Every 'Saturday Night Live' cast member of the 1970s

Chase was the breakout star of the original “Saturday Night Live” cast, so much so he left during the show’s second season, the first of the cast members to leave the show for a movie career. It paid off, because Chase did become a true movie star, and that was in spite of his temperamental personality that is well known now. Even though Chase was around briefly, his impact was significant. He was the first person to “impersonate” the President (Chase’s Gerald Ford was far from a proper impression) and he was the first “Weekend Update” host as well.

Chevy Chase was always Chevy Chase in everything he did on “Saturday Night Live.” Aykroyd was a true sketch performer. He’d throw himself into his impressions, such as Julia Child, and he developed characters. Two of his characters ended up co-headlining films in “Coneheads” and “The Blues Brothers.” The Canadian comedian spent four seasons on the show before having a successful film career of his own.

We led off with a couple of the big names, the two most successful “SNL” cast members of the ‘70s when it comes to overall career. However, did you know Coe was one of the original “Not Ready for Primetime Players,” and that at the time he was the most notable name in the bunch? That first cast, the ones we remember, were young, hungry performers who would be introduced to a national audience. What NBC wanted, though, was an older, more-experienced performer as well. Enter Coe, who was in his 40s and had been on Broadway and done some TV and film. In the first episode of “Saturday Night Live,” Coe was included in the cast. It would be the last time he was included in the cast as well. Though he popped up a few times in that first season, Coe was only a credited cast member for the very first episode of “SNL.”

If you are an “SNL” fan, you know O'Donoghue's name. He was the show’s first head writer. He spoke the first line in the show’s history. O’Donaghue is a cult figure now, remembered for his pitch-black sense of humor and combustible personality. Maybe that’s why his time as a cast member was short-lived. There are 12 episodes of the show where he is considered a cast member, but mostly he was “relegated” to writing and doing the occasional set piece as himself.

Belushi falls somewhere between Chase and Aykroyd in that he did character work, but there is a clear “John Belushi character” type you can think of. He’s best remembered for his turn as Bluto in “Animal House,” and that role speaks to the perception of Belushi as a performer. When he could feel borderline feral, feel like harnessed anarchy, he soared. He is also one of the three original cast members to leave the show of his own accord, doing so after four seasons. Belushi would, of course, also be dead a few years later, passing away at the age of 33 after overdosing on a mix of heroin and cocaine.

Curtin did not become a movie star, but she became a TV star. Among the original female cast members, Curtin was the steadiest hand, a glue gal, a distaff Phil Hartman. Perhaps that’s why, after five seasons on “SNL,” she would become a sitcom standout. In the 1980s, she was on “Kate & Allie,” winning two Emmys for Lead Actress in a Comedy Series. Then, she was part of the delightful ensemble on “3rd Rock from the Sun,” a goofy show that is a lot of fun.

Radner is the cult favorite of the original “SNL” cast. She had the most-notable original characters of the original crew, and brought a silly, absurdist energy to sketches and segments she was in. Her distinctness as a performer may have played a role in her not having much of a career after the show. Also, sadly, Radner died of ovarian cancer at the age of 42.

Morris is the most-overlooked of the original “SNL” cast, other than the George Coes of the world. Even so, he’s had a successful and ongoing career. The only person of color in the first cast, Morris spent five seasons on the show. He would become the kind of guy who would pop up in movies like “How High” and “The Wayans Bros.” but he always kept acting, well into his 80s.

Newman is the last of the definitive “Not Ready for Primetime Players” crew. She is the last of the four that stayed for five seasons. The best improviser among the original cast, Newman kept to her sensibilities and would generally refrain from repeating characters. Of course, repeating characters has become sort of the path to success for “SNL” cast members. Even so, Newman has had a fine career, and her daughter Hannah Einbinder has found a ton of success as well.

Davis was a longtime writer on “Saturday Night Live,” including in the first season. He was not included as part of the cast then, though. In 1977, he was made a “featured player,” a new designation given to second-tier cast members. Davis appeared on the show over three seasons, and also wrote or co-wrote many notable sketches. He passed away in 2012 at the age of 59.

Davis’ comedy partner? That would be Franken. They wrote together, and they performed together. Franken’s role in “SNL” became more substantive. He was a featured player from 1977 through 1980, like Davis, but then returned to that role in 1986, and then from 1988 through 1995. Franken even starred in an “SNL” movie in “Stuart Saves His Family.” Then he became a United States senator, then he had to resign due to scandal. Wild life.

Yes, that Paul Shaffer. He was the pianist in the “Saturday Night Live” house band for the first five seasons, but during that fifth season he ended up joining the cast for a bit. That only lasted for 13 episodes, though. However, everything turned out fine for Shaffer, who became David Letterman’s band leader and sidekick for decades.

Novello was an on-again, off-again writer for “SNL” and a featured player in two seasons, though they came several years apart. What is notable about Novello is that he effectively only appeared in character, and always as the same character. His alter ego was Father Guido Sarducci, an Italian Catholic priest always donning sunglasses and smoking a cigarette. He played Sarducci on a few comedy shows, including “SNL.” Also, one time he went to the Vatican in character and got arrested.

Shearer is a longtime voice on “The Simpsons” and a regular in the Christopher Guest mockumentary world, so he is a famed comedy figure. He had two stints with “Saturday Night Live,” both brief, but both distinct. Shearer was brought in for the fifth season, but didn’t really get along with anybody (there is basically no story involving Shearer that doesn’t involve him butting heads with somebody). When Lorne Michaels left the show, he was the only cast member to offer to stay on, but only if he could basically revamp the show to his own design. Shockingly, this offer was declined. He returned in 1984 while Dıck Ebersol was running the show but — and you’ll never believe this — he didn’t get along with Ebersol and left after one season.

We’ll end on a high note. When Chase left the show, “Saturday Night Live” struck gold with his replacement. Murray is a comedy legend. He had a bigger movie career than any of the original cast members, Chase included. He was great on “SNL” for four seasons, and even better afterwards. Murray helped set the template for what “SNL” could do for you, especially since he was not an original. He showed you could jump in and then take off. And take off he did.