When was Mike Myers on SNL? Actor says he would 'go into depression' over cuts until Conan O'Brien's joke 'changed him'

Comedy acting titan Mike Myers burst onto the scene as a cast member on Saturday Night Live! from 1989 to 1995. While the mind behind the Austin Powers franchise and countless other hits successfully used the platform to propel his career into another gear, he always had a tough time with rejection.b

In a recent interview with Variety, alongside Colin Jost, Marcello Hernandez, and Sarah Sherman, the actor confessed,

“I used to go into a depression when my sketch got cut."

This lasted until fellow comedic stalwart Conan O’Brien helped Mike Myers reach a much-needed epiphany.

"Conan [O’Brien] had worked with a very, very hard host who had put him through the wringer. Conan was just a mess and saw that a sketch was cut and he goes, ‘Perfect. It’s all going perfectly to plan.’ It got a big laugh, and I was like, ‘You can be that way? You don’t have to be depressed?’ He taught me how to say, ‘Okay. It’s not the end of the world.'"

Since his time on SNL as a recurring cast member, Mike Myers has appeared several times as a host or in special cameo appearances.

Mike Myers opens up in a Variety Interview

Once Mike Myers shared his feelings, his fellow interviewees and SNL alums voiced similar feelings. Sarah Sherman looked directly to Marcello Hernandez and stated,

“You’ve seen me have a f---ing meltdown!"

Marcello then opened up and likened the situation to an athlete’s competitive spirit,

"There’s a sports thing about it. I just smile and wave, but I appreciate it when people get upset. You’re competitive, and you get mad.”

On the topic of fighting for a sketch cut at table reads, Mike Myers said,

"I have witnessed people try it. That’s when I go invisible. Too much tension! The captain has spoken, move on.”

This shows another area of growth for the iconic comedian, who recalls a time when he had a vastly different approach,

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“When I was younger as a writer,” Myers said, "if [SNL creator] Lorne Michaels asked, 'Do you think you can make that work?' I'd say, 'Yes, I think I can.' Whereas now I think I’d be more likely to say, 'If you're not sure, let's not!'"

Myers recently made a return to his former stomping grounds and portrayed Linda Richman from Coffee Talk during SNL50: The Anniversary Special. His performance garnered universal praise online, with many deeming it one of the highlights from an incredible show.

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