On Oct. 11, 1975, an unknown John Belushi appeared on the very first Saturday Night Live sketch as a overseas man studying to talk English through the very unconventional phrase “I would like to feed your fingertips to the wolverines.”

Since the time, the venerable late evening sketch present has launched the world to many of its largest tv and film stars. Choosing the most effective Saturday Night Live forged members of all time is not only a matter of evaluating apples and oranges. Every 12 months’s forged has needed to take care of altering cultural tastes and sensibilities and growing competitors from different late evening exhibits and on-line sources of topical comedy –  in addition to the ever-increasing shadow of the legends who appeared on the 30 Rockefeller Plaza stage earlier than them.

In Saturday Night Live‘s first 49 seasons, over 160 forged members have fought for air time and the world’s consideration. Many have rapidly pale away, however some have struck an enormous nerve. From Chevy Chase and Gilda Radner to Eddie Murphy, Phil Hartman and Mike Myers, SNL stars have gone on to take pleasure in main success within the worlds of tv, films and stand-up.

To date, films starring Murphy have grossed practically seven billion {dollars} on the field workplace, with Adam Sandler (who was laid off by the present in 1995!) in second place amongst notable Saturday Night Live alumni at over 5 billion. (We’re not counting one season-and-done forged member Robert “Iron Man” Downey Jr., but when we did he’d be within the lead with over 14 billion {dollars}.)

SNL veterans like Tina Fey and Amy Poehler have additionally gone on to huge tv success, with hit exhibits reminiscent of 30 Rock and Parks and Recreation.

As voted by the employees of Ultimate Classic Rock, listed here are the highest 25 Saturday Night Live forged members of all time, measured by each their affect on the present itself and by their success in different fields after their departures.

Read More: Rock’s 60 Biggest ‘Saturday Night Live’ Moments(*25*)