“SNL” has been honored with plenty of awards in a variety of categories throughout its five-decade run. From makeup, lighting, art direction, production design and camera work to the ever-important writing and directing, “SNL” has racked up a nomination in pretty much every category it’s ever been eligible for.
Despite the fact that “SNL” is an ensemble effort, many of the cast members have shined so brightly that Emmy voters can’t help but reward them with nominations and wins. The winners from “SNL” in Best Supporting Actor/Actress categories are few and far between: Kate McKinnon won in 2016 and 2017, along with Alec Baldwin for his Donald Trump performance tenure in 2017 and 2018. Dana Carvey also won back in 1993, after being nominated a total of five times, and the legendary Gilda Radner won back in 1978, after being nominated alongside some of her fellow cast members that same year. But there have been many more nominations for the show’s varied ensemble stars over since 1975.
Cast members who have gotten individual Emmy nominations for their performance on “SNL” include Bowen Yang, Kenan Thompson, Cecily Strong, Aidy Bryant, Leslie Jones, Will Ferrell, Vanessa Bayer, Kristen Wiig, Amy Poehler, Bill Hader, Molly Shannon, Phil Hartman, Mike Myers, Jon Lovitz, Billy Crystal, Joe Piscopo, and Eddie Murphy. However, the original cast of “SNL” may have been the most celebrated, with Dan Aykroyd, John Belushi, Gilda Radner, Jane Curtin, and Chevy Chase (who would go on to get in a fight with Bill Murray when he returned to host) all earning nominations.
Plus, let’s not forget the all-star “SNL” guest hosts. From 2024’s all-time great performance by Ryan Gosling (pictured above) alongside returning cast member Maya Rudolph and Kristen Wiig that same year, stretching back to 2009, when Tina Fey and Justin Timberlake landed the first guest performer nominations for the series. Fey’s nomination came thanks to her turn as Governor Sarah Palin, which came after she left the show, while Timberlake earned a nomination for his hosting stint that year, and they both won. It’s not clear why “SNL” didn’t make the cut for the guest performance category before that, but it might be due to the fact that the category wasn’t separated into actor and actress until 1988, even though that leaves 11 years unaccounted for with such an excuse. Even so, other nominees include former cast members like Bill Hader, Eddie Murphy, Kristen Wiig, and Maya Rudolph, as well as the likes of Tom Hanks, Melissa McCarthy, Dave Chappelle, Quinta Brunson, and many more.
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