Who was in the first cast of SNL? And where are they now?

The first Saturday Night Live cast premiered on October 11, 1975, kicking off an everlasting comedy legacy and launching the careers of some of the most beloved entertainers of all time. Dubbed the "Not Ready for Primetime Players," the first SNL cast ushered in a new era of television.

Now, that cast is the focal point of 2024 movie. SNL 1975 examines the lead-up to the first episode of Saturday Night Live. Dozens of famous comedy names are portrayed in the movie.

As the movie fills out its cast, it's worth looking back at just who was in the first Saturday Night Live cast. And it's just as interesting to see what they're doing now, nearly 50 years after they made television history.

George Coe

George Coe has one of the more unusual Saturday Night Live careers among the hundreds of cast members in the show's history. Yes, he was in the original "Not Ready for Prime Time" players lineup. But not for long.

The Oscar-nominated Coe was credited in the SNL premiere. After that, he was no longer credited as part of the cast despite appearing in a handful of other episodes thoroughout SNL season 1.

However, Coe worked continuously following his SNL departure. Modern audiences may know him as the voice of Woodhouse in Archer. Coe died in 2015 at the age of 86.

Michael O' Donoghue

Michael O'Donoghue didn't last much longer as a credited cast member. His name was on the cast list through the first five episodes. After that, he focused on his duties as a head writer while still appearing in the occasional sketch.

O'Donoghue had a contentious relationship with SNL in the following years. He returned in 1981 but rubbed many people the wrong way before eventually getting fired. Lorne Michaels brought O'Donoghue back in 1985, but the writer didn't last long and blasted the show on his way out.

Michael O'Donoghue died in 1994 of a cerebral hemorrhage. He was 54 years old.

Dan Aykroyd

Dan Aykroyd helped pioneer the recurring sketch during the first season of Saturday Night Live. The original cast member was behind iconic characters like the Coneheads, the Blues Brothers, and the "Wild and Crazy Guys." Plus, he gave SNL its first presidential parody.

Aykroyd went on to create an impressive film career throughout the '80s and '90s. Along the way, he continued to pop up on Saturday Night Live.

In 2024, he'll reprise his role as Dr. Raymond Stantz in Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire. Akryod, 71, is also an executive producer.

Jane Curtin

Jane Curtin earned the respect of her fellow comedians for her poise and professionalism at Saturday Night Live. That's no easy task given the show's reputation for a certain level of debauchery in those days.

Curtin excelled as the straight woman to her more eccentric castmates. She also proved to be an exceptional "Weekend Update" host.

In 2023, she teamed up with fellow Saturday Night Live alum Pete Davidson for one episode of his Peacock series Bupkis. Curtin, 76, also appeared in the movie Jules co-starring Ben Kingsley.

Garrett Morris

Garrett Morris made history as the first Black cast member at Saturday Night Live. He came to the sketch show already having put together a solid resume of acting roles.

Morris stayed at Saturday Night Live until 1980. However, reports suggest he believed SNL typecast him. The actor wasn't exactly thrilled with his tenure, despite creating memorable characters like Chico Escuela, the Coneheads leader, and one of The Nerds.

He made a cameo in 2015's Ant-Man because an SNL sketch made Morris the first performer to play the hero in live-action. In 2023, he popped up in one episode of How I Met Your Father. Morris is 87 years old in 2024.

John Belushi

With a larger-than-life personality, John Belushi took the comedy world by storm. His work on Saturday Night Live made him an icon, while movies like Animal House made him a legend.

Lorne Michaels hired Belushi based on a recommendation from Chevy Chase and writer Michael O'Donoghue. Belushi proved he could do much more than just physical comedy while creating enduring characters like Samurai Futaba, Jake Blues, and more.

Belushi left SNL in 1980. His drug addiction ultimately cost him his life, dying of an overdose in 1982. He was 33 years old.

Laraine Newman

Laraine Newman came to Saturday Night Live with an unparalleled resume in comedy and performance. She studied mime with Marcel Marceau in Paris before coming back to Los Angeles and co-creating The Groundlings.

Lorne Michaels hired Newman for a TV special in 1974 and then added her to the first SNL cast. There, she came up with characters like Connie Conehead, Valley girl Sherry, and Christie Christina.

Newman, 72, spent five years on SNL before leaving in 1980. She remained busy with movie and TV appearances, but really made her mark in the world of voice-over work. Newman's voice can be heard in nearly 50 different projects, including Finding Nemo, Inside Out, and Despicable Me.

Gilda Radner

Gilda Radner's tenure on Saturday Night Live made her a comedy legend. The Emmy-winner set the standard for so much of what SNL does today in its parodies and satirical sketches.

In the early '70s, Radner joined the Second City improv troupe in Canada. She was also on the National Lampoon Radio Hour comedy show along with stars like John Belushi, Chevy Chase, and Bill Murray,

Radner was the first performer hired on SNL. She wrote much of her own material and created iconic characters like Roseanne Roseannadanna. Radner died in 1989 of ovarian cancer. She was 42 years old.

Chevy Chase

Few Saturday Night Live stars carry a reputation like the one that follows Chevy Chase. He was the breakout star of season 1, launching a movie career that made him one of comedy's biggest stars for decades.

After starting an underground comedy group, Chase's career began to takeoff when he wrote for the Smothers Brothers' TV show. His work on the National Lampoon Radio Hour raised his profile and he eventually joined the original Saturday Night Live cast.

Chase's work on SNL included hosting "Weekend Update," impersonating President Gerald Ford, and mastering the art of physical comedy. He left the show after six episodes during season 2. He went on to star in films like Caddyshack, Fletch, and National Lampoon's Vacation. Chase, now 81, has seen his career has slow down in recent years, with few prominent roles or high-profile releases.