We report pulses as short as 8 ps obtained from a mode‐locked cw optically‐pumped semiconductor laser. The sample was a CdS platelet at a temperature of 95 K longitudinally pumped by a mode‐locked Ar+laser. The output power was 3.2 mW with 8‐ps pulses, and powers greater than 10 mW have been observed with 10‐ps pulses. Laser performance is quite independent of cavity length as compared to synchronously pumped dye lasers, indicating that passive pulse shaping may be taking place.