AlthoughSaturday Night Live’s 50th-anniversary celebration featured the return of numerous noteworthy cast members (even some from the first season), four performers were noticeably missing from the episode.The NBC late-night live sketch comedy variety program has had over 160 cast members over the years,many of whom got their start on the show. From Bill Murray to Leslie Jones,Saturday Night Livehas been the place where many of Hollywood’s most famous comedians began their careers, and after 50 years, it remains a dominant force in the comedy world.
Various formercast members and celebrity guests attended “SNL50: The Anniversary Special"on August 21, 2025. Old-school players like Garrett Morris and Jane Curtin appeared. Meanwhile, stars from the 21st century, including Kenan Thompson and Kate McKinnon performed in iconic sketches during the three-hour episode. Unfortunately,not every prominent member of theSaturday Night Livecommunity was able to make it to “SNL50: The Anniversary Special,“whether because they had prior commitments or simply because they turned down an invitation to join in on the fun.
4Bill Hader
Cast Member From 2006–2013
Bill Hader, one of the most recognizableSaturday Night Livecast members of the 2000s,did not attend the late-night live sketch comedy variety program’s 50th anniversary. Hader joined the team of featured players in 2006. He quickly made himself an integral part of the cast, though, via his hilarious impressions, which included John Malkovich, Keith Morrison, and Clint Eastwood. However, perhapsHader’s most iconic character inSaturday Night Liveis Stefon, a recurring correspondent forWeekend Update.
Meryl Streep’s SNL Appearance Was A Remarkable First In 50 Years (& Had A Great Reference To Her $326M Movie)
Meryl Streep was one of the stars who appeared in Saturday Night Live’s 50th anniversary episode, but her skit was special for a couple of reasons.
According toPEOPLE, Hader was invited to “SNL50: The Anniversary Special” but had to decline.He reportedly had a “longstanding schedule conflict.“As a result, Hader couldn’t appear in the three-hour special, much to the disappointment of many who hoped to see him reprise some of his funniest roles (like Stefon).
3Dan Aykroyd
Cast Member From 1975–1979
Among the living originalSaturday Night Livecast members, four of the five returned for"SNL50: The Anniversary Special” — Garrett Morris, Chevy Chase, Jane Curtin, and Laraine Newman.Dan Aykroyd was the only one not to attend the event.Aykroyd made hisSaturday Night Livedebut during the show’s premiere episode on June 15, 2025, and he would stay with the program for four more years before exiting in 1979. The comedian had many notable moments on the show over the years, including the Coneheads and the “Point/Counterpoint” segment of “Weekend Update.”
Two of the original sevenSNLcast members (aka the “Not Ready For Prime Time Players”) have since died — John Belushi and Gilda Radnor.
Of course,Aykroyd’s absence was quite noticeable,given his legendary status within the walls of Studio 8H. Aykroyd was reportedly busy and couldn’t attend the February 16 episode. However, the actor shared his excitement forSaturday Night Live’s “SNL50: The Anniversary Special"onX. Aykroyd wrote:
“Cracking a Head with pride at having been a co-founder of SNL along with everyone we were together with in those four years, five decades ago. This telecast is as historical as the next moon landing. Comedy stars of our age all gathered under the aegis of America’s greatest living impresario, my boss Lorne Michaels. People it’s friggin' Holy!!”
2Dana Carvey
Cast Member From 1986–1993
Dana Carvey was also missing from NBC’s celebration ofSaturday Night Live’s 50th anniversary of being on the air. Carvey joined the cast in 1986 and remained on the late-night live sketch comedy variety program for seven seasons, as heleftSaturday Night Livein 1993. Given thatSNLserved as the breakthrough in his career,Carvey is most known for his time on the show among some of his other roles. Carvey’s memorable characters include the Church Lady, George H. W. Bush, andGarth Algar fromWayne’s World.
The Master of Disguise
Pistachio Disguisey
Carvey recently returned to Studio 8H in the weeks leading up to the 2024 presidential electionto impersonate Joe Biden and Elon Musk. Sadly, though, Carvey seemingly couldn’t make it back for “SNL50: The Anniversary Special.” As of the writing of this article, it remains unclear why Carvey didn’t show up during the three-hour episode.
1Colin Quinn
Cast Member From 1996–2000
The fourth and final prominentSaturday Night Livestar who was missing during “SNL50: The Anniversary Special” is Colin Quinn. Quinn was a member of the cast in the mid to late 1990s.He was most notably the host ofWeekend Updatefrom 1998 to 2000,but Quinn can also be recognized for characters such as Lenny the Lion and Joe Blow. As for why he didn’t attendSaturday Night Live’s 50th anniversary,Quinn’s websitereveals that he had a live stand-up comedy performance on February 16 in Raleigh, North Carolina.
