The Mr. Peepers character first appeared on “SNL” on September 28, 1996, during the show’s 22nd season. Guest host Tom Hanks, playing an animal trainer, was presenting a rare animal to Jay Leno on “The Tonight Show.” The rare animal was Mr. Peepers (Kattan), a human ape sporting red short and suspenders, outsize ears, and mussy hair. Mr. Peepers’ violent and outlandish behavior — he barked and flailed incessantly — was meant to stand in contrast to the hosts’ attempts to retain composure. Mr. Peepers was a satire of other animal acts that had appeared on “The Tonight Show” in the past. 

Mr. Peepers — likely named after the 1950 Wally Cox sitcom — was a hot character, and Kattan was always game to go hogwild on stage. The character would go on to appear on “SNL” an additional eleven times during Kattan’s tenure on the show, with his final appearance coming on April 6, 2002. The shtick remained the same throughout: A well-mannered, cosmopolitan environment would be invaded by Mr. Peepers’ uncontrollable behavior, and an unduly calm authority figure was always present to excuse or explain the chaos. 

The joke, of course, was Kattan’s energy. Kattan never undersold Mr. Peepers, always eager to let loose. Kattan became very good at savaging an apple on stage, and became unafraid to spit food at, grope the faces of, or hump the legs of, his co-stars. In the above clip, from Mr. Peepers’ ninth appearance (March 18, 2000), Mr. Peepers was joined by his father, Papa Peepers, played by a very game Dwayne Johnson, back when he was still credited as The Rock.