Saturday Night Live is ready to give a Strong sendoff to one of its biggest stars.
Veteran cast member Cecily Strong will be leaving the longtime comedy skit program after the show’s last episode of the year.
“We’ll miss you, Cecily!” the skit program posted on Instagram about two hours before the Dec. 17 episode was set to air.
The simple goodbye post was accompanied with a video of Strong singing Frank Sinatra’s “My Way” while standing in a giant box of wine, a skit she performed as one of her most memorable impressions, Fox News opinion host Judge Jeanine Pirro.
Strong has inhabited a wide variety of characters throughout her 11-season run, both real and imaginary. She has impersonated Rep. Marjorie Taylor Green and Melania Trump in recent years, and has gained recognition for her recurring roles as “Girl You Wish You Hadn’t Started a Conversation With At a Party” and Heather, a one-dimensional female character from a male-written comedy.
Strong is also known for her pro-choice advocating, which she has advanced through various sketches throughout her seasons.
Her work on SNL has earned her several award nominations, including a Critics Choice, two Emmy and three Online Film & Television Association Awards nods.
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Strong, who joined the NBC program in 2012, sparked rumors she was leaving the show when she missed the first few episodes of the 2022 season. Her name was also missing from the opening credits while she starred in the one-woman play “The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe” in Los Angeles.
She will continue to work as the star of “Schmigadoon!” an Apple+ musical comedy.
The 38-year-old actress is the latest main cast member to ditch the show in 2022. Seven players — Pete Davidson, Chris Redd, Kate McKinnon, Kyle Mooney, Aidy Bryant, Melissa Villasenor and Alex Moffat — did not return after the 47th season wrapped in May 2022. Featured player Aristotle Athari also left earlier this year.