The season 1 cast of ‘Saturday Night Live’.Photo:NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty
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NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty
01of 07Chevy ChaseChevy Chase on ‘Saturday Night Live’ in the 1970s and in 2018.NBC/NBCU Photo Bank/Getty; NBC/NBCU Photo BankThe first cast member to host Weekend Update, Chevy Chase returned toSNLfor its second season but left partway through. Albeit short, Chase’s time on the show earned him two Primetime Emmy Awards in 1976 for outstanding performance and outstanding writing. Chase came back to host the show eight times between 1978 and 1997.AfterSNL, Chase, now 80, continued his acting career in both television and film. On the big screen, he starred inFoul Play(1978),Caddyshack(1980),National Lampoon’s Vacation(1983) andNational Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation(1989). On the small screen, his most notable role was on the 2010s NBC sitcomCommunity, as Pierce Hawthorne.While making the 1981 filmUnder the Rainbow, Chase metJayni Luke, a production assistant. After dating for two years, the two tied the knot in June 1982. This year, the couple celebrated 42 years of marriage onInstagram.In August, theThree Amigosstarbecame a grandfatherafter his daughterEmilygave birth to her first child.
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Chevy Chase on ‘Saturday Night Live’ in the 1970s and in 2018.NBC/NBCU Photo Bank/Getty; NBC/NBCU Photo Bank
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NBC/NBCU Photo Bank/Getty; NBC/NBCU Photo Bank
The first cast member to host Weekend Update, Chevy Chase returned toSNLfor its second season but left partway through. Albeit short, Chase’s time on the show earned him two Primetime Emmy Awards in 1976 for outstanding performance and outstanding writing. Chase came back to host the show eight times between 1978 and 1997.AfterSNL, Chase, now 80, continued his acting career in both television and film. On the big screen, he starred inFoul Play(1978),Caddyshack(1980),National Lampoon’s Vacation(1983) andNational Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation(1989). On the small screen, his most notable role was on the 2010s NBC sitcomCommunity, as Pierce Hawthorne.While making the 1981 filmUnder the Rainbow, Chase metJayni Luke, a production assistant. After dating for two years, the two tied the knot in June 1982. This year, the couple celebrated 42 years of marriage onInstagram.
In August, theThree Amigosstarbecame a grandfatherafter his daughterEmilygave birth to her first child.
02of 07Jane CurtinJane Curtin on ‘Saturday Night Live’ in the 1970s and in 2019.Owen Franken/Corbis via Getty; Nicholas Hunt/GettyJane Curtin stayed onSNLfor five seasons until 1980, taking over for Chase as the host of Weekend Update after he left in season 2. Her iconic characters include Enid Loopner and PrymaatConehead, a role she later reprised in the 1993Coneheadsfilm.After her departure, Curtin, now 77, went on to star alongsideSusan Saint Jamesin the CBS sitcomKate & Allie. The show lasted for six seasons from 1984 to 1989. Curtin’s performance as Allie Lowell earned her two Emmy Awards in 1984 and 1985 for outstanding lead actress in a comedy series, and she was nominated once again in 1987.Her television career continued with the hit show3rd Rock from the Sun. From 1996 to 2001, she starred alongsideJohn Lithgow,Joseph Gordon-Levitt, French Stewart andKristen Johnstonas Dr. Mary Albright.In 1975, Curtin married producer Patrick Lynch. Together they have one daughter, Tess Curtin Lynch.
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Jane Curtin on ‘Saturday Night Live’ in the 1970s and in 2019.Owen Franken/Corbis via Getty; Nicholas Hunt/Getty
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Owen Franken/Corbis via Getty; Nicholas Hunt/Getty
Jane Curtin stayed onSNLfor five seasons until 1980, taking over for Chase as the host of Weekend Update after he left in season 2. Her iconic characters include Enid Loopner and PrymaatConehead, a role she later reprised in the 1993Coneheadsfilm.
After her departure, Curtin, now 77, went on to star alongsideSusan Saint Jamesin the CBS sitcomKate & Allie. The show lasted for six seasons from 1984 to 1989. Curtin’s performance as Allie Lowell earned her two Emmy Awards in 1984 and 1985 for outstanding lead actress in a comedy series, and she was nominated once again in 1987.Her television career continued with the hit show3rd Rock from the Sun. From 1996 to 2001, she starred alongsideJohn Lithgow,Joseph Gordon-Levitt, French Stewart andKristen Johnstonas Dr. Mary Albright.In 1975, Curtin married producer Patrick Lynch. Together they have one daughter, Tess Curtin Lynch.
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Garrett Morris on ‘Saturday Night Live’ in the 1970s and in 2024.Courtesy Everett Collection; Leon Bennett/GA/The Hollywood Reporter via Getty
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Courtesy Everett Collection; Leon Bennett/GA/The Hollywood Reporter via Getty
“Some producers didn’t want a Black cast member but Lorne Michaels knew the show needed one,”Morris told PEOPLE earlier this year. “I dealt with some racism there, but never with Lorne. He doesn’t have a racist bone in his body.”
Morris, now 87, was addicted to cocaine during his time onSNLand after. Ten years ago, Morris got sober and stopped using the drug after going to Alcoholics Anonymous,he told PEOPLEin February of 2024.AfterSNL, Morris’s acting career included roles inThe Jeffersons,MartinandThe Jamie Foxx Show. More recently, he played the Williamsburg Diner’s cashier Earl Washington in2 Broke Girls.Earlier this year,Morris was honored with a staron Hollywood’s Walk of Fame on his 87th birthday.
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Laraine Newman on ‘Saturday Night Live’ in the 1970s and in 2024.NBC/NBCU Photo Bank/Getty; Emma McIntyre/Getty
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NBC/NBCU Photo Bank/Getty; Emma McIntyre/Getty
Newman made the newsfollowing this year’s Emmy Awards.
“F—. THE BEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” she wrote in a post toXafterThe Bear’sLiza Colón-Zayastook home the award for best supporting actress in a comedy. Also nominated in this category was Newman’s daughter, Hannah, for her role inHacks.
05of 07Dan AykroydDan Aykroyd on ‘Saturday Night Live’ in the 1970s and in 2017.NBC/Courtesy Everett Collection; Noam Galai/GettyFamously playing one-half of the Blues Brothers was Dan Aykroyd, who portrayed Elwood. Aykroyd was a member of theSNLcast for four seasons. In 1977, he won an Emmy Award for outstanding writing for his work on the show.AfterSNL, Aykroyd reprised his most popular characters in the 1980 filmThe Blues Brothersand in 1993’sConeheads,though his most notable role might be that of Dr. Raymond Stantz inGhostbusters(1984) and its subsequent sequels. He earned a Best Supporting Actor Oscar nomination for his work inDriving Miss Daisy(1989),and broke hearts in 1991’sMy Girl.More recently, he reunited with his former castmate Chevy Chase inZombie Town(2023).In 1983, Aykroyd, now 72, married hisTwilight Zone: The Moviecostar Donna Dixon. Nearly 40 years later, the coupleannounced their separation. Together, they have three daughters: Danielle (known professionally as singer-songwriter Vera Sola), Belle and Stella.
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Dan Aykroyd on ‘Saturday Night Live’ in the 1970s and in 2017.NBC/Courtesy Everett Collection; Noam Galai/Getty
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NBC/Courtesy Everett Collection; Noam Galai/Getty
Famously playing one-half of the Blues Brothers was Dan Aykroyd, who portrayed Elwood. Aykroyd was a member of theSNLcast for four seasons. In 1977, he won an Emmy Award for outstanding writing for his work on the show.
AfterSNL, Aykroyd reprised his most popular characters in the 1980 filmThe Blues Brothersand in 1993’sConeheads,though his most notable role might be that of Dr. Raymond Stantz inGhostbusters(1984) and its subsequent sequels. He earned a Best Supporting Actor Oscar nomination for his work inDriving Miss Daisy(1989),and broke hearts in 1991’sMy Girl.More recently, he reunited with his former castmate Chevy Chase inZombie Town(2023).In 1983, Aykroyd, now 72, married hisTwilight Zone: The Moviecostar Donna Dixon. Nearly 40 years later, the coupleannounced their separation. Together, they have three daughters: Danielle (known professionally as singer-songwriter Vera Sola), Belle and Stella.
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John Belushi on ‘Saturday Night Live’ in the 1970s and in 1980.NBC/courtesy Everett Collection; Steve Kagan/Getty
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NBC/courtesy Everett Collection; Steve Kagan/Getty
Belushi was addicted to cocaine for much of his career. In 1982, he died after an apparent drug overdose. It came as a shock to family, friends and former costars.
“John was always the guy who went a little too far and wanted to stay too long at the party,”Belushi’s widow Judytold PEOPLE in 2020. “It seemed okay, but then he got into things like cocaine and that is not a sustainable drug. People began to get concerned.” (Judy diedin 2024.)
“He was one of the most intrinsically funny men I have ever known,” said fellow cast member Chevy Chase in Belushi’sNew York Timesobituary. “I count myself lucky to have known him.”
“I lament that he’s not around,“Aykroyd told PEOPLEin 2024. “It’s more than wistfulness: it’s a true lamentation.”
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Gilda Radner on ‘Saturday Night Live’ in the 1970s and in 1985.NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty; Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty
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NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty; Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty
source: people.com