(1943-)

Who Is Chevy Chase?

Comedic actor Chevy Chase was born on October 8, 1943, in New York City. In his twenties, he wrote for the Smothers Brothers and National Lampoon. Though hired as a writer for Saturday Night Live in 1975, he soon began appearing in front of the camera. He starred in Caddyshack in 1980, National Lampoon's Vacation in 1983, and Fletch in 1985. In recent years, Chase has moved on to work on the popular television series Community.

Early Life

Actor and comedian Chevy Chase was born Cornelius Crane Chase on October 8, 1943, in New York City. His grandmother nicknamed him Chevy Chase after the wealthy Maryland community. After being named valedictorian of his high school class, Chase went on to Bard College, where he earned a B.A. in English.

Chase spent his 20s at various odd jobs with the hope of pursuing a career in comedy. During this time, he wrote for the Smothers Brothers and National Lampoon, the latter of which eventually led to a lucrative franchise of Vacation movies. Chase's first stint as a performer was with the New York comedy video workshop Channel One, which evolved into the 1974 film Groove Tube. After seeing the film, producer Lorne Michaels hired Chase for the first season of Saturday Night Live in 1975.

Commercial Success

Though hired as a writer, Chase soon began appearing in front of the camera as the anchor of the show's popular Weekend Update segment. With the catchphrase opening "Good evening, I'm Chevy Chase and you're not," and a bumbling impersonation of President Gerald Ford, the actor quickly assumed breakout status, earning Emmys for both his writing and acting. He left after a single season to pursue film opportunities, but didn't strike gold until Caddyshack in 1980, in which he played a golf pro who oozed confidence and deadpan humor. These would become Chase's trademarks.

In 1983, Chase starred in National Lampoon's Vacation, the first of four popular films chronicling the comic misadventures of the Griswold family, which included European Vacation in 1985, Christmas Vacation in 1989 and Vegas Vacation in 1997.

Chase's next box-office hit came in 1985, when he starred in the cult classic Fletch, a film widely considered to be the actor's best. As undercover newspaper reporter I.M. Fletcher, Chase created a classic comic hero with a genius for confusing his adversaries. He reprised the role in 1989 with Fletch Lives, but the film wasn't as successful as the original.

Later Roles

Throughout the 1980s and early 1990s, Chase achieved moderate success in such films as Spies Like Us (1985) and Three Amigos! (1986). But despite an all-star cast in 1988, Caddyshack II received the same mixed-to-mediocre reviews as the Fletch sequel. The panned follow-ups, Nothing But Trouble (1991) and Cops and Robbersons (1994), did nothing to jump-start the comedian's flagging reputation. In addition, his Fox comeback variety show was canceled two months after it premiered in 1993.

In recent years, Chase has chosen to work in family films, such as Man of the House (1995) and Snow Day (2000). His roles have gradually shifted from starring to supporting, including Dirty Work in 1998 and Orange County in 2002.

Chase has also made several television cameos - in 2006, he guest-starred as an anti-Semitic murder suspect in an episode of Law & Order, and as Sally Field's former love interest in the television drama Brothers & Sisters. In 2009, Chase appeared as a recurring villain in the spy sitcom, Chuck.

'Community'

Chase did, however, make his way back into the spotlight as a regular cast member on the popular series Community (2009). The show was well-received by audiences and critics alike, based on its ragtag of cast members, including Donald Glover and Joel McHale, which made for an interesting and funny combination. Chase decided to leave the show after its fourth season, following disputes with the show's writer, Dan Harmon.

QUICK FACTS

Name: Chevy Chase
Birth Year: 1943
Birth date: October 8, 1943
Birth State: New York
Birth City: New York
Birth Country: United States
Gender: Male
Best Known For: Chevy Chase is a comedic actor who is best known for his appearances on 'Saturday Night Live' and his starring roles in the films 'Caddyshack' and 'Fletch.'
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