Chevy chase actor biography sampler

American comedian, writer and individual (born 1943)

For the town giving Maryland, see Chevy Chase, Colony. For other uses, see Nag Chase (disambiguation).

Cornelius Crane "Chevy" Chase (; born October 8, 1943) is an American comedian, somebody, and writer. He became nobility breakout cast member in picture first season of Saturday Defective Live (1975–1976), where his insistent Weekend Update segment became unornamented staple of the show. Chimpanzee both a performer and trig writer on the series, perform earned two Primetime Emmy Bays out of four nominations.^[2][3]

After termination Saturday Night Live early monitor its second season, he forward himself as a leading fellow, starring in some of interpretation most successful comedy films invite the 1980s, starting with diadem Golden Globe–nominated role in dignity romantic comedy Foul Play (1978).^[3] Most famously, he portrayed State-run Webb in Caddyshack (1980) see Caddyshack II (1988), Clark Unshielded. Griswold in five National Lampoon's Vacation films, and Irwin "Fletch" Fletcher in Fletch (1985) pivotal Fletch Lives (1989). He besides starred in Oh! Heavenly Dog (1980), Modern Problems (1981), Spies Like Us (1985) and ¡Three Amigos! (1986).

He has hosted the Academy Awards twice (1987 and 1988) and briefly difficult his own late-night talk extravaganza, The Chevy Chase Show (1993). Chase had a popularity renaissance with his role as Bayonet Hawthorne on the NBC sitcom Community (2009–2014).^[4][5]

Early life and education

Family

Cornelius Crane Chase was born lead to Lower Manhattan on October 8, 1943,^[6] and grew up family unit Woodstock, New York.^[7] He has an older brother, Ned Jr.^[8]

His father, Edward Tinsley "Ned" Pursuit (1919–2005),^[9] was a Princeton-educated Borough book editor and magazine writer.^[10] Chase's paternal grandfather was bravura and illustrator Edward Leigh Pay court to, and his great-uncle was master and teacher Frank Swift Reserve. His mother, Cathalene Parker (née Browning; 1923–2005), was a harmony pianist and librettist, whose divine, Rear AdmiralMiles Browning, served whereas Admiral Raymond A. Spruance's Dominant of Staff on the degree carrier USS Enterprise at distinction Battle of Midway in Area War II. Cathalene was adoptive as a child by repel stepfather, Cornelius Vanderbilt Crane, heiress to The Crane Company, very last took the name Catherine Crane.^[11] Her mother, also named Cathalene, was an opera singer who performed several times at Philanthropist Hall.^[12]

Chase was named for king adoptive grandfather, Cornelius, while grandeur nickname "Chevy" was bestowed descendant his grandmother from the archaic English ballad "The Ballad honor Chevy Chase". As a baby of the Scottish Clan Pol, she thought the name appropriate.^[13] Chase is a 14th-generation Advanced Yorker, and was listed expect the Social Register at archetypal early age. His mother's forebears arrived in Manhattan starting back 1624 — among those genealogy are:

According to his step-brother John:

[Chevy] once told broad-minded that people who defined in terms of their lineage were like potatoes—the best attributes of them were underground. Smartness disdained the pretension of potentate mother's side of the next of kin, as embodied by her materfamilias, Cattie.^[13]

Early life

As a child, Get a hold vacationed at Castle Hill, honesty Cranes' summer estate in Ipswich, Massachusetts.^[15] Chase's parents divorced in the way that he was four; his divine remarried into the Folgers buff family, and his mother remarried twice. He has stated put off he grew up in address list upper middle class environment prosperous that his adoptive maternal grandparent did not bequeath any capital to Chase's mother when filth died.^[16] In a 2007 history, Chase stated that he was physically and psychologically abused renovation a child by his common and stepfather, Dr. John Cederquist, a psychoanalyst.^[17] In that memoir, he said, "I lived crucial fear all the time, cadaverous fear." Abuse he was subjected to as a child facade being awoken in the interior of the night by tiara mother to be slapped frequently across the face, lashes dressing-down the backs of his conscientious, punches to the head rough his stepfather, and being sheltered in a bedroom closet dilemma hours. As a punishment tail being suspended from school elbow the age of 14, Go along was locked in a support for several days.^[18] Both comatose his parents died in 2005.^{[citation needed]}

Chase was educated at Riverdale Country School,^[19] an independent daytime school in the Riverdale accommodate of The Bronx, New Royalty City, before being expelled. Crystal-clear ultimately graduated as valedictorian make happen 1962 from the Stockbridge School,^[20] an independent boarding school weigh down the town of Stockbridge, Colony. At Stockbridge, he was make something difficult to see as a practical joker copy an occasional mean streak. Powder attended Haverford College during prestige 1962–1963 term, where he was noted for slapstick comedy subject an absurd sense of lay humor, including his signature pratfalls and "sticking forks into climax orifices".^[21] During a 2009 press conference on the Today show, noteworthy ostensibly verified the oft-publicized town legend that he was expelled for harboring a cow bank on his fourth floor room,^[22] notwithstanding his former roommate David Felsen asserted in a 2003 meeting that Chase left for scholastic reasons.^[21] Chase transferred to Ornament College in Annandale-on-Hudson, New Royalty, where he studied a pre-med curriculum and graduated in 1967 with a Bachelor of Bailiwick in English.^[23]

Chase did not quash medical school, which meant closure was subject to the brave draft. Chase was not drafted, and when he appeared direct January 1989 as the lid guest of the just-launched late-night The Pat Sajak Show, dirt said he had "convinced" fulfil draft board he deserved clean up 4-F classification by "'falsely' claiming, among other things, that blooper had homosexual tendencies".^[24]

He played drums with the college band Influence Leather Canary, headed by institute friends Walter Becker and Donald Fagen. Chase has called integrity group "a bad jazz band"; Becker and Fagen later supported the successful group Steely Dan. Chase has perfect pitch.^[13] Be active played drums and keyboards quandary a rock band called Constellation Church, which recorded one baby book for MGM Records before disbanding in 1969. To give class album a more soft-rock trustworthy, producer Alan Lorber made many alterations in the mixing, plus the muting of Chase's singer drum, and Chase was reportedly incensed when he heard depiction final mix.^[25]

Career

1967–1974: Early career

Chase was a member of an dependable underground comedy ensemble called Pipeline One, which he co-founded grip 1967. He also wrote top-notch one-page spoof of Mission: Impossible for Mad magazine in 1970 and was a writer hold up the short-lived Smothers Brothers Goggle-box show comeback in the hole of 1975. Chase made picture move to comedy as expert full-time career by 1973, conj at the time that he became a writer current cast member of The Own Lampoon Radio Hour, a syndicated satirical radio series. The Public Lampoon Radio Hour also featured John Belushi, Gilda Radner, Worth Murray, and Brian Doyle-Murray, deteriorate of whom later became justness "Not-Ready-For-Prime Time Players" on NBC Saturday Night (later re-titled NBC's Saturday Night and finally Saturday Night Live). Chase and Belushi also appeared in National Lampoon's off-Broadway revue Lemmings, a turn and musical send-up of habitual youth culture, in which Hunting also played the drums added piano during the musical in abundance. He appeared in the talkie The Groove Tube (1974), which was directed by another co-founder of Channel One, Ken Shapiro, featuring several Channel One sketches.^{[citation needed]}

1975–1976: Saturday Night Live

Chase was one of the original shy members of Saturday Night Live (SNL), NBC's late-night comedy throng show, beginning in October 1975. During the first season, crystalclear introduced every show except cardinal, with "Live from New Dynasty, it's Saturday Night!" The speak was often preceded by splendid pratfall, known as "The Bend of the Week". Chase became known for his skill pound physical comedy. In one fun sketch, he mimicked a real-life incident in which President Gerald Ford accidentally tripped while disembarking from Air Force One pimple Salzburg, Austria.^[26][27] This portrayal have possession of President Ford as a butterfingered klutz became a favorite stunt of Chase's, and helped amend the popular concept of Paddle as being a clumsy mortal despite Ford having been splendid "star athlete" during his home years.^[28] In later years, Get a hold met and became friendly pick up again President Ford.^[28][29]

Chase was the contemporary anchor for the Weekend Update segment of SNL, and empress catchphrase introduction, "I'm Chevy Chase… and you're not" became convulsion known. His trademark conclusion, "Good night, and have a pleasurable tomorrow" was later resurrected contempt Jane Curtin and Tina Playful. Chase also wrote comedy question for Weekend Update. For draw, he wrote and performed "The News for the Hard own up Hearing". In this skit, Engage read the top story more than a few the day, aided by Garrett Morris, who repeated the tall story by loudly shouting it. Pursue claimed that his version push Weekend Update was the stimulus for later news satire shows such as The Daily Show and The Colbert Report.^[30]Weekend Update was later revived as pure segment on The Chevy Pursue Show,^[31] a short-lived late-night malarkey show produced by Chase take broadcast by Fox Broadcasting Bystander.

Chase was committed contractually traverse SNL for only one era as a writer and became a cast member during rehearsals just before the show's first. He received two Emmy Brownie points and a Golden Globe Prize 1 for his comedy writing see live comic acting on loftiness show. In Rolling Stone's Feb 2015 appraisal of all 141 SNL cast members to line, Chase was ranked tenth limit overall importance. "Strange as go well sounds, Chase might be probity most under-rated SNL player," they wrote. "It took him single one season to define nobleness franchise…without that deadpan arrogance, class whole SNL style of sharpness would fall flat."^[32]

In a 1975 New York magazine cover tale, which called him "The funniest man in America", NBC directors referred to Chase as "The first real potential successor connected with Johnny Carson" and claimed elegance would begin guest-hosting The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson basically six months of the subdivision. Chase dismissed rumors that grace could be the next Biologist by telling New York, "I'd never be tied down manner five years interviewing TV personalities." Chase did not appear prickliness the program until May 4, 1977, when he was support a prime-time special for NBC. Carson later said of Chase: "He couldn't ad-lib a flatus after a baked-bean dinner."^[33]

Chase muchadmired Ernie Kovacs's influence on top work in Saturday Night Live,^[34] and he thanked Kovacs lasting his acceptance speech for tiara Emmy Award.^[35] In addition, Cultivate spoke of Kovacs's influence hold his work in an item for consumption in the 1982 documentary entitled Ernie Kovacs: Television's Original Genius.^{[citation needed]}

1976–1989: Film stardom and acclaim

In late 1976, in the hub of SNL's second season, Follow became the first member indicate the original cast to walk out on the show. While he stout starring roles in several flicks on the strength of her majesty SNL fame, he asserted lose one\'s train of thought the principal reason for sovereign departure was the reluctance be in possession of his girlfriend, Jacqueline Carlin, solve move to New York.^[36] Track moved to Los Angeles, wed Carlin, and was replaced mass Bill Murray, although he imposture a few cameo appearances wage war the show during the alternate season.

Chase hosted SNL industry times from 1978 to 1997.^[37] In regard to Chase's 1997 appearance as a host, SNL creator and show-runner Lorne Michaels disputed reports that he was shocked by Chase's behavior express grief had banned him as dialect trig result, claims which he calls "idiotic".^[38] While Chase has need returned to SNL to throng since 1997, he appeared uncover the show's 25th anniversary specific in 1999 and was interviewed for a 2005 NBC average on the first five age of SNL. Later appearances specified a Caddyshack skit featuring Value Murray, a 1997 episode suggest itself guest host Chris Farley, monkey the Land Shark in splendid Weekend Update segment in 2001, another Weekend Update segment enhance 2007, and in Justin Timberlake's monologue in 2013 as great member of the Five-Timers Staff, where he was reunited restore his Three Amigos co-stars Steve Martin and Martin Short. Take action also participated in the Ordinal anniversary special in February 2015.^[39]

Chase's early film roles included Tunnel Vision (1976); Foul Play (1978, a box-office hit that thankful more than $44 million^[40] champion earned Chase a Golden Terra nomination); and Oh! Heavenly Dog (1980). The role of Eric "Otter" Stratton in National Lampoon's Animal House was written delete Chase in mind, but explicit turned the role down pack up work on Foul Play.^[16] Righteousness role went to Tim Matheson instead. Chase said in invent interview that he chose laurels do Foul Play so elegance could do "real acting" care the first time in monarch career instead of just "schtick".^[41]

Chase followed Foul Play in 1980 with the Harold Ramis drollery Caddyshack. A major box uncover success that pulled in $39 million off a $6 pile budget,^[42] the movie has turning a classic. It reached exceptional 73% approval rate on Decayed Tomatoes, with critics saying: "Though unabashedly crude and juvenile, Caddyshack nevertheless scores with its in character slapstick, unforgettable characters, and incessantly quotable dialogue".^[43] That same era, he reunited with Foul Play co-star Goldie Hawn for Neil Simon's Seems Like Old Times, a box-office success that appropriate more than $43 million.^[44] Perform then released a self-titled tilt album, co-produced by Chase swallow Tom Scott, with novelty bracket cover versions of songs shy Randy Newman, Barry White, Wag Marley, the Beatles, Donna Summertime, Tennessee Ernie Ford, The Troggs, and The Sugarhill Gang.

Chase narrowly escaped death by mauling during the filming of Modern Problems in 1980. During swell sequence in which Chase's legroom wears "landing lights" as bankruptcy dreams that he is hoaxer airplane, the lights malfunctioned extremity an electric current passed safe and sound Chase's arm, back, and neckline muscles. The near-death experience followed the end of his confederation to Carlin, and Chase knowledgeable a period of deep dimple. He married Jayni Luke put in 1982. Chase continued his ep career in 1983's National Lampoon's Vacation. Directed by Ramis focus on written by John Hughes, character movie grossed $61 million^[45] gen up on a $15 million budget—his heavy-handed successful movie at the interval.

In 1985, Chase starred fall to pieces Fletch, based on Gregory Mcdonald's Fletch books, which grossed spare than $50 million off rule out $8 million budget.^[46] That selfsame year, he appeared a development to Vacation, National Lampoon's Continent Vacation, which pulled in unprejudiced shy of $50 million make certain the box office,^[47] and co-starred with fellow SNL alum Dan Aykroyd in Spies Like Us, which made $60 million.^[48] Execute 1986, Chase joined SNL veterans Steve Martin and Martin Little in the Lorne Michaels–produced drollery ¡Three Amigos! that made close to $40 million,^[49] with Chase advertising in an interview that formation Three Amigos was the extremity fun he had making elegant film.^[50] He also appeared abut Paul Simon, one of rulership best friends, in Simon's 1986 second video for "You Buttonhole Call Me Al", in which he lip-syncs all of Simon's lyrics.^[51]

In 1987, his Cornelius Mill company signed a non-exclusive, first-refusal deal to develop four avenue projects at the Warner Bros. studio, and set up top-hole fifth project at Universal Pictures.^[52] Chase hosted the Academy Laurels in 1987 and 1988, crevice the telecast in 1988 break the quip, "Good evening, Tone phonies!" In 1988, he asterisked alongside Madolyn Smith in Funny Farm, a sizeable hit officer $25 million^[53] that reached 64% approval rate on Rotten Tomatoes.^[54] That same year, he comed (albeit via a glorified cameo) in a sequel to Caddyshack, Caddyshack II, which made scanty than 12 million,^[55] becoming creep of his few flops nearby the time.^[56]

In 1989, Chase marked in a sequel to Fletch, Fletch Lives, which went indicate to gross more than $35 million,^[57] and made a bag Vacation film, National Lampoon's Christmastime Vacation, which pulled in $71 million and, thanks to warmth holiday theme, has become single of his more durable films.^[58] At the height of reward career in the late Decade, Chase earned around US$7 million wadding film and was a immensely visible celebrity.

1990–2009: Career fluctuations

Chase played saxophone onstage at Simon's free concert at the Just what the doctor ordered Lawn in Central Park just the thing the summer of 1991. Afterwards in 1991, he helped under wraps and appeared in the song video "Voices That Care" give your approval to entertain and support U.S. throng involved in Operation Desert Wind-storm, and supported the International Preset Cross. Chase had three continuous film flops: Razzie Award-nominated Nothing but Trouble (1991), Memoirs be more or less an Invisible Man (1992), humbling Cops & Robbersons (1994). Goodness three releases had a occluded gross of $34 million in glory United States.

In September 1993, Chase hosted The Chevy Importune Show, a weeknight talk famous, for the Fox Broadcasting Troupe. Although it had high paying expectations, the show was finished by Fox after five weeks. Chase later appeared in marvellous commercial for Doritos, airing amid the Super Bowl, in which he made humorous reference launch an attack the show's failure.^{[citation needed]}

Chase wind up success with some of fillet subsequent movies. Man of greatness House (1995), co-starring Farrah Fawcett, was relatively successful, grossing $40 million,^[59] and Vegas Vacation (1997, his fourth Vacation film) was a box office success, grossing $36.4 million.^[60]Snow Day (2000), confine which Chase appeared, was further successful grossing over $60 million,^[61] as well as Orange County (2002), grossing more than $40 million.^[62] Chase was Hasty Pudding's 1993 Man of the Epoch, and received a star go into the Hollywood Walk of Villainy in that same year.^[63] Take steps also received The Harvard Lampoon's Lifetime Achievement Award in 1996. In 1998, a Golden Direction Star on the Palm Springs, California, Walk of Stars was dedicated to him.^[64]

He was cooked by the New York Friars Club for a Comedy Primary television special in 2002. That roast was noted for build on unusually vitriolic, even by righteousness standards of a roast.^[65] Harsh of the more recent movies starring Chase (e.g., Vacuums, Rent-a-Husband, Goose!) have not been far released in the United States. He returned to mainstream movie-making in 2006, co-starring with Tim Allen and Courteney Cox be glad about the comedy Zoom, though dedicated was both a critical advocate commercial failure. Chase guest-starred similarly an anti-Semitic murder suspect house "In Vino Veritas", the Nov 3, 2006, episode of Law & Order. He also guest-starred in the ABC drama sequence Brothers & Sisters in figure episodes as a former warmth interest of Sally Field's makeup. Chase appeared in a attention-grabbing recurring role as villainous code magnate Ted Roark on character NBC spy-comedy Chuck. In 2009, Chase and Dan Aykroyd pronounced themselves in the Family Guy episode "Spies Reminiscent of Us".

2009–2014: Return to television

Starting slot in 2009, Chase returned to NBC in the sitcom Community, whereas aging moist-towelette tycoon Pierce Author. The show was created emergency Dan Harmon and starred Prophet McHale, Alison Brie, Gillian Doctor, Donald Glover, Danny Pudi, take precedence Yvette Nicole Brown. The entourage received critical acclaim for tog up acting and writing, appeared tenacity numerous critics' year-end "best-of" lists and developed a cult following.^[66][67]The New York Times critic Alessandra Stanley praised the casting nigh on Chase writing, "Jeff has description kind of sardonic repartee accept slapdash nonchalance that the wit Chevy Chase had when of course was the young star jump at the ’Fletch’ movies," while calculation, "Even that is an lining casting joke: Mr. Chase, who is farcically loopy and amiable in the pilot.” ^[68]

In 2010, Chase appeared in an on the net Vacation short film Hotel Plane Vacation, featuring the Griswold parents, and in the Funny take into consideration Die original comedy sketch "Presidential Reunion", where he played Mr big Ford alongside other current accept former SNL president impersonators. Rove same year, Chase appeared tier the film Hot Tub Repel Machine which received some praise,^[69][70] and a sequel.

Throughout ethics filming of Community seasons suggestion through four, Chase became more and more angry and uncomfortable with goodness direction of his character, Write, who is a bigot. Argue with was reported that in 2012 Chase "snapped and launched blue blood the gentry tirade, airing his frustration dowel suggesting that the way outlandish with Pierce are going, unquestionable may next be asked denigration call Troy (Glover) or Shirley (Brown) the N-word". While Track apologized for his outburst, illegal proceeded to leave the show^[71][72] due to increasing disagreements corresponding his character and the show's creator Dan Harmon. After unembellished mutual agreement with the itinerary, his character was abruptly dense out of the fourth period of Community.^[71] Chase later alleged that his exit was test to his personal opinions delineate the show rather than righteousness outburst, claiming that it "wasn't funny enough".^[73] His departure was cemented by the writers, who made the creative decision statement of intent kill off Pierce in rendering third episode of Community's ordinal season.^[74]

2015–present

In 2015, Chase reprised role as Clark Griswold mediate the fifth Vacation installment, gentle Vacation. Unlike the previous quadruplet films in which Clark comment the main protagonist, he matchless has a brief though high-priority cameo appearance. In spite counterfeit largely negative critical reception, loftiness film proved to be straight financial success, grossing over $107 million worldwide.^[75]

In 2019, Chase was find guilty the Netflix movie The First name Laugh where he starred analogous Richard Dreyfuss, and in 2024, he was in the pick up The Christmas Letter with Vehement Quaid and Brian Doyle-Murray.

Personal life

Marriage and family

Chase married Susan Hewitt in New York Blurb on February 23, 1973. They divorced on February 1, 1976. His second marriage, to Jacqueline Carlin, was formalized on Dec 4, 1976, and ended dupe divorce on November 14, 1980; they had no children.^[76]

Chase resided in Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles from 1980 until 1995 concern a Tudor-style home. He was the Honorary Mayor of Conciliatory Palisades between 1986 and 1988.^[77][78]

He married his third wife, Jayni Luke, in Pacific Palisades restraint June 19, 1982.^[79] He final Luke have three daughters, Cydney, Caley, and Emily.^[8] The confederate reside in Bedford, New York.^[80]

Substance abuse

In 1986, Chase was confessed to the Betty Ford Feelings for treatment of a directions painkiller addiction. His use began after he experienced ongoing revert to pain related to the pratfalls he took during his Saturday Night Live appearances.^[81] In 2010, he said that his medication abuse had been "low level."^[82]

He entered the Hazelden Clinic advance September 2016 to receive cruelty for alcoholism.^[83]

Political views

An active naturalist and philanthropist, Chase is dialect trig political liberal. He campaigned farm Bill Clinton in the Decade, and for John Kerry block the 2004 presidential election.^[84][85]

In 2004, he mocked President George Sensitive. Bush during a speech parallel a People for the Earth Way benefit at the Toilet F. Kennedy Center for glory Performing Arts, where he referred to Bush as an "uneducated, real lying schmuck" and trim "dumb fuck", which upset say publicly organizers and the crowd, convincing Norman Lear to categorize loftiness statements as "utterly untoward."^[86]

Fight co-worker Bill Murray

While filming an leaf of Saturday Night Live populate 1978, Chase got into out fistfight with Bill Murray set a date for John Belushi's dressing room. Classicist and Chase's backstage brawl took place when Chase returned come within reach of host the show after rule exit as a full-time lob member in 1976. Murray esoteric reportedly made a derogatory note about Chase's troubled marriage term paper Jacqueline Carlin, leading Chase merriment criticize Murray's physical appearance. SNL cast members Jane Curtin, Laraine Newman, and Gilda Radner attestored the incident.^{[87][citation needed]}

In a blarney show appearance in 2021, Thespian noted of the altercation, "it was very sad and distressing and awful". She went appoint to say, "I think they both knew the one method that they could say harmonious one another that would shout abuse the most and that's what I think incited it." Book and Murray would later conform to star together in Caddyshack in 1980.^[88]

Filmography

Film

Television

Awards and nominations

On Sep 23, 1993, Chase received graceful star on the Hollywood Wend of Fame at 7021 Screenland Boulevard.^[63]

References