Martin Herlihy, a writer and performer on "Saturday Night Live," is reportedly leaving the sketch comedy series just weeks before its 52nd season premiere. The Hollywood Reporter confirmed Herlihy's departure after five seasons with the show. Herlihy, 27, was a regular writer and also appeared on camera, notably as part of the comedy trio Please Don't Destroy alongside fellow SNL members Ben Marshall and John Higgins.
Herlihy is the son of SNL veteran Tim Herlihy, who served as a head writer for the show in the mid-1990s. Higgins departed SNL last year amid a significant cast shakeup, while Marshall was elevated to full-time cast member status.
Herlihy's exit follows that of longtime cast member Chloe Fineman, who left SNL in July after seven seasons. In a statement at the time, Fineman described her departure as difficult but timely, expressing gratitude for her time on the show and calling the cast and crew her "family." Fineman, who joined the ensemble in 2019 for Season 45 and was promoted to full-time cast in 2021, stated that the job was "the greatest privilege of my life."
Both Herlihy and Fineman are among several cast members to leave SNL in the past year. Bowen Yang departed in December to pursue a Broadway debut and focus on his podcast. The show experienced a substantial cast turnover following its 50th season, with Heidi Gardner, Devon Walker, Emil Wakim, and Michael Longfellow also leaving.
"Saturday Night Live" is scheduled to return for its 52nd season on September 26. Jalen Brunson, a star for the New York Knicks, is set to host the season premiere, with the global girl group KATSEYE as the musical guest. Future episodes will feature host Dakota Johnson on October 3, with Shane Gillis and Inde Navarrette also slated to host, and Rosalia and Gracie Abrams appearing as musical guests.