'SNL' pays tribute after deaths of rap legend DMX, original 'SNL' writer Anne Beatts

Hannah Yasharoff
·2 min read

"Saturday Night Live" paid tribute to two recent deaths that touched the "SNL" family: one of the show's original writers from the '70s, Anne Beatts, and rap legend DMX.

Cast member Chris Redd held up a sign that read "R.I.P. DMX" during the end credits of Saturday's episode, and at another point, a graphic flashed onscreen that read "DMX" next to his photo.

The legendary rapper, whose real name was Earl Simmons, died Friday at age 50 after suffering a heart attack a week prior.

He appeared as musical guest on "SNL" in 2000 on an episode hosted by Julianna Margulies.

DMX performs at the first Video Game Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Dec. 2, 2003, in Las Vegas.
DMX performs at the first Video Game Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Dec. 2, 2003, in Las Vegas.

DMX first made a splash in rap music in 1998 with his first studio album “It’s Dark and Hell is Hot,” which debuted No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart. The multiplatinum-selling album was anchored by several hits including “Ruff Ryders’ Anthem,” “Get At Me Dog” and “Stop Being Greedy.” He earned three Grammy nominations including nods for "Party Up (Up in Here)".

He also built his career as an actor, appearing in more than a dozen movies and TV shows, including the 1998 film “Belly” and “Romeo Must Die” a few years later with Jet Li and the singer Aaliyah. DMX and Aaliyah teamed up for the film’s soundtrack song “Come Back in One Piece.”

DMX's most iconic lyrics and quotes: About hip-hop, family, addiction and faith

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Saturday Night Live (@nbcsnl)

"SNL" also honored Beatts, one of its original writing staff members, with a graphic card showing the writer at work, with text that read "Anne Beatts, 1947-2021."

The groundbreaking comedy writer, who was on the original staff of "SNL" and later created the cult sitcom “Square Pegs,” died Wednesday at age 74 at her home in West Hollywood, California.

Starting in 1975, she was among a team of gifted writers that included Rosie Shuster, Alan Zweibel, Marilyn Suzanne Miller and cast members such as Dan Aykroyd and Chevy Chase who helped make “SNL” a phenomenon.

Shuster recalled Beatts, her former writing partner, as "witty" and "good at editing" in an Associated Press interview published Saturday.

'She was really something': Sarah Jessica Parker honors original 'SNL' writer Anne Beatts, dead at 74

“She had a lot of courage,” Shuster said. “She got out there and fought for what she believed in, and that was great for me. She could really pitch an idea at a meeting. There was a definiteness about her that made you think you needed to make a mark.”

Contributing: Rasha Ali, USA TODAY, and The Associated Press

'Where are the kids'? Carey Mulligan's husband Marcus Mumford crashes 'SNL'

More 'SNL': Kid Cudi rocks a dress for musical performance in apparent Kurt Cobain tribute

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'SNL' honors DMX, original 'Saturday Night Live' writer Anne Beatts

  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next

Latest Stories

  • US blocks Palestine from becoming full member of the United Nations

    The US said a Palestinian state could only be established through negotiations with Israel

  • Suspect in fire outside of US Sen. Bernie Sanders' Vermont office to remain detained, judge says

    BURLINGTON, Vt. (AP) — The man accused of starting a fire outside independent U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders’ Vermont office earlier this month will remain detained pending further legal proceedings, a federal judge ordered Thursday. Shant Michael Soghomonian was indicted by a grand jury on a charge of maliciously damaging or attempting to damage and destroy by fire a building used in interstate commerce, according to the indictment filed with the court. Soghomonian, 35, has not yet been arraigned. Su

  • 15 Best Cruise Lines in the US

    This article looks at the 15 best cruise lines in the US. If you wish to skip our detailed analysis of the cruise lines industry, you may skip ahead to 5 Best Cruise Lines in the US. Prior to the pandemic, cruise ships were one of the most desirable avenues for entertainment, leisure, and luxury. […]

  • Malpractice suit against Coquitlam dentist dismissed in provincial court for lack of evidence, missing deadlines

    A former patient of a Coquitlam dentist had his lawsuit thrown out of provincial court for failing to provide evidence and missing the statute of limitations deadline. Jason Bak filed the dental malpractice claim against Dr. Joosung Kang on Oct. 21, 2021, alleging he was suffering pain from four dental implants. He sought a $9,000 refund from Kang, as well as nearly $1,600 in fees charged by other dental specialists. During a pre-trial conference on April 10, 2024, however, Justice Nicholas Preo

  • Cocoa prices are the highest on record as Nigerian flooding further depletes supply

    Cocoa futures reached above $10,770 a ton, as the chocolate ingredient looks set for more inventory stress from Nigerian flooding.

  • Sydney church stabbing: police charge 16-year-old boy with terrorism offence

    Bishop was injured in alleged attack in Wakeley with the teenager expected to appear at a bedside court hearing on Friday

  • India's remote areas gear up for general election

    STORY: Polling officers climbed hills and crossed rivers in the eastern state of Meghalaya, seeking to reach voters around the world's most populous nation."There are around seven to eight polling stations which are un-motorable. So, at some of the polling stations, the polling party has to walk, in some of the locations they have to go via boat," said District Election Officer Shivansh Awasthi.India is set to begin the world's largest general election on Friday (April 19), held in terrain sweeping from the icy Himalayas to humid jungles, with nearly a billion people eligible to choose 543 members of the lower house of parliament.Opinion polls suggest an easy victory for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party when the results are announced on June 4.

  • Maine lawmakers pass gun bills in wake of October mass shooting

    Maine lawmakers on Thursday sent a raft of gun safety measures to the governor to sign into law, fulfilling a promise to take swift action designed to prevent mass shootings such as a rampage last year that killed 18 people in the city of Lewiston. Governor Janet Mills, a Democrat who sponsored some of the legislation, was expected to sign the bills. Among the measures approved this week by legislators before ending their session was a bill establishing a 72-hour waiting period on gun purchases, an expansion of background checks to include private gun sales, and the prohibition of bump stocks -devices that enable semiautomatic rifles to fire more rapidly.

  • Fallout future confirmed after season 1

    Prime Video has renewed Fallout for a second season.

  • Columbia University: Ilhan Omar's daughter suspended and 108 arrested for Gaza protest

    Democrat politician Ilhan Omar's daughter has also been suspended from college for participating.

  • Denver Public Schools confirms its use of confidentiality agreements for employees

    Days after its former head of communications accused Denver Public Schools (DPS) of trying to silence former employees, the district confirmed its use of non-disclosure agreements (NDAs).

  • Officer says B.C. hostage was lying on top of captor before police gunfire erupted

    BURNABY, B.C. — The first police officer to enter a room where a woman was being held hostage in 2019 has told a B.C. coroner's inquest that he saw her lying on a bed on top of her captor, who was holding a knife to her throat with a gun in his other hand. Cpl. Chris Dibblee told the inquest jury that he almost immediately felt he would need to shoot Randy Crosson to save Nona McEwan but initially didn't think he could do so without hitting her too. Dibblee testified that when McEwan shifted and

  • Sacramento State to offer guaranteed admission to students from Elk Grove Unified School District

    Sacramento State University is partnering with the Elk Grove Unified School District to offer guaranteed college admission to eligible graduating seniors. The university said the program is aimed at making sure that students and families from underrepresented and first-generation backgrounds know about available education opportunities.

  • Andy Cohen Is Not Leaving Bravo Despite Legal Troubles, Says Network: 'Absolutely No Truth'

    Speculation over Andy Cohen's future at Bravo comes as he faces a discrimination lawsuit from former 'Real Housewives of New York City' star Leah McSweeney, which he denied

  • Mark Zuckerberg overtakes Elon Musk as the world's 3rd-richest person as their companies' stocks go in opposite directions

    Musk and Zuckerberg have been at odds with each other in the past, with both agreeing to a cage fight last year. The fight never happened.

  • Northern California forecast: Warm sunny weather continues Friday

    Northern California forecast: Warm sunny weather continues Friday

  • Kansas Citians' internet bills increase after federal program begins to 'wind down'

    Kansas Citians' internet bills increase after federal program begins to 'wind down'

  • Correctional service says it's tackling 'evolving threat' posed by drone smugglers

    ABBOTSFORD, B.C. — The Correctional Service of Canada says it's taking multiple steps to combat the "evolving threat" of drones that drop contraband into prisons, after B.C. guards held a rally to call attention to violence that they say is fuelled by the smuggling. The correctional service said in a statement Thursday that it's using a "layered approach" to respond to the smugglers by procuring drone detection equipment and piloting a program using cellphone detection technology. Other measures

  • David Lechner verdict: Jury finds Colorado man guilty of 2023 murder of mother

    A jury convicted David Lechner of murder after he stood trial this week on charges that he killed his soon-to-be ex-wife at her Denver-area home in March 2023.

  • A timeline of major ship-breaking events in Union Bay

    Since October 2023, The Discourse has been following the ship breaking occurring in Union Bay by a company called Deep Water Recovery. The site along Highway 19A was previously a log sort, but Deep Water Recovery has been dismantling derelict barges and vessels at the location since 2020. The site lies amongst a cross-jurisdictional mix of regulations and has received opposition from K’ómoks First Nation, a number of community members and the Comox Valley Regional District, who took the company