The 15 Most Iconic SNL Characters from 50 Years of Saturday Night Live

      Here are the top SNL characters from nearly 50 years of Saturday Night Live.

      Of course, this is a subjective matter. Comedy, much like beauty, depends on personal taste. If you believe we overlooked someone, please share in the comments.

      Additionally, when it comes to characters that are part of a duo or group, such as the Bronx Beat ladies, we only consider them once. We will also focus on original characters rather than impersonations. Now, let's begin…

      Emily Latella (Gilda Radner)

      NBC – Credit: NBC

      Gilda Radner was the heart of early Saturday Night Live, and Emily Latella, a misguided but well-meaning citizen, was one of her most beloved characters.

      Her routine felt timeless, as effective on a vaudeville stage in the 1920s or today as it was in the 1970s: She would seize on a troubling piece of news during Weekend Update, go into a passionate diatribe — only to realize she had misheard a key detail essential to her argument.

      This scenario plays out on social media daily, yet few can deliver Emily’s catchphrase with the same finesse: “I’m sorry. Nevermind.”

      The Samurai (John Belushi)

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      No one is claiming John Belushi's Japanese Samurai character would be acceptable today in our more enlightened society. However, the fact that a white actor portrayed a Japanese icon is just the surface layer of absurdity in the Samurai sketches, featuring a noble and sincere character reminiscent of Toshiro Mifune, performing ordinary, often mundane tasks.

      Our favorite Samurai sketch is Samurai Night Fever, where Belushi pays homage to samurai films while also parodying John Travolta's character from Saturday Night Fever, along with his brother, portrayed by O.J. Simpson. It remains one of the most surreal experiences you'll ever witness.

      The Wild and Crazy Guys (Dan Aykroyd and Steve Martin)

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      The energetic Czech-born Festruck brothers, Yortuk (Dan Aykroyd) and Georg (Steve Martin), exuded a wide-eyed love for America during the Bicentennial era, and their clumsy attempts to fit into a disco-centric culture are irresistibly charming.

      Their malapropisms, catchphrases, and gentlemanly ways of inviting "foxes" to their "swinging bachelor pad" add to their appeal.

      What makes them stand out among SNL characters is that they aren't mocking Czech expatriates; instead, they poke fun at the superficial trends of 1970s New Yorkers.

      Gumby (Eddie Murphy)

      Eddie Murphy as Gumby and Joe Piscopo as Pokey. NBC – Credit: NBC

      We acknowledge this may breach our no-impersonations rule, but Eddie Murphy reinvented ’50s clay figure Gumby so dramatically that he turned it into a completely original creation. Gumby became a bitter, cigar-smoking showbiz curmudgeon carrying many grievances and sporting an unidentifiable accent.

      During the awkward years following the departure of SNL creator Lorne Michaels and the original Not Ready for Primetime Players, Eddie Murphy emerged as a standout, with Gumby (along with Buckwheat) being one of his brilliant, meta-commentaries on the darker side of show business. It's bizarre and delightful.

      The Californians

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      Choosing a single standout among the series of brilliant soap opera parodies featuring recurring stars like Stuart (Fred Armisen), Karina (Kristen Wiig), Devin (Bill Hader), with guest appearances by Trey (Kenan Thompson) and Rosa (Vanessa Bayer) is impossible.

      We think of it every time someone seeks directions. It’s one of those perfect setups that becomes more enjoyable with each subtle inflection in lines as simple as “What are you doing here?” It has even altered how we say “jammed.”

      Hans and Franz (Dana Carvey and Kevin Nealon)

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      Kevin Nealon recounted that Hans and Franz originated while watching an Arnold Schwarzenegger interview on TV, prompting him to invite Dana Carvey to tune in. They perfected the characters when they recognized that, despite their dedication to staying fit, they would never actually engage with exercise equipment.

      Conan O’Brien, Robert Smigel, Carvey, and Nealon once had plans for a Hans and Franz movie featuring Schwarzenegger, but the action star's busy schedule made it unfeasible.

      Fortunately, they came together to recreate the idea for the Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend podcast.

      Wayne Campbell and Garth Algar (Mike Myers and Dana Carvey)

      NBC – Credit: NBC

      Wayne (Mike Myers) and Garth (Dana Carvey), the heavyweight rock enthusiasts from Aurora, Illinois, may well be the most financially successful SNL characters — the first Wayne's World film enjoyed immense success, and the sequel also