Comedian Bill Hader is leaving "Saturday Night Live" after eight seasons, according to The New York Times.
Hader will exit the show after the season finale May 18, The New York Times reports.
Stefon, New York City's nightclub Weekend Update correspondent, and Italian talk show host Vinny Videcci, Greg the Alien and Herb Welch, the aging veteran reporter are some of Hader's most memorable characters on the show.
But Hader, like many former Saturday Night Live cast members, has branched out in to movies. He had the ead voice role in "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs" and supporting roles in "Superbad," "Hot Rod," "Tropic Thunder," "Adventureland," "Paul," "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" and "Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian."
Exits such as Hader's are inevitable for "Saturday Night Live" producer Lorne Michaels. More recent cast changes include the departure of Seth Meyers. The head writer of "Saturday Night Live" and "Weekend Update" anchor will replace former SNL cast member Jimmy Fallon on NBC's "Late Night" when he takes over "The Tonight Show."
Hader told The New York Times his decision was a difficult one but was in part influenced by Andy Samberg and Kristen Wiig's departures last season. He also indicated plans to possibly move his family to Los Angeles. His wife, Maggie Carey, is a filmmaker whose upcoming credits include "The To Do List"
Hader was first cast as a featured performer on "Saturday Night Live" in 2005 and was signed on as a full cast performer the next year, The New York Times reports. Hader's contract was up in Spring 2012, but he was convinced to stay on for an additional season.
