James Marsden, a renowned actor, once had an interesting encounter with Saturday Night Live. At 51 years old, he shared his story on the Wednesday, Dec. 18 episode of Live with Kelly and Mark. The audition process was quite unconventional as they were asked to simply do whatever silly thing they wanted. Marsden and a friend from his drama class chose to cluck like chickens and walk around each other. Although he didn't land the role, he still has fond memories of the experience.

Hosting Dreams and Impressions

When hosts Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos suggested he host SNL, Marsden expressed his eagerness. He recalled doing 30 Rock with Tina Fey and revealing his lifelong dream of being on SNL. Fey encouraged him, saying he could host at some point. Marsden's true passion lies in doing impressions and creating different characters. Ripa then playfully said it was time for him to host, with Consuelos chiming in with the clucky chicken reference.

Career Success and Nominations

Despite not making it onto SNL, Marsden has achieved great success. In January 2024, he was nominated for a Golden Globe for his role in Jury Duty. This Amazon Freevee mockumentary followed a cast of actors playing quirky American citizens on a jury, with one non-actor thinking the experience was real. Marsden played an exaggerated version of himself and ended up losing the award to Matthew Macfayden for his role in HBO's Succession. However, that night, he shared a screenshot of his mom Kathleen's sweet message about his nomination. She was proud to see her son among the nominees. Marsden captioned the photo with "My mom, I love you" and a red heart emoji.

Upcoming Movie Projects

Marsden is currently gearing up for the Dec. 20 premiere of Sonic the Hedgehog 3. He has also been promoting his roles in Michael Keaton's Knox Goes Away and Jerry Seinfeld's Unfrosted earlier this year. His diverse acting career continues to thrive, and he remains a beloved figure in the entertainment industry.