Sasheer Zamata

Sasheer Zamata parlayed success on New York City's highly competitive improv and stand-up comedy scene into a role on "Saturday Night Live" (NBC, 1975-). Born Sasheer Zamata Moore (she dropped her last name after deciding to pursue a career in comedy), she was raised in Indianapolis by her parents, Ivory Steward and Henry Moore, a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Air Force. Zamata first started making her mark on the comedy world while studying at the University of Virginia, where she helped found the school's first long-form improv comedy troupe, Amuse Bouche. After college, Zamata found herself in New York City, where she studied and performed at the hallowed Upright Citizens Brigade theater, did standup in bars and clubs all over the city, and acted in sketches for CollegeHumor. Zamata got her first big break when she was hired to co-star in the ABC hidden camera prank show "Would You Fall For That?" (ABC, 2013-). But it wasn't long before the comedic big leagues came calling: Zamata made her SNL debut as a featured player on January 18, 2014, during the show's 39th season. She quickly became a favorite for her quietly confident screen presence. In 2016, Zamata was promoted to the repertory company just in time for SNL's 41st season. In addition to her screen work, Zamata became a vocal activist, most notably with the ACLU Women's Rights Project. After the end of her third season on SNL, Zamata quietly announced that she was leaving the show in May 2017.