Who, from Saturday Night Live, went on to become the biggest star?

[Auggie]

Cast members only -- not a host.

Bill Murray?

[Iggo]

1. Eddie Murphy, I think.

[michreject]

2. Dan Aykroyd

He's still making movies.

[Graybeard]

3. Bill Murray - Groundhog Day

For me if Bill Murray had never made another film he would still be a huge star just for Groundhog Day. But of course he made a host of great films (too many to list here). A fabulous body of work.

[aikoaiko]

16. Lost in Translation earned him an Oscar nod.

[HarveyDarkey]

4. John Belushi

'nuf said

[TrogL]

10. A great movie career

"The Blues Brothers" set the new standard for an off-the-wall comedic film original held by "It's a mad mad mad mad world"

[HopeHoops]

5. I'd go with Aykroyd. He's done comedy and serious stuff and is good at both.

He's even got his own line of vodka! He's been in over 70 movies and taken on a shitload of different roles. "Driving Miss Daisy" was one of his best. AND - he's one of the original cast members. Eddie Murphy does serious stuff too, but he was 2nd crew - "ME GANJA!"

[onenote]

6. How do you define "biggest star"?

If its in terms of being highly paid to be in a movie or having movies with the highest box office receipts, its probably Eddie Murphy, with Adam Sandler not far behind. Mike Myers did well with the Austin Powers movies but overall almost certainly trails those two. Will Farrell may be up there and gaining on Murphy.

[Auggie]

19. How about Box Office + Artistic Achievement + Lasting Influence/Legacy?

[onenote]

26. I'd still go with Murphy

Its anything but an easy call. Belushi was brilliant but his flame burned out pretty quickly. Ackroyd has been around as long as anyone, but his output has been pretty uneven. Murphy has had periods of brilliance and periods where he seemed to fade away, but he's probably at or near the top in box office and has one Golden Globe and four nominations, which I think puts him ahead of any other former cast member. I'd put Bill Murray up there as well -- he also has four GG nominations and one win. Plus his output has covered broader range than Eddi Murphy. Billy Crystal also has had a pretty successful career with several golden globe nominations.

On a more contemporary level, one could make a case for Tina Fey as in the running for most successful based on her success in 30 Rock which has earned her multiple Emmy Awards and a Mark Twain award.

Finally, I suppose a case could be made, using a completely different standard, that Al Franken is the most successful former SNL cast member.

[geardaddy]

7. Bill Murray.

He's done the widest range of roles.

[LWolf]

8. Chevy Chase. nt

[Still Blue in PDX]

9. It's gotta be Bill Murray or Dan Aykroyd.

I'll never forget Bill Murray in Ed Wood.

[LP2K12]

11. "Biggest star"

How do you measure "stardom?"

Chevy Chase - Net worth $50 Million

Eddie Murphy - Net worth $80 Million

Bill Murray - Net worth $120 Million

Dan Aykroyd - Net worth $135 Million

Adam Sandler - Net worth $300 million

I actually like all of these guys. Not all of their work, but I've at some point liked something along the way.

[Pryderi]

20. Talent. Breadth of roles. Bill Murray wins. n/t

[TeamPooka]

12. how do you measure? Money or awards? $=Murphy Oscars=Murray

[onenote]

27. Neither Murray nor Murphy have won an Oscar. Both have one nomination

No former SNL'er has actually won an Oscar. In addition to Murray and Murphy, Ackroyd also has a nomination (for Driving Miss Daisy). Interestingly, there are two former SNLers who have two nominations, but folks generally don't think of them as former SNLers: Joan Cusack and Robert Downey Jr.

A pretty decent case could be made that Downey is currently the biggest star among former SNLers.

[TeamPooka]

30. i was think about Bill's upcoming Oscar nom and award as FDR.

my bad

[fishwax]

35. One member of the original Saturday Night Live team has won three Oscars

Not a cast member, of course, but Howard Shore was a key part of the original show as musical director, and showed up in skits now and then.

[sakabatou]

13. Does Mike Myers count?

[Auggie]

46. Yes

[geek tragedy]

14. Biggest star ever would probably be either Murphy, Sandler or Murray or Chase. But, currently

probably Will Ferrell, Chris Rock, or Tina Fey.

[bamacrat]

15. Will Ferrell or Adam Sandler.

I could see the argument for Chevy Chase as well but for overall movies and money Ferrell and Sandler have to be tops.

[libodem]

17. Steve Martin

Rings my banjo. I love him.

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

25. Steve holds the record for hosting SNL the most

but he was never in the cast

[Myrina]

18. Depends on what you mean ...

... Eddie Murphy made a shit-ton of money but Bill Murray has developed some real acting credentials &
Belushi is immortal ...

So, as stated, your question is un-answerable.

[Enrique]

21. Al Franken

[Auggie]

22. Mmm ... this might be the answer

[nadine_mn]

36. That was my vote - nt

[mucifer]

48. I love Al Franken. But, he was a writer. Not a regular cast member.

[bluedigger]

23. Farrell.

He's probably had the most consistent success and seems to be on a roll. Murphy probably was the most dominant at his peak. I prefer Murray overall for his range and originality.

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

24. Murphy easily had the biggest overall box office

but Murray has had the highest-quality and most enduring post-SNL career.

and Bill and Dan are the runaway winners in the contest of coolest thing to ever come out a former SNL star because of this:

Nothing else comes close.

[onenote]

28. The one everyone is forgetting: Robert Downey Jr.

Was a cast member on SNL for one season in the 1980s. He's without question the biggest star among former SNLers currently out there. Has two academy award nominations (post SNL) to boot.

[Auggie]

29. Excellent choice

[Agschmid]

32. Yah he wins...

He is the hottest of the bunch and that is the "best" to me. Guess I am hard up... I mean shallow.

[Dr. Strange]

42. Game over.

Iron Man wins.

[undeterred]

31. Chris Rock

[cthulu2016]

33. In terms of money I think it is Eddie Murphy

In terms of who was most successful, I'd consider part-time SNL figure Al Franken

[Rhiannon12866]

34. Chevy Chase or John Belushi

IMHO.

[GoneOffShore]

37. Al Franken n/t

[Tom Ripley]

38. Dennis Miller...

I'm sorry...I thought you said biggest douche. My apologies.

[Auggie]

39. LOL

[ProudProgressiveNow]

44. +1 nt

[PRETZEL]

40. I think Billy Crystal should also get a mention or two nt

[Yavin4]

41. FYI Bill Murray Plays Roosevelt in a New Film

[hunter]

45. That, I do want to see.

As for the list, I say Bill Murray, and this ought to cement it.

[kwassa]

43. Victoria Jackson

[Initech]

47. Mike Myers? Will Ferrell? Steve Martin? Eddie Murphy? Tina Fey?