NBC has confirmed that Taran Killam, best known for playing Ted Cruz, John Boehner, and Paul Ryan, and Jay Pharoah, who took over the role of President Barack Obama from Fred Armisen, will both be leaving Saturday Night Live ahead of the show’s 42nd season this fall. Killam, who was announced as SNL’s new Donald Trump before handing the role back to Darrell Hammond, had one season left on his seven-year deal and said in an interview that he expected to return in the fall, but was told his contract would not be renewed. Pharoah became a permanent cast member in 2012. Besides playing Obama, he became well-known for his impression of Republican presidential nominee Ben Carson as well as rappers like Jay Z and Drake.
