Best SNL Alums and Their Topps Cards
Topps RIPPED is celebrating Saturday Night Live’s historic 50th season with multiple articles about the show’s biggest stars, best sketches, and connection with Topps and The Hobby
For 50 years, Saturday Night Live has been an institution in American culture, producing some of the greatest talent in American film and television history. SNL alums often go on to great fame and success, and many have found their way into the Topps universe. Let’s take a look at some of these famous SNL cast members, their memorable moments, and their memorable cards.
2009 Topps Baseball Series 1 1952 Autographs Billy Crystal
Billy Crystal
career Accomplishments
• Cast member in 1984 and 1985
• hosted snl twice before joining the cast (both in 1984)
• went on to host the oscars nine times
memorable moment
• best known on snl for his famous character, fernando lamas, who crystal debuted while hosting in 1984.
• developed into a recurring character with “fernando’s hideaway”
What They saID
• “Being a big fan of The Tonight Show, I used to love when an actor named Fernando Lamas would come on. He was a Latin lover. He was very smooth, very handsome. when he would come on with Johnny, he was nothing but suave. And he always made me laugh.” – Billy Crystal on his famous snl character
1989 Topps Ghostbusters II #2 Bill Murray is Venkman
Bill Murray
career Accomplishments
• cast member for three seasons from 1977 – 1980
• hosted snl five times: 1981 (2X), 1987, 1993, 1999
• oscar nomination for best actor (lost in translation)
memorable moment
• “Bill murray’s apology” a sketch in which the actor apologized for not being funny, in response to critics’ preference for the recently-departed chevy chase
What They saID
• “I never felt so much that I didn’t belong on the same stage. Never! And I’ve been on the stage with huge people. But to see that fellow walk in and spend a week with us, know all his lines cold, play like five different musical numbers with his quartet, his septet, full orchestra, the Raylettes, and just murder everything he did. Just kill everything he did.” – bill murray on working with ray charles on snl
2016 GPK Prime Slime Trashy TV #3a Shelled SELINA
Julia Louis-Dreyfus
career Accomplishments
• cast member from 1982-1985
• Has hosted three times: 2006. 2007, 2016
• first Woman cast member to return as host (may 2006)
• played two of the most iconic characters in television history: elaine in seinfeld and selina meyer in veep
memorable moment
• appeared with jerry seinfeld and jason alexander in her opening monologue as host, lamenting the “seinfeld Curse”
What They saID
• “I dropped out of college my junior year to do Saturday Night Live, and I didn’t even consult my parents. They were very supportive because they had no choice.” – julia louis-dreyfus on getting a job at snl
2011 Topps American Pie #121 John Belushi
John Belushi
career Accomplishments
• Original cast member from 1975-1979
* appeared in first-ever snl cold open “The wolverines”
• starred in animal house
memorable moment
• belushi and fellow cast mate dan aykroyd’s blues brothers proved so successful it became a phenomenon outside of snl itself
What They saID
• “Some comedians love their characters. I don’t fall in love with mine. In fact, I get tired of them very fast. You have to be willing to throw it all away.” – john belushi on his comedy
2022 Topps Allen & Ginter Cut Signature #CS-CF Christ Farley Auto
Chris Farley
career Accomplishments
• cast member from 1990-1995
• made only appearance as host in october of 1997, less than two months before his tragic death
• starred in tommy boy alongside snl cast mate david spade
memorable moment
• matt foley, motivational speaker is perhaps farley’s most famous recurring character and lives on as one of the greatest in the show’s history
What They saID
• “basically, i only play one character. i just play him at different volumes.” – farley on his work
