‘Saturday Night Live’ Cast Members from Iowa: A Retrospective

Saturday Night Live has achieved a status similar to shows like The Simpsons or Survivor. Every time it’s on TV, it’s hard not to think, “Wow, that show is still on?” But, it continues to air thanks to its devoted fans who tune in every week. Currently in its 49th season, SNL recently introduced its first “Gen Z” cast member, Marcello Hernandez.

This made me curious about how many SNL alums hail from Iowa. Unfortunately, there aren’t many, but two notable cast members come to mind. One of them even ranked #97 on Rolling Stone‘s list of 145 cast members in 2015, which coincided with the show’s 40th season.

Gary Kroeger, who was ranked #97, hails from Cedar Falls, IA. Now 67 years old, Kroeger was a cast member on the show from 1982 to 1985. In addition to acting, Kroeger was also a writer for the show. He is particularly remembered for his impersonation of Walter Mondale, the Democratic candidate for President in 1984. One memorable skit had him act alongside Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Donny to her Marie Osmond in a rendition of “Blue Christmas,” ending with the two “siblings” making out.

After his time on SNL, Kroeger guest-starred on shows like Columbo and Curb Your Enthusiasm. In 2015, he announced his candidacy for the U.S. House of Representatives from Iowa’s 1st congressional district. However, he later shifted his focus to the Iowa House of Representatives but eventually lost to incumbent Republican Walt Rogers.

Another Saturday Night Live cast member from Iowa is Brooks Wheelan, who is from Cedar Rapids. Wheelan also graduated from the University of Iowa with a degree in biomedical engineering. The 37-year-old comedian joined SNL for the 2013-2014 season. During his time on the show, he became known for his impersonations, including notable figures like Rand Paul, Harry Styles, Kid Rock, and Matthew McConaughey.

Unfortunately, Wheelan’s time on SNL was short-lived as he was let go after just one season. Nonetheless, he exited the show with his sense of humor intact. Wheelan has publicly stated that he holds no ill will over his dismissal and is grateful for his experience on the show.

Wheelan continues to perform stand-up comedy and now hosts the podcast Entry Level with Brooks Wheelan. Interestingly, before his stint on SNL, Wheelan attended Dubuque Hempstead High School and was even crowned homecoming king!

Source: Rolling Stone, NBC