Another SNL Cast Member Departs Before Season 51

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Ego Nwodim, a well-known member of Saturday Night Live, has revealed her decision to depart from the NBC comedy series following seven successful seasons.

According to Deadline, Nwodim made her decision, despite the initial belief that the Season 51 cast was already set and the show was due to resume on October 4.

She stated, “The most challenging aspect of an amazing party is knowing when it’s time to go home. Yet, after seven extraordinary seasons, I chose to depart from SNL. I am deeply thankful to Lorne for providing the opportunity, my colleagues, the writers, and the team for their genius, encouragement, and camaraderie. Each week on that stage taught me lessons beyond what I could have ever foreseen, and I will forever cherish those moments and the laughter they brought.

Ever since she became a part of the show in 2018 as the sole new cast member for Season 44, Nwodim has consistently risen through the ranks to become one of Saturday Night Live’s most seasoned female actors.

In the 46th season, she was elevated to a regular cast member and garnered recognition for her impressive performances in various sketches. One of her most notable roles, Miss Eggy, elicited an unforeseen response from the live audience earlier this year. Additionally, she made headlines for her portrayals of Lisa from Temecula, Dionne Warwick, and Edith Puthie.

Beyond her work at SNL, Nwodim has also been expanding her presence in various projects. She’s featured in television shows like “Poker Face” on Peacock and “Mr. Throwback”, and the Netflix movie “Little Brother”, starring alongside John Cena, Eric André, and Michelle Monaghan.

She shared with Deadline, “It’s a dream realized! More dreams await me. I aspire to star in films and continue my journey on television too.

Her leaving follows a series of departures from the program, with Heidi Gardner, Emil Wakim, Michael Longfellow, Devon Walker, and more recently, also having left. The cast for Season 51 will now be made up of 17 members due to the arrivals of Tommy Brennan, Jeremy Culhane, Kam Patterson, Veronika Slowikowska, and Ben Marshall from Please Don’t Destroy.

A new group of returning stars like Michael Che, Mikey Day, Andrew Dismukes, Chloe Fineman, Marcello Hernandez, James Austin Johnson, Colin Jost, Sarah Sherman, Kenan Thompson, and Bowen Yang will be joined by featured players Ashley Padilla and Jane Wickline.

Nwodim, who pursued pre-med studies and was associated with the Upright Citizens Brigade, found her time on SNL to be an exceptional and gratifying period. On the occasion of SNL’s 50th anniversary, she expressed that it felt almost dreamlike to share the stage with established SNL veterans and prominent guest stars.

During our conversation, she mentioned that there was an event celebrating Lorne Michaels somewhere between the February 14 concert and the special. She commented, ‘I thought there were 500 people in this cast, but I’m realizing there are only a hundred or so who have ever been part of it.’ It was truly a unique honor to be a part of that select group or family. The 50th anniversary had a sentimental and beautiful feel to it.

As her expanding portfolio in TV and movies suggests, Nwodim is likely to stay highly sought-after. Though Saturday Night Live will carry on with a revitalized cast, her exit signifies the conclusion of an unforgettable period in the program’s modern era.

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2025-09-12 19:15