Many changes are coming to Saturday Night Live as it undergoes a cast exodus ahead of its 51st season, with four stars having already announced their departures. Throughout the NBC late-night live sketch comedy variety TV show's 50-year history, SNL has featured almost 170 cast members. Therefore, it's not all that surprising that so many have come and gone over the years.
Now, fans must say goodbye to at least four more comedians before the Saturday Night Live season 51 premiere. The major SNL cast shake-up is reportedly a result of NBC and creator/showrunner Lorne Michaels feeling pressure to reinvent the series. In the wake of its historic 50th season, they evidently believe it's time to transform SNL and make room for something new.
Devon Walker Years Active: 2022-2025
Before any Saturday Night Live cast changes were made public, we all knew that some stars, especially newer ones, would be exiting the show. Ultimately, the first one was Devon Walker. Walker joined the cast of the NBC comedy variety series in 2022 as a featured player for season 48. Then, he was promoted to repertory player for season 50.
Walker was involved in various memorable and hilarious skits over the course of his time on Saturday Night Live. From his impression of Draymond Green on a Weekend Update segment to "Pop the Balloon," Walker certainly made an impression. Unfortunately, his run on the show will be limited to three seasons.
However, Walker's run on SNL has come to an end. On August 25, 2025, the comedian announced his exit from the series on his Instagram page. His post featured pictures of him in Studio 8H, a text message stating "I'm out," and a long and detailed explanation behind his departure. The caption read, "me and my baby broke up," with a red heart emoji.
In his Instagram post, Walker technically didn't confirm whether he quit Saturday Night Live or if NBC fired him. His aforementioned lengthy letter to fans seemingly implied that he stepped back from the show of his own volition, stating, "Me and the show did three years together, and sometimes it was really cool. Sometimes it was toxic as hell."
Shortly after his post, though, Walker shared that he quit SNL and hadn't been fired. He revealed the news on one of his Instagram stories. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Walker wrote:
"Just to be clear, this is good news! It was just time for me to do something different. Please don't be hitting me with the 'I'm so sorry' -- we not on that at ALL. Sometimes mom and dad just don't see things eye to eye."
As for what the future holds for Walker, the former Saturday Night Live star revealed that he is going to Japan for reasons not disclosed. He also admitted that he wishes to star in a "prestige drama" with Julianne Moore. So, fans must wait and see what comes next for Walker following his exit from SNL.
Michael Longfellow Years Active: 2022-2025
Not long after Walker announced his departure, Michael Longfellow also revealed that he was leaving Saturday Night Live. Like Walker, NBC cast Longfellow as a featured player for season 48 in 2022. He was promoted to repertory player status for season 50, but that will serve as Longfellow's last season as he steps away from the show.
Longfellow was known for his appearances on the NBC comedy variety series' Weekend Update segments. Many believed that Saturday Night Live was laying the groundwork for Longfellow to take over for co-anchors Colin Jost and Michael Che one day. However, now we know that won't be the case as he's exiting the TV show before season 51.
On August 28, 2025, Longfellow shared the news of his Saturday Night Live exit on his Instagram page. Based on his comments, it doesn't sound like the comedian is leaving voluntarily. As Longfellow wrote, "Will not be returning for a 4th season at SNL. Wish I was but, so it goes."
Longfellow admitted that he was "excited for the future and things to come." As for what that will entail, only time will tell. Longfellow previously appeared in Good Burger 2 alongside his Saturday Night Live co-star Kenan Thompson. So, perhaps fans can expect to see him further explore a movie career after SNL.
Heidi Gardner Years Active: 2017-2025
In perhaps the most shocking news ahead of season 51, veteran Heidi Gardner is leaving Saturday Night Live. Yes, there were rumors surrounding her possible exit. However, given her veteran status, Gardner leaving the NBC sketch comedy variety series is still a gut punch, and she (along with every other departing cast member) will be dearly missed.
Gardner joined the cast of SNL in 2017, starting as a featured player for season 43. She returned the following season as a featured star again before the producers promoted her to a repertory player in season 45. Since then, Gardner has become a fan favorite. There is a reason why she has been on the show for eight seasons, after all.
Some of Gardner's most renowned characters include Bailey Gismert (a teenage film critic) and Angel ("every boxer's girlfriend from every movie about boxing ever") on Weekend Update. She is also known for her role in the iconic "Beavis and Butt-Head" sketch in season 49. But that only brushes the surface of Gardner's eight-year career on Saturday Night Live.
Gardner has yet to comment on her exit from Saturday Night Live. As such, it's unclear what comes next for the comedian. Given the previous rumors, Gardner might have been planning to leave the NBC series for a while. Perhaps that means she already knows what the future holds for her, whether it's more movies or TV shows.
Emil Wakim Years Active: 2024-2025
Emil Wakim's time on Saturday Night Live was short-lived as he was cast in 2024 for season 50 and let go before the season 51 premiere in 2025. Unfortunately, he never got the chance to move up to repertory player status. Wakim was a feature player, alongside Ashley Padilla and Jane Wickline in the show's historic 50th season.
Wakim was the first Lebanese-American Saturday Night Live cast member.
One of Wakim's most notable appearances in Saturday Night Live season 50 was his commentary on "American Patriotism" on a Weekend Update segment. Sadly, he didn't get much screentime during his one season. Consequently, Wakim doesn't have many memorable skits or characters, but no one could forget his role in that one Weekend Update segment.
Wakim announced his Saturday Night Live departure on his Instagram account on August 27, 2025. Based on his comments, NBC cut Wakim from the cast of the hit comedy variety series instead of him choosing to walk away. As he said, "It was a gut punch of a call to get," when notifying fans of his exit from Saturday Night Live.
Aside from SNL, Wakim has opened for many renowned comedians over the course of his career. These include Nikki Glaser and Hasan Minhaj. Wakim also previously appeared on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. So, the former Saturday Night Live cast member will undoubtedly have a place in comedy following his departure from the show.
Saturday Night Live season 51 premieres on Saturday, October 4, 2025, at 11:30 pm ET on NBC.
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Your Rating close 10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 stars 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star Rate Now 0/10 Leave a Review Like Follow Followed Saturday Night Live TV-14 Comedy News Music 8/10 78 7.6/10 Release Date October 11, 1975 Network NBC Showrunner Lorne Michaels Directors Dave Wilson, Don Roy King, Liz Patrick, Andy Warhol, Linda Lee Cadwell, Matthew Meshekoff, Paul Miller, Robert Altman, Robert Smigel Writers Will Forte, Bill Hader, Tina Fey, Kristen Wiig, Chris Parnell, Asa Taccone, John Lutz, Tom Schiller, Simon Rich, Michael Patrick O'Brien, Nicki Minaj, Herbert Sargent, Matt Piedmont, John Solomon, Chris Kelly, Alan Zweibel, Kent Sublette, Ari Katcher, Marika Sawyer, Sarah Schnedier, Scott Jung, Justin Franks, Jerrod Bettis, Rhiannon Bryan Cast See All Michael Chernus Mikey Day
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Sources: Instagram, The Hollywood Reporter,