SNL Cast Members You May Not Have Realized Had Died

In another time or in different circumstances, Rocket could have been a huge "SNL" star. But he joined the cast for the 1980 season — the one without Lorne Michaels, which successor Jean Doumanian mismanaged. Rocket provided some of that season's few notable moments, such as his amusing "The Rocket Report," a series of "man-on-the-street" segments. Oh, and he also said the F-word live on the air. 

During the February 21, 1981, episode of "SNL," hosted by "Dallas" star Charlene Tilton, the show parodied her show's huge "Who Shot J.R.?" plot line by having an unknown gunman take a shot at Rocket. (They called it "Who Shot C.R.?" Get it?) At the end of the episode, during the part when the cast waves goodnight from the stage, Rocket sat in a wheelchair. Tilton asked Rocket how it felt to be shot, and he replied, "Ah, man. It's the first time I've ever been shot in my life. I'd like to know who f***ing did it." 

Dropping the F-bomb on network TV was a huge violation of FCC rules; Rocket quickly lost his job (per EW). He went on to a decent career specializing in playing jerks, cads, and villains in comedies. He's great in "Earth Girls are Easy" and "Dumb and Dumber." Unfortunately, in 2005, the 56-year-old's body was found near his home in Connecticut, in a death the medical examiner's office ruled a suicide (per People)

If you or anyone you know is having suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

In the late '80s and early '90s, "SNL" cast members called Phil Hartman "the glue," because he was a versatile utility player who kept the show together and made everything better. But who was his frequent and most memorable scene partner? The equally glue-ish Jan Hooks. 

The Georgia-born actress was a scene-stealer in recurring bits like the Sweeney Sisters nightclub act and delivered pointed and fierce celebrity impressions, such as a laser-focused Hillary Clinton, a smarmy Diane Sawyer, and a phony Tammy Faye Bakker opposite Hartman's televangelist Jim Bakker. 

Hooks left "SNL" for primetime in 1991, joining the cast of CBS's hit "Designing Women." She popped up on TV and in the movies, mostly in parts way too small for someone of her stature. But who else but Hooks could've played Jenna's sleazy mother on "30 Rock?" In 2014, 57-year-old Hooks died from throat cancer (per AV Club). Shortly after her death, "SNL" paid tribute with the re-airing of the poignant 1988 short film "Love is a Dream," which starred Hooks and Hartman. (The same sketch aired after Hartman died in 1998.)

As a writer for the show for nearly 30 years, off and on, Davis created (or helped create) classic bits like Bill Murray's "Nick the Lounge Singer," the Coneheads, and guest host Christopher Walken's "The Continental," according to the Hollywood Reporter. However, he also showed up on screen quite a bit in the early years of the show. 

With writing partner Al Franken, he was the Davis part of the "Franken & Davis" comedy duo. Another highlight: in the sketch "Ask President Carter," the president (Dan Aykroyd) takes phone calls from Americans in need. In one, he talks down a young man from a bad acid trip: The kid freaking out was voiced by Davis. Sadly, throat and neck cancer killed Davis, or as he wryly put it, "deanimated" him, in 2012 (per The New York Times).

First and foremost a stand-up comic, Norm Macdonald brought his unique comedy stylings to "Saturday Night Live" as a writer in 1993, ultimately joining the cast for the occasional sketch and as the anchor of "Weekend Update." Macdonald, whose delivery was always arch, ironic, laconic, and blunt, introduced the segment for what it was, "the fake news," before delving into weird, irony-drenched, out-of-nowhere jokes about sex workers and O.J. Simpson's murder trial. 

His constant, darkly funny proclamations that the ex-football star was truly guilty of the crimes for which he was acquitted actually led to Macdonald's dismissal from the show. Don Ohlmeyer, an "SNL" executive and friend of Simpson, ordered the comedian's removal, according to The Hollywood Reporter. After "SNL," Macdonald returned to stand-up comedy and also starred in a few short-lived sitcoms like "Norm" and "The Norm Show."

Macdonald didn't publicly disclose he'd received a cancer diagnosis in 2013. Nine years later, in September 2021, he died from the disease, according to Deadline. The comedian was 61-years-old.

"Saturday Night Live" creator Lorne Michaels left the show for a few years in the 1980s, during which time he created the short-lived sketch comedy series "The New Show" for NBC. When that show ended in 1984, Michael returned to "SNL" and brought comedian Dan Vitale with him. 

According to Vulture, Vitale only appeared in a handful of sketches in a few episodes of "SNL" during the 1985-86 season, including a scene opposite guest host Madonna (playing her cousin at her wedding, flirting with Cyndi Lauper) and in one of Jon Lovitz's first "Pathological Liar" sketches. Vitale left "SNL" midway through the season to seek treatment for substance abuse issues and never came back. He returned to comedy and landed small roles in the movies "Anger Management" and "Malibu's Most Wanted."

According to PopCulture, friends of Vitale disclosed the news of the comedian's death on May 6, 2022. He was 66.

"SNL's" occasional bursts of edgy darkness are the legacy of its first head writer — and occasional performer — Michael O'Donoghue. O'Donoghue appeared in the very first sketch on the very first episode of "SNL," in which he portrayed an English teacher who makes his student (John Belushi) repeat nonsensical phrases. When O'Donoghue's character keels over from a heart attack, the student dutifully copies. He also played "Mr. Mike" (a vaguely unsettling figure who read inappropriate children's stories like "The Little Train That Died"), and a nightclub performer who did impressions of what cheesy celebrities (like Tony Orlando and Mike Douglas) would sound like if they shoved needles into their eyes. 

O'Donoghue was an incredibly influential voice in comedy during his time on "SNL," but he didn't stop when he left the show. He worked on cult classics, including co-writing "Scrooged" and co-writing and directing "Mr. Mike's Mondo Video," to cite two examples. In 1994, O'Donoghue died of a cerebral hemorrhage at age 54, according to The New York Times.

Now that we've covered all the "SNL" stars whose deaths slipped by you (and made you sad), here are some "SNL" legends whose tragic deaths dominated the headlines (and made you sad).

Belushi was the first member of the original "SNL" cast to pass away. His highlight reel is a highlight reel of the first few years of "SNL" itself. During his time on the show, he played a samurai trying out unlikely professions, a world-class athlete fueled by "Little Chocolate Donuts," a Greek diner worker ("Cheeseburger! Cheeseburger!"), a singing bee, Beethoven, a Joe Cocker dead ringer, a Blues Brother, and so many others. 

Belushi also starred in the show's short film "Don't Look Back in Anger" (sad, in retrospect). Set in the distant future, an elderly makeup-wearing Belushi visited the graves of his "SNL" costars, bragging he outlived them all because he's "a dancer!" That's the only old Belushi the world got to see — the comedian had major substance abuse problems, and the 33-year-old "Animal House" star was found dead in his bungalow at Hollywood's Chateau Marmont in 1983 (per The New York Times). Cause of death: a drug overdose, per The Hollywood Reporter. 

If you or anyone you know needs help with addiction issues, help is available. Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).

Hartman was a crucial cast member on what are likely the two most important comedy shows ever: "The Simpsons" and "Saturday Night Live." He voiced Troy McClure and Lionel Hutz on the former and played more characters than we can count on the latter. Some favorites: Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer, the Anal-Retentive Chef, Frankenstein's monster, a verbally abusive Frank Sinatra, a secretly conniving President Reagan, and a smug Bill Clinton. 

Unsurprisingly, other cast members adored Hartman. In "Live from New York," Mike Myers called Hartman "one of the best character-based comedians ever" and said he was "extremely supportive and hilarious. He never gave up on a sketch and his work ethic was amazing." Hartman was clearly a nice guy, and audiences could surely tell, even when he played narcissistic jerks like Bill McNeal on "NewsRadio," his "SNL" follow-up series. 

That's just a small part of why Hartman's death was so shocking and sad. In May 1998, Hartman's wife, Brynn, struggling with mental health issues, shot Hartman before turning the gun on herself, according to Salon. The "SNL" legend was just 49.

If you or anyone you know is having suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline​ by dialing 988 or by calling 1-800-273-TALK (8255)​.