Kenan Thompson discusses ‘SNL’ longevity and early career challenges

Actor Kenan Thompson discussed his career and his decision to remain on ‘Saturday Night Live’ during an appearance on Amy Poehler’s ‘Good Hang’ podcast. Thompson, who holds the record for the longest-running cast member on the NBC sketch comedy show, stated he has no current plans to leave because of his affection for the cast and the sense of family within the production.

Reflecting on his early career, Thompson revealed that he nearly quit acting following the intense training required for the film ‘D2: The Mighty Ducks’. He noted that the difficulty of learning hockey during his 15th birthday camp made him want to abandon acting entirely, but he credited his mother for encouraging him to persevere. After eight weeks of training, he successfully learned to ice skate, a skill Poehler praised during the interview.