These ‘SNL’ Stars Were Conspicuously Missing From the 50th Anniversary Special

Saturday Night Live’s 50th anniversary show was packed full of cast alumni on Sunday, but several notable cast members didn’t take SNL boss Lorne Michaels up on the invite.

Unlike Bill Hader, who “politely declined” to attend due to a “longstanding scheduling conflict,” past SNL stars like Dan Aykroyd, Dana Carvey, and Colin Quinn missed the show without explanation. Aykroyd was a particularly glaring omission from the evening’s festivities, as he was the only living original cast member who did not attend.

Aykord’s agent told Puck News that the comedian “won’t be there” ahead of the show, though the star did take to X to encourage others to tune in. SNL “has become an essential reflection of the times we live in,” he wrote last week. “Get ready for a spectacular night of star-strewn comedy and fun,” he added, touting the special as “a laugh fest which will bring us all together.”

The Crystal Head Vodka founder has been active promoting his brand, which he alluded to via Instagram when he said he’d be watching SNL’s 50th season premiere “live from the road” in his “Headmobile.” He’s been busy promoting season two of his show The UnBelievable With Dan Aykroyd on the History Channel.

Carvey did not attend the show alongside his Fly on the Wall co-host David Spade, despite having been a longstanding fan-favorite on the show—so much so that he’s made a flurry of recent appearances, decades after his original cast member stretch from 1986 to 1993. Recently, he debuted his portrayal of Joe Biden and reprised his famous “Church Lady” character. Carvey often harkens back to his SNL days with Spade on their podcast, so there’s a chance he may address his Sunday absence in an upcoming episode.

Quinn was on the show from 1998 to 2000. He was name-dropped during the Sunday special by Bill Murray, who jokingly named Quinn as his 10th favorite “Weekend Update” host in a jab at current host Colin Jost. Quinn’s time on “Update” was poorly received, however—and the comedian was not there to hear Murray’s joke in person. Quinn has previously shared his less-than-favorable feelings about the end of his time on the show, when he told The Daily Beast in 2021, “SNL is such a great thing in some ways, but nobody comes out of there without a little—like a knee injury when it rains.”

Iron Man star Robert Downey Jr., who was a cast member during the 1985 to 1986 season and returned to host the show in 1996, also missed the special without comment. His castmate that season, Joan Cusack, was a no-show as well.

Much more recent alum Chris Redd, who starred for five seasons from 2017 to 2022, also notably did not attend on Sunday.