Cecily Strong is the latest cast member to leave NBC’s Saturday Night Live.
Strong’s final show is the Saturday night edition. She appeared as Kimberly Guilfoyle in the cold. News of her departure was announced on SNL’s social media accounts on Saturday (see below).
She joined the sketch show executive directed by Lorne Michaels in 2012 season 38. Over the years, she created characters like “The Girl You Wish You Hadn’t Started a Conversation With at a Party” and impersonated celebrities like Kendall Jenner, Megyn Kelly, and Liz Cheney.
It is understood that the plan was for Strong to only return for the first half of the current season. Fans had noticed her absence in the opening credits for the October season premiere, but at the time she appeared in The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe at the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles, SNL was unable to pick up New York.
Strong Next Stars in Season 2 of AppleTV+ Schmigadoon!, also executive produced by Michaels. She also took a break from SNL while filming this series.
Strong follows on the heels of other cast members who recently left SNL, including Kate McKinnon, Aidy Bryant and Pete Davidson.
Host Austin Butler and musical guest Lizzo star on Saturday night’s SNL.