Then/Now: The Original Cast of 'Saturday Night Live'
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}'Saturday Night Live': the show that has become synonymous with American late-night comedy and launched the careers of some of the greatest comedians of the century. Beginning as a humble variety show, SNL battled through its rocky beginnings to be still on the air after 35 years. Relive your favorites as you click through to see the comedians who left their mark by starting Saturday Night Live and what they're up to today.
Born in Ontario, Canada, Dan wanted to be a Catholic priest until the age of 17. After graduation, he went on to study criminology and sociology at Carleton University before dropping out to work as a comedian in various nightclubs. Dan’s regular attendance at Le Hibou, a club in Ottawa featuring some of the greatest blues artists of the day, fostered his future iconic career as a member of The Blues Brothers with friend and 'SNL' costar Jim Belushi. During his four years at 'SNL,' Dan was well known for rapid yet steady style of delivery and his impersonations of celebrities such as Jimmy Carter, Richard Nixon and Julia Child. Dan also became well-known due to memorable recurring characters, such as Beldar, father of the Conehead’s family, and hosting the “Weekend Update” segment with Jane Curtain.
After leaving Saturday Night Live, the Emmy-winning writer and actor went on to star in various movies including 'Ghostbusters,' which he also wrote, and 'Driving Miss Daisy,' for which he was nominated for an Academy Award. Over the years, Dan has made numerous guest appearances on 'SNL' – hosting only once, the 2003 season finale. Recently, he has been starring in minor comedic roles in major productions. Dan married costar Donna Dixon in 1983, they have three daughters. Dan has been inducted into Canada’s Walk of Fame and is a Member of the Order of Canada.
Putting aside dreams of being a football coach to study acting, John broke into comedy during his time with the Chicago improv comedy troupe “Second City” and various National Lampoon works. He reached stardom through his work on "SNL" and his iconic role in "National Lampoon’s Animal House." John is also famed for his work as part of The Blues Brothers with close friend and SNL costar Dan Aykroyd. John often played outlandish roles. Though his deliver of the line, "I plan on being dead by the time I'm 30" during a sketch would prove eerily foreboding. He quickly down spiraled. His drug and alcohol addictions caused him to enter friends and strangers' houses looking for food and shelter -- sparking an SNL horror movie spoof, "The Thing That Wouldn't Leave." John reached the height of his success around his 30th birthday – "Animal House" was the number one film in America, The Blues Brothers album Briefcase Full of Blues was the number one album and "SNL" was the highest-rated show on late night television.
John left "Saturday Night Live" in 1979 with Aykroyd to pursue film acting – the pair made three movies together. John’s career was over before it could really take off due to his death caused by a drug overdose. He was just 33 years old.
After working a laundry list of odd jobs and playing drums for various bands, Chevy Chase began his comedic career with "National Lampoon Radio Hour," along with future "Saturday Night Live" cast members John Belushi, Gilda Radner, Bill Murray and Brian Doyle-Murray. Chevy also wrote briefly for Mad Magazine and the short-lived TV show the "Smothers Brothers." Originally hired as a writer for "SNL," Chase transitioned into a cast member during early rehearsals. Leaving the show after only one season – a decision he would later regret – Chase undoubtedly left his mark on the variety show. Chase was the first host of the “Weekend Update” and coined the opening of the show, “Live from New York, it’s Saturday night!” Chase won an Emmy for both acting and writing for the show’s inaugural year and New York magazine labeled him “the funniest man in America.”
After leaving "SNL," Chase continued to be known as one of the greatest comedy actors of the generation, starring in movies such as "Caddyshack," the "National Lampoon Vacation" movies and "Three Amigos." His career took a downturn in the ‘90s but he has returned to television, guest-starring in numerous TV shows. He is currently starring NBC’s sitcom “Community.” Chevy is an active environmentalist, outspoken liberal and avid fan of jazz. He is married to Jayni Luke and the father of three girls.
Before auditioning for "Saturday Night Live," Jane Curtin dropped out of college to pursue a comedy career. She joined a comedy group and starred in an off-Broadway play, "Pretzels." Curtin's straight-laced comedic style on "SNL" often had her playing foil to the outlandish characters played by costars Gilda Radner and John Belushi. She took over “Weekend Update” after Chevy Chase’s departure from the show. She was later paired with Dan Aykroyd, where they famously parodied a "60 Minutes" segment “Point-Counterpoint.” The pair’s banter became famous when conservative Dan would rebut Jane’s liberal viewpoint with, “Jane, you ignorant slut.” To which she replied, “Dan, you pompous ass.”
After spending five seasons with "Saturday Night Live," Curtin chose to leave the show but remain in television. She went on to star in two long-running sitcoms: “Kate & Allie,” for which she won two Emmy Awards, and “3rd Rock from the Sun.” Jane appeared on Broadway various times and in movies, including "Coneheads," where she reunited with Dan Aykroyd to star in the movie based on an "SNL" skit. Curtin married Patrick Lynch in 1975, the couple has one daughter. Recently, she scored second place in “Jeopardy! Million Dollar Celebrity Invitational” – winning $250,000 for UNICEF.
The actor from New Orleans was raised by his grandfather, a Baptist minister, leading him to sing in the church choir throughout his youth. Morris was a Julliard-trained singer and graduated from Dillard University before appearing in numerous Broadway plays. He also played minor roles in movies before signing on to "Saturday Night Live." Morris starred on "SNL" until 1980. Some of his most famous characters were Chico Escuela, the Dominican baseball player who responded to almost every question with “Baseball been berry berry good to me,” and the “President of the New York School for the Hard of Hearing,” who would shout the “Weekend Update” headlines. Garrett was reportedly very unhappy during his tenure at "SNL" – attributed to his notion of being typecast into very stereotypical roles – and began using drugs. The drugs quickly took their toll, as he reportedly began feeling paranoid and hallucinating, culminating in a screaming outburst during a rehearsal.
Since departing Saturday Night Live, Morris has appeared in numerous movies and television shows. He is also the owner of The Downtown Comedy Club in Los Angeles. In 2007, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa declared Feb. 9, 2007, Garrett Morris Day. Today, Morris also appears in commercials.
The Los Angeles native began her comedic career as a founding member of the comedy group “The Groundlings” before joining "SNL." Laraine is most remembered for Sheri the Valley Girl and Connie Conehead. During her five years on the show, Laraine became frustrated with her lack of airtime. She took full responsibility, citing her refusal to develop recurring characters, like her costar Gilda Radner – who became somewhat of a rival.
After leaving "Saturday Night Live," Laraine worked mostly as a voice actor. Most notably lending her talents to "WALL-E," “Rugrats” and “As Told By Ginger.” She also guest stared in numerous hit TV shows like “Lavern & Shirley,” “Friends,” “3rd Rock From the Sun” and “Curb Your Enthusiasm.” Currently, Newman is a contributing editor for the website One For The Table and an occasional writer for the Huffington Post. She married actor/writer Chad Einbinder, they have two daughters.
Gilda grew up in Detroit, Michigan, where she was very close to her father until his death when she was 12. Due to weight issues, Radner struggled with bulimia during her teenage years, which would resurface periodically into her adult life. Dropping out of college to follow her then boyfriend to Canada, shebegan her acting career in a production of "Godspell" before joining the Second City comedy troupe and National Lampoon Radio Hour. Radner was the first hired cast member of "Saturday Night Live" and remained on the show for five years. She’s best known her memorable characters: Roseanne Roseannadanna, who would spill disgusting celebrity habits on “Weekend Update,” Baba Wawa, a spoof of Barbra Walters, and Emily Litella, a hearing-impaired correspondent who spoke on such topics as “violins in television,” the “Eagle Rights Amendment,” “presidential erections,” and “protecting endangered feces,” humbly replying, “never mind” when corrected. Gilda won an Emmy for her work on Saturday Night Live in 1978.
Radner went on to be considered one of the greatest comediennes of the 20th century. Following "Saturday Night Live," she made numerous movies and starred on Broadway in "Gilda Live!" which was later filmed. Radner found self-proclaimed “love at first sight” in actor Gene Wilder, whom she married after a failed marriage. The couple made three films together. Radner was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 1986. While in remission, she wrote a book about her life and struggles with cancer, entitled "It’s Always Something" after the catchphrase of her characters. Her cancer flared in 1989 and she died in her sleep at the hospital. Wilder worked tirelessly with various others to raise awareness about and provide services for patients with ovarian cancer across the United States. Radner won a posthumous Grammy for “Best Spoken Word or Non-Musical Recording” in 1990 and she received a star on the Hollywood walk of fame in 2003. In 2002, a biopic aired on ABC about her life – "Gilda Radner: It’s Always Something."