Chevy Chase is one of the most iconic and influential comedians of all time. He rose to fame as one of the original cast members of Saturday Night Live, where he created memorable characters and sketches. He also starred in some of the most successful comedy films of the 1980s, such as Caddyshack, National Lampoon’s Vacation, Fletch, and Three Amigos. He later appeared in the popular sitcom Community, where he played the eccentric Pierce Hawthorne.
But how much is Chevy Chase worth today? What are his sources of income and expenses? How did he achieve his wealth and fame? In this article, we will answer these questions and more, as we explore the net worth of Chevy Chase.
Early Life and Education
Family Background
Chevy Chase was born as Cornelius Crane Chase on October 8, 1943, in New York City. He comes from a prominent and wealthy family, with connections to the Vanderbilt and Crane dynasties. His mother, Cathalene Parker, was a concert pianist and librettist, who was adopted by her stepfather, Cornelius Vanderbilt Crane, heir to The Crane Company. His father, Edward Tinsley “Ned” Chase, was a book editor and magazine writer. His paternal grandfather was artist and illustrator Edward Leigh Chase, and his great-uncle was painter and teacher Frank Swift Chase. His maternal grandmother, also named Cathalene, was an opera singer who performed at Carnegie Hall.
Chevy Chase was named after his adoptive grandfather, Cornelius, while the nickname “Chevy” was given by his grandmother from the medieval English ballad “The Ballad of Chevy Chase”. He is a 14th-generation New Yorker, and was listed in the Social Register at an early age.
Education and Early Career
Chevy Chase attended several prestigious schools, including Riverdale Country School, Stockbridge School, Haverford College, and Bard College. He graduated from Bard College in 1967 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English. Before pursuing comedy as a full-time career, he worked a variety of jobs, such as cab driver, truck driver, construction worker, waiter, fruit picker, audio engineer, wine salesman, and theater usher.
In 1967, he co-founded the underground comedy ensemble Channel One. He also wrote for various publications and shows, such as Mad Magazine and The National Lampoon Radio Hour. He made his film debut in The Groove Tube (1974), a sketch comedy film based on Channel One’s material.
Career Breakthrough and Success
Saturday Night Live
In 1975, Chevy Chase joined the NBC late-night comedy show Saturday Night Live (SNL) as one of the original cast members. He became the breakout star of the show, with his recurring Weekend Update segment becoming a staple of the show. He also wrote material for various skits and impersonated celebrities such as Gerald Ford, Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan, Jimmy Carter, and Muhammad Ali. He became famous for his catchphrase “I’m Chevy Chase…and you’re not”.
Chevy Chase won two Primetime Emmy Awards for his work on SNL: one for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series in 1976 (shared with other writers), and one for Outstanding Continuing or Single Performance by a Supporting Actor in Variety or Music in 1977 (shared with other cast members). He also received two more nominations for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series in 1977 and 1978.
Chevy Chase left SNL in late 1976, after only one full season and four episodes of the second season. He cited various reasons for his departure, such as wanting to pursue a film career, being unhappy with the show’s direction and quality, having conflicts with other cast members and producers (especially John Belushi), and missing his then-girlfriend Jacqueline Carlin. He continued to be involved with SNL though, hosting it eight times through 1997 (the most by any former cast member), and returning for various anniversary specials.
Film Career
After leaving SNL, Chevy Chase established himself as a leading man in Hollywood comedy films. His first major film role was in Foul Play (1978), a romantic comedy thriller co-starring Goldie Hawn. The film was a box office hit and earned him a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor in a Motion Picture Musical or Comedy.
He followed this success with other popular films such as Caddyshack (1980), Modern Problems (1981), Seems Like Old Times (1980), Under the Rainbow (1981), Deal of the Century (1983), Oh Heavenly Dog (1980), Nothing but Trouble (1991), Memoirs of an Invisible Man (1992), and Man of the House (1995).
However, his most famous and beloved film roles are those of Clark W. Griswold in the National Lampoon’s Vacation series, and Irwin “Fletch” Fletcher in the Fletch series. He starred in five Vacation films: Vacation (1983), European Vacation (1985), Christmas Vacation (1989), Vegas Vacation (1997), and the 2015 reboot. He also starred in two Fletch films: Fletch (1985) and Fletch Lives (1989). Both series were critically and commercially successful, and became cult classics.
Some of his other notable film roles include Spies Like Us (1985), Three Amigos! (1986), Funny Farm (1988), The Couch Trip (1988), Cops and Robbersons (1994), Snow Day (2000), Orange County (2002), Hot Tub Time Machine (2010), and Last Action Hero (1993).
Television Career
Besides SNL, Chevy Chase has also appeared in several television shows and specials. He hosted the Academy Awards twice, in 1987 and 1988. He also had his own short-lived late-night talk show, The Chevy Chase Show, in 1993. The show was canceled after only five weeks due to low ratings and negative reviews.
He made guest appearances on shows such as The Simpsons, Family Guy, Law & Order, Chuck, Brothers & Sisters, and The Larry Sanders Show. He also starred in several TV movies, such as The Karate Dog (2004), Ellie Parker (2005), Hometown Hero (2006), and Goose on the Loose (2006).
His most recent and acclaimed television role was that of Pierce Hawthorne on the NBC sitcom Community, from 2009 to 2014. He played a wealthy and eccentric businessman who enrolls in a community college and joins a study group of misfits. The show was praised for its witty humor, meta-references, and pop culture parodies. However, Chevy Chase had a tumultuous relationship with the show’s creator Dan Harmon, as well as some of his co-stars. He left the show during its fourth season, after appearing in 11 episodes. He later returned for a cameo appearance in the fifth season finale.
Personal Life and Controversies
Relationships and Family
Chevy Chase has been married three times. His first wife was Suzanne Hewitt, whom he married in 1973 and divorced in 1976. His second wife was Jacqueline Carlin, whom he married in 1976 and divorced in 1980. His third and current wife is Jayni Luke, whom he married in 1982. He has four children: three daughters (Cydney, Caley, and Emily) and one son (Bryan).
Health Issues
Chevy Chase has struggled with various health issues throughout his life. He suffered from drug addiction in the late 1970s and early 1980s, mainly cocaine and painkillers. He entered rehab in 1986 to overcome his addiction. He also suffered from chronic back pain due to his physical comedy style, which involved frequent falls and stunts. He underwent several surgeries to treat his back problems.
In 2018, he revealed that he had been diagnosed with alcoholism, which he attributed to his depression and career decline. He said that he had been sober for two years at that point.
Legal Issues
Chevy Chase has been involved in several legal disputes over the years. In 1997, he was sued by a woman who claimed that he kicked her at a charity event. The case was settled out of court for an undisclosed amount. In 2018, he was involved in a road rage incident with another driver, who accused him of attacking him. The case was dismissed after both parties agreed to drop their charges.
Controversial Remarks
Chevy Chase has been known for making controversial remarks that have offended some people or groups. For example, he has been accused of making racist jokes or comments about African Americans, Asians, Jews, gays, women, and others. He has also been criticized for insulting or mocking some of his former colleagues or co-stars, such as Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, John Belushi, Will Ferrell, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Donald Glover, Dan Harmon, Lorne Michaels, Johnny Carson, Jay Leno, David Letterman, Al Franken, Tom Hanks, Robert Downey Jr., Mel Gibson, Burt Reynolds, Steve Martin, Martin Short, Eddie Murphy, and others.
He has also expressed his political views on various occasions, often criticizing Republican politicians or policies. He is a vocal supporter of the Democratic Party and has endorsed candidates such as Barack Obama , Hillary Clinton , Joe Biden , Bernie Sanders , Al Gore , John Kerry , Bill Clinton , Jimmy Carter , Walter Mondale , Michael Dukakis , John F. Kennedy , Franklin D. Roosevelt
