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By Megan Cartwright
Associate News Editor
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Heidi Gardner has left Saturday Night Live (SNL) after eight seasons, according to multiple media reports, which would make her the fourth major cast member to depart in a string of exits announced in late August ahead of the show's 51st season.
Newsweek reached out to Gardner's representative for comment on Friday via email outside regular working hours.
Why It Matters
The departures—which also include Devon Walker, Emil Wakim and Michael Longfellow—come after SNL creator and executive producer Lorne Michaels signaled plans to overhaul the cast. The show's first non-binary staff writer, Celeste Yim, also announced on Monday they were leaving.
Read More on Entertainment
The exits represent one of the largest pre-season cast turnarounds for the long-running NBC sketch series and raise questions about casting and creative direction ahead of the fall premiere.
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What To Know
Gardner joined SNL as a featured player in 2017 and was promoted to the main cast in 2019. She had recurring characters on "Weekend Update," including Bailey Gismert and Angel, and she performed numerous celebrity impressions.
The 42-year-old was the longest-tenured current female cast member last year, according to Variety, and she appeared in more sketches than any other cast member in season 49.
Other credits to the actress' name include the Apple TV+ series Shrinking, where she starred alongside Jason Segel, and the 2022 Adam Sandler film Hustle.
In an interview with Puck, which was published on August 22, Michaels said "yes" when asked if he planned to "shake things up" following SNL's 50th anniversary. He added that he "for sure" felt "pressure to reinvent this season."
What People Are Saying
Walker, who joined the cast in 2022, confirmed his SNL exit in an Instagram post earlier this week, writing: "me and baby broke up."
In a response to the post, Gardner wrote: "I love you."
Wakim was part of the cast for just one season and shared news of his departure to Instagram on Wednesday: "i won't be returning to snl next year. it was a gut punch of a call to get but i'm so grateful for my time there. i was at six flags celebrating my friends 36th birthday and went on a really emotional walk through bugs bunny park and stared out across daffy duck lake thinking about life."
"every time i scanned into the building i would think how insane it is to get to work there. it was the most terrifying, thrilling, and rewarding experience of my life and i will miss it dearly and all the brilliant people that work there that made it feel like a home. thank u to lorne for taking a chance on me and changing my life."
"i was so lucky to bring some of myself in there and say things i believed in and i'm excited for whatever chapter comes next. here's to making more art without compromise. onwards and upwards. love u."
Longfellow revealed his own exit news via Instagram on Thursday: "Will not be returning for a 4th season at SNL. Wish I was but, so it goes. It was the best three years of my life so far. I feel nothing but gratitude for the experience and everyone there. Lorne, you gave me the greatest job in the world and changed my life. You even put my mom on TV. Thank you doesnt begin to cover it, but thank you."
"I'll miss it all, but I'll miss the friends I made and seeing them everyday the most."
"Excited for the future and things to come. If you take anything away from my time on SNL let it be that smoking you makes you skinny and popular, Jesus was Chinese, and if a tortoise ever gives you trouble just kill him tough guy. You wont."
SNL writer Celeste Yim, who uses they/them pronouns, also announced they would not be returning to the sketch comedy show in a lengthy message posted to Instagram on Monday: "After five seasons, I'm leaving my job at Saturday Night Live. Lorne hired me over the phone when I was 23 and the job literally made all of my dreams come true BUT it was also grueling and I slept in my office every week BUT my friends helped me with everything BUT I got yelled at by random famous men BUT some famous girls too BUT I loved it and I laughed every day and it's where I grew up."
"I hate when other people say this but it's true that I was the first ever out trans person to be a writer for SNL. I always felt honored to be working within the long tradition of queer writing at the show. Many don't know this but Chevy is non-binary! I feel so powerless to protect trans people in the world but writing connects us and makes us permanent, so it's what I will continue to do."
What Happens Next
At the time of publication, Gardner had not spoken out about her reported departure from SNL.
Saturday Night Live season 51 premieres on October 4, NBC announced in July.
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