Biography
Who is Chevy Chase?
Early life and education
Cornelius Crane Chase was born in Lower Manhattan on October 8, 1943. He grew up in Woodstock, New York. His father, Edward Tinsley Chase, worked as a magazine writer and book editor. His mother, Cathalene Parker, was a concert pianist. Chase was named after his adoptive grandfather, Cornelius Vanderbilt Crane. He attended Riverdale Country School in The Bronx but was expelled. Later, he graduated from the Stockbridge School in Massachusetts.
He briefly attended Haverford College where he developed a reputation for physical humor and slapstick comedy. He eventually transferred to Bard College in New York. He studied pre-med but graduated in 1967 with a degree in English. During his time at Bard, he played drums in a band called The Leather Canary alongside future Steely Dan founders Walter Becker and Donald Fagen. He was not drafted into the military because he claimed to have homosexual tendencies.
Saturday Night Live and early success
In 1967, he helped co-found an underground comedy group named Channel One. By 1973, he became a writer and performer for The National Lampoon Radio Hour. This radio show included other future stars like Bill Murray and Gilda Radner. In 1975, he joined the original cast of the NBC show Saturday Night Live. He became a breakout star during the first season.
He introduced most episodes with the phrase, Live from New York, it is Saturday Night. He gained fame for his physical comedy and frequent pratfalls. He also anchored the Weekend Update segment, where he famously introduced himself by saying, I am Chevy Chase and you are not. He wrote comedy sketches for the show, including segments that satirized President Gerald Ford. His performance on the program earned him two Primetime Emmy Awards. Although he signed a one-year contract, his work defined the style of the show.
Film career and major roles
After leaving television, he became a leading man in comedy movies during the 1980s. He earned a Golden Globe nomination for his role in the 1978 film Foul Play. In 1980, he played Ty Webb in the golf comedy Caddyshack. He appeared as Clark Griswold in five National Lampoon Vacation films starting in 1983. Another major role was Irwin Fletcher in the movie Fletch and its sequel Fletch Lives.
His other film credits include Seems Like Old Times, Spies Like Us, Three Amigos, and Funny Farm. He also hosted the Academy Awards ceremony in 1987 and 1988. These roles established him as a major figure in American comedy cinema. He experienced a decline in his film career during the 1990s as several projects failed to gain traction.
Later television work
After a period of career difficulties, he found renewed popularity on television. From 2009 to 2014, he played the character Pierce Hawthorne on the NBC sitcom Community. This role introduced him to a new generation of viewers. Throughout his career, he has worked as an actor, screenwriter, comedian, voice actor, singer, and television presenter. He has received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his contributions to the entertainment industry.
Birthday and age
Chevy Chase was born on October 8, 1943, which makes Chevy 83 years old today. That birthday falls under the Libra sign. Chevy shares the date with 30 other famous people.
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