Top 10 Saturday Night Live Members Who Always Break Character

Endorsed by cast member Dennis Miller to SNL producer Lorne Michaels, Sandler was hired for the show in 1990. Although fresh off the stand-up comedy circuit and initially signing on as a writer, he was quickly noticed for his acting chops and began performing in 1991. It wasn’t long before he made waves with brilliant pieces like The Hanukkah Song and The Thanksgiving Song. However, anybody who remembers Sandler from early '90’s SNL will also remember his tendency to crack, especially when paired with his friend and kryptonite, comedian Chris Farley.

With her roots in improv and sketch comedy, Wiig was encouraged by her manager to try out for SNL, and the rest – we can confirm – is history. Starting in 2005, Kristen became so popular on the show that she was nominated 4 years in a row for a Primetime Emmy Award. She was even featured in Entertainment Weekly’s list as one of the funniest women in Hollywood. However, when it came to breaking character, Wiig was just as susceptible as her fellow cast members, and frequently broke when sharing the stage with co-stars Bill Hader and Fred Armisen.

Although not one of the best remembered featured players today, Sanz has the distinction of being the first Hispanic cast member on SNL. Joining the team in 1998, he quickly gained popularity for playing stereotypical ethnic characters. His other defining trademark was his incapability of keeping a straight face in almost any sketch he acted in, especially when paired with fellow co-star Jimmy Fallon. The pairs’ inability to keep it cool is even referenced in the song “That’s When You Break”, SNL’s 40th anniversary tribute to the cast’s history of breaking character.

Not only is Pete one of the youngest cast members of all time, but he’s also the first to be born in the 1990s. As a millennial, Davidson frequently brings a refreshing relatability to his roles, even when doing so means making fun of his own generation, such as in his regular appearance as Chad. But being young and hip doesn’t mean he’s any less prone to breaks, as is obvious in his sketches, especially when paired with Kenan Thompson. You can’t help but admire his effort to hide his laugh with a cookie.

A successful actress, comedian, musician, and writer, for Dratch, it all began in the theatre. Part of The Second City comedy troupe, it wasn’t long before her talent was spotted and she and ended up on SNL, a tenure that would last 7 years. Ironically, her most famous sketches were usually the ones where she’d lose it. We’re talking, of course, about her hilarious collaboration alongside Will Ferrell as one of the Luvahs, and her recurring Debbie Downer character, although her first appearance as the perpetually miserable woman is undoubtedly the most enjoyable to watch.

Although she had enjoyed numerous small-time acting gigs, the talent we know as Kate McKinnon made a big impression when she joined the cast of SNL in 2012. Since then, she has gained the distinction of becoming the longest-performing woman on the show. She even won a Primetime Emmy for her work in 2016, a feat not accomplished by any cast member since 1993. But acting experience alone doesn’t guarantee a poker face, as McKinnon has shown whenever she breaks character with her signature grin. We especially love her Colleen Rafferty character, which tends to break up her and everyone around her.

Although she has been on SNL since 2012, this incredible actress has also graced the silver screen in films like 2018’s “I Feel Pretty” and even has a hit show out with 2019’s web TV series Shrill. But it’s her work on SNL that really makes Bryant stand out in our books. Although the gifted comedian can usually hold her own when she’s headlining a sketch, such as when she plays Melanie hitting on her classmate’s father – played by a giggly Ryan Gosling – it’s the supporting roles that seem to get her every single time.

SNL’s 44th season may have been Leslie’s last, but we can still take this opportunity to celebrate the glorious time that she spent on the show. Although she had initially criticized the show as not being funny, she later auditioned and got hired as a writer. Soon after, she became a featured player, and at the age of 47, was actually the oldest person ever to join the show. Viewers grew to love her outrageous style and brash delivery, but they'll also remember her for all the breaks. In fact, Vulture magazine called her one of the biggest breakers in 2018.

It’s hard to balance a film career alongside a regular career on SNL, but this funnyman and skilled impressionist managed to do it for 8 side-splitting years. Since his departure, he has gotten even bigger, acting in blockbuster movies, voicing memorable characters in multiple animated movies, and even producing the award-winning HBO series “Barry”. But we can’t forget Hader’s humble beginnings, as a cast member with a laugh that he could never keep to himself. No matter the sketch, you can be sure that somewhere in it, Hader will break.

Yeah, you saw this coming. Was there ever any doubt that the “Tonight Show” host would end up at #1? When Time magazine does a whole piece on how much you laugh, you know there’s something there. In a habit that’s inspired countless GIFs, YouTube compilations, video montages, and everything in between, we’ve come to expect that literally anything can make this television host, actor, and comedian crumble with a case of the giggles. His particular weakness, though, seems to be for sketches with his fellow cast members Ferrell and Sanz. Whether you love it or hate it, there's no denying that Fallon is the king of breaking character on SNL.