Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Livecelebrated its 50th day of remembrance with a three - minute special in February 2025 , incorporate special appearance by many crucial figures in the show ’s history , admit Garrett Morris . The late - night bouncy sketch clowning variety course of study , created by Lorne Michaels , premiere on October 11 , 1975 , and has rule Saturday nights ever since . To commemorateSaturday Night Live ’s 50 years on the air , which has included iconic sketches , memorable music performance , and breakthrough for legion comedian , NBC hosted " SNL50 : The Anniversary Special,“featuring appearances by current and former members of the biotic community , admit Morris .
FromoriginalSNLcast members(like Chevy Chase and Jane Curtin ) to famed headliner ( such as Meryl Streep and Martin Short),“SNL50 : The Anniversary Special " contained a countless number of renowned actor . They remake famous sketches , paid tribute to former cast members who have since died , and bring songs . It was a true solemnisation ofSaturday Night Live ’s history , which would n’t have been complete without Morris .
Garrett Morris Was An Original SNL Cast Member & The First Black Actor
Morris Made His SNL Debut During The Premiere In October 1975
Garrett Morris was one ofthe seven originalSaturday Night Livecast members(aka the " Not Ready for Prime Time Players " ) and a writer for the show . However , he was also the first Black comedian on the plaster cast . Morris , John Belushi , Gilda Radnor , Chevy Chase , Dan Aykroyd , Jane Curtin , and Laraine Newman made up the squad of series regular during the first seasonof the belated - dark live sketch comedy smorgasbord show , set the tincture for the program ’s follow 49 season . therefore , they are all integral material body in theSaturday Night Livecommunity .
The most surprisingly lamentable part of the Saturday Night lively 50th Anniversary Special was headed by none other than funnyman Adam Sandler .
Morris ' impact , though , extend further than just being in the original cast because he wasSaturday Night Live ’s first disgraceful cast member . As anSNLlegend , Morris paved the way for other fatal comedian on the show . From Eddie Murphy and Leslie Jones to Kenan Thompson ( SNL ’s longest - tenured cast extremity ) , Morris laid the groundwork for many great Black actors and actress who came after him , many of whom would go on to become big Hollywood stars .
Morris' Time On SNL Wasn’t Happy Due To Typecasting
Morris Has Since Recounted His Frustration While Being On SNL
Unfortunately , Garrett Morris ' work as anoriginalSaturday Night Livepersonalitywasn’t all sunshine and rose . While address toThe Guardian , Morris recalled his experience with racism while on the Seth , starting in the writers ' room before officially join the cast . The role player explained :
" I will say to the final stage of my days : Lorne [ Michaels ] ’s author had a lot of racism going on . Lorne himself ? Zero racial discrimination . Because , remember , when I was hired I was the only pitch-black writer . Lorne wanted to have somebody Black on TV at nighttime - time . People did n’t desire that . They were clamoring to make it all snowy . He did n’t . "
However , Morris ' problems did n’t end when he made hisSaturday Night Livedebut in October 1975 with the ease of the casting . concord to the comic , typecast was a pregnant government issue for him . One of hismost memorableSNLcharactersis Chico Escuela , a Dominican Major Leaguer . Morris undertake to contend against playing stereotyped Black role , but there was only so much he could do . Concerning the writers ' disposition to type him , Morris toldThe Guardian,“It really contrive me when we were drop dead through the first show . "
Custom image by Ana Nieves
Lamorne Morris work Garrett Morris in Jason Reitman ’s 2024 biographic drollery - drama filmSaturday Night , recounting the nighttime ofSaturday Night Live ’s premiere in 1975 .
Garrett Morris Went On To Be A Trailblazer For Black Comedians On TV
Morris Has Appeared In Many Sitcoms Over The Years
After leavingSaturday Night Livein 1980 , Garrett Morris went on to have a long and successful career on TV . He was a innovator , not only for opprobrious performer onSNLbut also for Black worker and comedians as a whole . Of course , Morris ' break was on the NBC late - night live sketch comedy potpourri program , which opened the door for him to asterisk in other notable TV shows , such asThe JeffersonsandMartin . His most outstanding recent role , though , was as Earl Washington in the cast ofthe CBS sitcom2 Broke Girls .
Garrett Morris ' Notable tv set Shows & Movies
theatrical role
Himself / Various role
Car Wash
skid
The Jeffersons
Jimmy
Hill Street Blues
Derelict
Hunter
Arnold " Sporty " James
Martin
Stan Winters
The Wayans Bros.
Uncle Leon / Himself
The Jamie Foxx Show
Uncle Junior King
2 Broke fille
Earl Washington
Ant - human race
Cab Driver
This Is Us
Lloyd
Self Made
Cleophus Walker
On February 1 , 2024 ( which was also his 87th birthday ) , Morris was finally honour with his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame . The invitee talker included hisMartinco - star Tichina Arnold and his2 Broke Girlsco - genius Jennifer Coolidge . Ultimately , Morris is a dead on target telly caption , and it all started during the premiere ofSaturday Night Liveon October 11 , 1975 .
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Cast
Source : The Guardian
