EXCLUSIVE Out of this world SNL star who shared a controversial passionate kiss with an accused murderer on screen was spotted in rare LA outing... who is it?
As one of the original cast members of an iconic show, she made her mark playing other characters too – such as a proto-Valley girl and the ditzy co-host of a public-access TV show.
The comedy star also made a splash in a skit where she shared a passionate kiss with NFL star turned accused murderer OJ Simpson. She later called him a 'good kisser'.
Though she's stepped back from the B-list films that helped pay the bills throughout the 80s, she remains involved in showbiz – going so far as to post fiery messages online aimed at a wildly-acclaimed TV show that won an Emmy she thought should have gone to her actress daughter.
Now, she tends to keep a low profile, choosing to live away from the spotlight. But she was recently spotted on a rare outing in Los Angeles where she has lived for most of her life.
Can you guess who she is?
It's Laraine Newman!
The 73-year-old comedian was spotted walking her little black poodle down her residential block in Los Angeles last week.
Despite being a popular member of Saturday Night Live's original cast, Newman has said previously that she didn't enjoy her time on the show or living in New York City – developing eating disorders and a heroin addiction.
But exclusive DailyMail.com photos show Laraine is thriving in her home city as she strolled her native blocks with a serene look on her face.
Newman wore a bright orange long-sleeve from the National Day Laborer Organizing Network, black sweatpants and black shoes.
Her brown hair was in its usual straight style, but the comedian had graying roots.
The former SNL comedian has left the on-camera life and transitioned to become a writer and contributing editor for the 'food, politics and love' online magazine, One For The Table.
She also has freelanced for the Huffington Post, the Los Angeles Times, The Believer and McSweeney's.
The beginning for Newman was a homerun, starring as an original cast member on SNL from 1975 to 1980.
Her most prominent skit characters were Connie Conehead, proto-Valley girl Sherry and Christie Christina, the co-host of a public access TV show hosted by Dan Aykroyd's persona E. Buzz Miller.
One of her most memorable appearances was in 1978 with guest host O.J. Simpson – then still a football hero rather than a reviled accused murderer. In a February interview with Andy Cohen, she called Simpson 'a good host and a good kisser.' The comment referenced a sketch parodying the 1975 film Mandingo when she shared a passionate on-screen kiss with Simpson.
Despite her success, Newman struggled with her mental health throughout her time on the show.
The comment referenced a sketch the couple appeared in parodying the 1975 movie Mandingo
In her memoir May You Live in Interesting Times, Laraine described her struggle with drug addiction and how difficult it was to keep up with SNL's endless competition for screen time between cast members.
Newman also revealed in her memoir that she had previously dated Aykroyd as well as fellow cast member Phil Hartman, who was shot and killed by his estranged wife Brynn in his Los Angeles home in 1998.
After leaving SNL and New York behind, Laraine began appearing in comedy and sci-fi movies such as Wholly Moses, Stardust Memories and Invaders from Mars.
Then, she dipped her toes in voice acting with animated shows including Danny Phantom, Avatar: The Last Airbender and Jimmy Neutron, before hitting the big leagues with box office bonanzas WALL-E, Up!, Finding Nemo and Monsters Inc.
Although Newman has shifted over to an entirely new path with writing, she remains involved in her daughter Hannah Einbinder's acting career.
Einbinder, 29, shot to fame for her portrayal of Ava Daniels in the hit TV series Hacks and even bagged herself a Critics' Choice Award and was Emmy and Golden Globe-nominated.
Newman married Chad Einbinder, 62, in 1991. The couple had two children together, Spike and Hacks actress Hannah, before calling it quits in 2015
Her memoir May You Live in Interesting Times divulged her romances with SNL cast members Dan Aykroyd and Phil Hartman
Hannah is her second child with former husband Chad Einbinder.The couple were married in 1991, but after nearly 25 years of marriage, called it quits in 2015.
Chad has starred in several films and TV series including Doctor Dolittle, The Time Traveller's Wife and Tangled.
Their experience in Hollywood made them weary about Hannah's desire to pursue her showbiz dreams.
Hannah told Town & Country that her parents originally told her not to go into comedy or acting as they believed it doesn't actually matter if you're funny or not.
But despite their initial hesitancy, Newman didn't hesitate to post a disparaging message for the show The Bear after Hannah lost out at the 2024 Primetime Emmy Awards last September.
'F**. THE. BEAR,' she posted along with numerous exclamation points on X, in reaction to Liza Colon-Zayas winning Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series as Hannah was nominated for the same category for Hacks.
Newman posted an angry message after her daughter was snubbed at Emmys last year: 'I think the Bear is a great show but IMHO it's not a comedy- not even a dark comedy'
She then posted: 'I think the Bear is a great show but IMHO it's not a comedy – not even a dark comedy.'
Someone else asked if the original post was necessary and Laraine responded: 'I know. I took it down. Not my best moment.'
Newman earlier shared her frustration over The Bear being in the same comedy category as Hacks.
'Every time I think about The Bear being in the comedy category for the Emmys, I can feel an ulcer developing,' she posted.
While Hannah lost out in her acting category, Hacks did win the final award of the event - Outstanding Comedy Series.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
40 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Amanda Bynes shows off weight loss results after revealing Ozempic plans
Amanda Bynes showed off her trimmer figure in Los Angeles on Friday after opening up about her Ozempic weight loss journey. The former Nickelodeon star, 39, was spotted running errands in a fitted white T-shirt and leggings, a stark contrast from her recent outings and social media posts, where she's often bundled up in oversized hoodies and sweatpants. In June, Amanda revealed that she was starting the weight-loss jabs, adding: 'I'm going on Ozempic. So excited. I'm 173 now, so I hope to get down to like 130.' SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO The outing comes after she announced joining OnlyFans in April, telling fans she was using the platform solely to communicate with them, making it clear she had no plans to post anything 'sleazy'. Calling it a 'career renaissance', she wants to use it to divulge stories from her time at Nickelodeon. A source close to the former child star has claimed the move will not only afford her the opportunity to make money, share her fashion designs and provide a potential springboard into reality TV, but will also be a safe space to reveal 'what happened from her past at Nickelodeon'. The insider told Daily Mail: 'Amanda was looking into making money and is convinced that OnlyFans will bring some serious cash her way. Her intentions are to do this before she seeks any reality show opportunities. 'She understands the stigma around OnlyFans, but she is determined to make this very safe – nothing naughty. 'She wants to share some of her future designs with her fans, collaborate with them and she also wants to tell stories to people who don't know everything about what happened from her past at Nickelodeon. 'She wants to make it a spot where fans can go and treat it like a meet and greet. She is seeing OnlyFans as a bit of a career renaissance.'
Daily Mail
40 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Hollywood heartthrob starring in one of this summer's biggest blockbusters looks unrecognisable in throwback snaps - Can YOU spot who he is?
His role in The Last Of Us saw him become a household name in his 40s, despite a years-long career. The Chilean-American actor's big break came in 2014 when he landed a role in Games Of Thrones. Most recently he has been the focus of the big screen with appearances in the huge Gladiator sequel featuring Paul Mescal, as well as the summer's biggest blockbuster - The Fantastic Four. His fashion sense has also turned heads on the red carpet, thanks to his choice of tight-fitting vests and thigh-high boots. But the actor looked unrecognisable in an array of snaps from before his Hollywood fame. Posing with best friend Sarah Paulson, the star kept it casual in a bomber jacket and untucked pink shirt for a Broadway premiere in 2005 - but can YOU guess who it is? It's none other than Hollywood heartthrob and all-round icon Pedro Pascal. Most recently Pedro has a blockbuster on his hands with the release of his new superhero film. The Fantastic Four: First Steps launched with a bigger-than-expected opening weekend, raking in an estimated $118 million domestically and another $100 million overseas, for a global debut of around $220 million, according to Comscore. The 50-year-old Mandalorian star is among the Marvel Studios film's iconic quartet, and the new film led at the domestic box office for the past two weeks. Directed by WandaVision's Matt Shakman, the film stars Pedro, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as the latest version of Mister Fantastic, Invisible Woman, Human Torch and the Thing. But before his mega fame, Pedro had to claw his way past his own very harrowing real-world demons in order to achieve a lasting career. Pedro, who is originally from Santiago, Chile, has faced an incredibly rocky road on his path to stardom, both professionally and personally. He has previously detailed how his parents were forced into hiding when he was just four months old to evade capture during then-dictator Pinochet's crackdown against opposition. Pedro's world was rocked once again when his father became involved in a fertility scandal that saw him charged with mail fraud and income tax evasion - before fleeing the country ahead of the trial with his family in tow. And the star would face more tragedy when his mother, who he called 'the love of his life,' tragically took her own life. Nonetheless, Pedro continued working away at his career and would eventually get a big break in 2014 that put him on a whirlwind trajectory. He was born Jose Pedro Balmaceda Pascal in Santiago, Chile, on April 2, 1975, to a child psychologist named Veronica Pascal and a fertility doctor Jose Balmaceda. When he was just four months old his parents were forced to leave him and his sister with their aunt, so they could avoid capture during then-dictator Pinochet's crackdown against his opposition. Six months later, the couple were able to climb the walls of the Venezuelan embassy and claim asylum. The family were able to relocate to Denmark before arriving in the United States, where they first lived in San Antonio, Texas. But they would later move again to Orange County, California, when he was 11. From a young age, the star fell in love with movies, since he told Variety that his parents would often take him and his siblings to the cinema to 'soak up as much American culture as possible.' He initially dreamed of being a competitive swimmer, participating in state championships until the age of 11, but later stopped to instead focus on strengthening his skills as an actor. After finishing high school, he studied acting at University's Tisch School of the Arts in New York City, where he graduated from in 1997. While he was in college, his father became involved in a fertility scandal that saw him charged with mail fraud and income tax evasion. In the early years of his career, Pedro landed a slew of small guest appearances in shows like The Good Wife, Homeland, The Mentalist, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Law & Order: SVU, and Graceland. But despite landing a series of bit-parts, his big break came in 2014, after he was cast as Oberyn Martell in the fourth season of Game of Thrones. Following his success in Game of Thrones, Pedro was met with a flurry of offers. He went on to star in the Netflix show Narcos, the 2015 movie Bloodsucking Bastards, the spy comedy Kingsman: The Golden Circle, the monster movie The Great Wall, and The Equalizer 2 (opposite Denzel Washington).
The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
Does Sydney Sweeney want to be the actress Gen Z loves to hate?
Right now, everyone is losing their minds over Sydney Sweeney's ad campaign for American Eagle denim. The 27-year-old actor who starred in Euphoria and The White Lotus has collaborated on a range of wide-legged jeans… and sparked a global outrage resulting in a non-committal explanation from the company. In her advert, she introduces the new Sydney Jeans by saying: 'Genes are passed down from parents to offspring, often determining traits like hair colour, personality, and even eye colour.' Once the camera has panned provocatively across the denim, as well as her blonde hair and her blue eyes, she declares: 'My jeans are blue.' In case you missed the not-so subtle appeal to all-Americanness and the play on the word 'jeans', a voiceover then states: "Sydney Sweeney has great genes." In the clip, the word 'genes' is crossed out and replaced with 'jeans' – which The Atlantic dismissed as 'a garden-variety dad pun'. The campaign has sparked an almighty backlash – and a debate about race and beauty standards – with some claiming the phrase 'great jeans', coupled with Sweeney's references to her hair and eye colour, recall white supremacy and eugenics, the discredited, racist belief once popularised by the Nazis that the human race can be improved through selective breeding. Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans" is and always was about the jeans. her jeans. Her story. We'll continue to celebrate how everyone wears their AE jeans with confidence, their way. Great jeans look good on everyone. The backlash was swift. Doja Cat was seemingly so incensed by the ad that she recreated it, reciting Sweeney's words in an exaggerated southern US accent, and changing the slogan to: 'My jeans are blee.' Sayantani DasGupta, senior lecturer in the discipline of narrative medicine at Columbia University, is in no doubt that the ad – which is credited with helping boost American Eagle sales by $400million in a single day – is imbued with eugenic messaging: 'A woman of colour would not have been hired for this advertisement,' she says. Seemingly in a bid to do some damage control, American Eagle has since posted an image of a mixed-race model in their apparel, along with the caption: 'AE has great jeans.' When that didn't calm things down, it shared a written post saying: ''Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans'' is and always was about the jeans. her jeans. Her story. We'll continue to celebrate how everyone wears their AE jeans with confidence, their way. Great jeans look good on everyone. ' Unfortunately, the reputational harm had already been done. Or has it? While there would have been many, many meetings before this commercial got signed off – and it's hard to believe no one spoke up and flagged the connotations as a potential issue – to place the blame squarely on American Eagle is a mistake. Because it risks underestimating Sweeney, who, in recent years, has apparently not only chosen to lean into a hyper-sexualised image of herself, but also taken the active decision to make controversy her personal brand. It really began in 2022, after Sweeney posted a series of images and videos from her mother's 60th birthday party – in which, viewers claimed, her 'family members' could be seen wearing Maga caps and 'Blue Lives Matter' tees. Her brother Trent was quick to defend the attire, stating that the hats actually read 'Make 60 Great Again', before she herself commented on the public's 'misinterpretations' of the situation. She told Variety at the time: 'There were so many misinterpretations. The people in the pictures weren't even my family [...] The people who brought the things that people were upset about were actually my mom's friends from LA who have kids that are walking outside in the Pride parade, and they thought it would be funny to wear because they were coming to Idaho.' Hilarious. More recently still, she was embroiled in another internet row over her 'bathwater soap'. Apparently due to huge demand, an unexpected collab came about because 'when your fans start asking for your bathwater, you can either ignore it, or turn it into a bar of Dr. Squatch soap'. Some rightly pointed out how gross this was from a hygiene point of view (I don't know about you, but I will not be lathering someone's scummy bath suds on me – no matter how famous they are), while others claimed it was a feminist triumph – after all, nothing screams 'empowerment' like pandering to a creepy fetish and making money by catering to the male gaze. Then came the bizarre campaign for Sweeney's new lingerie line, reportedly backed by Amazon boss Jeff Bezos, whose wedding to Lauren Sanchez she attended in June. It's not what she's selling that is the issue here though – nor is it necessarily her partnership with a man equally shrouded in controversy. It's that the promotional video for it was heavily influenced by Lolita. Prancing around on an estate lawn, dodging sprinklers in a cotton teddy and knickers, with dewy makeup and sunglasses which may as well have been heart-shaped not only infantilises Sweeney, but glorifies the lore around Vladimir Nabokov's transgressive story of a paedophile who grooms an underage girl, and proceeds to justify his actions. This isn't marketed towards the wearer – it's marketed towards men. And it's this part of her rebrand that is really confusing. Sweeney has spoken in the past of how she had 'no control' over how people sexualised her body, and how it has made her uncomfortable, detracting from her art. There are so many unnecessary nude scenes in Euphoria, it's more a showcase for her boobs than her acting abilities – which, by the way, she does have. Similarly, SNL viewers focused more on her low-cut dress than her comedic delivery when she hosted the show in 2024. Yet, in the American Eagle campaign, she is going full throttle – not just by 'embracing' her sexuality and the ridiculous narrative around her body, but also the right-wing messaging. So, what's it all for? Is it to remain relevant (she's had a number of acting gigs of late, but season three of Euphoria has been on ice for some time)? Is it simply a case of 'when life gives you lemons, make lemonade'? Or is this true-blue, all-American version her authentic self? There's a lot of nuance to this – and I'm not saying that women shouldn't have the right to do and say as they please. Equality is to allow women the freedom to do just that. But when that freedom is only enjoyed by a select few who can afford to use the world as their playground without a second thought of the wider implications of their behaviour, it doesn't sit right with me – even less so when what they say and do has racial undertones. What's equally frustrating is that Sweeney is talented. She's also a certain level of famous that doesn't require this kind of sellout behaviour; she's not some influencer desperate for brand partnerships. Will the real Sydney Sweeney please stand up – for her sake, as much as ours?
