Gilda Susan Radner ( born June 28 , 1946 , Detroit , Michigan ) was an American actress and comedian . She was one of the original cast members of NBC 's comedy show Saturday Night Live ( for which she won an Emmy Award in 1978 . Gilda Susan Radner ( June 28 , 1946 â `` May 20 , 1989 ) was an American comedian and actress , best known as one of the original cast members of the NBC sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live , for which she won an Emmy Award in 1978 .