Devon Walker has announced his exit from Saturday Night Live after three seasons as he reflects on challenges and future career goals.
Devon Walker is officially closing his chapter on Saturday Night Live.
The comedian announced on Monday, August 25, that he will not return for season 51 of the NBC sketch comedy series. Walker, 34, joined SNL as a featured player during the show’s 48th season in 2022 before being promoted to the main cast in 2024.
In an Instagram post captioned, “me and baby broke up ❤️,” Walker reflected on his time on the show, calling it a mix of highs and lows. “To me, jobs in this industry feel like a bunch of little marriages. Some of em last for a long time if we’re lucky, but most of them are fleeting,” he wrote. “Me and the show did three years together, and sometimes it was really cool. Sometimes it was toxic as hell. But we made the most of what it was, even amidst all of the dysfunction. We made a f—– up lil family.”
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Walker gave a special shoutout to fellow castmates Gary and Alex, noting the pride he felt in going from performing bar shows with them to working together at 30 Rock. “It’s a beautiful thing,” he said.
He also joked about his next moves, sharing that he plans to head to Japan and hopes to land a role in a prestige drama afterward — ideally alongside Julianne Moore.
During his SNL run, Walker appeared in numerous sketches, joined “Weekend Update” segments with Colin Jost and Michael Che, and delivered celebrity impressions including New York Mayor Eric Adams, Michael Strahan, and Van Jones.
Walker’s exit comes as the long-running series prepares for its 51st season premiere on October 4 on NBC and Peacock. Show creator Lorne Michaels recently teased that fans should expect major cast changes following the milestone 50th season. “It’ll be announced in a week or so,” Michaels told Puck News earlier this month, confirming that big decisions were delayed so the anniversary celebration could take the spotlight.
Veteran cast member Kenan Thompson, who has been with SNL for 22 seasons, also hinted that the next season could bring significant shifts, calling the season 50 finale “bittersweet.”
As Saturday Night Live gears up for its next chapter, Walker’s departure adds another layer to what could be a season of major change for the iconic late-night comedy.
Saturday Night Live season 51 premieres Saturday, October 4 at 11:30 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock.
