List of celebrities who unsuccessfully auditioned for Saturday Night Live

The following is a list of actors, comedians and celebrities who auditioned for a part in the NBC sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live but did not get cast in the show. ^{[1] [2] [3]} Many of these celebrities managed to achieve successful careers in the entertainment industry, with some of them eventually appearing on the show as a guest host or in some other capacity. ^{[4] [5] [6]} This list is in alphabetical order by last name.

• A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

A

• Dave Attell auditioned in 1993, but was hired as a writer for the show during its 19th season instead. ^{[3] [7]}
• Jennifer Aniston auditioned in 1990 but lost the part to Julia Sweeney. She hosted the show twice, during its 25th season and 29th season.

B

• Greer Barnes auditioned in 1995. ^[8]
• Charlie Barnett auditioned in 1980, but passed it up because he was self-conscious about his inability to read. ^[7]
• Richard Belzer claimed that series creator Lorne Michaels promised to cast him in the show but later changed his mind. ^{[3] [4] [7]}
• Rachel Bloom auditioned in 2012. ^[5]
• Kevin Brennan auditioned for a part in the Weekend Update after Colin Quinn left the show. Brennan was a writer for the show's 25th season. ^[9]
• Nicole Byer auditioned in 2013 when the show was looking to add an African-American woman to the cast but lost to Sasheer Zamata. ^[10]

C

• Steve Carell auditioned in 1995 alongside his wife, Nancy Walls. He went on to host the show three times in 2005, 2008 and 2018. ^[3]
• Jim Carrey auditioned in 1980 and 1986. ^{[5] [11]} He went on to host the show three times in 1996, 2011 and 2014. ^{[1] [3]} Lorne Michaels regrets not hiring Carrey. ^[2]
• Louis C.K. auditioned in 1993. ^[7] He went on to host the show four times. ^[4]
• Jennifer Coolidge auditioned in 1995. ^{[3] [9]}
• Stephen Colbert auditioned in 1992. ^{[3] [6]}
• David Cross auditioned in 1992. ^{[3] [4] [7]}

D

• Geena Davis auditioned in 1984 but lost the part to Pamela Stephenson. She later hosted in 1989. ^{[3] [7]}
• Tommy Davidson auditioned in 1987 but was passed over when Lorne Michaels told him they were "not looking for a black comedian". ^[12]
• Andy Dick was approached to join the cast shortly after cancellation of The Ben Stiller Show in 1993. However, he turned down the offer due to the lack of confidence of performing every week, he later regretted the decision. ^[13]
• Gabrielle Dennis auditioned in 2013 when the show was looking to add an African-American woman to the cast but lost to Sasheer Zamata. ^{[10] [14]}

F

• Pat Finn auditioned in 1995. ^[8]
• Dave Foley auditioned in 1985. ^[3]

G

• Zach Galifianakis auditioned in 1999. ^{[5] [6] [11] [15]} He was eventually hired to write for two episodes of the show's 25th season. ^[2] He also hosted the show three times in 2010, 2011 and 2013. ^{[1] [3]}
• Jon Glaser auditioned in 1995. ^[9]
• Donald Glover auditioned twice for the show only to lose the parts to Bobby Moynihan and Fred Armisen. ^[3] He eventually hosted the show in 2018. ^{[1] [4] [6]}
• Elon Gold auditioned in 1995. ^[8]
• John Goodman auditioned in 1980. ^{[6] [7] [11]} He later went on to host the show thirteen times. ^{[1] [2] [3]}
• Kathy Griffin auditioned in 1990 but lost the part to Julia Sweeney. ^{[3] [6] [11]}

H

• Tiffany Haddish auditioned in 2013 when the show was looking to add an African-American woman to the cast but lost to Sasheer Zamata. ^{[10] [14]} She later hosted the show during the 43rd season. ^[16]
• Ricky Harris auditioned in 1995. ^[8]
• Kevin Hart auditioned for a part in the show in 2001. ^{[3] [9] [11] [15]} He went on to host the show three times (2013, 2015 and 2017). ^{[1] [2] [5]}
• Caleb Hearon auditioned in 2022. ^[17]
• Rob Huebel auditioned more than once during the mid-2000s. His comedy partner, Rob Riggle, was chosen as a cast member for the 2004-2005 season (season 30). ^[3]
• Bonnie Hunt was approached to join the cast in the early 1990s, but turned down the offer due to the "gender disparity" on the show at the time. In addition, Lorne Michaels was against Hunt improvising in her audition, ^[18] because of his strict "no improv" policy on the show. ^[19]

K

• Mindy Kaling auditioned to join the cast of Saturday Night Live in 2005, but was only offered the chance to write for the show, which she turned down. ^{[1] [2] [6]}
• Andy Kaufman auditioned for a spot on the original cast. ^[15]
• Ellie Kemper auditioned in 2008. She later appeared on the show during the monologue of an episode hosted by her The Office co-star Steve Carell. ^[20]
• Mimi Kennedy was offered a part in the show in 1975, but Gilda Radner was worried that they were both too similar to each other. ^[7]
• Kerri Kenney-Silver auditioned in 1996. ^{[3] [6] [11]}
• Tom Kenny auditioned in 1990. ^[21]
• Johnny Knoxville was offered the chance to have his stunt videos (which would later be used on the MTV show Jackass) put on SNL, but he declined the offer. He later hosted the show in 2005.
• Nick Kroll auditioned in 2008. ^[9]
• Lisa Kudrow auditioned in 1990. ^{[3] [7]} She later hosted the show in 1996. ^{[1] [6] [11]}

L

• Jay Lacopo auditioned in 1995. ^[8]

M

• Bill Maher was in talks to join the 1994 season. ^[22]
• Marc Maron auditioned in 1995 in an attempt to replace Norm Macdonald on Weekend Update. ^{[2] [3] [4]}
• Andrea Martin auditioned in 1984 but lost the part to Pamela Stephenson. ^[7]
• Jack McBrayer auditioned in 2001. ^{[3] [4]}
• Bruce McCulloch auditioned in 1985. ^[3]
• Kevin McDonald auditioned in 1985. ^[3] He was offered a part in 1995 but he turned it down. ^[9]
• Adam McKay auditioned in 1995. ^{[3] [9]} He was then head writer from 1995 until 2001.
• Cristin Milioti sent an auditon tape in after her guest spot on 30 Rock in 2011. ^[23]
• T.J. Miller auditioned in 2008. ^{[2] [9]}
• Kel Mitchell auditioned in 2003 alongside former Kenan & Kel castmate Kenan Thompson, who was hired. ^[3]
• Lamorne Morris auditioned in 2010, but lost out to Jay Pharoah.
• John Mulaney auditioned in 2008. Instead, he was hired as a writer for the show, a role he held from the 34th to 37th season. Mulaney later went on to host during seasons 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, and 50. ^[9]
• Arden Myrin auditioned in 2001 but lost to Amy Poehler. Myrin later became a MADtv cast member in 2005.

N

• Kathy Najimy auditioned for the show in 1984, but lost to Pamela Stephenson.
• Kumail Nanjiani auditioned in 2012. ^[9] He went on to host in 2017.

P

• Paula Jai Parker auditioned in 1995. ^[8]
• Jordan Peele auditioned to play the role of Barack Obama in 2008 but lost the role to Fred Armisen. ^{[2] [9]}
• Aubrey Plaza auditioned in 2008. ^{[11] [9]} Plaza also worked as an intern of the show three years prior. ^{[1] [2] [3] [6]} She later hosted during the 48th season.

R

• Paul Reubens auditioned in 1980 only to lose the part to Gilbert Gottfried. ^{[1] [2] [6]} Reubens claimed Gottfried was favored over him because he was friends with one of the producers of the show. Reubens later hosted in 1985, in-character as Pee-wee Herman. ^{[3] [7]}
• John Roberts auditioned in 2008. ^[9]
• Matt Rogers auditioned in the spring of 2018, around the same time as Bowen Yang with whom he's hosted Las Culturistas since 2016.
• Jeff Ross auditioned in 2000 for a part in the Weekend Update after Colin Quinn left the show. ^{[3] [9]}
• Mercedes Ruehl auditioned in 1980, but was passed over in favor of Denny Dillon. ^[24]
• Amber Ruffin auditioned in 2013 when the show was looking to add an African-American woman to the cast but lost to Sasheer Zamata. ^[10]

S

• Akiva Schaffer auditioned in 2005. Schaffer was a writer from the 31st to 36th season. ^{[3] [9]}
• Paul Scheer auditioned for the show twice in 2001 and 2002. ^{[3] [9]}
• Amy Sedaris auditioned in 1995 in attempt to replace cast member Janeane Garofalo. ^[9]
• J. B. Smoove auditioned in 2003 but lost out to both Kenan Thompson and Finesse Mitchell. Smoove was hired as a writer from the 29th to 31st season.

T

• Jorma Taccone auditioned in 2005. Taccone became a writer from the 31st to 35th season. ^{[3] [9]}
• Scott Thompson auditioned in 1985. ^[3]
• Robert Townsend auditioned in 1980 only to lose the part to Eddie Murphy. ^{[3] [7]}

W

• Bresha Webb auditioned in 2013 when the show was looking to add an African-American woman to the cast but lost to Sasheer Zamata. ^{[10] [14]}
• Stephnie Weir auditioned in 1999 but lost to Rachel Dratch. Weir later became a cast member on MADtv in 2000.

Z

• Henry Zebrowski auditioned in 2010. ^{[25] [26]}

References

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2. McCormick, Colin (12 February 2019). "Saturday Night Live: 14 Famous Actors Who Auditioned... And Didn't Get Cast". Screen Rant . Retrieved 31 July 2020.
3. Wood, Jennifer M. (4 December 2015). "31 Famous People Rejected by Saturday Night Live". Mental Floss . Retrieved 31 July 2020.
4. Meisfjord, Tom (23 May 2018). "Actors Turned Down by SNL Who are Now Huge Stars". Grunge.com . Retrieved 31 July 2020.
5. DeSantis, Rachel (3 October 2016). "Saturday Night Live: See the auditions that didn't make the cut". Entertainment Weekly . Retrieved 31 July 2020.
6. Renae, Kirstie (22 July 2020). "14 celebrities who got rejected by 'Saturday Night Live' and went on to become famous in their own right". Insider.com . Retrieved 31 July 2020.
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10. @gabrielledennis (2 December 2013). "With my girls @Breshawebb @simoneshepherd @TiffanyHaddish & other funny ladies I got to meet at our #SNL showcase :)" (Tweet). Retrieved 2020-09-28– via Twitter.
11. Renae, Kirstie (8 October 2019). "14 celebrities who got rejected by 'Saturday Night Live' and went on to become famous in their own right". Business Insider . Retrieved 31 July 2020.
12. "Tommy Davidson Claims "SNL" Creator Lorne Michaels Called Eddie Murphy "A Mistake"". HNHH. February 2020.
13. Brody, Ambrosia V. (August 12, 2021). "The Real Reason Andy Dick Said No To A Job On SNL". TheList. Retrieved March 2, 2025.
14. thejasminebrand (11 December 2013). "[EXCLUSIVE] Actress Bresha Webb Talks About SNL's Black Women Showcase Audition: We were all honored".
15. "Auditions - SNL 40th Anniversary Special". YouTube. 16 February 2015. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
16. Gibbs, Adrienne (November 11, 2017). "'Girls Trip' Breakout Star Tiffany Haddish Making History Hosting 'SNL'; Taylor Swift Performing". Forbes .
17. Perez, Sofía (2022-09-28). ""Comedy is the most magical thing in the world:" Alumnus finding success in L.A." Alumni News. Retrieved 2025-02-14.
18. McEvoy, Sophie (July 25, 2021). "The Real Reason Bonnie Hunt Turned Down A Job At SNL". TheList. Retrieved March 2, 2025.
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20. Video on YouTube
21. The Howard Stern Show (2023-04-28). David Spade on His Audition for "SNL" and Early Years as a Featured Player (2013) . Retrieved 2024-09-29– via YouTube.
22. Jenkins, Jamal (13 October 2022). "Today I learned, that Bill Maher almost joined SNL in 1994". Reddit.
23. "Late Night with Seth Meyers : KNTV : March 27, 2014 12:36am-1:38am PDT". 27 March 2014.
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25. Riccardo, Nick (23 January 2025). "SNL's Naked Audition Guy Has No Regrets". latenighter.com. LateNighter. Retrieved 25 January 2025.
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