Actor Opens Up About His Decision to Skip the 50th Anniversary Special of Saturday Night Live
Bill Hader, who was a beloved cast member on Saturday Night Live from 2005 to 2013, recently revealed the real reason he wasn’t present for the show’s 50th anniversary special in February: anxiety.
Despite being a central part of the iconic sketch comedy series for nearly a decade, Hader’s decision to skip the event was deeply personal, something he opened up about during an appearance on Late Night with Seth Meyers on August 5.
Anxiety as the Driving Force Behind His Absence
Seth Meyers, who was also an SNL cast member during Hader’s time on the show, praised Hader for being open about his struggles with anxiety, which had been a factor in his absence from the special. Meyers said, “You were very open and honest after you left SNL, about the anxiety you had when you were working there.
Then, for the SNL 50th, I think people were obviously at first disappointed you weren’t coming, but that was the reason. I sort of celebrated your choice.”
Hader confirmed that his decision was rooted in anxiety. He had felt nervous about returning to the show and participating in the high-pressure celebration, despite his long history with the series.
Andy Samberg’s Anxiety-Inspired Sketch
Meyers also shared that Andy Samberg, another former SNL star, had created a sketch based on the anxiety that many cast members, including Hader, experienced while working on the show.
Samberg’s sketch, which highlighted the shared anxiety among SNL cast members, was something that Hader had heard about but chose to opt out of.
“When he told me about it, I [said], ‘I don’t know if I want to do that,’” Hader recalled. “‘Why?’ Samberg asked. And I said, ‘Because I’m anxious.’” He then humorously mocked Samberg’s attempts to get him to participate, mimicking his former co-star’s persuasive tactics.
Hader admitted that while Bowen Yang’s performance in the sketch was brilliant, the idea of performing it himself made him feel “really shaky.”
Hader’s “Polite Decline” to SNL50
In the lead-up to the SNL50 anniversary special, there had been speculation about Hader’s absence. Matthew Belloni of Puck News reported that Hader had politely declined the invitation to attend, citing a “longstanding schedule conflict.”
However, Hader’s team later confirmed to PEOPLE that his absence was indeed related to personal reasons, rather than any scheduling conflict.
Lorne Michaels and Hader’s Struggles with Anxiety
In a revealing excerpt from Susan Morrison’s book Lorne: The Man Who Invented Saturday Night Live, it was reported that SNL creator Lorne Michaels had once tried to snap Hader out of his anxiety before he hosted an episode of the show.
Michaels allegedly told Hader to “calm the f— down” before a live show, demonstrating his tough-love approach to managing the anxieties of his cast.
Hader later recalled the moment when Michaels came into his dressing room and said, “Calm the f— down. Just have fun. Jesus Christ.” This direct approach, Hader admitted, was part of how he learned to navigate his anxiety while working on the show.
Hader’s Anxiety and Role as Barry Berkman
Hader’s experience with anxiety is not something he has hidden, and he revealed that his panic attacks helped inform his portrayal of Barry Berkman, the character he plays on the HBO dark comedy Barry.
The show, which Hader co-created, stars in, and directs, deals with themes of panic and inner turmoil, making Hader’s personal experiences with anxiety highly relevant to the role.
In a 2023 interview with PEOPLE, Hader admitted, “There’s definitely been moments in the show where the character has gotten panicked and got a panic attack, and I definitely felt that before.”
He went on to explain that during his time on Saturday Night Live, he often struggled with panic attacks. “You know, Barry has a panic attack and you go, ‘I know exactly what that feels like.'”
Mental Health Support
Hader’s openness about his anxiety has sparked important conversations around mental health, particularly in the high-pressure world of late-night television. If you or someone you know needs help with mental health, text “STRENGTH” to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor.
