If Kenan Thompson returns for Season 52, the longtime performer will become the third-oldest person to start a season as a cast member of Saturday Night Live.
Chances are, Kenan will be back for his record 24th season on the cast. But, will he choose to stay on the payroll long enough to become the oldest person to be a cast member? That may take some extra commitment.
Did you know that two other active cast members in Season 51 rank among the ten oldest to ever be on the show? It’s true. The show seems to be getting more…mature.
Oldest Cast Members in SNL History
| CAST MEMBER | OLDEST AGE | SEASON AT OLDEST | SEASONS 40+ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Darrell Hammond | 53 | Season 34 | 14 |
| Leslie Jones | 51 | Season 44 | 5 |
| Michael McKean | 48 | Season 21 | 2 |
| George Coe | 47 | Season 1 | 1 |
| Kenan Thompson | 47 | Season 51 | 8 |
| Fred Armisen | 46 | Season 38 | 8 |
| Mikey Day | 45 | Season 51 | 7 |
| Phil Hartman | 45 | Season 19 | 6 |
| Colin Jost | 44 | Season 51 | 4 |
| Garrett Morris | 43 | Season 5 | 4 |
When Darrell Hammond joined the cast for Season 21 he was 39, the third-oldest in the history of the show (now fourth, surpassed by Jones). Hammond is still part of the show more than 17 seasons after his stint as a cast member: he’s the studio announcer, a role that does not require him to be in Studio 8H each week, but he does make appearances here and there.
George Coe was hired to be the “old man” in sketches in Season 1. The cast that first season on what was then known as “Saturday Night,” was filled with young actors, and Lorne Michaels wanted a face that could be utilized for special roles. Coe rarely appeared, mostly making his screen time during commercial parodies or as a narrator for a sketch. He was mostly off the show by Season 2.
Standup comedian Leslie Jones set the record for oldest to join the cast as a rookie when she came to the cast for Season 40. She broke the record previously held by Michael McKean by a few weeks.
SNL has seemed to prefer older men. The show has only had three female cast members who were at least 40 years old: Jones, Rachel Dratch, and Heidi Gardner, who left the program after Season 50.
The season with the most 40+ year old cast members was Season 50, when Thompson, Gardner, Michael Che, Mikey Day, and Colin Jost were all 40-somethings in the cast.
