With the big 40th anniversary this year of "Saturday Night Live," we have remembered cast members who died way too young, but there were also some short-lived SNL careers of very famous actors for far less tragic reasons. These are the 12 most famous SNL one-year wonders.
Gilbert Gottfried (1980-81)
![SNL one season wonders, snl one season actors, gilbert gottfried]()
After the exit of Lorne Michaels and much of the staff, an afro-toting, rare commodity named Gilbert Gottfried appeared with his unmistakable voice and small stature, which only awarded him 12 episodes during the show's sixth season. The writers weren't particular fans of Gottfried and basically wrote his funeral scene into the show. After that, he left and ventured more into film, including popular roles in movies like Principal Peabody in "Problem Child" and "Beverly Hills Cop II."
Larry David (1984-85)
![SNL one season wonders, snl one season actors, larry david snl]()
The funniest man alive only lasted one season on SNL some 30 years ago. Larry David rarely appeared in front of the lens (and when he did he was uncredited), but he wrote for half a season with the crew, getting only one sketch picked up for airing. After that, he quit around the middle of the season, then returned back the next week and pretended like it never happened. That true story would later become George Costanza's on "Seinfeld."
Billy Crystal (1984-85)
![snl one season wonders, saturday night live one year actors, billy crystal snl]()
Crystal was a big add for the cast in 1984, the final year of Dick Ebersol's run as an SNL executive, even though he had already hosted before joining the cast. He came up with popular sketches like "Fernando's Hideaway," but his stay was short-lived, despite Ebersol's interest in keeping him as a permanent host. Shortly after his departure, Crystal became Oscar-worthy, starring in hits like "When Harry Met Sally..." and "City Slickers."
Martin Short (1984-85)
![snl one season wonders, saturday night live one year actors, martin short snl]()
Short had come from "SCTV Channel" (Second City TV), but he reportedly joined the SNL cast with a bit of reluctance, having enjoyed his time on his previous show. Short claims he was under too much pressure and couldn't enjoy his SNL gig, leaving after one season. The comedy legend didn't stop there, though. He went on to appear in hit comedies like "¡Three Amigos!" and "Father of the Bride" before hosting "The Martin Short Show" in 1999 and its spin-off "Primetime Glick" two years later.
Damon Wayans (1985-86)
![SNL one season wonders, snl one season actors, damon wayans snl]()
Wayans was one of the briefest actors on SNL, entering the show's 11th season along with the likes of Joan Cusack and Anthony Michael Hall. Early in the season, Wayans improvised a small, one-line role in a police sketch as a very talkative flamboyant version of his scripted character. He was fired immediately after the episode. From there, he moved onto the creation of "In Living Color."
Robert Downey Jr. (1985-86)
![SNL one season wonders, snl one season actors, robert downey jr. snl]()
Downey Jr. joined the cast, along with Wayans, and performed for the full season, but he and his new colleagues were let go after the show's poorest recorded ratings. Between then and his blockbuster breakthrough as Iron Man, Robert was in reputable films like "Natural Born Killers" and "Kiss Kiss Bang Bang," and even earned a leading actor Oscar nom for "Chaplin" in 1993.
Randy Quaid (1985-86)
![SNL one season wonders, snl one season actors, randy quaid snl]()
Quaid joined the cast shortly after his big break as Cousin Eddie in 1983's "National Lampoon's Vacation," but despite his notoriety and his little brother Dennis' concurrent success, Quaid was let go along with the other newbies of the show's catastrophic 11th season.
Anthony Michael Hall (1985-86)
![SNL one season wonders, snl one season actors, anthony michael hall]()
At the time, Hall was cast as the youngest ensemble member, but even with "Sixteen Candles" and "The Breakfast Club" under his belt before walking onto the New York stage, Anthony Michael Hall couldn't sustain his career with SNL in what he considers the show's most forgettable season. He appeared with Joan Cusack and Downey Jr. as new regulars with the return of Lorne Michaels at the helm, but was let go as well when the show plummeted.
Ben Stiller (1988-89)
![snl one season wonders, saturday night live one year actors, ben stiller snl]()
The famous Focker appeared in 1988 for one season as both an actor and writer. His interest in the show lied mostly in its short films, but after enough rejection he left and went on to scrape by as a staple comedy actor, beginning with "The Ben Stiller Show" in 1992, followed by "Heavy Weights" in 1995 and a classic cameo in "Happy Gilmore." Then he made it big after that.
Sarah Silverman (1993-94)
![SNL one season wonders, snl one season actors, sarah silverman snl]()
Silverman appeared as an actor as well as a writer for the 19th season. Unfortunately, none of her writing made it to air, which led to her dismissal at the end of the season. Silverman carried on with TV appearances on "Seinfeld" and "Mr. Show with Bob and David" before she was picked up on "The Larry Sanders Show." She was fired from SNL via fax machine, which was an inspiration for an episode of "The Larry Sanders Show."
Janeane Garofalo (1994-95)
![SNL one season wonders, snl one season actors, Janeane Garofalo snl]()
Unlike many of her peers, Garofalo was already doing well when she arrived on "Saturday Night Live," having been on "Reality Bites" and "The Ben Stiller Show," but her lack of spotlight with small roles and distaste for the show's "sexist atmosphere" and "homophobic sketches" led to her mid-season walk.
David Koechner (1995-96)
![snl one season wonders, saturday night live one year actors, david koechner snl]()
Even during a highly competitive stretch for SNL, the man you may best know as Champ Kind took no hesitation to refuse roles on such an intense season of the show. Lorne Michaels was said to be reluctant to let him go, but others agreed it needed to happen. Koechner went on to bigger and better things with his former castmate, Will Ferrell, in "Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy" and its highly anticipated sequel.
Gilbert Gottfried (1980-81)
After the exit of Lorne Michaels and much of the staff, an afro-toting, rare commodity named Gilbert Gottfried appeared with his unmistakable voice and small stature, which only awarded him 12 episodes during the show's sixth season. The writers weren't particular fans of Gottfried and basically wrote his funeral scene into the show. After that, he left and ventured more into film, including popular roles in movies like Principal Peabody in "Problem Child" and "Beverly Hills Cop II."
Larry David (1984-85)
The funniest man alive only lasted one season on SNL some 30 years ago. Larry David rarely appeared in front of the lens (and when he did he was uncredited), but he wrote for half a season with the crew, getting only one sketch picked up for airing. After that, he quit around the middle of the season, then returned back the next week and pretended like it never happened. That true story would later become George Costanza's on "Seinfeld."
Billy Crystal (1984-85)
Crystal was a big add for the cast in 1984, the final year of Dick Ebersol's run as an SNL executive, even though he had already hosted before joining the cast. He came up with popular sketches like "Fernando's Hideaway," but his stay was short-lived, despite Ebersol's interest in keeping him as a permanent host. Shortly after his departure, Crystal became Oscar-worthy, starring in hits like "When Harry Met Sally..." and "City Slickers."
Martin Short (1984-85)
Short had come from "SCTV Channel" (Second City TV), but he reportedly joined the SNL cast with a bit of reluctance, having enjoyed his time on his previous show. Short claims he was under too much pressure and couldn't enjoy his SNL gig, leaving after one season. The comedy legend didn't stop there, though. He went on to appear in hit comedies like "¡Three Amigos!" and "Father of the Bride" before hosting "The Martin Short Show" in 1999 and its spin-off "Primetime Glick" two years later.
Damon Wayans (1985-86)
Wayans was one of the briefest actors on SNL, entering the show's 11th season along with the likes of Joan Cusack and Anthony Michael Hall. Early in the season, Wayans improvised a small, one-line role in a police sketch as a very talkative flamboyant version of his scripted character. He was fired immediately after the episode. From there, he moved onto the creation of "In Living Color."
Robert Downey Jr. (1985-86)
Downey Jr. joined the cast, along with Wayans, and performed for the full season, but he and his new colleagues were let go after the show's poorest recorded ratings. Between then and his blockbuster breakthrough as Iron Man, Robert was in reputable films like "Natural Born Killers" and "Kiss Kiss Bang Bang," and even earned a leading actor Oscar nom for "Chaplin" in 1993.
Randy Quaid (1985-86)
Quaid joined the cast shortly after his big break as Cousin Eddie in 1983's "National Lampoon's Vacation," but despite his notoriety and his little brother Dennis' concurrent success, Quaid was let go along with the other newbies of the show's catastrophic 11th season.
Anthony Michael Hall (1985-86)
At the time, Hall was cast as the youngest ensemble member, but even with "Sixteen Candles" and "The Breakfast Club" under his belt before walking onto the New York stage, Anthony Michael Hall couldn't sustain his career with SNL in what he considers the show's most forgettable season. He appeared with Joan Cusack and Downey Jr. as new regulars with the return of Lorne Michaels at the helm, but was let go as well when the show plummeted.
Ben Stiller (1988-89)
The famous Focker appeared in 1988 for one season as both an actor and writer. His interest in the show lied mostly in its short films, but after enough rejection he left and went on to scrape by as a staple comedy actor, beginning with "The Ben Stiller Show" in 1992, followed by "Heavy Weights" in 1995 and a classic cameo in "Happy Gilmore." Then he made it big after that.
Sarah Silverman (1993-94)
Silverman appeared as an actor as well as a writer for the 19th season. Unfortunately, none of her writing made it to air, which led to her dismissal at the end of the season. Silverman carried on with TV appearances on "Seinfeld" and "Mr. Show with Bob and David" before she was picked up on "The Larry Sanders Show." She was fired from SNL via fax machine, which was an inspiration for an episode of "The Larry Sanders Show."
Janeane Garofalo (1994-95)
Unlike many of her peers, Garofalo was already doing well when she arrived on "Saturday Night Live," having been on "Reality Bites" and "The Ben Stiller Show," but her lack of spotlight with small roles and distaste for the show's "sexist atmosphere" and "homophobic sketches" led to her mid-season walk.
David Koechner (1995-96)
Even during a highly competitive stretch for SNL, the man you may best know as Champ Kind took no hesitation to refuse roles on such an intense season of the show. Lorne Michaels was said to be reluctant to let him go, but others agreed it needed to happen. Koechner went on to bigger and better things with his former castmate, Will Ferrell, in "Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy" and its highly anticipated sequel.