After seven seasons, Vanessa Bayer has announced that she is leaving the Saturday Night Live team. Just two days after Bobby Moynihan announced his departure, she dropped her news of departure. Bayer is SNL’s current longest reigning female cast member, but alas her contract has expired. She joined the team in 2010 and was brought on as a regular cast member in 2012.
Her plans following the season finale of SNL remain unannounced.
Bayer posted to Instagram to announce the news, stating, “Thank you SNL for 7 years of laughs, love and incredible memories. It has been a dream come true.” Accompanying this is a picture of a farewell sketch written by Colin Jost.
After a season that saw the highest ratings in over twenty years, perhaps Bayer wants to leave on a high note. Assumedly due to the current political climate and resulting show sketches, SNL is experiencing a golden age. During her time on the comedy sketch show, Bayer was nominated twice for an Online Film & Television Association Award and won an American Academy Award as well. Bayer’s most memorable roles on SNL include impersonating Miley Cyrus, Rachel from Friends, Jacob the bar mitzvah boy, and the co-host of “J-Pop America Fun Time Now” Rebecca Stern-Markowicz, Brecky the former porn star, and as child actor, Laura Parsons. Bayer has appeared alongside Colin Jost on “Weekend Update.” She also had a role in Amy Schumer’s Trainwreck, Office Christmas Party, Modern Family, and Portlandia, amongst other projects during, and prior, to her time on Saturday Night Live.
Outside of television work, she is also a supporter of the Make-A-Wish foundation. As a childhood leukemia survivor, she was granted a wish through the organization when she was sick.
The Saturday Night Live season finale was last night and will be Bayer’s last appearance on the show. Watch Bayer appear as Laura Parsons on “Weekend Update” below:
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