5 Best SNL Cast Members

It is extremely difficult to choose the 5 best SNL cast members. SNL has been the launching pad for some of the most famous comedians in history. There are not too many people who have not watched at least one episode of SNL. Here are the 5 best SNL cast members, in no particular order.

1. Dan Aykroyd. For four years in the 1970s, Dan Aykroyd was an SNL cast member. Aykroyd not only performed in skits, but he was a writer for the show. When Aykroyd teamed up with costar John Belushi to form the Blues Brothers, they took comedy took the next level. His time on SNL opened the door for him to successfully launch a movie career that included "Ghostbusters" and "Trading Places." 
2. John Belushi. As an original cast member of SNL, John Belushi was an innovative comedian. His personal life was often the basis for characters he created on the show. Belushi's movie career was flourishing when he unexpectedly died at the age of 33. Belushi's outrageously funny behavior on the show makes him one of the best SNL cast members. 
3. Eddie Murphy.  Eddie Murphy joined the cast of SNL in 1980. His characters on the show are legendary and still imitated today. Murphy's characters included a grownup Buckwheat and Mr. Robinson. Murphy's take on the animated character Gumby solidifies his spot on the list of 5 best SNL cast members.
4. Gilda Radner. There are few women in comedy that are considered to be legends. Gilda Radner is one of them. Radner pushed the envelope on the show. Her characters took aim at current events and made it okay to talk about them. She even won an Emmy for her work on the show. Radner's ability to make even the most seasoned comedians laugh makes her one of the 5 best SNL cast members.
5. Tina Fey. Gilda Radner laid the foundation for someone like Tina Fey to be successful. Fey's brand of comedy was not particularly welcomed when she joined the cast of SNL. Originally hired as a writer, Fey became a member of the cast after writing for three years. Her appearance on the show was a hit. Subsequent appearances on the show during the 2008 presidential election as Republican vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palin were warmly received by audiences across America.
   

SNL has produced some of the most notable comedians in history. There are many more cast members that have made waves in the world of comedy.