Chevy Chase

Birthday: 8 October 1943, New York City, New York, USA

Birth Name: Cornelius Crane Chase

Height: 193 cm

Chevy Chase was born Cornelius Crane Chase in Lower Manhattan, New York, to Cathalene Parker (Browning), a concert pianist and librettist, and Edward Tinsley "Ned" Chase, an editor and writer. His parents both came from prominent families, and his grandfathers were artist and illustrator Edward Leigh Chase and admiral Miles Browning. His recent ancestry includes English, Scottish, Irish, and Danish.His grandmother gave him the nickname "Chevy" when he was two years old. Chase was a part of the Saturday Night Live (1975) cast from its debut until 1976, and then embarked on a highly successful movie career. He scored in the eighties with hits such as Caddyshack (1980), National Lampoon's Vacation (1983) and its sequels, Fletch (1985) and Fletch Lives (1989). All his films show his talent for deadpan comedy. Sadly, his career generally worsened throughout the nineties, starring in disappointments such as the mediocre Memoirs of an Invisible Man (1992), and Cops and Robbersons (1994). More recently, Community (2009) marked a return for him, as he played a regular role for the first four seasons. Show less «

[on Community (2009)] It was a big mistake! I saw this pilot script, thought that it was funny, and ...Show more »

[on Community (2009)] It was a big mistake! I saw this pilot script, thought that it was funny, and I went into the room where they were casting and said, "I would love to play this guy." Then they mulled it over. Then they hired me and I just sort of hung around because I have three daughters and a wife, and I figured out I might as well make some bread, every week, so I can take care of them in the way they want. Show less «

I guess I look so straight and normal nobody expects me to pick my nose and fall.

Once I got married and had kids, I moved away from romantic roles, because it seemed wrong to have m...Show more »

Once I got married and had kids, I moved away from romantic roles, because it seemed wrong to have my three-year-old wondering why Daddy was kissing someone else. Show less «

[on John Landis] He's a bit of a bully, to say the least, with the wrong people, the easy shots. He'...Show more »

[on John Landis] He's a bit of a bully, to say the least, with the wrong people, the easy shots. He's got a crassness about him. Anybody who can pick on a set decorator or an extra in front of everybody else in a very mean way is lacking something. I would think that an experience like Twilight Zone: The Movie (1983) would put some humility into your life. But it didn't. Show less «

[on leaving Saturday Night Live (1975)] It has been portrayed over the years as there being "lucrati...Show more »

[on leaving Saturday Night Live (1975)] It has been portrayed over the years as there being "lucrative deals" awaiting me in Hollywood. But if you look at the record, I didn't make a movie for two or three years. There were no lucrative deals awaiting me. I left because I was in love with a girl in L.A. I missed it very much. I should have hung around for years. And I feel bad about it now. Show less «

On his reaction upon hearing of the death of Saturday Night Live (1975) co-star John Belushi): I was...Show more »

On his reaction upon hearing of the death of Saturday Night Live (1975) co-star John Belushi): I was so angry I didn't cry for five years. Show less «

[re growing up on NYC's Park Avenue] I had to get into fights all the time, because we were at the c...Show more »

[re growing up on NYC's Park Avenue] I had to get into fights all the time, because we were at the cusp of Spanish Harlem and they didn't like a crew-cut white kid. They were always chasing me, stealing my wallet. I was sent to the grocery store on Second Avenue by my mother on a Saturday, and these two Spanish kids were walking behind me, and in front of me was a little kid, smaller than me, and he kept punching me in the face the whole way to the grocery store. I came back from the grocery store with a bloody nose, and my mother sent me back for something else! And there they were again. And when we got to the corner, I'd had it. I just took the little kid out, and of course the other two, the big ones, jumped me. I really had a hold on one of them, like a headlock, and the other one yelled, "Hey! No fair! You're choking him!" No fair, he said. What do you mean, no fair? You guys have been kicking the crap out of me! They had these rules. One of those guys stabbed me in the back three times when I was running away. I still have these knife-wound scars. Show less «

[on his first return to Saturday Night Live (1975)] I'm not sure exactly why or how, but [during tha...Show more »

[on his first return to Saturday Night Live (1975)] I'm not sure exactly why or how, but [during that episode] suddenly I got into a fight with Bill Murray. I discovered later it was with the instigation of John Belushi, who apparently was a little bit jealous that I had become the standout guy the first year, when John [felt he] deserved to. And he did; John was our ringer. But television doesn't care too much about ringers who are short and have a beard. Somehow they took to the tall, thin, handsome guy. Show less «

[on working on Community (2009)] The hours are hideous, and it's still a sitcom on television, which...Show more »

[on working on Community (2009)] The hours are hideous, and it's still a sitcom on television, which is probably the lowest form of television. That's my feeling about it. I think the reason I have stuck around is because I love these kids, the cast - they are very good. It's not like I am working with the great innovators of all time, but at the same time, they are my friends. Show less «

[on his fight with Bill Murray] Billy Murray and I came to fisticuffs, but we never really ended up ...Show more »

[on his fight with Bill Murray] Billy Murray and I came to fisticuffs, but we never really ended up hitting each other. We tried, but Belushi got in the middle and we both ended up hitting John. And if anybody deserved to be slapped in the forehead it was John, for instigating it all. Show less «

[on Robin Williams] Robin and I were great friends, suffering from the same little-known disease, de...Show more »

[on Robin Williams] Robin and I were great friends, suffering from the same little-known disease, depression. I never could have expected this ending to his life, and to ours with him. I cannot believe this. I am overwhelmed with grief. What a wonderful man/boy, and what a tremendous talent in the most important art of any time - comedy! I loved him. Show less «

[on his professional regrets] I turned down Forrest Gump (1994), I turned down American Gigolo (1980...Show more »

[on his professional regrets] I turned down Forrest Gump (1994), I turned down American Gigolo (1980), there are many films - like Ghostbusters (1984) - that I turned down... the first one I did was Foul Play (1978) with Goldie Hawn, but I turned down Animal House (1978) - I turned that down. So all those I regret only because they made huge amounts of money and I would be very wealthy, but I don't regret working with Goldie, I don't regret the projects that I did do. Show less «

On the outcome of impersonating former U.S. President Gerald Ford on Saturday Night Live (1975): "I ...Show more »

On the outcome of impersonating former U.S. President Gerald Ford on Saturday Night Live (1975): "I did hear ultimately from one of Ford's sons that some of the things had hurt his feelings, and that was a shocker to me. But I figured, 'Oh well, he's the President, he can take it. I mean, he has to, he's a public figure.' Of course, now my feelings have been hurt so much, I know exactly what he means." Show less «

You can't observe as much if you're observed by others.

Chevy Chase

Chevy Chase's FILMOGRAPHY

Chevy Chase'S roles

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