Another beloved cast member of "Saturday Night Live" is leaving the comedy sketch show. Bill Hader told The New York Times that he's leaving the program after the season finale this Saturday.
"It was a hard decision, but it has to happen at some point,” Hader said to the newspaper. “It got to a point where I said, ‘Maybe it’s just time to go.' "
NBC declined to comment.
Since joining the show in 2005, Hader has brought to life numerous characters on "SNL." Among his most popular are Stefon, an over-the-top, gay New York correspondent on "Weekend Update"; talk-show host Vinny Vedecci; and Dwayne Vogelcheck of the nearly incestuous "kissing family," just to name a few. And of course, there are his various celebrity impersonations, including that of Clint Eastwood, Julian Assange, Alan Alda, Al Pacino, James Carville and more.
Hader's exit isn't the only one to make news lately. On Sunday, NBC announced that head writer and "Weekend Update" host Seth Meyers would be succeeding Jimmy Fallon on "Late Night." That came only a day after Kristen Wiig, who left the show at the end of the last season, returned to host the program. Andy Samberg also left the show after last season.
"Saturday Night Live" airs its season finale Saturday at 11:30 p.m. on NBC. Ben Affleck is hosting, and Kanye West is the musical guest.