Chevy Chase Highlights – KTVZ

CNN Editorial Research

Here’s a glimpse into the life of Emmy-winning actor and writer, Chevy Chase.

Staff

Date of Birth: October 8, 1943

Place of birth: New York, New York

Birth name: Cornelius crane hunting

Father: Edward Tinsley Chase, book editor

Mother: Cathalene (Crane) Chase, concert pianist

Weddings: Jayni (Luke) Chase (1982-present); Jacqueline Carlin (1976-1980, divorced); Susan (Hewitt) Chase (divorced)

Children: with Jayni (Luke) Chase: Emily Evelyn, 1988; Caley Leigh, 1985; Cydney Catherine, 1983

Education: Attended Haverford College, 1962-1963; Bard College, BA, 1968

Other facts

Nominated for five Primetime Emmy Awards and won three. He was also inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame in 2017 as a member of the original cast of “Saturday Night Live”.

His grandmother nicknamed him Chevy.

While in college, he played drums in a jazz-rock band called Leather Canary with Donald Fagan and Walter Becker, who later formed Steely Dan.

Turned down leading roles in “National Lampoon’s Animal House”, “Ghostbusters”, “American Gigolo”, “American Beauty” and “Forrest Gump”.

Started his writing career writing articles for Mad Magazine and National Lampoon.

Met “Saturday Night Live” creator Lorne Michaels at a screening of “Monty Python and the Holy Graal”. The chance encounter led to a job as a writer and occasional performer on “SNL” during the show’s first season. Chase developed the satirical news segment, “Weekend Update,” filled with the slogan “I’m Chevy Chase, and you aren’t.” He was also well known for his precision drops and clumsy Gerald Ford imitation.

Danced in the 1986 video for the Paul Simon press “You can call me Al” and joined the singer on stage at a concert in Central Park in 1991 to reprise his role in the video.

Chronology

1967-1974 – Co-founded and starred with New York-based comedy troupe Channel One and worked day shifts as a trucker, tennis pro, and bartender.

1973 – Co-stars with Christopher Guest and John Belushi in an off-Broadway rock show, “National Lampoon’s Lemmings”.

1974 – The Channel One comedy troupe is producing a low-budget feature film, “The Groove Tube,” starring Chase and comedian Richard Belzer in skits poking fun at children’s shows, TV news, and sports shows.

1974-1975 – Written for “The Smothers Brothers Show” and made appearances on “The National Lampoon Radio Hour”, a syndicated show starring Belushi, Gilda Radner, Bill Murray and Dan Aykroyd.

October 11, 1975 – “Saturday Night Live” debuts on NBC. In the opening skit, Chase portrays a stagehand and delivers the signature line, “Live from New York, it’s Saturday night.”

May 17, 1976 – Win two Primetime Emmy Awards for outstanding writing for a variety series and outstanding continuous or single performance by a supporting actor in variety or music for “Saturday Night Live”.

1978 – Debuts as a leading Hollywood actor in “Foul Play”, a parody of Alfred Hitchcock starring Goldie Hawn.

September 17, 1978 – Wins a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Special Variety for “The Paul Simon Special”.

1980 – Depicts a philosophical golfer with a playful streak in “Caddyshack”. A sequel, “Caddyshack II” was released eight years later.

1983 – Take on the role of an unlucky father on a set quest for theme park fun in “National Lampoon’s Vacation”. The hit spawned three sequels and a reboot in 2015.

1985 – Play a muckraking criminal reporter who wears disguises to get scoops in “Fletch”. A sequel, “Fletch Lives” was released in 1989.

1986 – Check in at the Betty Ford Center for pain reliever addiction.

1988 – Hosts the Oscars. He greets the audience, “Good evening, Hollywood phonies.”

1990 – Delivers the opening speech at his alma mater, Bard College. He said to the students, “Avoid fatty foods. Avoid tobacco, drugs, Bensonhurst, Gaza Strip, bungee jumping, humorless people, bad music, fashion, bodybuilding, and hair care products. Oh, and one more thing: never tell the truth … Also, never call me.

1993 – A late night television series, “The Chevy Chase Show” debuts. The poorly rated talk show is canceled after six weeks.

2006 – Appears on “Law & Order” as an actor who makes anti-Semitic statements after being arrested for impaired driving.

2009-2014 – Makes a TV comeback on “Community,” playing an eccentric millionaire who enrolls in community college classes, seeking personal growth later in life.

2010 – Resumes his role as Gerald Ford in a “Funny or Die” video advocating the creation of the Consumer Financial Protection Agency. The sketch features former imitators of President “SNL”, Fred Armisen (Barack obama), Will Ferrell (George W. Bush), Dana Carvey (George HW Bush), Dan Aykroyd (Jimmy carter) and Darrell Hammond (Bill clinton), plus Jim Carrey as Ronald reagan.

March 9, 2013 – Appears on “Saturday Night Live” as a member of the show’s “Five Timers Club,” an exclusive group of artists who have hosted the show at least five times. He co-stars in the sketch with Paul Simon, Steve Martin, Alec Baldwin, Tom Hanks, Candice Bergen and new member Justin Timberlake.

September 5, 2016 – Chase’s publicist confirms that Chase went to a treatment center in Minnesota for an alcohol-related problem.

November 15, 2017 – Chase is inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame with his “Saturday Night Live” partners at a ceremony in North Hollywood, California.

September 19, 2018 – The Washington Post publishes profile of Chase, in which he says he’s sober and wants to work.

March 22, 2021 – Chase says he’s recovering at home after a five-week hospital stay with an undisclosed heart problem.

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