Best SNL Hosts of the '70s

Steve Martin was born August 14, 1945, in Waco, Texas. He became a talent with many skills. Martin started working in Disneyland's magic shop. This ignited his love for performance and started his stand-up comedy career. Martin's mix of humor and banjo playing made him popular on the comedy circuit. This success moved him to television. He appeared often on shows like The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson and Saturday Night Live. Martin's comedy skills spread beyond the stage.

George Carlin, known for bold, unfiltered comedy, was born May 12, 1937, in New York City. Carlin's early life involved a rough relationship with education. He dropped out of school at age 14 to manage his own path. Carlin found purpose in humor. This led him to join the United States Air Force as a radar technician. This experience sharpened his comedic skills. Carlin's career gained traction in the 1960s. He and partner Jack Burns drew audience attention with their radio show antics.

Richard Pryor, an American stand-up comedian, actor, and social critic, was born December 1, 1940, in Peoria, Illinois. Pryor grew up in a brothel run by his grandmother. He faced a tough childhood with abuse and neglect. Pryor used these experiences to fuel his comedy. He built a style that mixed humor with honest talks about race and current issues. Pryor started his career in the early 1960s, performing in small clubs across the United States. He moved to New York City in 1963 and began appearing on shows.

Madeline Kahn was an actress famous for her comedic style and smooth soprano voice. Madeline Gail Wolfson named her September 29, 1942, in Boston. Kahn began her career in off-Broadway shows before finding her place in film and television. She earned a drama degree from Hofstra University. There, she sharpened her acting skills and shaped her career path. Mel Brooks directed her role in the 1974 comedy classic, Blazing Saddles. Her performance as the saloon singer Lili Von Shtupp earned her an Academy Award nomination.

Carrie Fisher, born October 21, 1956, in Beverly Hills, California, became an iconic figure in entertainment, leaving a mark on film and books. She was a writer, actress, and comedian. People knew her best as Princess Leia in the Star Wars films. Debbie Reynolds and Eddie Fisher, a famous singer, were Carrie Fisher's parents. This made her move into show business a certainty. Fisher started acting in 1975 with her first role in the Broadway revival of Irene. Her part in George Lucas's epic...

Lily Tomlin, born Mary Jean Tomlin in 1939, is an American actress, comedian, writer, and producer. She grew up in Detroit, Michigan. Tomlin started her career as a stand-up comedian in the late 1960s. Tomlin quickly gained recognition. Her unique comedic style used vivid, quirky characters. Her breakthrough hit in 1969. She joined the cast of Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In. She played Ernestine the telephone operator and Edith Ann, the philosophical five-year-old.

Eric Idle was born March 29, 1943, in South Shields, County Durham, England. He is a figure in comedy and entertainment, known as an actor, comedian, author, and musician. Tragedy marked his early years; he lost his father in an air disaster when he was two. Idle's talent and love for comedy pushed him into a career that has lasted. Idle joined the surreal comedy group Monty Python in the late 1960s. He was one of the six original members.

Rob Reiner was born March 6, 1947, in The Bronx, New York. He made a lasting mark on Hollywood as an actor, director, and producer. His father, comedian Carl Reiner, opened doors for Rob in entertainment as an actor and director. Reiner's career took off after starring in All in the Family. Rob played Michael Stivic in that series, earning two Emmy Awards. Reiner moved into film direction and production in the mid-career.

Candice Bergen is a talent in entertainment, recognized for acting, modeling, and photography. Born May 9, 1946, in Beverly Hills, California, she was the daughter of ventriloquist Edgar Bergen and model Frances Westerman. Bergen went to the University of Pennsylvania but dropped out to focus on modeling before acting. Bergen started her acting career with small roles in the early 1960s. Her performance in Carnal Knowledge (1971) gave her a major breakthrough.

Ray Charles, born Ray Charles Robinson on September 23, 1930, in Albany, Georgia, became a music trailblazer with a lasting legacy across genres. Raised in Greenville, Florida, Charles lost his sight at age five due to glaucoma and was blind by age seven. Despite this, Charles developed an early interest in music. He became an accomplished pianist and songwriter in his youth. His mother, Aretha Williams, strongly encouraged him to be independent despite his blindness. In the late 1940s, Char

Fans see Michael Palin as the 'nice' member of the legendary Monty Python. Palin acted, wrote, and documented. His genial nature hid a hidden reserve of absurd brilliance. Palin worked with Terry Jones, another Oxford alum. They contributed to top British TV comedies in the late '60s. Then, Palin joined John Cleese, Graham Chapman, Eric Idle, and Terry Gilliam for 'Monty Python's Flying Circus' (BBC, 1969-1974). His energy and range made him a popular Python member. After Python, he could...

Ricky Nelson, born Eric Hilliard Nelson in 1940, became an entertainment figure. He was an actor, musician, and singer-songwriter. Nelson found fame young. He appeared on his parents' radio show, The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet. The show moved to TV, letting Ricky show his music. This move made him an early teen idol. Nelson's music took off in the late 1950s, hitting rockabilly, country, and rock 'n' roll.

Actor Ted Knight used a booming voice and a pompous, flustered elitist act on TV and film for decades. The Gen-X set remembers his stick-in-the-mud, golf-obsessed judge in "Caddyshack" (1980). His Emmy-winning role as the vain, unskilled Ted Baxter on "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" (CBS, 1970-77) first gained him public favor. Knight created another funny character, Henry Rush, on the hit sitcom, "Too Close for Comfort" (ABC, 1980-86), building a legacy Hollywood few share.

Sissy Spacek, born Mary Elizabeth Spacek on December 25, 1949, is a famous American actress and singer. She was born in Quitman, Texas, to Virginia Frances and Edwin Arnold Spacek, Sr., a county agricultural agent. Spacek has a radiant smile and a distinct Texan accent. Spacek aimed for a music career. Fate steered her toward becoming a highly respected Hollywood actress after meeting director Terrence Malick, who cast her in his crime drama.

Frederick Charles Willard (September 18, 1933 – May 15, 2020) was an American actor, comedian, and writer. Willard starred in the Rob Reiner mockumentary film This Is Spinal Tap. He also appeared in Christopher Guest mockumentary films like Waiting for Guffman, Best in Show, A Mighty Wind, For Your Consideration, and Mascots, plus the Anchorman films. Willard graduated from The Second City. He earned a Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Talk Show Host for hosting What's Hot, What's Not. He got three Emmy nominations for his recurring role on the TV series Everybody Loves.

Walter Matthau, born 1920 in New York City, became a major American stage and screen figure. His gruff persona earned him global audience affection. Walter John Matthow grew up with poor Russian-Jewish immigrants. Matthau moved from low society to a beloved Hollywood figure through talent and grit. He served in World War II as a radioman-gunner with the U.S. Army Air Forces Eighth Air Force in England. This experience shaped his view of the world. Matthau acted for over fifty years.

Peter Boyle, an American actor, brought power and charisma to entertainment. His career covered more than four decades. Boyle was born October 18, 1935, in Norristown, Pennsylvania. A humble upbringing shaped his versatile acting skills. Boyle first tried being a Christian Brother, a Catholic religious order. Then, his love for acting made him leave the monastery. He studied drama with Uta Hagen, a famous German-American acting teacher. Boyle made his mark in Hollywood with a breakthrough performance in t

Bea Arthur, born Bernice Frankel on May 13, 1922 in Brooklyn, New York, became a top American actress and comedian. Her career lasted over sixty years. She started in off-Broadway shows. Recognition came in the early 1950s. Her breakthrough role was Vera Charles in the 1966 Broadway musical Mame. She won a Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for that part. Arthur took her stage success to television, leaving a lasting mark with her famous roles. She is known for playing strong characters.

Kris Kristofferson has made big moves in music and film. Born in Brownsville, Texas in 1936, Kristofferson got his Bachelor's in literature from Pomona College. He became a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University. His school work did not stop his music desire. Kristofferson left a good military career to chase his passion, moving to Nashville's country music scene. Kristofferson is famous for his songwriting, writing classics like Me and Bobby McGee and Help Me

Martin Sheen, born Ramón Antonio Gerardo Estévez on August 3, 1940, is an actor known for his film and television work. Sheen grew up in Dayton, Ohio. Sheen faced many early life problems, including a heart attack at age 36 while filming Apocalypse Now. These struggles only made him want to succeed. His acting career spans over six decades. He has a large body of work, including praised roles in films like Badlands, The Departed, and the famous Apocalypse Now. Sheen's acting skill goes beyond the silver s

Paul Simon, a major American music figure, sings, writes, and acts. He was born in Newark, New Jersey, on October 13, 1941. Simon started in music early. He loved music after getting his first guitar at age 11. This started a career lasting over sixty years. He earned many awards and became a major musician.

Anthony Perkins, an American actor, starred as Norman Bates in Alfred Hitchcock's *Psycho*. Perkins had great talent and intrigue in Hollywood. He was born in New York City on April 4, 1932, to Osgood Perkins and Janet Esselstyn Rane. Perkins began acting during Hollywood's Golden Age, improving his skills at The Actors Studio. Perkins first gained notice for stage work; his Broadway debut in *Tea and Sympathy* earned him a Theatre World Award.

Robert Altman directed Shelley Duvall when she was in college in Houston, TX. He quickly cast her in her first film, "Brewster McCloud" (1970). Duvall made seven movies with Altman. These include "Nashville" (1975) and "3 Women" (1977). For these films, she won a Cannes Film Festival Best Actress Award and an L.A. Film Critic's Association Award. She also starred in "Popeye" (1980), playing Olive Oyl against Robin Williams. Duvall played quirky waifs and characters where everything goes wrong very well.

Christopher Lee was an actor and singer born in Belgravia, London in 1922. He built a legendary career spanning almost seven decades. Lee studied in Switzerland and later at Wellington College. Lee did not want to act first; he first aimed for diplomacy. World War II changed his path. Lee served in the Royal Air Force and Special Forces during the war. This experience sharpened his toughness and shaped his intense acting.

Jo Raquel Tejada, Raquel Welch, was born in Chicago, Illinois, on September 5, 1940. Raquel Welch is an iconic American actress and singer known for her charm and talent. Welch built a name in entertainment with her style and beauty. She became a leading sex symbol in the 1960s and 1970s. Her breakthrough came in the 1966 sci-fi film *One Million Years B.C.*, where she wore a famous fur bikini, solidifying her status as a Hollywood sex symbol. Welch's career covers more than five decades across many genres.

Alicia Christian Foster was born November 19, 1962. Jodie Foster is a major figure in American cinema. Foster started her acting career very young. Her first TV appearance happened when she was only three. She quickly became a child prodigy, giving strong performances in many shows and commercials. Her role as Iris, a teenage prostitute in Martin Scorsese's Taxi Driver"(1976), brought her to the spotlight. This performance earned her an Academy Award nomination for

Dudley Moore, born in Dagenham, England in 1935, faced hardship; he had a clubfoot and grew up in a working-class family. Moore overcame these issues to build a successful career in music, comedy, and film. His musical skill showed early. He joined a choir at age six and earned a scholarship to study organ at the Guildhall School of Music in London at eleven. His passion for jazz led him to form The Dudley Moore Trio, which gained major praise.

Dick Cavett was known as "the thinking man's talk show host." He used an intelligent, sophisticated interview style on "The Dick Cavett Show" (ABC, 1968-1972), which won an Emmy Award. Cavett's sharp talks with many guests grabbed viewers. His show competed well against late-night Goliath, "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson" (NBC, 1962-1992). "The Dick Cavett Show" delivered memorable moments. These included Katherine Hepburn walking out mid-interview and

Gordon was a respected stage actress for much of the first half of the century. Gordon also wrote plays and screenplays. She married writer-director Garson Kanin in 1942. Together, they worked on several George Cukor films, including the Spencer Tracy-Katharine Hepburn classics "Adam's Rib" (1949) and "Pat and Mike" (1952).

Margot Kidder became famous after the free-spirited 1960s. Kidder gained fame for her intense performance as Lois Lane opposite Christopher Reeve in "Superman: The Movie" (1978). Before that role, Kidder made her first big film with director Brian De Palma in "Sisters" (1973). She followed up with "The Amityville Horror" (1979) and played Lois Lane in both "Superman II" (1981) and "Superman III" (1983). Kidder appeared in film and TV into her 60s. Margot Kidder died at her home in Livingston, Montana on May 13, 2018. She was 69.

Henry Zuckerman (December 9, 1930 – January 8, 2020) was Buck Henry, an American actor, writer, film director, and television director. The Academy nominated him twice: once in 1968 for Best Adapted Screenplay for The Graduate and again in 1979 for Best Director for Heaven Can Wait. Zuckerman started his long career on television, working on shows with Steve Allen and Mel Brooks, and on Saturday Night Live.

Elliott Gould, born Elliott Goldstein on August 29, 1938, in Brooklyn, New York, is a major Hollywood figure. He earned an Academy Award nomination for roles in films like MASH, The Long Goodbye, and Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice. Gould's career spans over sixty years, making him one of the most lasting actors of his time. Raised in a Jewish family, Gould started acting on Broadway before moving to film. His early success came in the late 1960s and early 1970s as he became a leading actor in Hollywood.

Bill Russell, born in Monroe, Louisiana in 1934, is an iconic figure in professional basketball. Russell moved from humble beginnings to become a celebrated athlete. Russell used racial discrimination while growing up in the southern United States as fuel for success. His basketball talent showed early at McClymonds High School in Oakland, California. His skill on the court kept growing.

Lois Maureen Stapleton (June 21, 1925 – March 13, 2006) was an American actress in film, theater, and television. Stapleton received Academy Award nominations for Best Supporting Actress in 1958 for Lonelyhearts, in 1970 for Airport, and in 1978 for Interiors. She won an Academy Award for her performance as Emma Goldman in Reds (1981). The American Theatre Hall of Fame inducted her in 1981. Stapleton made her Broadway debut in 1946 in The Playboy of the Western World and won the 1951 Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play for The Rose Tattoo, and the 1971 Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play.

Richard Dreyfuss, born October 29, 1947, in Brooklyn, New York, is an acclaimed American actor known for film, television, and stage work. Dreyfuss started his acting career in the early 1960s with small television roles before his film debut in 1967's The Graduate. Dreyfuss gained a breakthrough in 1975 with Steven Spielberg's Jaws, where he played Matt Hooper, a marine biologist. This performance made him a star and established him as a versatile actor in Hollywood.

Charles Grodin blended humor and drama in his performances. He was born April 21, 1935, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Grodin began his acting career after attending the University of Miami. He studied under Uta Hagen at HB Studio in New York City. Grodin's career gained traction with Broadway roles. He made a name for himself in film. His breakthrough role arrived in 1972.

Norman Milton Lear (July 27, 1922 – December 5, 2023) wrote, produced, created, or developed over 100 shows. He produced many 1970s sitcoms, including All in the Family, Sanford and Son, One Day at a Time, The Jeffersons, Good Times, and Maude. Lear continued producing television later. He produced the 2017 remake of One Day at a Time and the 2022 Netflix revival of Good Times. Lear founded the advocacy organization People for the American Way in 1981. He supported First Amendment rights and progressive causes.

Art Garfunkel joined Simon & Garfunkel. This duo formed from the bond between Art and his childhood friend, Paul Simon.

Louise Lasser, born April 11, 1939, is an American actress, television writer, and performing arts teacher and director. She portrayed the title character on the soap opera satire Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman. Lasser married Woody Allen and appeared in several of his early films. She remained a life member of The Actors Studio. She studied with Sanford Meisner and Robert X. Modica.

Cicely Tyson, born December 19, 1924, in Harlem, New York, built a career through exceptional performances. Tyson began with modeling before acting in the 1950s. Her breakout role came in 1961 starring in the original cast of Jean Genet's play, The Blacks. This led to a career spanning over seven decades. Tyson became one of the most influential artists of her generation.

Cornelius Crane Chase was born in Lower Manhattan, New York City. Chevy Chase is a celebrated figure in American comedy. His family had deep ties to New York history and American literature. Chase attended Haverford College. He transferred to Bard College. He graduated with an English degree. Chase started comedy in college. He co-founded The National Lampoon, an offshoot of the Harvard Lampoon.

Dyan Cannon became a sexy, zany, spirited blonde comedienne in many 1970s and 80s films. In 1976, Dyan Cannon directed, wrote, produced, edited, and scored the AFI-sponsored, Oscar-nominated live-action short, "Number One." This film showed children's curiosity about their bodies and the adult values that limit them. She made her feature directing and writing debut with "The End of Innocence" (1990).

Howard Hesseman, an American actor born in Lebanon, Oregon, has exceptional talent on screen and in television. Hesseman used his gift for blending into any character to find fame. He enrolled at the University of Oregon before moving to San Francisco to pursue acting. There, he joined the improvisational theater group, The Committee, where he sharpened his skills. Hesseman got his big break when he played the rebellious disc jockey Dr. Johnny Fever in

Desi Arnaz became the man who brought the conga to America. America later admired him as the charming bandleader husband of the spirited redhead everyone loved. Desi Arnaz was born Anazderio Alberto Arnaz y de Acha III on March 2, 1917, in Santiago, Mexico. His father, a pharmacology doctor, served as mayor of Santiago for almost ten years. His mother was famous for her beauty and her status as the heir to the Bacardi rum empire. Arnaz was not just a rich kid; he was an entertainer who could charm even the most serious critic.

Broderick Crawford, a hard-drinking, fast-talking character actor legend, began on stage. He gained attention playing the mentally challenged Lennie in the theatrical production of "Of Mice and Men" (1937-38). He got movie roles, but he reached real fame in 1949. This came from his Oscar-winning performance as corrupt politician Willy Stark in "All the King's Men" (1949). Crawford also showed comedic talent as the gangster antagonist in the Judy Holliday movie "Born Yesterday".

Milton Berle, born July 12, 1908, in New York City, became a legendary American comedian and actor. His 80-year career shaped the entertainment industry. Berle started as a child actor in silent films during the early 20th century. He grew into a television comedy icon during the golden age. Known for his quick wit, wild costumes, and huge personality, Berle became an early television superstar, earning the nickname "Mr. Television." Berle showed comedic talent and charisma early on. He won a Charlie Chaplin impersonation.

William Gary Busey was born June 29, 1944, in Goose Creek, Texas. Gary Busey pursued the performing arts early. After graduating from Oklahoma State University, where he studied theater, Busey built a career spanning more than five decades. Busey got his break in 1978. He played Buddy Holly in The Buddy Holly Story. This performance earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor, putting him in Hollywood.

Richard Benjamin is known for playing two Philip Roth characters: in "Goodbye Columbus" (1969) and "Portnoy's Complaint" (1972). Benjamin had small roles in some 1950s films. He first got adult recognition on Broadway starring in Neil Simon's "Star-Spangled Girl" (1966). He directed "Barefoot in the Park" in London the year before. Other acting highlights include "Catch-22" (1970) and "The Sunshine Boys" (1975).

Karen Black was a key female performer in the 1970s American film renaissance. Black had a warm smile, a strong yet troubled look, and imperfectly set eyes. In 1965, Black received a Drama Critics Award nomination for her Broadway debut in the short-lived "The Playroom." Later film work limited her stage appearances. Black gained praise as the small-town waitress who loves upper-class drifter Jack Nicholson in "Five Easy Pieces" (1970). Black gave versatility and unconventional beauty to many films, including Nicholson's "Drive".