1990-1995
 

 

Chris Farley
Deemed as the most zaniest cast member of all time, Chris was one of the greatest players ever. One of his first breakout roles was when Patrick Swayze hosted, and both he and Chris were auditioning for a male stripper at "Chippendales," and both were forced to get on stage and dance and take off their clothes. After that, he was really used and well liked, creating characters like Bennet Brouer, Todd O'Connor from "Bill Swerski's Superfans," Cindy Crawford from the Gap parodies, Beverly Gelfand from Zagat's, and his most famous and funny character, Matt Foley: Motivational Speaker. Some of his work on impressions include the late Jerry Garcia, Roger Ebert, Meatloaf, Tom Arnold, General Norman Schwarzkopf, Newt Gingrich, Boris Yeltsin, and George Wendt. Farley left the show in 1995 to pursue a movie career, creating some of the funniest movies of the 90's including "Tommy Boy," and "Black Sheep." It was Farley's insaneness and crazy life that drove him to drugs, alcohol and women. In December of 1997, just over a month after his first hosting stint, Chris died of a drug overdose along with a heart attack. The Chris Farley Foundation was set up to help others who were addicted like Chris.

Chris Rock
Chris Rock was an SNLer for three years. As the first African-American star since Eddie Murphy, he had a lot to live up to. But he did, and was known for his whimsical words and provocative puns against white people. He introduced characters Nat X, Onski, and Buster Jenkins. His impressions include Arsenio Hall, Michael Jackson, Whoopie Goldberg, Jaleel White, and Luther Campbell. He also made several editorials on Weekend Update. He left in 1993 to pursue a TV and film career, all which were successful. 

Julia Sweeney
Julia Sweeney joined the company in 1990 and left in 1994. Although not known as well, her most recognized character is "Pat," the he-she. She kept us wondering for years what gender she was, but revealed in 2002 that Pat was a woman because when she was in a sketch and had kissed, she assumed the female position. She also did occasional impressions including Joy Philbin, Ethel Merman, Nancy Sinatra, Chelsea Clinton. She left the show because she said "she was scheduled to have a sketch but just before Live would be cut because Adam Sandler wanted to sing a song."

Rob Schneider
Rob was an on-air performer for four years, from 1990-1994. Some of his characters include Frank the Doorman, The Sensitive Naked Man, Orgasm Guy, and Richard Laymer, also known as the "Richmister" who chastised people for "makin' copies!" Elvis, Erik Menendez, k.d Lang, Soon-Yi Previn, and Fred Schneider. He left to pursue a film career. 

Ellen Cleghorne
Ellen was a featured player for two years and a cast member for two years. During her time on the show, she created characters like Queen Shequena and Zoraida, with impressions like Anita Baker, Tina Turner, Whoopi Goldberg, and Natalie Cole. Since her stint on the show, she's done small movie projects.

Melanie Hutsell
Melanie was an extra, featured player and full cast member in a three years time. Her impressions included "Di," the frat house girl, and Jan Brady, while she did impressions of Wynona Judd, Ricki Lake, and Kate Pierson. Since her time on the show, we never heard from her.

Michael McKean
Quick quiz: who was the only person ever to be a host, musical guest, and cast member on SNL, though not in that order? That's right- Michael McKean did it. He was with musical guest Spinal Tap in 1984, then hosted in fall 1984, and was a cast member for a season and a half. He was part of the infamous "Celebrity Cast" of 1994, because he was a well known movie star prior to his stint. He created, along with Jay Mohr, a featured player from 1993-1995, Anthony, the traffic man, in "Good Morning Brooklyn," and portrayed people like Howard Stern, Elvis Costello, OJ Simpson attorney Robert Shapiro, John Tesh, and played President Clinton in the '94 season. Since his time on the show, he's gone on to star in several more movies.

Tim Meadows
Tim Meadows holds bragging rights as serving as the longest SNLer in its history. With just under 10 seasons in him from 1991-2000, Tim was one of the funniest in history and at the same time one of the most underrated and underused. He was barely seen for his first 3 seasons on the show, but as time when on, he proved to be one of the biggest stars and Lorne's favorite. Tim was fired from the show in 1995, along with most of the cast, but then rehired literally days before the season premiere to balance the cast out. With hilarious impressions like Don King, Greg Gumbel, Sammy Davis Jr., RuPaul, Johnny Cochran, Al Cowlings, Bettie Currie, Bernard Shaw, and his most famous, OJ Simpson. Though more a impressionist and sketch player, he did create some of his own characters like Lionel Osbourne, Captain Jim, G-Dog, and one of the most popular recurring characters ever, Leon Phelps and "The Ladies Man," which was made into a full feature movie in 2000. Since then, he had a starring role in the short lived NBC sitcom, "The Michael Richards Show," in 2000 and a supporting role in another NBC sitcom in early 2002. 

Adam Sandler
One of the biggest fan favorites of the show, Adam Sandler was part of the cast for 5 seasons. He, along with Farley and David Spade, created some of the weirdest and oddest moments in the "old school" cast. He created characters like Gil Graham, Fabio, Opera Man, Hank Gelfand, and most notorious, Canteen Boy, which during 1993 when Alec Baldwin hosted, got calls after the show about a particular sketch where he played a Boy Scout and his leader was gay, and the sketch containing sexual innuendos. He also did impressions of Bono, Eddie Vedder, Rhea Perlman, Bill Cosby and Bruce Springsteen. Since he left in 1995, he's gone on to star in several films like "Billy Madison" and "Mr. Deeds," and also produces movies and TV sitcoms.

David Spade
A dominant sketch player in the early '90's, Spade brought some of the most dry, witty, and sarcastic humor to the show. He created characters including Karl from the video store, Christy Henderson, and the Total Bastard Airlines steward. He portrayed the likes of Kato Kaelin, Jeff Foxworthy, Tom Petty, Kurt Cobain, Michael Gellman, and Michael J. Fox. After the 1994 season was over, instead of leaving with the old cast, David wanted to stay on and get the show back on track first before leaving. He did so the following season, though rarely seen in the show besides the funny "Spade in America," he did a lot of writing for the show. David was also responsible for "The Hollywood Minute" on Weekend Update. Since the show, he has starred in several movies and has a supporting role in the NBC sitcom, "Just Shoot Me."

Morwenna Banks
Morwenna holds the title for the shortest, in time on the show, cast member. She was brought in after the departure of Janeane Garafolo for 4 shows in April 1995. She appeared in a few sketches. Since, we just think she died or something.

Chris Elliot
Chris, who was known from films before his time on the show, was brought into the celebrity cast of 1994 to try and fill the void of Phil Hartman. One of the more popular players of the season, he did an impression of Chris Berman and was used in many sketches. Since his stint, he has continued to go on to make and star in movies.

Janeane Garafolo
Janeane, who was also known previous before SNL, joined in 1994. She did impressions of Susan Sarandon, Mary Lou Retton, Hillary Clinton and Jodie Foster. She left the show in fury in February of 1995 after what she called "lack of professionalism' at SNL, and that she was being discriminated because of her sex. Since then, she's traveled around the country to perform standup, and has been the brunt of numerous SNL jokes.

Norm MacDonald
This is it. The most sarcastic man in SNL history. Norm started out as a featured player in 1993 and his performance that year was so strong, he was promoted to cast member status the following fall. Also that fall, he took over reigns on Weekend Update from Kevin Nealon, who quit because he felt he wasn't being used in sketches enough which he though were his stronger points. This paved the way for Norm to be the funniest anchorman since Chevy Chase, and Chevy himself has said no one has done "Update" right since him except for Norm. He created some of the funniest ongoing jokes including Frank Stallone, Marion Barry smokes crack, the medical journal "DUH," and Germans Love David Hasselhoff. He was also used in sketches while on the show and did impressions of Al Michaels, Marv Albert, Larry King, Bob Dole, David Letterman, and Burt Reynolds. Also, Norm, over his 3 ½ years on Update, never went a show without an OJ Simpson joke. This may have led to his firing. Don Olhmeyer, NBC West Coast President at the time, fired Norm because he thought he "wasn't funny enough." However, it was odd that he was also friends with OJ Simpson. He was used for a few shows after that, although he did not comply with NBC policy, and during the Sarah Michelle Gellar monologue in 1998, was a bit wasted. NBC finally let Norm go in March 1998. He left to star in several big name movies, including "Screwed," and also had a sitcom on ABC for a few years, "Norm." Read about Norm's firing here.

Mark McKinney
Mark followed Lorne after his Canadian show, 'The Kids in the Hall," ended in 1994. He joined the company in January 1995. On his time on the show he created characters Leslie Attebury, Melanie, and Lucien Callow. His impressions ranged from Jim Carrey, Greg Norman, Ellen DeGeneres, Ted Turner, and David Brinkley. He left in 1997 to pursue a film career.