Martin Herlihy exits 'Saturday Night Live' after five seasons

Martin Herlihy is leaving Saturday Night Live after five seasons, marking another major change ahead of the NBC sketch comedy show's upcoming Season 52.

Herlihy joined the SNL writing staff for Season 51 after spending four seasons as an on-screen performer. He was also part of Please Don’t Destroy, the comedy trio he formed with John Higgins and Ben Marshall, which became known for its popular digital sketches on the long-running series.

Following the end of Season 50, Saturday Night Live underwent a significant cast reshuffle. Higgins left the show, while Marshall was promoted to the main cast. Herlihy remained with the programme as a writer and continued making occasional appearances.

During his time on SNL, Herlihy appeared in sketches including "Blowing It" and "Green Flags". He also featured in several "A Film by Martin Herlihy" segments. As part of Please Don’t Destroy, he appeared alongside Higgins and Marshall in dozens of sketches, frequently portraying an exaggerated version of himself.

Herlihy's SNL departure does not mean the end of Please Don’t Destroy. The comedy trio remains active outside the NBC series, continuing to tour and develop projects together. The group also starred in the 2023 Peacock comedy film Please Don’t Destroy: The Treasure of Foggy Mountain.

Herlihy has also built a film career beyond Saturday Night Live, with recent credits including The Breadwinners, Roommates, The Running Man and Happy Gilmore 2.

Herlihy becomes the second major SNL departure ahead of Season 52. Chloe Fineman previously announced her exit in July after seven seasons on the show.