Kenan Thompson's SNL Panthro Nearly Made Him Cry

Kenan Thompson recently shared a deeply personal anecdote about his iconic portrayal of Panthro from "ThunderCats" on Saturday Night Live. During a panel at New York Comic Con, Thompson recounted his experience with SNL makeup artists Louie Zakarian and Jason Milani. The transformation for the character, which aired in April 2018, was so impactful that it brought him to the verge of tears.

Thompson described the moment as seeing his "childhood coming to life," a deeply emotional experience. This particular sketch was created during Chadwick Boseman's hosting gig, coinciding with Boseman's rise as Marvel's Black Panther. Thompson saw the Panthro appearance as a meaningful tribute to Boseman and "for the culture," acknowledging Boseman's significant impact at the time.

Boseman, who would later star in "Black Panther" and "Avengers: Infinity War," was honored on the same SNL episode in a "Black Jeopardy" sketch with Thompson. Thompson also reflected on Boseman's graciousness and creativity in a 2021 interview, noting their collaborative efforts to elevate the sketch for maximum audience engagement.