Jon Lovitz Says He and David Spade Weren’t Ready to Be Friends Until Recently After Both Experiencing Tragedies (Exclusive)

The comic tells PEOPLE why he and Spade grew nearer many years after starring on ‘Saturday Night time Stay’

Though and have identified one another for many years, it wasn’t till lately that the 2 comedians turned shut buddies.

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On the fiftieth anniversary: Saturday Night time Stay panel in celebration of The Groundlings improv theater on June 28, Lovitz, 66, informed PEOPLE about on his time on NBC sketch comedy present from 1985 to 1990.

“I acquired Saturday Night time Stay in ’85, after which ’86, they saved Nora Dunn, Dennis Miller, and myself,” he defined. “Then that’s when got here in, , , Janet Hooks and Victoria Jackson. So, I used to be within the present with Dana for 4 years, and we turned like brothers. He’s certainly one of my greatest buddies.”

Lovitz additionally thought-about Hartman his “greatest buddy,” so when he in 1998 at age 49, the comic was devastated. Spade, 59, for his half, was additionally saddened by the surprising loss of life of his shut buddy , who died in 1998 at age 33 from an unintentional drug overdose.

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“I mentioned [to David], ‘Nicely, perhaps we may turn out to be buddies, as a result of we’re each lacking our different half … our greatest buddies,’” Lovitz recalled. “[David] goes, ‘yeah.’ However I feel as a result of it was onerous for me, it took some time, after which, sooner or later, I performed golf — and we had been enjoying golf — and I may simply inform sooner or later, I don’t know what occurred. I simply knew in his thoughts that, ‘okay.’”

Elsewhere within the interview with PEOPLE, the comic mentioned some sage profession recommendation he acquired from the late about acting on SNL. Grodin — who died in Might 2021 at age 86 — hosted an episode of the favored sketch comedy present in 1977.

“He goes, ‘You may’t be timid on the present, as a result of the characters, you bought to essentially commit,’” Lovitz defined, including, “[] goes, ‘Whenever you’re on the market, take cost.’”

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“That units up a sure mentality. I knew what he meant, as a result of in any other case you’re sort of ready. You’re searching for anyone to inform you, okay, [take] the lead,” Lovitz continued. “He goes, ‘No, once you’re on the present, you’re in cost. Take cost of the sketch. Take cost of the character.’ You recognize what I imply? It’s a sure mentality that’s very useful.”

Friday’s SNL reunion panel is certainly one of many occasions that can convey collectively comedy’s largest giants and Groundlings alumni to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the improv theater.

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