Saturday Night Live (SNL) commemorates 50 seasons by honoring 50 notable cast members, crew, hosts, and guest stars who have passed away since the show’s inception in 1975.
Michael O’Donoghue, the original head writer and first face on SNL, died of a cerebral hemorrhage on November 8, 1994.
John Belushi, a key original cast member, died of a drug overdose on March 5, 1982, after achieving major Hollywood success.
Gilda Radner, one of the original cast members known for iconic characters, succumbed to ovarian cancer on May 20, 1989.
George Carlin, the host of SNL’s first episode, passed away from a heart attack on June 22, 2008, leaving a lasting legacy in comedy.
Richard Pryor, a groundbreaking comedian who hosted SNL, died of a heart attack on December 10, 2005, remembered for his influential sketches.