Another SNL Cast Member Departs Before Season 51

Ego Nwodim, one of Saturday Night Live’s most recognizable cast members, has announced she is leaving the NBC sketch show after seven seasons.

Deadline reports that Nwodim made the decision even after the Season 51 cast was thought to be finalized ahead of the show’s return on October 4.

“The hardest part of a great party is knowing when to say goodnight. But after seven unforgettable seasons, I have decided to leave SNL. I am immensely grateful to Lorne for the opportunity, to my castmates, the writers, and the crew for their brilliance, support, and friendship. Week after week on that stage taught me more than I could have ever imagined, and I will carry those memories, and that laughter, with me always,” she said in a statement.

Since joining the show in 2018 as the only new cast member of Season 44, Nwodim steadily grew into one of SNL’s senior female performers.

She was promoted to repertory player in Season 46 and became well-known for standout sketches such as her role as Miss Eggy, which generated an unexpected live audience reaction earlier this year. She also gained attention for her characters Lisa from Temecula, Dionne Warwick, and Edith Puthie.

Nwodim has been building her profile outside of SNL as well. She has appeared in series like Peacock’s Poker Face and Mr. Throwback, as well as the Netflix film Little Brother, alongside John Cena, Eric André, and Michelle Monaghan.

She told Deadline, “Dream come true. I want my other dreams to come true. I want to be in films and I want to do more TV as well.”

Her departure comes after a wave of exits from the show, including Heidi Gardner, Emil Wakim, Michael Longfellow, and Devon Walker. Season 51 will now have a 17-member cast following the addition of Tommy Brennan, Jeremy Culhane, Kam Patterson, Veronika Slowikowska, and Ben Marshall of Please Don’t Destroy.

They join returning stars such as Michael Che, Mikey Day, Andrew Dismukes, Chloe Fineman, Marcello Hernandez, James Austin Johnson, Colin Jost, Sarah Sherman, Kenan Thompson, and Bowen Yang, along with featured players Ashley Padilla and Jane Wickline.

Nwodim, who studied pre-med and was part of the Upright Citizens Brigade, described her time on SNL as a unique and rewarding experience. Reflecting on the 50th anniversary of the show, she said it was a “surreal experience” to perform alongside SNL legends and A-list guest stars.

She added, “At one point, there was an event honoring Lorne [Michaels] between the concert on February 14 and the special and Heidi [Gardner] said to me ‘I thought there were 500 people in this cast and I’m realizing there’s only a hundred-and-something of us ever to be in the cast’. What a special honor to get to be part of that club or family. The 50th felt really nostalgic and beautiful.”

With her growing body of work in television and film, Nwodim is expected to remain in demand. While SNL will continue with a refreshed lineup, her departure marks the end of a memorable chapter in the show’s recent history.

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