Top 15 Most Enduring Cast Members in the History of ‘Saturday Night Live’

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Ngày cập nhật gần nhất: 1/5/2026

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1. Kenan Thompson // 19 Seasons (2003-Present)

2. Darrell Hammond // 14 Seasons (1995-2009)

3. Seth Meyers // 13 Seasons (2001-2014)

4. Fred Armisen // 11 Seasons (2002-2013)

4. Al Franken // 11 Seasons (1977-1980, 1986, 1988-1995)

4. Kate McKinnon // 11 Seasons (2012-2022)

5. Aidy Bryant // 10 Seasons (2012-2022)

5. Tim Meadows // 10 Seasons (1991-2000)

5. Cecily Strong // 10 Seasons (2012-Present)

6. Colin Jost // 9 Seasons (2014-Present)

6. Kyle Mooney // 9 Seasons (2013-2022)

6. Bobby Moynihan // 9 Seasons (2008-2017)

6. Kevin Nealon // 9 Seasons (1986-1995)

6. Maya Rudolph // 9 Seasons (2000-2007)

6. Jason Sudeikis // 9 Seasons (2005-2013)

Kenan Thompson attending the 47th Annual People's Choice Awards in 2021.

While some Saturday Night Live cast members leave after just one season, others become so integral to the show that it’s difficult to picture it without them. Kenan Thompson, a comedic pillar of the series since 2003, is a prime example of the latter.

According to The Wrap, Thompson has now completed 19 seasons—a record-breaking tenure for any SNL cast member. Known for his versatility, the former Nickelodeon star has portrayed figures like Steve Harvey and Reba McEntire, alongside creating memorable original characters. Fans of the show will likely recognize his portrayal of Diondre Cole, the eccentric host of the fictional talk show What Up With That?

Prior to Thompson, Darrell Hammond held the record with 14 seasons, celebrated for his spot-on impressions of figures like Bill Clinton and Sean Connery. Seth Meyers followed closely with a 13-season run, departing during the 2013-2014 season. Colin Jost, who had been writing for the show since 2005, stepped in to fill Meyers’s role on "Weekend Update."

For nearly nine seasons, Jost has been delivering witty and satirical headlines on Saturday nights, placing him in a six-way tie for sixth place. Sharing this spot are Kyle Mooney, Bobby Moynihan, Kevin Nealon, Maya Rudolph, and Jason Sudeikis from Ted Lasso.

Meyers and Jost aren’t the only cast members who joined or left mid-season. Rudolph experienced both: she was hired as a featured player for the final episodes of the 1999-2000 season and left in November of the 2007-2008 season. Though her active involvement lasted seven years, her tenure covered nine seasons. Despite numerous cameos since her departure, she remains three hosting appearances short of joining the prestigious Five-Timers Club.

Discover the other cast members who made the list of longest-running performers and revisit some of their most iconic sketches below.