Fred Armisen Officially Leaving 'Saturday Night Live' After 11 Seasons on Hit NBC Sketch Show [VIDEO]

Though the rumors made it seem inevitable, it has been confirmed: funnyman Fred Armisen has officially left Saturday Night Live.

Today (July 1), The Hollywood Reporter confirmed the rumors that Armisen has left the show. Though most fans assumed he wouldn't return, due in part to the final sketch of the 38th season finale on May 18, which showed Armisen, Bill Hader, Jason Sudekis and musician friends playing as a live punk band doing their last gig.

Armisen spoke about his departure in an interview with Splitsider. "I think it's clear. I didn't do any kind of official announcement, but I really felt like it was obvious. An ending that was a love letter to all the music I grew up with, and also to my friends and to SNL and to Lorne and to the cast. There was a lot of emotion attached to it, but it was a very positive emotion," he said.

Watch the touching send-off below, wherein Armisen plays Ian Rubbish backed by the Bizarros. Carrie Brownstein, Armisen's Portlandia co-star and frontwoman of Sleater-Kinney joined him onstage.

Armisen isn't the only cast member to have left SNL after this season ended. Hader was confirmed to leave the show before the May 18 finale. His big send-off was his "Weekend Update" character Stefon finally tying the knot with his longtime crush and "Update" anchor Seth Meyers. All the club-going crazies he's mentioned over the years attended the wedding ceremony.

Jason Sudekis is also rumored to have left SNL.

Armisen tied Al Franken for the third longest stint on SNL, at 11 full seasons. He's surpassed only by Meyers (12 seasons) and Darrell Hammond (14 seasons).