What Happened To The 2000's Cast Of SNL

Since its premiere in 1975, sketch comedy behemoth "Saturday Night Live" has established itself as one of the most consistent and enduring programs in all of television. The iconic series has won 86 Primetime Emmys (as of this writing) and launched countless comedic actors to fame and fortune. From Eddie Murphy to Adam Sandler, many of the biggest names in comedy have started on the late-night sketch and variety show. Even some of those with the shortest tenures — Laurie Metcalfe, Ben Stiller, and Janeane Garofalo — have gone on to hit it big after their departures.

For the last two dozen seasons, new "Saturday Night Live" cast members have started as featured players before being promoted to full cast status, known as repertory players. While not all featured players make it beyond those two initial years, the majority of cast members are able to prove their worth and enter the repertoire. Featured and repertory cast members combined, there have been over 150 cast members on "Saturday Night Live" since its inception.

Since many "SNL" fans are of the belief that the 2000s were some of the strongest years of the show, and since many alums of that era are dominating in Hollywood, we thought it would be nice to check in on the current whereabouts of the 35 cast members who appeared for at least one season between 2000 and 2009. Here, in no particular order, is a look at the 2000s cast of "Saturday Night Live."

Darrell Hammond's stint on the show's cast is the second longest of all time, next to only Kenan Thompson. Even then, not including the "Saturday Night Live" band and announcer Don Pardo, Hammond has the honor of appearing in the most "Saturday Night Live" episodes overall, with over 400 appearances under his belt including his voice gigs (he is the current announcer). Since becoming the announcer in 2014, Hammond has popped up in the occasional skit, but his main time in front of the camera occurred between the years of 1995 and 2009.

Over his 14-year "Saturday Night Live" run, Hammond became known for his many impressions, especially his President Bill Clinton, who was in office for a large chunk of Hammond's time on the show. His other notable impressions have included Donald Trump, Sean Connery, and Dick Cheney. Outside of "SNL," Hammond has continued to appear on television, both in comedic roles on series like "Are We There Yet?" and "At Home with Amy Sedaris," as well as in more dramatic fare, such as his guest arc on "Damages" back in 2009. 

The comedian only occasionally appears in film, and the last time he did so was when he starred as Dr. Hall in 2013's "Scary Movie V." You may also recognize him from his commercial work for KFC, where he appeared as Colonel Sanders at one point before rotating out of the role to make room for the next celeb.

Finesse Mitchell began as a featured player in 2003, and "Saturday Night Live" elevated him to repertory cast member two years later. But after one year on the main cast, Mitchell was let go — not really a surprise, since he had very little screen time once promoted (via Vulture). On the show, Mitchell had one recurring character with Starkisha but was better known for his celebrity impressions. These included takes on Colin Powell, 50 Cent, R. Kelly, and Venus Williams. "I don't know if I kind of gave up and quit on myself and let that attitude come out on the show," he told the Daily Beast in 2018. "But I wasn't smiling anymore or trying to break the code to win. I was just like, 'I'm drowning' and I think they could sense that."

After "Saturday Night Live," Mitchell continued to find work in Hollywood, both as a stand-up and in front of the camera. He is not one of the giant names to come out of the show but has established a fan following over the years. His credits include a series regular role on the show "Outmatched," which aired for a season on Fox in 2019, and recurring gigs on the Disney show "A.N.T. Farm" and Showtime's "Roadies." He has also appeared in films like "Mad Families" and "Barely Lethal," and co-hosted "According to Him + Her."

Nasim Pedrad was a "Saturday Night Live" cast member for five seasons, from 2009 to 2014, which is a fair amount of time, but we were still sad when she decided to leave the show to further her acting career. Pedrad was a key player during her years at "SNL," and it was a true loss to see her go — something she did in order to appear on the sitcom "Mulaney." "At some point you have to leave, and I can't think of a better reason to leave than for this particular show and this particular cast," Pedrad told TV Guide at the time. "Mulaney" lasted only 13 episodes, but Pedrad has bounced back and is currently the creator, writer, and star of TBS's "Chad."

While on "SNL," Pedrad established a number of recurring characters such as young schoolgirl Shallon and Bedelia, a teen obsessed with her parents. She also proved herself to be a masterful impressionist, playing everyone from Kim Kardashian to Christiane Amanpour to Princess Jasmine from "Aladdin." Aside from "Mulaney" and "Chad," Pedrad's resume has a few other post-"SNL" highlights. These include stints on the series' "Scream Queens," "New Girl," and "People of Earth."

Despite leaving "Saturday Night Live" as a main cast member in 2007, Maya Rudolph has proven that she is always game for a return trip — such as the time she appeared as Vice President Kamala Harris in 2020. We are grateful, too, because Rudolph is arguably one of the funniest cast members the sketch series has ever seen. Rudolph started on "SNL" in 2000, and she quickly made a name for herself with hilarious celebrity impressions, including iconic takes on Beyonce, Oprah Winfrey, and Donatella Versace. She also had her fair share of completely ridiculous original characters, such as Spokesmodel Shonda (opposite Kristen Wiig) and Jodi Dietz, co-host of "Bronx Beat" (opposite Amy Poehler).

Rudolph has stayed incredibly busy in the years since her "SNL" departure, appearing in both film and television, and in both live action and voice roles. Her high-profile film roles have included parts in "Bridesmaids," "Grown Ups," and 2021's "Licorice Pizza," written and directed by husband Paul Thomas Anderson. On the television side of things, Rudolph has had series regular roles in "Up All Night" and "Bless the Harts," as well as memorable recurring parts on "Kath & Kim" and "The Good Place." She has also appeared in a number of variety shows and specials, including one with Martin Short (produced by Lorne Michaels) called "Maya & Marty," and voices numerous characters on Netflix's "Big Mouth." Rudolph has won four Primetime Emmy Awards (out of eight nominations) — including two for guest appearances on "Saturday Night Live" in 2020 and 2021.

Molly Shannon is an absolutely uproarious comedian who shines in everything she does, including "Saturday Night Live." She joined the show in 1995 and stayed for seven seasons, until 2001. Few characters have left the lasting legacy of Shannon's Mary Catherine Gallagher, a character so fantastically ridiculous that she even got her own movie, "Superstar." Shannon's other standout characters included frisky Sally O'Malley, "joyologist" Helen Madden, and "Delicious Dish" co-host Terri Rialto.

Shannon has put her comedic genius to good use since leaving "SNL," on screens both large and small. She has had series regular roles on shows like "Divorce," "Kath & Kim," and "The Other Two." In addition to "The Other Two," Shannon appeared in "The White Lotus" and, in a voice capacity, "Bob's Burgers" last year. Shannon has also had memorable guest stints on a plethora of shows, most notably the "Will & Grace" reboot and "Enlightened," both of which earned her Primetime Emmy Award nominations. 

She will have a main role in 2022's "I Love That for You," co-created by fellow "Saturday Night Live" vet Vanessa Bayer. Finally, Shannon has appeared in dozens of movies since her time at "SNL," including "Marie Antoinette," "Bad Teacher," and a couple of the "Scary Movie" films. In 2017, Shannon won acclaim — and an Independent Spirit Award — for her performance in the film "Other People."

Kristen Wiig was a dynamo when she was on "Saturday Night Live," sometimes appearing in so many sketches that it was overkill. But we get it, because Wiig's seven seasons were filled with exciting moments and hilarious characters. Wiig joined the show in 2005 and remained until 2012, a year after her smash hit film "Bridesmaids." Her zany roster of "SNL" characters included Target Lady, "Secret Word" player Mindy Grayson, and the ever-excited Sue. She also dazzled with her impressions, especially her Kathy Lee Griffith and Elisabeth Hasselbeck. Of Wiig's nine Primetime Emmy Award nominations, five are for her time as an "SNL" cast member and another two are for hosting the show in the years since her departure.

Wiig left "SNL" just in time to capitalize on her exploding movie career, and the payoff has been big. Since leaving the show, she has appeared in big budget flicks like "The Martian," "Zoolander 2," "Ghostbusters," and "Wonder Woman 1984." She has not jumped into another television show full-time but has had memorable stints on "Arrested Development" and "The Last Man on Earth," provided voices for characters on "Bless the Harts" and "Big Mouth," and appeared in an Emmy-nominated role in the miniseries "The Spoils Before Dying" in 2015. In 2021, Wiig co-starred in the "MacGruber" TV series, based upon the "SNL" sketch with Will Forte.

Seth Meyers did most of his best work at "Saturday Night Live" in the writer's room, where he started in 2001 and became a head writer in 2006. He stayed on with the show for thirteen years — until 2014 — both as a writer and as anchor for the legendary "Weekend Update" segment, which was something he started doing after five years on staff. He also appeared as a performer on occasion, often appearing as real-life people like John Kerry and Anderson Cooper or fictional characters like Ron Weasley from "Harry Potter." Meyers has been nominated for a dozen Primetime Emmy Awards, winning once, for his work on "Saturday Night Live" and its associated specials (out of 27 total nominations).

Though he is not known primarily as an actor, Meyers has acted in content such as the television series "The Awesomes," and films like "I Don't Know How She Does It" and "New Year's Eve." Meyers has not acted much since leaving "Saturday Night Live,", instead opting to focus on his nightly late night show, "Late Night with Seth Meyers," which he began filming in February 2014. In addition to his talk show, Meyers is a popular award show host, having emceed both the Primetime Emmys and the Golden Globes in the past, as well as writer (he has written for three other Golden Globe ceremonies, for example).

Fred Armisen was an integral part of "Saturday Night Live's" cast from 2002 until 2013, and his 11-year run remains one of the longest in the show's history. He has since been back for multiple cameos and as a host. Some of his memorable characters include his take on singer Prince, Venezuelan night club owner Fericito, and Leonard, host of the talk show Club Traxx. He also partnered with Kristen Wiig to craft two unforgettable recurring sketches — "The Californians," a soap opera parody where he played Stuart, and "Garth and Kat," where he was part of a woefully unprepared musical duo.

Armisen has been quite busy since leaving "SNL," but his biggest project has been "Portlandia," a sketch comedy show he co-created and starred in alongside Carrie Brownstein. "Portlandia" aired for eight seasons, from 2011 to 2016, earning Armisen nine Primetime Emmy Award nominations (he has 14 total, including two for "SNL"). Armisen's other post-"SNL" television credits include roles on "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt," "Schmigadoon!," and "Toast of Tinseltown." 

He also appears in the Emmy-nominated mockumentary show, "Documentary Now!," which he created with a number of other show alums. Additionally, Armisen has appeared in small roles in a number of films, from "Battle of the Sexes" to "Zoolander 2," and voiced animated characters like Brainy Smurf in the "Smurf" movies and Speedy Gonzalez in "Looney Tunes: Rabbits Run." He can be seen in Judd Apatow's "The Bubble," in April 2022, and has a few other projects in the works.

No matter how long she works in Hollywood, Rachel Dratch will always be known as her famous "SNL" character Debbie Downer to us. Debbie is one of the all-time great "Saturday Night Live" characters, but Dratch made many other contributions over the course of her seven years on the show. Dratch joined the "SNL" cast in 1999 and left in 2006. In addition to Debbie, her other key characters included Boston teen Denise, Hollywood producer Abe Scheinwald, and junior high student Sheldon. She also made a mark with impressions of Barbara Walters, Monica Lewinsky, and other celebrities.

Dratch was famously let go from pal Tina Fey's "30 Rock" after her performance in the pilot elicited negative reviews from fans (via Huffington Post). She then went on to appear on the show in a series of smaller parts and has continued to find work in smaller roles in television and film in the years since. She has had recurring guest parts on shows like "Broad City" and "Shameless," and has done much voicework, including for "Fish Hooks," "The Awesomes," and "Bob's Burgers." On the film side, Dratch's credits include parts in "I Hate Valentine's Day," "Sisters," and "The Week Of." She has also done some theater, hosted a truTV sketch show, and published a humorous memoir.

Cheri Oteri is more of a 1990s "Saturday Night Live" star, but since her tenure ended in the new millennium, she qualifies for our list. The funny lady started on the show in 1995, and she remained on the cast for five seasons, until 2000. She started as a member of the repertory, since there were no featured players at the time, and at a time when the show was at a lull. Oteri and the new cast that started with her revived the program and gave us some of "Saturday Night Live's" most iconic characters, like Spartan cheerleaders Arianna (Oteri) and Craig (Will Ferrell). Oteri is also remembered for her Philadelphia grouch Rita DelVecchio, "Simmer down now" lady Nadeen, and the funniest Barbara Walters impression the show has ever seen.

Though deserving, Oteri surprisingly never got her own sitcom or headlined any major movies in her years after "Saturday Night Live." She has, however, continued to find steady work in both television and film. On the television side, there have been a lot of TV movies and one-off guest stints, as well as a lot of voice work on shows like "Puppy Dog Pals" and "Big City Greens." Her film credits include "Scary Movie," "Grown Ups 2," and "Benjamin." Oteri has a few projects in production, per her IMDb, but none seem truly worthy of her immense comedic gifts.

2Like Adam Sandler and Mike Myers, Will Ferrell is one of those comedians whose career absolutely exploded once he left "SNL" for greener pastures. Ferrell joined "Saturday Night Live" in 1995, when the show was at a low, and remained on the program until 2002. By that time, he had already established himself as a solid movie star with roles in "Zoolander" and "Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me." Ferrell had more recurring characters on "Saturday Night Live" than we could possibly fit here, but the standouts included Mr. Ed's twin brother Ned, Spartan cheerleader Craig Buchanan, and high school music teacher Marty Culp. His sidesplitting impressions were wide-ranging, from Janet Reno to Alex Trebek to Fidel Castro.

After departing "Saturday Night Live," Ferrell's star skyrocketed with leading roles in films like "Old School," "Elf," and "Kicking & Screaming." He also writes films, such as "Step Brothers" and the "Anchorman" films, which he starred in, and produces others, such as "Booksmart" and "Hustlers." As a voice actor, Ferrell has appeared in "The Lego Movie" and "Megamind," both giant films with massive box office success. 

A big movie star, Ferrell has been less active on television than many other "SNL" vets, but he recently played a lead in the Apple TV+ miniseries "The Shrink Next Door." Other television credits include six episodes of "The Spoils Before Dying" and two episodes of "Drunk History," both of which he co-produces. As a producer, he has also worked on everything from "Succession" to "Dead to Me."

Bill Hader joined "Saturday Night Live" in 2005 and spent eight seasons on the show before his 2013 departure. Four of his Primetime Emmy Award nominations have been for the show — two from his time as a cast member and two from subsequent appearances in 2015 and 2018. His beloved characters include "Weekend Update" staple Stefon, super affectionate family member Dwayne Vogelcheck, and senior citizen reporter Herb Welch. He is also a masterful impressionist, portraying celebrities like Al Pacino, Dave Matthews, and Ryan Seacrest.

Post-"SNL," Hader has had much success on television, namely with his sitcom "Barry," which he co-created, writes, produces, and stars in. The HBO comedy has aired two seasons and earned Hader numerous accolades, including two Primetime Emmy Awards for Lead Actor in a Comedy. Hader is also the co-creator of the Emmy-nominated "Documentary Now!," and has voiced characters for shows like "The Awesomes," "The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance," and "Marvel's M.O.D.O.K." 

In the years since "Saturday Night Live," Hader has also lit up the big screen, appearing as a leading man in movies like "Trainwreck" and in supporting roles in films such as "22 Jump Street" and "It Chapter Two." Much of his film work has been in animated fare, and Hader's voice can be found in everything from "Finding Dory" to "Sausage Party."

A somewhat forgettable cast member, Dean Edwards appeared on "Saturday Night Live" from 2001 to 2003. He did not get much play when on the show, though he did feature a number of impressions including Michael Jackson, Denzel Washington, and Don Cheadle. His two-season stint was the highlight of his career, and Edwards' onscreen appearances have been limited in the years since.

Edwards post-"SNL" credits include cameos in films like "Spider Man 3" and "Universal Remote," and a smattering of TV guest roles. Most of his credits are for voice work, on shows such as "Let's Be Real," "Where My Dogs at?," and "Our Cartoon President." Edwards also took over for Eddie Murphy as the voice of Donkey in a couple of "Shrek" shorts in 2010 and 2011. He most often appears in media as himself, and has popped up on everything from "Tiffany Haddish Presents: The Ready" to "Laugh Factory."

Tim Meadows spent a decade on "Saturday Night Live," but just barely made our list since the majority of his tenure was in the 1990s. Meadows joined the show as a cast member in 1991, and he left in 2000, which was the longest tenure for a cast member at the time of his departure. Surprisingly, he was at one point fired before a quick rehire before the next season (via Paste magazine). Meadows was known for a variety of impressions, including O.J. Simpson and Tiger Woods, as well as his recurring character Leon Phelps, a horny talk show host known as "The Ladies Man." "The Ladies Man" was also spun off into a film in 2000.

Though he is not one of the most famous 2000s-era "Saturday Night Live" alums, Meadows has been steadily working in the two decades since his departure. In addition to many television guest roles, he has appeared as a main character on numerous series including "The Michael Richards Show," "The Bill Engvall Show," and "Schooled." On the film side, Meadows has appeared in fare like "Mean Girls," "Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story," "Grown Ups," and "Trainwreck." He also appeared in four episodes of "Space Force," and reprised his recurring role as Jonathan Glascott on "The Goldbergs."

For eight seasons, Amy Poehler tickled our funny bones as a cast member — and perhaps one of the best utilized ones — on "Saturday Night Live." Poehler joined the show in 2001, and eventually started hosting "Weekend Update," first alongside Tina Fey and then Seth Meyers. She left the show in 2008 but has been back as a guest a handful of times. Poehler had a range of original characters that recurred on the show, including one-legged Amber, "Bronx Beat" co-host Betty Caruso, and Sally Needler, one half of a deeply unhappy couple. Her impressions were all great, but her Hillary Clinton has a special place in our hearts. Poehler received two Primetime Emmy Award nominations for her work as a cast member on "Saturday Night Live," and won another in 2016 when she co-hosted the show with Tina Fey.

Poehler has become a comedy giant in the years since "SNL," but she is probably best known for her Emmy-winning turn as Leslie Knope in NBC's "Parks and Recreation," which was on the air for seven seasons. Poehler's other television credits include "Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp," "Wet Hot American Summer: Ten Years Later," and "Kroll Show." She has also established herself as a capable host — for the Golden Globes, "The UCB Show," reality TV series "Making It" — and producer, for series such as "I Feel Bad," "Russian Doll," and "Broad City." Poehler's work in film has been more sporadic, but she has had memorable roles in "Baby Mama" and "Sisters," and as the voice of "Joy" in "Inside Out."

Abby Elliott is a second generation "Saturday Night Live" cast member, as her father Chris Elliott was on the show for one season in 1994–1995. The younger Elliott lasted longer than her dad, joining the show in 2008 and remaining on the cast for four seasons. She was fired in 2012, which she told Elle she somewhat saw coming. "The week before, my NBC ID came off of my key chain and I had this premonition. I took it as a sign, and I'm not a 'sign' person," she said in an interview with the magazine. In the years since her departure, Elliott has continued to find work in comedy.

Most notably, Elliott has appeared as a part of the main ensemble on two sitcoms — Bravo's "Odd Mom Out" from 2015 to 2017 and then the one-season NBC series "Indebted" in 2020. She has also had recurring roles on "How I Met Your Mother" and "The Assistant," and has voiced roles for the likes of "Star vs. the Forces of Evil" and "Home: Adventures with Tip & Oh." Elliott has been less active in film, where her credits include smaller films like "Sex Ed," "Better Off Single," and "Clara's Ghost."

Bobby Moynihan spent nine years on "Saturday Night Live," appearing as a cast member from 2008 through 2017. Like most long-term cast members, Moynihan had a roster of recurring characters, which included erroneous reporter Anthony Crispino, elementary school student Liam, and "Drunk Uncle," who popped up on "Weekend Update." He also made his mark doing celebrity impressions, playing everyone from Danny DeVito to George Lucas, but his Snooki was by far the highlight for us.

Moynihan is currently a cast member on the sitcom "Mr. Mayor," which was co-created by "SNL" alums Tina Fey and Robert Carlock (Carlock was a writer, Fey a writer and performer). He also voices the titular character on the Comedy Central animated program "Loafy," a program he also created, writes, and directs. Moynihan is very active in voice work in general, having also provided speech for characters in TV series shorts like "Summer Camp Island," "It's Pony," and "Kid Cosmic," and on series such as "DuckTales," "Star Wars Resistance," and "We Bare Bears." Prior to appearing in "Mr. Mayor," Moynihan was a series regular on the series "Me, Myself and I," a CBS sitcom that lasted only a few episodes but was the catalyst for his "SNL" parting (via Entertainment Weekly).