Cornelius Crane Chase Bio
Cornelius Crane Chase (born October 8, 1943), known professionally as Chevy Chase, is an American comedian, actor, and writer. He rose to national prominence as a breakout cast member and writer on the first season of NBC’s Saturday Night Live and became a leading star of mainstream comedy films in the 1970s and 1980s.
Early Life and Background
Cornelius Crane Chase was born in Lower Manhattan, New York City, and grew up in Woodstock, New York. His family includes an older brother; his mother Cathalene Parker was a concert pianist and librettist, and his paternal family included artists and illustrators. He was named for his adoptive grandfather Cornelius, and the nickname “Chevy” was given by his grandmother.
Chase attended Riverdale Country School before completing high school as valedictorian at the Stockbridge School in 1962. He studied at Haverford College for one term and transferred to Bard College, graduating in 1967 with a Bachelor of Arts in English. While at Bard he played in bands that included musicians who later formed Steely Dan.
Path to Celebrity
Chase began his entertainment career in the late 1960s, co-founding the underground comedy ensemble Channel One in 1967 and working as a writer for Mad magazine and the Smothers Brothers. By 1973 he was a writer and performer on The National Lampoon Radio Hour, collaborating with future Saturday Night Live performers including John Belushi and Gilda Radner.
He transitioned to television and sketch comedy writing, appearing in the off-Broadway revue Lemmings and the comedy film The Groove Tube. Those early ensemble and writing experiences positioned him to join NBC’s new late-night series, Saturday Night Live, at the program’s launch in 1975.
Cornelius Crane Chase Career
Early Career (1967–1974)
From 1967 Chase developed his comic voice through Channel One and National Lampoon projects. He contributed material and performances for radio and stage, building a reputation for physical comedy, satire, and writing. These years established his working relationships with many performers who would become influential in American comedy.
Chase also appeared in early film work such as The Groove Tube (1974), and he wrote pieces for magazines and television that demonstrated his range as both a performer and a writer. By the mid-1970s he was positioned to join a major national television comedy platform.
Breakthrough (1975–1989)
Chevy Chase became one of the original cast members of Saturday Night Live in October 1975. As the original anchor of the Weekend Update segment, he introduced the recurring line “I’m Chevy Chase… and you’re not,” and established a signature mix of deadpan delivery and pratfall-driven physical comedy. His Weekend Update work and live performances earned him critical recognition and two Primetime Emmy Awards out of four nominations for his writing and performing on the show.
After leaving Saturday Night Live early in its second season, Chase moved to Los Angeles and began a film career that produced several high-profile comedies. He earned a Golden Globe nomination for the romantic comedy Foul Play (1978) and starred as Ty Webb in Caddyshack (1980), a film that became a box-office hit and enduring comedy classic. He played Clark Griswold in National Lampoon’s Vacation (1983) and returned to the role in multiple follow-ups, which became signature entries in his filmography.
Through the mid-1980s Chase headlined a string of commercially successful comedies including Seems Like Old Times (1980), Fletch (1985), Spies Like Us (1985), ¡Three Amigos! (1986), and the holiday favorite National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989). These roles cemented his status as one of the era’s most visible comedy leads and showcased his facility with both improvisational and scripted physical humor.
Notable Works and Milestones
Chase’s notable screen roles include Weekend Update on Saturday Night Live, Ty Webb in Caddyshack, Clark Griswold in the National Lampoon’s Vacation series, and Irwin “Fletch” Fletcher in Fletch and Fletch Lives. He hosted the Academy Awards telecast in 1987 and 1988 and received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1993.
Cornelius Crane Chase Award Nominations
Across his career Chase received multiple award nominations and honors. He earned four Primetime Emmy nominations, winning two for his work on the first season of Saturday Night Live, and received a Golden Globe nomination for his role in Foul Play. In 1993 he was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Cornelius Crane Chase Awards Won
Chase won Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Writing in a Comedy-Variety or Music Series for his work on Saturday Night Live during the program’s first season. He has also received industry honors including the Hollywood Walk of Fame star and lifetime recognition from organizations such as The Harvard Lampoon.
Cornelius Crane Chase Family
Chevy Chase is the son of Edward Tinsley “Ned” Chase and Cathalene Parker. His paternal family included artists and illustrators. His mother and maternal relations had musical and performing backgrounds; several relatives were noted for careers in music and the arts. Known family details encompass a childhood in an artistically engaged household and connections to established cultural figures.
Personal Life
Chase married Susan Hewitt in 1973; that marriage ended in divorce in 1976. He then married Jacqueline Carlin in 1976; they divorced in 1980. In 1982 he married Jayni Luke and the couple have three daughters: Cydney, Caley, and Emily. The family resides in Bedford, New York. Public accounts note his charitable work and long-standing interest in environmental causes, and he has publicly supported Democratic political candidates.
Throughout his life Chase has been open about personal struggles, including treatment for prescription painkiller dependence and later treatment for alcoholism. Professionally, he has continued to perform in film and television through the 2000s and 2010s, including a recurring role on the NBC sitcom Community from 2009 to 2014 and appearances in later feature films and streaming projects.