For 50 years, Saturday Night Live introduced the world to some of the funniest people on the planet. As the years have gone on, several beloved cast members who shaped the show's legacy have passed away.
Countless comedians became household names thanks to Saturday Night Live. Chevy Chase, Eddie Murphy, Will Ferrell, Tina Fey, and Kenan Thompson are just some of the names who audiences felt like they knew because of SNL.
That connection between the audience and the cast also means it especially hurts when a former SNL cast member passes away. Here's the complete list of the 15 Saturday Night Live cast members who have died.
Peter Aykroyd
Peter Aykroyd was the younger brother of original Saturday Night Live cast member Dan Aykroyd. The younger Aykroyd also got his start with Second City in Toronto.
Peter Aykroyd joined Saturday Night Live as a writer and cast member for season five in 1979. He died November 6, 2021, at age 65 due to sepsis from an untreated abdominal hernia.
John Belushi
John Belushi was in the original cast that debuted with Saturday Night Live in 1975. He became wildly popular during his four years on the show and helped set the tone for what SNL would become.
Belushi experienced addiction throughtout his life. He died on March 5, 1982, at the age of 33 from an overdose on cocaine and heroin.
George Coe
George Coe didn't reach the level of fame as some of his fellow Saturday Night Live cast members, but he was still part of the show's inaugural cast. He held the record for the oldest new cast member at 46 years old until 47-year-old Leslie Jones topped him.
Coe arrived at SNL already deep into a career that included an Oscar nomination for Best Live Action Short Film. He died July 18, 2015, at the age of 86 due to illness.
Tom Davis
Tom Davis was a cast member for one season, but he left an undeniable mark on Saturday Night Live. Few writers can match Davis in terms of output and iconic sketches. He contributed to the creation of Nick the Lounge Singer, the Coneheads, and the Continental.
Davis partnered with Al Franken to create a successful comedy duo, ultimately joining the inaugural SNL writing staff. He joined the cast for season 5, but maintained a long relationship with the show. Davis died July 19, 2012, at 59 years old from throat and neck cancer.
Chris Farley
Chris Farley is in the small list of performers who's name is synonmous with Saturday Night Live. A once-in-a-lifetime talent, Farley appeared on SNL from 1990 to 1995.
Farley's health and addiction issues are well-documented. He died December 18, 1997, at 33 years old. The cause of death was contributed to an overdose of heroin and cocaine.
Gilbert Gottfried
Gilbert Gottfried had a long career in comedy and was one of the few SNL cast members who didn't benefit much from being on the show. He joined for one season in 1980.
Gottfried admitted he didn't get along with the SNL writers for season 6 and appeared in only a handful of sketches. He died April 12, 2022, at 67 years old due to recurrent ventricular tachycardia.
Phil Hartman
Phil Hartman routinely lands on the list of Saturday Night Live's greatest cast members. For eight seasons, he was the glue that kept SNL together.
Hartman mastered both celebrity impressions and original characters on SNL, leaving an undeniable legacy. He died May 28, 1998 at 49 years old after his wife, Brynn Omdahl, shot him as he slept.
Jan Hooks
Jan Hooks joined SNL in a class that also included Phil Hartman, Kevin Nealon, Dana Carvey, and Victoria Jackson. Together, they helped revitalize the show and usher in a new era.
Hooks nailed several celebrity impressions during her SNL tenure, ultimately leaving in 1991 after five seasons on the show. She died October 9, 2014, at age 57 from throat cancer.
Norm Macdonald
Nobody had a voice like Norm Macdonald, whether that's literally or in terms of comedic taste. The comedian reimagined "Weekend Update" during his five seasons on Saturday Night Live.
Macdonald did things his own way, especially when it came to "Update" and covering the O.J. Simpson trial. He died September 14, 2021 following a long illness, ultimately dying of acute leukemia.
Michael O'Donoghue
Michael O'Donoghue has a lot of "firsts" when it comes to Saturday Night Live. He was part of the first cast, delivered the first line spoken on the show, and served as SNL's first head writer.
O'Donoguhe developed a dark and at times raunchy sense of humor that made him stand out. He had a tumultuous stint at SNL in 1981 as he attempted to revive the show. O'Donoghue died November 8, 1994 at 54 years old from a cerebral hemorrhage.
Gilda Radner
Gilda Radner was part of the "Not Ready for Primetime Players" that premiered with Saturday Night Live in 1975. Radner quickly became one of the most popular cast members and remains in high esteem today.
Radner's characters Roseanne Roseannadanna and Baba Wawa are still among the best bits SNL has ever seen. She died on May 20, 1989, at 42 years old following a battle with ovarian cancer.
Charles Rocket
Charles Rocket spent one season on Saturday Night Live during an infamous period in the show's history. He also has one of the more interesting dismissal stories in SNL history.
Rocket joined SNL in 1980 after Lorne Michaels left the show. He was featured prominently during season 6, but was fired partly for using an expletive on air and for the show's declining ratings. Rocket (real name Charles Clavrie) died by suicide on October 7, 2005 at 56 years old.
Tony Rosato
Tony Rosato was among the performers who found success moving from SCTV to Saturday Night Live. He spent two years on SNL, beginning in 1981.
Rosato's SNL tenure was short, but he made an impression thanks to parodies of Captain Kangaroo and U.S. Attorney General Ed Meese. He died January 10, 2017 from a heart attack at 62 years old.
Danitra Vance
Danitra Vance only spent one season at Saturday Night Live. However, she made history as the first Black woman to become a repertory player.
Vance wasn't thrilled with the material offered to her in season 11, noting it was often based on stereotypes. She was fired along with Julia Sweeney, Robert Downey, Jr., and Anthony Michael Hall. Vance died August 21, 1994 of breast cancer at 40 years old.
Dan Vitale
Dan Vitale has one of the shortest tenures on Saturday Night Live history. He was a featured player for season 11 but only appeared in two episodes.
Vitale had uncredited roles in films like Anger Management and Malibu's Most Wanted. He died on May 6, 2022, at 66 years old.