Tonight, Saturday Night Live paid tribute to Anne Beatts and DMX, who both passed away this week.
Beatts, one of the original writers of the late sketch program, passed away on Wednesday at the age of 74. Her cause of death has not been disclosed.
Started her career in comedy writing at National Lampoon magazine, Beatts wrote for SNL for five seasons, between 1975 and 1980. In concert with her writing partner Roshie Shuster, she created beloved characters such as the nerdy high school students Todd DiLaMuca and Lisa Loopner (played by Bill Murray and Gilda Radner), the Laraine Newman’s child psychiatrist from Shirley Temple, such as Shirley Temple. and the voluptuous Uncle Roy (Buck Henry), among others. Earned an Emmy and five nominations for her writing on SNLBeatts also created the 1982 comedy series Square pens, and wrote on such SNL-related projects as Saturday Night Live 25.
Later in Saturday’s show SNL DMX honored, who passed away Friday after suffering a heart attack after a reported overdose of drugs. The iconic rapper and actor was 50 years old.
DMX started in the early 90’s and released seven studio albums, including It’s dark and hell is hot (1998), Flesh of my flesh, Blood of my blood (1998), … And then there was X(1999), The Great Depression (2001), Grand Champion (2003), Year of the dog … Again (2006) and Undisputed (2012). The three-time Grammy nominee’s only appearance as SNL‘s musical guest was featured on July 12, 2000 in an episode presented by Julianna Margulies.