click with fans and critics were merciless. Following that effort, Myers began to seemingly pull back from bigger projects, appearing as a supporting character in Inglorious Basterds and directing a documentary about talent manager Shep Gordon. Hopefully he makes another comedy someday. Dude still owes us that Sprockets movie and seeing that would make me as happy as a… no. I said no catchphrases.
Kevin Nealon (1986-1995)
Nealon has the misfortune of being remembered as the guy who held the Weekend Update anchor chair between Dennis Miller and Norm Macdonald, but his run is a bit underrated, as was his time on SNL. He brought Subliminal Message Man to life while teaming with Dana Carvey on Hans and Franz. After the show, Nealon bounced around a bit before catching on with Weeds and Glen Martin DDS. Lately he splits his time between doing stand-up and waiting on his next Adam Sandler pension plan contribution/Happy Madison gig.
Cheri Oteri (1995-2000)
Another member of the 1995-1996 reboot cast, Cheri Oteri had built-in chemistry with Will Ferrell thanks to their time in The Groundlings and it paid off with the Spartan Cheerleaders sketches, which was Oteri’s most popular character besides her Barbara Walters impression.
Not the star of the show, but a key player, Oteri left after five seasons but she didn’t exactly, to borrow a term that has been attributed to Lorne Michaels, “build a bridge to the next thing”. Oteri has worked, don’t get me wrong, but she hasn’t found anything that would knock SNL out of the first line of her biography. Most recently, she had a guest spot on Hot in Cleveland.
Colin Quinn (1995-2000)
Quinn was an interesting fit for SNL and he had a decent run, most notably as Norm Macdonald’s sudden replacement at the Weekend Update desk, where Quinn had previously excelled as his Joe Blow character. After SNL, Quinn went back to stand-up, but he’s done a fair amount of work on TV, most notably as the host of Tough Crowd. Quinn can next be seen in Amy Schumer’s Trainwreck.
Chris Rock (1990-1993)
Another big talent that wasn’t used properly on the show. Rock went on to make a few appearances on In Living Color (“Good lawd, that’s a lot of money!”) before his breakout in a series of legendary stand-up specials like Bring the Pain. His winning streak continued when he hosted The Chris Rock Show on HBO from 1997-2000, but Rock has struggled to find a defining role on the big screen despite a lot of attempts.
Recently, Rock went back to directing with Top Five, earning a fair bit of acclaim for the comedy. Hopefully he keeps at it, because as his biggest successes — stand-up, The Chris Rock Show, and as a producer on Everybody Hates Chris — demonstrate, no one can deploy Chris Rock’s talents like Chris Rock can.
Adam Sandler (1991-1995)
Save for the fact that one was sarcastic and the other was silly, in many ways, Adam Sandler was the 90s-era’s Chevy Chase in that he wasn’t really there to fall into characters or to lend support in other sketches. He was who he was and people loved it, especially with Happy Gilmore and Billy Madison.
People still love Sandler’s shtick to the disdain of a lot of critics, but I’ll give Sandler a lot of credit for occasionally challenging the masses with a different look on the big screen. Don’t get me wrong, he’s put out a lot of crap, but there’s some goodness in there too like Punch-Drunk Love, Big Daddy, The Wedding Singer, and sh*t… even Grown Ups and Click have their moments and yeah, I just typed that. Also, as you may have noticed, the guy is second only to Lorne Michaels for the amount of SNL alums that he has hired.
Rob Schneider (1990-1994)
The “Makin Copies” guy graduated from SNL to work as Sly Stallone’s little buddy in Judge Dredd and as a guy who knows what’s up with the “three sea shells” in Demolition Man. He followed those supporting roles with a series of financially successful, but critically lambasted comedies like Deuce Bigelow and The Animal. Schneider has also appeared opposite friend to the working man Adam Sandler numerous times, often as the “You can do it!” guy. Where’s that guy’s solo film, Sand Man?
Sarah Silverman (1993-1994)
Some people’s comic sensibilities don’t gel with SNL‘s sensibilities. I assume that’s what happened here, but Silverman is a genius who has only gotten better over the years. A bit of praise that is underwritten by her Emmy win for her one hour HBO special We Are Miracles.
In addition to doing stand-up, Silverman has carved out a decent career as a supporting and voice actress following her three year run with The Sarah Silverman Program. Right now, she’s working on a pilot for HBO.
Molly Shannon (1995-2001)
A part of SNL‘s new talent wave beside Will Ferrell, Shannon used her flair for physical comedy and wild characters to get people’s attention as Mary Katherine Gallagher and Sally O’Malley.
Following SNL, Shannon has worked quite a bit as a popular guest star and she’s made a few appearances on the big screen, most notably in Talledega Nights. Like a lot of SNL standouts, though, Shannon had a hard time finding a role that fits her unique skillset. Hopefully that will one day change.
Like Garofalo, Shannon will soon reprise her role in the Netlfix continuation of Wet Hot American Summer.
Robert Smigel (1991-1993)
Smigel is one of the most important contributors in Saturday Night Live history. His two year stint as a featured player is really just an excuse to talk about it here.
With all due respect to the late 80s and early 90s cast, without a Jim Downey-led writer’s room with Conan O’Brien, Bob Odenkirk, and Robert Smigel, the second SNL golden age doesn’t likely exist. Add to that Smigel’s port of The Ambiguously Gay Duo from The Dana Carvey Show and the creation of TV Funhouse — whose ability to generate analog viral content (aka conversation) has been forgotten following the success of Lonely Island’s Digital Shorts — and it’s easy to see why I talk about Smigel’s place on SNL Mount Rushmore.
And all of that is to say nothing of the fact that he also ran the Late Night with Conan O’Brien writer’s room in the early, wild, and most amazing days of that show, creating Triumph the Insult Comic Dog in the process. That character is the beating heart of Smigel’s latest project, The Jack and Triumph Show which will debut on February 20th on Adult Swim. Smigel also co-wrote the script for Hotel Transylvania 2 with Adam Sandler, but I am less excited about that.
David Spade (1990-1996)
Known mostly for the “Buh Bye” sketch and his work alienating Eddie Murphy on the “Hollywood Minute” portion of Weekend Update, Spade’s career stature only grew when he left SNL, even after the death of his comedy partner, Chris Farley.
On television, Spade has found stability. Just Shoot Me lasted seven seasons, The Showbiz Show went three, and Rules of Engagement spent six years on TV despite all of my letters.
Spade has had comparatively less success in film, but Joe Dirt was a cult-hit and a sequel is on the way. Spade has also worked extensively with Adam Sandler. Are we noticing a trend among the 90s SNL castmembers yet?
Julia Sweeney (1990-1994)
Sweeney’s indelible SNL legacy came in the form of Pat, a character whose entire reason for being could have undone by one impolite question regarding his or her his or herness. After leaving the show, Sweeney took Pat to the big screen with It’s Pat, which fell flat. Rhyming. I recommend it.
Following the paltry reception for It’s Pat, Sweeney soldiered on doing a lot of guest work, but her true claim to post-SNL notoriety has come as an intensely personal monologist who has spoken frankly about her battle with cancer and her thoughts on God. Sweeney has also done some work as a voice actress.
Nancy Walls (1995-1996)
Three years after leaving SNL, Walls started a three year run as a correspondent on The Daily Show. Most recently, she had a recurring role on The Office as a real estate agent and love interest for her husband Steve Carell’s character Michael Scott.
Fred Wolf (1995-1996)
Another SNL writer who was briefly a part of the cast. Since Wolf left SNL, he has pursued a career behind the camera, often with Team Sandler. Wolf co-wrote both Grown Ups movies and he’s directing Joe Dirt 2.
