Cast departures are a common event in the evolution of Saturday Night Live. Annually, as a new season nears, SNL undergoes transitions with current cast members and writers leaving the program. The lead-up to Season 51, which premieres on Oct. 4, reflects this pattern. As of Aug. 30, four cast members have been officially confirmed to exit the show.
Here are the performers departing SNL prior to Season 51.
Heidi Gardner
Over her eight years on SNL, Heidi Gardner became a vital part of the cast. She thrived in creating unforgettable Weekend Update characters such as teen film critic Bailey Gismert and “every boxer’s girlfriend” Angel, frequently stealing the spotlight in sketches and digital shorts. Her depiction of Michael Jordan’s bodyguard in a satire of The Last Dance documentary stands out in memory.
During her tenure on the show, Gardner seldom broke character. Nevertheless, in her penultimate season, she finally lost her composure when faced with Mikey Day and Ryan Gosling portraying Beavis and Butt-Head, a moment that became a highlight of Season 49.
While it’s difficult to lose a dependable cast member like Gardner, she suggested her departure during a guest spot on Craig Ferguson’s podcast Joy. “I will mention the only thing I’ve started to sense a bit is just sketch fatigue, or idea fatigue,” she shared with Ferguson. “After doing Groundlings and SNL for such a long time, I’m like, ‘I’ve created a lot of sketches.'”
Michael Longfellow
Michael Longfellow became part of SNL in Season 48, contributing his deadpan humor to numerous sketches, particularly his Weekend Update segments. In his debut episode, he took his place at the Weekend Update desk to joke about conservative relatives. Throughout his time, he made comebacks for notable segments covering topics from the TikTok ban to being a child of divorce.
In an Instagram message announcing his exit from SNL, Longfellow stated, “Will not be returning for a 4th season at SNL. Wish I was, but so it goes. It was the best three years of my life so far. I feel nothing but gratitude for the experience and everyone there. Lorne, you gave me the greatest job in the world and changed my life. You even put my mom on TV. Thank you doesn’t begin to cover it, but thank you.”
Devon Walker
Like Longfellow, Devon Walker became an SNL cast member in Season 48. He impersonated personalities such as New York City Mayor Eric Adams and Michael Strahan, and along with fellow cast member James Austin Johnson, he introduced the absurd lactose-intolerant rappers Milly Pounds and Shirty.
Walker proclaimed his departure on Instagram, saying, “me and the show did three years together, and sometimes it was really cool. Sometimes it was toxic as hell.”
In an interview with Rolling Stone regarding his exit, Walker remarked, “I think I felt prepared to leave the show, and I believe the show felt ready to leave me. I was just eager to pursue something new. We both sensed it was time.”
Emil Wakim
Emil Wakim entered SNL as a featured cast member in Season 50, embodying characters like Julius Caesar, Mohammad bin Salman, and Luigi Mangione (as well as a Luigi Mangione look-alike receiving “some of the horniest DMs of my life”). Wakim made significant contributions to Weekend Update, where he explored American patriotism and the 2024 election.
Regarding his exit from SNL, Wakim shared in an Instagram post, “I won’t be returning to SNL next year. It was a gut punch of a call to receive, but I’m very appreciative of my time there. I was at Six Flags celebrating my friend’s 36th birthday and took a really emotional walk through Bugs Bunny Park. I gazed out across Daffy Duck Lake, contemplating life.”