CHEVY CHASE (1975-1976)

One of the original cast members in 1975, Chevy Chase may not be as much of a household name nowadays due to his inability to get roles because of how famously impossible he is to work with. Still, at one point in time, the name Chevy Chase was synonymous with star power. He left the show very early in the second season, so this is admittedly a bit of a cheat, but he immediately cashed in on his star power, good looks, and natural slapstick delivery. He is known for his work in 80s film classics, including the National Lampoon’s Vacation movies, Spies Like Us, Fletch, Three Amigos!, and my personal favourite, Caddyshack. His most modern claim to fame is his starring role in the first four seasons of Community. His heyday may be long gone, but Chevy Chase is still, and likely always will be, one for the ages.

BILL MURRAY (1977-1980)

Bill Murray feels like he's been around forever. Even before leaving SNL, he made a name for himself on the big screen in Meatballs with frequent collaborator Ivan Reitman. However, once he left the show in Season Six, he was an instant box-office draw. He used his deadpan sensibilities to massive effect in even the smallest of roles, as seen in Little Shop of Horrors, but his lead performances in Scrooged, Groundhog Day, and Ghostbusters are the stuff of legends. He has even proven that he has a knack for the dramatic (while maintaining his comedic charm) as a regular cast member in Wes Anderson’s films, starring as Polonius in Michael Almereyda’s Hamlet, and perhaps most notably, earning an Oscar nomination for his turn in Sofia Coppola's Lost in Translation. Frankly, the fact that he didn't win is not something I'm thrilled about.

EDDIE MURPHY (1980-1984)

In SNL’s sixth season, there was a huge disruption as series creator Lorne Michaels had left and the entire cast was replaced. This is historically known as a dark period for the series, and it's not too much of an exaggeration to say that Eddie Murphy single-handedly saved the show. After leaving in Season Nine, Murphy became an instant movie star. In fact, my parents had their first date at one of his movies, and I always forget which one because his string of hits feels endless: Beverly Hills Cop, 48 Hours, The Nutty Professor, Harlem Nights, Trading Places, Coming to America, Bowfinger, Dreamgirls (which earned him an Oscar nomination), Dr. Dolittle, Dolemite is My Name, and even voice work in Mulan and Shrek. Suffice it to say, despite not every one of his projects being amazing (or even good for that matter), Murphy is one of the single most influential comedic voices in history.

JULIA LOUIS-DREYFUS (1982-1985)

Remember when I said there are some famous people that you might not know were on SNL? Yep, Julia Louis-Dreyfus was a cast member for three seasons. While her stint was short, I think it's telling that her career is so storied that her time on the famed television institution is somewhat forgotten. Most notably, Louis-Dreyfus played Elaine Benes on the hit sitcom Seinfeld, for which she won an Emmy, as well as Selina Meyer in the HBO comedy Veep, for which she won six Emmys (meaning she only lost once as the series had seven seasons). If that wasn't enough, she also starred in The New Adventures of Old Christine (a show that earned her ANOTHER Emmy), a seemingly recurring role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and both supporting and leading roles in films such as Enough Said, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, and A Bug's Life. There is no real sign that this woman is going to stop any time soon either.

MIKE MYERS (1989-1995)

You gotta love an actor who can disappear into a role, especially in a funny way. Mike Myers was a cast member from Season 14 through Season 20, during which he adapted one of the show's most popular recurring sketches, Wayne's World, into two highly successful films. Once leaving the show, he turned his knack for wild comedic character work into the spoof comedy, Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery, arguably one of the most notable comedies in history, and its two even more financially successful sequels. As if Austin Powers wasn't enough, he replaced the late, great Chris Farley to become the titular voice of the Shrek franchise. Lastly, quick side note, his Netflix miniseries, The Pentaverate, which I acknowledge isn't very good, still has all the fun Myers antics that I thoroughly enjoy. He is, to put it in broad terms, shagadelic, baby!

ADAM SANDLER (1990-1995)

My girlfriend and I recently had a debate on which SNL alum had become the most popular — not necessarily the most acclaimed, but the biggest star. We both landed on Adam Sandler. The elephant in the room is that yes, he has had some absolute misfires. Jack & Jill, Little Nicky, and That's My Boy are just a few examples of critical disasters that also bombed at the box office. However, Sandler has become such a trusted audience favourite that even some of his most critically derided offerings, such as Click and Grown Ups, have succeeded. That aside, after being abruptly fired from SNL during Season 20, he starred in Billy Madison, then Happy Gilmore a few years later. These two films are synonymous with his monster career, not to mention other comedic hits like The Wedding Singer, 50 First Dates, and Big Daddy. Sandler doesn't shy away from the dramatic side of things either, with highly acclaimed performances in Punch-Drunk Love, Funny People, The Meyerowitz Stories, and of course, Uncut Gems, the film that might have jump-started a Sandler resurgence.

WILL FERRELL (1995-2002)

It's time to talk about my absolute favourite SNL alum and one of my favourite actors ever: Will Ferrell, whose SNL career is surely amongst the best the show has ever seen. Once he left, though, it was time to take the movie world by storm, making a huge splash right away with a critically acclaimed supporting performance in Old School. While he is widely known for leading roles in films such as Elf and Blades of Glory, he's probably best known for his collaborations with former partner Adam McKay. The two co-wrote the Ferrell-starring vehicles Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, Step Brothers, Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, and even a one-man Broadway show called You’re Welcome, America. His work in the 2000s, when he was a prominent member of what's known as The Frat Pack, has personally influenced my sense of humour and made me love movies. So, for that alone, he earns a spot on this list.

TINA FEY (1997-2006)

While she may never reach movie-star status, there is no denying the success of Tina Fey. Starting as a staff writer in 1997 before being elevated to head writer in 1999, she appeared in her first sketch in 2000. Clearly, her time on SNL left an impression as she immediately created the sitcom 30 Rock upon her departure, satirizing her experiences on the show, ultimately winning an Emmy for her performance and two additional Emmys for writing. As if that wasn't enough, she also wrote and co-starred in the hit comedy film Mean Girls (as well as the Broadway musical adaptation), she co-created Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, and starred in the hit films Baby Mama, Megamind, and Sisters. Like most on this list, she received the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor in 2010, but at 40 years old, she was (and still is) the youngest recipient of the award. You can't say it's unearned.

ANDY SAMBERG (2005-2012)

Andy Samberg was two years into his seven-year run on SNL when he starred in his first movie, Hot Rod, a wildly under-appreciated comedy gem. Since leaving the show in Season 37, Samberg has taken starring roles in the films Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping and Palm Springs, as well as contributed voice work in Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers, as well as the Hotel Transylvania and Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs franchises. Perhaps most notably, he was the Golden Globe-winning lead actor of the terrific Golden Globe-winning hit sitcom Brooklyn Nine-Nine. However, for me, he'll always be known for his work with Akiva Schaffer and Jorma Taccone in The Lonely Island, a musical group whose comedic sensibilities have helped shape this generation's absurdist sense of humour, for better and for worse.

BILL HADER (2005-2013)

Bill Hader left SNL after Season 38, and even before his departure, his rising star was already cemented with small but effective roles in Knocked Up, Pineapple Express, Tropic Thunder, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, and Superbad. Once he officially left, he expanded his horizons to a wider variety of roles. A lot of animated films took advantage of his phenomenal vocal range, as seen in Inside Out, The Angry Birds franchise, and the Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs series. He didn't shy away from dramatic work either, as seen through his acclaimed performances in The Skeleton Twins and It: Chapter Two. All his talent, however, culminated in the universally acclaimed HBO comedy-drama Barry, which he created, wrote, starred in, and often directed. That series won him two Emmys for his brilliant performance, not to mention a Peabody Award for the series’ overall excellence. Now that Barry is done, Hader has claimed he wants to direct horror movies, and I cannot wait.