Saying goodnight! Kenan Thompson to leave SNL at the end of this season

By Chelsea White for MailOnline

Published: 14:03 EST, 22 September 2014 | Updated: 16:20 EST, 22 September 2014

For 11 years, he has been making Saturday Night Live audiences laugh, but Kenan Thompson is now walking away from the show that brought him into millions of people's living rooms every week.

According to TMZ, the 36-year-old comedian will say goodnight to SNL fans forever at the end of this season - his eleventh.

Kenan is the longest-serving cast member currently on the popular late night sketch show and holds the record for longest tenure of an African American performer on the show.

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End of an era: Kenan Thompson, seen here in his Saturday Night Live head shot, will say goodnight to SNL fans forever at the end of this season - his eleventh

End of an era: Kenan Thompson, seen here in his Saturday Night Live head shot, will say goodnight to SNL fans forever at the end of this season - his eleventh

Sources told TMZ that '[Kenan had] planned to leave last season, but decided to stay after head honcho Lorne Michaels asked him to stay on citing the show's massive turnover this season.'

The actor leaves on good terms with the show and Michaels, TMZ said.

When Kenan quits SNL, he also plans to leave the East Coast as well, with the Fat Albert star moving to Los Angeles, California, with his family.

Record hioolder: The 36-year-old, pictured with Seth Rogan, is the longest-serving cast member currently on the popular late night sketch show and holds the record for longest tenure of an African American performer on the show

Record hioolder: The 36-year-old, pictured with Seth Rogan, is the longest-serving cast member currently on the popular late night sketch show and holds the record for longest tenure of an African American performer on the show

Chameleon: When the actor finishes up at the end of Season 40, he will be remembered for his charterers Diondre Cole, Jean K. Jean and Lorenzo McIntosh. He is seen here playing rapper Drake's Uncle Larry with castmate Sasheer Zamata and the hip hop star

Chameleon: When the actor finishes up at the end of Season 40, he will be remembered for his charterers Diondre Cole, Jean K. Jean and Lorenzo McIntosh. He is seen here playing rapper Drake's Uncle Larry with castmate Sasheer Zamata and the hip hop star

The D2: The Mighty Ducks actor recently became a father with model wife Christina Evangeline, who gave birth to a baby girl, Georgia, three months ago.

According to TMZ, the actor is in talks about starring in a new show on the West Coast.

When Kenan finishes up at the end of Season 40, he will be remembered for his charterers Diondre Cole, Jean K. Jean and Lorenzo McIntosh, and his impressions of Al Sharpton, Jimmy McMillan and Bill Cosby.

Family man: The Mighty Ducks actor recently became a father with model wife Christina Evangeline, who gave birth to a baby girl, Georgia, three months ago

Family man: The Mighty Ducks actor recently became a father with model wife Christina Evangeline, who gave birth to a baby girl, Georgia, three months ago

 

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