The Aquaman Star Shares His Surreal Experience at the Iconic Anniversary Celebration
Jason Momoa had an unforgettable night at SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night, where he found himself rubbing shoulders—and even sharing a dance—with some of Hollywood’s most legendary figures. The actor, who has hosted Saturday Night Live twice, attended the landmark celebration of the show’s 50th anniversary in February, and as he later recalled, it was a surreal experience from start to finish.
During an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live, Momoa shared his excitement over meeting—and fanboying over—icons like Meryl Streep, Chevy Chase, and Bill Murray. He described the event as a “wild, crazy night” filled with legendary encounters.
Dancing with Meryl Streep: “How Is This Happening?”
One of the evening’s highlights for Momoa was an unexpected dance with Oscar-winning actress Meryl Streep. He recounted how he and his partner spotted Streep walking past them at the event, and he knew he had to say something.
“I’m such a fanboy,” Momoa admitted. “Meryl Streep walked past me and my lady, and I was just like, ‘It’s Meryl Streep, I gotta go say something.’ I walk up to her, and she’s like, ‘Hi, Jason.’ I was like, ‘Oh, f—. You know my name. Oh my God. I love you so much.’”
To his amazement, Streep responded, “I love you too,” which left him in disbelief. Then, as music played in the background, Streep started dancing, and Momoa joined in. “I start dancing, and I’m like, ‘Someone please take a photo, please,’” he laughed. The actor admitted he was too overwhelmed to even remember what song they danced to—he was simply caught up in the magic of the moment.
Meeting Chevy Chase and Bill Murray: “Who the Hell Is This Guy?”
Momoa also had a hilarious and humbling encounter with comedy legends Chevy Chase and Bill Murray. As he was making his way backstage, a woman recognized him and called out, “Oh my God, it’s Aquaman. Chevy, come here!”
Soon, Chase walked over, followed by Bill Murray, who happened to be passing by. “She’s like, ‘Bill! Get over here!’ And I’m going like, ‘What’s happening?'” Momoa recalled.
Despite the enthusiasm of the woman introducing him, it was clear the two comedians had no idea who he was. “Bill’s like, ‘Who the hell is this guy?’” Momoa joked, adding that Chase was equally unaware. “He had no clue who I was. No clue. I don’t care—I got that picture.”
A Night to Remember
The actor later posted photos from the star-studded evening on Instagram, including the now-iconic shot of him posing between Chase and Murray, as well as a snapshot of his dance with Streep. “What a magical three days,” Momoa captioned the post, capturing the joy of an experience he won’t soon forget.
For Momoa, an actor known for his larger-than-life screen presence, this was a rare moment of being the starstruck fan rather than the celebrity in the spotlight. Whether dancing with one of Hollywood’s greatest actresses or standing in awe of comedy legends, SNL50 gave him memories that even Aquaman couldn’t have scripted better.
