Martin Herlihy exits ‘SNL’ after 5 seasons: report

Martin Herlihy is leaving “Saturday Night Live” after five seasons, according to Variety and The Hollywood Reporter.

Page Six has reached out to NBC and Herlihy’s rep for comment.

Herlihy follows Chloe Fineman as the second “SNL” star to depart the sketch comedy series before Season 52 premieres on Sept. 26.

The 27-year-old joined the program in 2021 at the start of Season 47 alongside his Please Don’t Destroy comedy group members, Ben Marshall and John Higgins.

Along with serving as writers, the trio starred in and produced the show’s digital shorts, which used to feature The Lonely Islands’ Jorma Taccone, Akiva Schaffer and Andy Samberg.

Please Don’t Destroy’s first digital short, titled “Hard Seltzer,” was about them discovering a variety of new hard seltzers on the market. It aired October 9, 2021.

Marshall previously told People, “That is such a fun thing to think about ’cause we were truly just guessing. Like, we had no experience. I had no idea if it was gonna work in front of a live studio audience.”

But “SNL” broke up the trio after Season 50 wrapped in May 2025, with Higgins departing the series and Marshall being upped to the main cast.

Herlihy, meanwhile, remained on the writing staff, though he appeared in sketches periodically during Season 51.

When Higgins left the show, he said he was “excited to pursue acting opportunities.”

“I can’t believe how lucky I was to be a part of this show. It was my dream and I got to live it,” Higgins, the son of longtime “SNL” producer and writer Steve Higgins, wrote on Instagram.

He added, “And to do it with my two best friends and my dad was an unbelievable experience.”

Herlihy’s reported exit comes two months after Fineman, 38, announced she was departing the show.

“After 7 wonderful seasons at ‘SNL’ I have decided it’s time for my next chapter,” she wrote on Instagram on July 16, calling the job “the greatest privilege of my life.”

Fineman also admitted while it was “really hard” for her to leave the show, it “does feel like the right time.”

NBC has not yet announced the official cast for “SNL” Season 52.

The Season 51 main cast included Michael Che, Mikey Day, Andrew Dismukes, Marcello Hernandez, James Austin Johnson, Colin Jost, Sarah Sherman, Kenan Thompson and Bowen Yang, who left mid-season.

“SNL” Season 52 premieres Sept. 26 on NBC and streams live on Peacock.