Heidi Gardner is saying goodbye to Saturday Night Live as the cast purge of 2025 continues. The talented performer leaves after eight seasons, but Gardner dropped enough hints over the past few months that fans shouldn't be completely shock.
Multiple sources at Variety report that Gardner will leave Studio 8H ahead of SNL's 51st season. It ends an impressive career that saw Gardner become one of the most versatile and consistent performers in the show's recent history. She leaves on a high note, having appeared in some of season 50's most popular sketches, including "Domingo," "An Act of Kindness," and "Mid-Day News."
Gardner became the fourth cast member to exit Saturday Night Live this summer, joining Devon Walker, Emil Wakim, and Michael Longfellow. She's by far the biggest name on that list, and some fans may be surprised to see her leave without a grand on-air sendoff.
However, Gardner dropped enough clues during the past year to suggest she was ready to move on from Saturday Night Live. She got her dream host, Travis Kelce, on the show in 2023, checking that box near the end of her tenure. Gardner lobbied hard to get the Kansas City Chiefs star on the show, and it felt like something of a reward for a cast member who has given everything to Saturday Night Live.
In May 2025, Gardner admitted to feeling a sense of "sketch fatigue" setting in after eight seasons at Saturday Night Live. The comedian shared that she had basically run out of ideas for worthwhile sketches or characters. Few performers have created as many original characters as Gardner, so it's unsurprising to hear she essentially ran out of creative gas by season 50. Angel, every boxer's girlfriend, Bailey Gismert, and Deidre, the tourist who can't pronounce anything correctly, are some of Gardner's stand-out characters.
Gardner has also been very busy outside of Saturday Night Live, which is usually another indicator that a cast member's career has reached a point where committing to another SNL season isn't feasible. She's slated to appear in three upcoming films: Transcending, Judgment Day with Will Ferrell, and Road Dogs.
So now the question becomes who will step up and fill the void left by Gardner. The way things are going, it's not exactly a safe bet that the cast turnover is done. But if that is the case, expect to see more Ego Nwodim, Sarah Sherman, Chloe Fineman, and Ashley Padilla when Saturday Night Live returns for season 51 on October 4.