When “Saturday Night Live” premiered in 1975, it became the gold standard of TV comedy.
The series featured a groundbreaking mixture of improvisation and razor-sharp satire.
Thanks to that formula, “SNL” became a timeless staple in pop culture.
During his run, the fresh-faced jokester took the entertainment industry by storm.
Nowadays, he’s a prolific actor, writer, and producer.
He’s also known for his illustriousdating history, which includes bombshells likeAriana GrandeandKim Kardashian.
Unfortunately, success and fortune aren’t the only defining factors in his life.
Davidson’s father died during the 9/11 terrorist attacks, and the loss has impacted him ever since.
Davidson’s father, Scott Davidson, was a New York firefighter.
Unfortunately, Scott lost his life during the fateful event.
The actor added, “They were finding people, you know?
They were pulling people out of s***, and there was just some sort of hope.
Like, it was just up and down and nobody knew how to deal with it.”
Davidson admitted that he still carries the emotional scars of his father’s death.
The actor credits therapy with helping him develop coping skills.
Riperton’s success propelled her and her family to stardom.
I really didn’t like it."
Sadly, Riperton died of breast cancer in 1979, when Rudolph was just 7 years old.
The singer’s death attracted even more attention to her family.
I was like the kicker for a year."
Her stint lasted seven seasons and produced countless laughs.
But behind her flamboyant stage persona, the comedy queen harbors a heart-wrenching backstory.
In her memoir, “Hello, Molly!”
Jim had been drinking shortly before the crash.
Shannon survived the accident along with her father and older sister, Mary.
The actor sustained relatively minor injuries, but the emotional wounds devastated her.
“So, I went into a fantasy waiting for her to come back for a long time.”
Shannon’s tragic backstory inspired one of her best-known “SNL” characters, Mary Katherine Gallagher.
He starred in the series from 1986 to 1992, bringing us characters like Church Lady and George H.W.
Most notably, his portrayal of the mullet-headed Garth Algar helped spawn the “Wayne’s World” films.
Since leaving “SNL,” Carvey has made numerous appearances in animated and live-action media.
He also mentored his sons, Dex and Thomas, in their own show business careers.
Sadly, in November 2023, Carvey’s son Dex died under tragic circumstances.
Carvey broke the news of Dex’s death on hisInstagramaccount.
“Last night we suffered a terrible tragedy,” the actor wrote.
“Our beloved son, Dex, died of an accidental drug overdose.
He was 32 years old.
Dex packed a lot into those 32 years.
The grieving father added: “We will miss him forever.”
A few days later, the “SNL” cast paid a special tribute to Carvey and his wife.
The sweet gesture must have reached Carvey because the “SNL” alum made another post expressing his gratitude.
If you or anyone you know needs help with addiction issues, help is available.
Visit theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration websiteor contact SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
After leaving the show, he scored major roles in “NewsRadio” and “The Simpsons.”
Hartman was thriving professionally when his personal life took a sudden, tragic turn.
In 1987, Hartman married his third wife, model Brynn Omdahl.
The pair had two children and seemed to be living the dream.
However, behind closed doors, Omdahl struggled with substance misuse and depression.
By the mid-’90s, their marriage was on the rocks.
On May 28, 1998, Hartman and Omdahl got into a heated argument at their home.
After Hartman went to bed, Omdahl retrieved a gun and shot the actor to death while he slept.
A few hours later, Omdahl fatally shot herself, bringing an end to a horrific night of violence.
Hartman’s death sent shockwaves through the entertainment industry, but his legacy lives on.
“I loved writing for him.”
In 2014, Hartman posthumously received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Thompson was already famous when he joined the cast in 2003.
His earliest claim to fame was on “All That,” a kid-friendly comedy show on Nickelodeon.
In 1996, the actor scored a lead role on the sitcom “Kenan & Kel.”
By his early 20s, Thompson was a bona fide celebrity and his bank account proved it.
Unfortunately, the TV star lost everything to a nefarious accountant.
Early in his career, Thompson hired an accountant to manage his finances.
But instead of helping him, the accountant stole a million dollars from him.
Thompson added: “He basically just disappeared with everything.”
Thompson soon found out that the accountant hadn’t been paying his taxes.
When the IRS got involved, the actor had no choice but to file for bankruptcy.
“It was really tough,” Thompson confessed.
She brought us tons of memorable sketches most notably, she played a quirky, genderless character named Pat.
But shortly after leaving “SNL,” Sweeney experienced a run of tragedies that derailed her entire life.
Like many comedians, Sweeney relied on humor as a coping mechanism.
In her stand-up performances, she embraced topics like death, illness, and grief.
“But I feel I can show people that you might find funny moments in bad situations.”
Ultimately, Sweeney responded well to treatment and fully recovered.
Her quirky, down-to-earth persona was a hit with viewers.
In 2008, Fey became a national treasure for her impression of politician Sarah Palin.
Suffice it to say, she’s one of the biggest stars in comedy.
At 5 years old, Fey was in her front yard when a stranger suddenly approached her.
The attacker brandished something sharp and slashed her across the face, leaving a scar on her left cheek.
Fey eventually recovered from the ordeal but she prefers not to rehash it.
Fortunately, the scar hasn’t affected her self-esteem.
“I was a very confident little kid,” said the comedy queen.
Everybody’s got a better side.”
Since joining the show in 2013, the actor has blessed us with countless belly laughs.
But in April 2020, Che set aside the jokes to address a heartbreaking tragedy.
In a since-deleted Instagram post, Che revealed that his grandmother had died from COVID-19.
The actor expressed his feelings candidly, describing a complicated cocktail of grief, outrage, and fear.
“I’m doing OK, considering,” Che wrote.
“I’m obviously very hurt and angry that she had to go through all that pain alone.”
He added, “But I’m also happy that she’s not in pain anymore.
And I also feel guilty for feeling happy.
I’m not unique.
But it’s still scary.
I don’t know if I’ll lose someone else to this virus.”
(viaThe Hollywood Reporter).
He added: “I know that’s just a drop in the bucket.
His brash, unfettered style helped define and popularize the sketch comedy format.
Tragically, the comedic legend died on March 5, 1982 from an accidental drug overdose.
Belushi’s widow, Judy Jacklin, was also furious with Woodward.
“I was very depressed,” Jacklin toldRolling Stone.
In 2019, she garnered praise for her work on the series “Shrill.”
But for all of her career highs, Bryant has also seen plenty of lows.
“I hated my thighs and my arms and everything about my body,” the actor confessed.
At times, working in show business reinforced Bryant’s body insecurities.
Bryant recalled feeling frustrated and disparaged.
“I came here.
I did my job.
As a cast member, Hammond was sharp and hilarious but off-camera, his life was no laughing matter.
Sadly, he internalized the abuse, believing that he deserved it.
““I remember my hands slammed in the door again, my fault.
And also, electric socket my fault.
All my fault, isn’t it?
Hammond was diagnosed with several mental illnesses resulting from his childhood trauma.
The comedian found solace on “SNL,” burying his sorrows under kooky characters and side-splitting skits.
But when the cameras stopped rolling, he plunged into despair.
Hammond tried to escape his anguish with drinking, drug use, and self-harm.
At one point, he had to be escorted out of the “SNL” studio in a straitjacket.
Radner spent five seasons on the show before departing in 1980.
Tragically, she died from ovarian cancer on May 20, 1989, after being misdiagnosed numerous times.
In the mid-’80s, Radner started experiencing bloating, weakness, and debilitating fatigue.
A doctor examined the actor but assured her nothing was wrong.
Later, she developed abdominal cramps, dizziness, and weight loss.
Still, doctors chalked up her symptoms to anxiety and depression.
Go home and relax.'”
In 1986, doctors discovered a grapefruit-sized tumor on Radner’s ovary.
Looking back, Wilder wondered if earlier intervention might have saved Radner’s life.
He noted that doctors should have administered more tests and asked about Radner’s family history of ovarian cancer.
“But they didn’t,” he wrote.
“So Gilda went through the tortures of the damned and at the end, I felt robbed.”
The charismatic comedian spent five seasons as a main cast member.
Farley made us roar with iconic characters like Chippendale dancer, Matt Foley, and B-Fats.
Sadly, the 33-year-old actor died of an accidental overdose on December 18, 1997.
Prior to his tragic end, Farley spent years trying to get sober.
As Zawadski recalled in the book, Farley responded well to the no-nonsense environment at the facility.
“He changed in two weeks,” the councilor said (viaCBS).
“He stopped being a clown.
He stopped trying to be funny with people.
He stopped the Hollywood part and he got serious.
He followed directions, he did all his assignments, and he was very serious.”
Farley embraced sobriety for the next few years, and his career soared.
In 1997, the actor relapsed and returned to Zawadski’s rehab facility.
Tragically, he died later that year.
Today, he remains one of the most beloved comedians of all time.
“We who knew him are going to miss him every day.”
