Top 10 Best SNL Impressionists

As one of the recent breakout stars of the 2020s, James Austin Johnson came to “SNL” ready to impersonate. This is especially noticeable with his Donald Trump impression. While many other performers have tried to capture the politician, Johnson might have the most accurate take yet. His version of Trump finds a way to nail the mannerisms, voice, and general speech patterns of the former president. Given the constant political stories, the actor has found himself especially busy perfecting his impersonations, which also includes Joe Biden. This doesn’t mean it’s his only character either given his impressive takes on the likes of Adam Driver.

As one of the defining cast members of the late 1990s and early 2000s, Will Ferrell was able to impersonate plenty of people during his tenure. His best impression of them all might have been George W. Bush. With a Texas drawl and a can-do attitude, this exaggerated version of the politician was always entertaining and sometimes liked to make up words. Outside the political arena, Ferrell entertained audiences with his take on everyone from singer Robert Goulet to announcer Harry Caray. The latter hosted his own science show that allowed the comedian to mystify guests and make audiences laugh. As a multi-faceted player, the actor could even take the reins of “Celebrity Jeopardy!” as Alex Trebek.

If you need to impersonate a celebrity, Chloe Fineman has a huge catalog of incredible performances. She’s able to embody someone like Jennifer Coolidge with both their facial expressions and vocal abilities. For “Saturday Night Live at Home,” Fineman really shined with her one-woman shows featuring all kinds of different famous people. The performer can even turn the likes of Timothée Chalamet into one of her most hilarious characters. Not to be outdone, her work as JoJo Siwa and Britney Spears can’t be missed either. She can easily disappear into eccentric people, revealing their personality quirks that make for fantastic comedy.

People who paid closer attention to “SNL” would’ve taken notice of this talented performer. She might not have always gotten the spotlight, but her impressions were one of the show’s secret weapons. Melissa Villaseñor made the most of her screen time with superb singing impersonations of Gwen Stefani and Lady Gaga. She could also make a strong statement as Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, paving the way with impressions of newer political figures. Her most dynamic and electrifying performance might have been Kristen Wiig. Few people have mastered the former cast member, but Villaseñor completely transforms into Wiig from the voice to the laugh. The comedian could have easily spent several more years showing off her impressionist abilities.

Some cast members have one or two great impersonations if they’re lucky, but Jay Pharoah seemed to have an endless array of voices. He could effortlessly turn into actors like Will Smith and Kevin Hart without missing a beat. Not only can he capture a performer’s cadence, he can nail down several nuances that make his work even more special. When he wasn’t stealing scenes as Kanye West, he could do one of the best Denzel Washington impersonations we’ve ever seen. He even found a way to combine many of his impressions into one epic “Weekend Update” segment. If anybody deserved more time to shine on “SNL,” it would definitely be this comedian.

Throughout the 2010s, Kate McKinnon was one of the brightest stars on “SNL.” She had plenty of chaotic and eccentric takes on celebrities who made sketches and “Weekend Update” even better. Her version of Hillary Clinton took on Donald Trump in 2016, while her unique look at Elizabeth Warren helped introduce us to another political leader. She also found a way to turn Ruth Bader Ginsburg into a dancing queen. On top of her roles as famous women, McKinnon wasn’t afraid to take on powerful men either. Her underrated Lindsey Graham performance drew laughs while her Rudy Giuliani was an inspired remix of the former mayor. We couldn’t imagine the last decade of “Saturday Night Live” without her funny and ridiculous roles.

Of all the “Saturday Night Live” cast members, Phil Hartman was among the most gifted sketch performers. He brought a dedication and seriousness to comedic roles that made him stand out. This included his amazing work as both Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton. With the latter, Hartman was able to make a trip to McDonald’s a memorable event. He could also deliver the goods as diverse media figures such as Phil Donahue and Frank Sinatra. In recurring segments, he played Ed McMahon in hilarious sketches parodying “The Tonight Show.” The actor could steal the spotlight in any sketch, giving both enviable leading and supporting performances.

As one of the longest-running cast members in “SNL” history, Darrell Hammond was a reliable presence on the show for over a decade. His greatest talent was a whole host of highly accurate impressions. Hammond’s version of Al Gore sparred with Will Ferrell’s George W. Bush, creating one of the best impressions of the vice president. There’s also his underrated John McCain or his early take on Donald Trump that predated Alec Baldwin and James Austin Johnson’s work. This doesn’t even count his tremendous and long-running work as Bill Clinton. The performer’s most iconic impersonation might just be Sean Connery on the “Celebrity Jeopardy!” sketches. As the foil to Alex Trebek, his Connery was an endless source of comedy.

Joining the cast in 1986, Dana Carvey was a comedic powerhouse from his first season. His plethora of unusual characters from Garth to Church Lady helped reinvigorate the show. He also helped make the election cycles of the late 1980s and 1990s hilarious. His depiction of George H.W. Bush remains one of his best performances, turning a straight-laced president into a goofy caricature. If that wasn’t enough, Carvey turned Ross Perot into a gift that kept on giving. Whether working with intricate satire or silly material, the comedian made any impression unforgettable. His work as Bob Dylan proved that he didn’t even need words to get a laugh.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

Fred Armisen
The Versatile Performer Could Do Everyone from Barack Obama to Prince

Maya Rudolph
Her Star-Power Propelled Impressions of Donatella Versace & Beyoncé

Dan Aykroyd
The Original Cast Member Provided Such Memorable Impressions That Include Jimmy Carter

Ana Gasteyer
Without Her, We Wouldn’t Have Fond Memories of Her Endearing Martha Stewart Sketches

Eddie Murphy
The Comedy Legend Had No Shortage of Impressions from Stevie Wonder to James Brown

Nothing short of a fan-favorite, Bill Hader is synonymous with “SNL” impressionists. He can do all kinds of original and iconic characters that have become a part of the show’s history. Hader can do killer impressions of all kinds of celebrities, including Al Pacino or horror great Vincent Price. He even turns someone like political strategist James Carville into comedy gold. His absurd approach to impersonations makes him one of the few performers who can be both precise and crazy. He’s one of the most versatile comedic actors of his generation, transforming into roles like Keith Morrison with 110% dedication.

Did we forget another great impressionist from “SNL?” Let us know in the comments below.