Ben Stiller Opens Up About His Unexpected Departure from 'SNL' After Only 4 Shows
Ben Stiller Walks Away from 'Saturday Night Live' After Only Four Episodes
Ben Stiller has revealed surprising details about his brief stint on Saturday Night Live, admitting that his time on the show was a turning point in his career.
In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the 59-year-old actor and comedian reflected on his 1989 SNL debut, which lasted just four episodes. Stiller, then 23, shared that he quickly realized he wasn’t a natural fit for live performance. "I just knew that I wasn’t a great live performer," he said. "It made me nervous. Even thinking about it now stresses me out. Making movies, on the other hand, is the complete opposite — you can take your time and redo scenes."
Stiller’s candid comments come as Saturday Night Live prepares to celebrate its 50th anniversary with a special three-hour live broadcast on February 16, 2025. As part of the celebrations, a star-studded lineup has been announced for SNL50: The Anniversary Special, which will feature appearances from Adam Driver, Bad Bunny, Kim Kardashian, Martin Short, Miley Cyrus, Paul McCartney, Tom Hanks, Scarlett Johansson, Sabrina Carpenter, and more.