The Best People Who Hosted SNL In The '80s

Updated April 3, 2019 2.2k votes 87 voters153 items

List RulesVote up the people who did the best job as hosts of SNL from 1980 through 1989.

The 1980s started out rough for Saturday Night Live, but they rode the decade through and celebrated their 15th anniversary in before the '80s ended. Even with over a dozen hosts appearing multiple times, there were over 150 hosts in the '80s. If you can't remember everybody who got to open the show, then refresh your memory with this list of the people who were hosts from 1980 through 1989, ranked from best SNL '80s hosts to worst SNL '80s hosts.

One of the people who took on the role of host the most often in the '80s was actor Danny DeVito, who hosted four times and tied with comedian and frequent host Steve Martin for most times hosting SNL in the 1980s. Tom Hanks was close behind, hosting Saturday Night Live three times that decade and even using his monologue in the 15th-anniversary episode to hint about upcoming changes to the opening act.

Just like the seasons and episodes themselves, the Saturday Night Live hosts of the 1980s range from great to grueling. Vote up the actors, musicians, and comedians who did the best job at hosting SNL in the '80s.

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Tom Hanks
The Da Vinci Code, Forrest Gump
Age: 64
Birthplace: Concord, California, United States of America
Thomas Jeffrey Hanks (born July 9, 1956) is an American actor and filmmaker. Known for both... more
2
23
10
Steve Martin
The Jerk, ¡Three Amigos!
Age: 75
Birthplace: Waco, Texas, United States of America
Stephen Glenn Martin (born August 14, 1945) is an American actor, comedian, writer, filmmaker,... more
3
27
20
James Woods
Once Upon a Time in America, Casino
Age: 73
Birthplace: Vernal, Utah, United States of America
James Howard Woods (born April 18, 1947) is an American actor, voice actor, and producer. His... more
4
19
13
John Candy
SCTV, Spaceballs
Age: Dec. at 44 (1950-1994)
Birthplace: Newmarket, Canada
John Franklin Candy (October 31, 1950 – March 4, 1994) was a Canadian actor and comedian,... more
5
16
9
Louis Gossett, Jr.
Enemy Mine, Half-Life 2
Age: 84
Birthplace: New York City, New York, United States of America
Louis Cameron Gossett Jr. (born May 27, 1936) is an American actor. He is best known for his... more
6
13
6
Joan Rivers
Fashion Police, The Joan Rivers Show
Age: Dec. at 81 (1933-2014)
Birthplace: New York City, New York
Joan Alexandra Molinsky (June 8, 1933 – September 4, 2014), known professionally as Joan... more
7
16
10
Glenn Close
Dangerous Liaisons, Mars Attacks
Age: 73
Birthplace: Greenwich, Connecticut, United States of America
Glenn Close (born March 19, 1947) is an American actress and producer. "Long considered one of... more
8
15
10
Jamie Lee Curtis
True Lies, Halloween
Age: 61
Birthplace: Santa Monica, California, United States of America
Jamie Lee Haden-Guest, Baroness Haden-Guest (née Curtis; born November 22, 1958) is an... more
9
17
13
Jeff Bridges
The Big Lebowski, Iron Man
Age: 70
Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, United States of America
Jeffrey Leon Bridges (born December 4, 1949) is an American actor, singer, and producer. He... more
10
11
6
Bob Newhart
Newhart, The Bob Newhart Show
Age: 91
Birthplace: Oak Park, Illinois, United States of America
George Robert Newhart (born September 5, 1929) is an American stand-up comedian and actor,... more
11
9
4
Stevie Wonder
Silver Linings Playbook, Die Hard
Age: 70
Birthplace: Saginaw, Michigan, United States of America
Stevland Hardaway Morris (born May 13, 1950), better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is... more
12
10
6
Jay Leno
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The Jay Leno Show
Age: 70
Birthplace: USA, New York, New Rochelle
James Douglas Muir Leno (born April 28, 1950) is an American comedian, actor, writer,... more
13
10
6
Bronson Pinchot
Beverly Hills Cop, True Romance
Age: 56
Birthplace: Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA
Bronson Alcott Pinchot (born May 20, 1959) is an American actor. He is best known for playing... more

14
11
8
Robin Williams
Good Will Hunting, Dead Poets Society
Age: Dec. at 63 (1951-2014)
Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois, USA
Robin McLaurin Williams (July 21, 1951 – August 11, 2014) was an American actor and comedian.... more
15
13
10
Danny DeVito
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Batman Returns
Age: 75
Birthplace: Neptune City, New Jersey, United States of America
Daniel Michael DeVito Jr. (born November 17, 1944) is an American actor, director, producer,... more
16
8
4
Leslie Nielsen
The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!, The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear
Age: Dec. at 84 (1926-2010)
Birthplace: Regina, Canada
Leslie William Nielsen (11 February 1926 – 28 November 2010) was a Canadian actor, comedian,... more
17
6
2
Michael McKean
This Is Spinal Tap, Planes
Age: 72
Birthplace: New York City, Area code 917, Contiguous United States, New York, United States of America
Michael McKean (born October 17, 1947) is an American actor, comedian, and musician, known for... more
18
10
7
Billy Crystal
Monsters, Inc
Age: 72
Birthplace: Upper East Side, New York City, New York, United States of America
William Edward Crystal (born March 14, 1948) is an American actor, comedian, writer, producer,... more
19
13
11
Dolly Parton
The Porter Wagoner Show, Transamerica
Age: 74
Birthplace: Sevierville, Tennessee, United States of America
Dolly Rebecca Parton (born January 19, 1946) is an American singer, songwriter,... more
20
8
5
Chevy Chase
Christmas Vacation, Caddyshack
Age: 77
Birthplace: New York City, USA, New York, Lower Manhattan
Cornelius Crane "Chevy" Chase (; born October 8, 1943) is an American comedian, actor and... more
21
8
5
Lily Tomlin
I Heart Huckabees, Nine to Five
Age: 81
Birthplace: Detroit, Michigan, United States of America
Mary Jean "Lily" Tomlin (born September 1, 1939) is an American actress, comedian, writer,... more
22
6
4
Bruce Willis
The Sixth Sense, Die Hard
Age: 65
Birthplace: Idar-Oberstein, West Germany
Walter Bruce Willis (born March 19, 1955) is an American actor, producer, and singer. Born to... more
23
6
5
Chris Evert
Celebration, A Century of Women
Age: 65
Birthplace: Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States of America
Christine Marie Evert (born December 21, 1954), known as Chris Evert Lloyd from 1979 to 1987,... more

24
10
10
Elliott Gould
American History X, Ocean's Eleven
Age: 82
Birthplace: New York City, New York, United States of America
Elliott Gould (born Elliott Goldstein; August 29, 1938) is an American actor. He began acting... more
25
10
10
Michael Douglas
Basic Instinct, Falling Down
Age: 76
Birthplace: New Brunswick, New Jersey, United States of America
Michael Kirk Douglas (born September 25, 1944) is an American actor and producer. He has... more