Chevy Chase Net Worth [The Rise and Fall Of The SNL Alum]

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Net Worth:	$55 million
Profession/Career:	American actor, comedian, and writer
College:	Haverford College
Major/Degree:	BA in English
Full/Real Name:	Cornelius Crane Chase
Date of Birth:	October 8, 1943
Place of Birth:	New York City, New York
Height:	6 ft 4 in

Frequently Associated With

• Saturday Night Live
• National Lampoon’s Vacation movies
• Steve Martin
• Martin Short

Net Worth of Chevy Chase

Chevy Chase’s net worth is roughly $55 million.

Chevy Chase has made the majority of his money through his successful career as a comedian, actor, and writer. He has appeared in many popular films and television shows, and has also lent his voice to various animation projects. Additionally, Chevy Chase is still receiving residuals from a number of his most popular and enduring projects, including:

• National Lampoon’s Vacation: Chase continues to receive residuals from the “Vacation” movie franchise, which has become a beloved comedy classic.

• Saturday Night Live: Chase is still earning residuals from his time as a cast member on the NBC sketch comedy show “Saturday Night Live.”

• Fletch: Chase continues to receive residuals from his role as the titular character in the 1985 comedy “Fletch.”

• Caddyshack: Chase continues to receive residuals from his role as Ty Webb in the classic golf comedy “Caddyshack.”

• Other films: Chase is likely still receiving residuals from some of his other films, including “Three Amigos” and “Spies Like Us.”

Chevy Chase Early Life

Chevy Chase was born Cornelius Crane Chase on October 8, 1943, in Lower Manhattan, New York City. Chase showed an early interest in comedy and performed in school plays, but he initially pursued a career in medicine, enrolling at Haverford College in Pennsylvania to study pre-med. However, he soon switched his focus to English and began performing in comedy clubs.

After college, Chase moved to New York City to pursue a career in comedy. He worked as a writer for the National Lampoon magazine and made his on-screen debut in the popular off-Broadway show “The National Lampoon Show.” He also began performing stand-up comedy, which led to his being hired as one of the original cast members of the NBC sketch comedy show “Saturday Night Live.”

Chevy Chase’s Personal Struggles

Chevy Chase has faced several personal struggles throughout his life and career, including:

• Substance abuse: Chase has struggled with addiction to alcohol and drugs, and has sought treatment on several occasions. He has been open about his struggles with addiction and has advocated for greater awareness and understanding of this issue.

• Health problems: Chase has faced various health problems over the years, including a history of heart problems and several surgeries.

• Relationships: Chase has had several tumultuous relationships over the years, including a difficult and highly publicized divorce from his first wife, Jacqueline Carlin.

• Career difficulties: Despite his early success, Chevy Chase has faced several challenges in his career, including a period of declining popularity and a series of film and television projects that were not well-received by audiences or critics.

Did Chevy Chase Grow Up Rich or Poor?

Chevy Chase grew up in a wealthy family. His father, Edward Tinsley Chase, was a successful book editor and magazine writer, and his mother, Catherine Campbell (Crane), was a concert pianist and homemaker. His parents came from prominent and wealthy families and provided Chevy with a comfortable upbringing and access to some of the best schools and cultural opportunities.

He attended several prestigious private schools, including Riverdale Country School in the Bronx and the Stockbridge School in Massachusetts. Chevy’s upbringing was marked by privilege and stability, and he was able to pursue his interests and develop his talents from a young age.

It’s worth noting that Chevy’s upbringing and family background played a role in shaping his comedic sensibility and informed his early work, especially his writing for the National Lampoon magazine.

His upbringing also gave him the financial stability to pursue his career goals, and he was able to take risks and make bold choices in his career that might not have been possible if he had come from a different background.

Chevy Chase on SNL

Chevy Chase was one of the original cast members of “Saturday Night Live” (SNL) when it premiered in 1975. He gained significant fame and recognition for his work on the show, particularly for his role as one of the show’s original “Not Ready for Prime Time Players.”

Chase’s most famous contribution to SNL was his stint as the “Weekend Update” anchor. He co-hosted the segment with co-creator and writer, Herb Sargent, during the show’s early years. Chevy Chase’s style of delivering the news with a mix of satire, deadpan humor, and physical comedy became one of the show’s highlights and helped establish the format for future “Weekend Update” segments.

Additionally, Chase was known for his physical comedy and memorable characters on the show. One of his most iconic characters was Gerald Ford, the 38th President of the United States. Chase famously parodied Ford, often portraying him as clumsy and accident-prone, which became a trademark portrayal of the president.

Chevy Chase’s time on SNL was relatively short-lived, as he left after the first season to pursue a film career. However, his contributions to the show helped set the stage for its continued success and influence on sketch comedy and late-night television.

In 2023, Chevy Chase decided to sell off 40 cards containing pieces of the costume of his iconic role Landshark from SNL at $500 a piece.

Chevy Chase’s Wife

Chevy Chase has been married three times throughout his life.

His first marriage was to Suzanne Chase (formerly Suzanne Hewitt) in 1973. They had two children together. However, their marriage unfortunately ended in divorce in 1976.

After his divorce from Suzanne, Chevy Chase entered into his second marriage with Jacqueline Carlin in 1976. They welcomed one child into their family. However, their marriage also ended in divorce in 1980.

Chevy Chase’s current and third wife is Jayni Luke, whom he married in 1982. Jayni Luke, also known as Jayni Chase, is an American philanthropist and environmental activist. Together, Chevy and Jayni Chase have three children.

Chevy Chase’s Biggest Moneymakers

• Saturday Night Live (1975-1976): Chase was a cast member on the first season of this groundbreaking sketch comedy show, which helped launch his career and establish him as one of the most talented comedians of his generation. He is widely remembered for his irreverent humor and deadpan delivery, and his contributions to the show continue to be celebrated.

• National Lampoon’s Vacation (1983): This comedy film, which was written by John Hughes and directed by Harold Ramis, starred Chase as the bumbling and hapless father of a family on a road trip to the theme park “Walley World.” The film was a critical and commercial success and has since become a classic of the genre.

• Caddyshack (1980): This comedy film, directed by Harold Ramis and co-written by Brian Doyle-Murray and Harold Ramis, starred Chase as Ty Webb, a golfing icon who teaches a young caddy (played by Michael O’Keefe) about life and golf. The film was a critical and commercial success and has since become a classic of the genre.

• Three Amigos (1986): This comedy film, directed by John Landis and co-written by Lorne Michaels and Steve Martin, starred Chase, Martin, and Martin Short as a trio of silent film actors who are mistaken for real heroes and are sent to Mexico to fight bandits. The film was a commercial success and is widely remembered for its blend of humor and action.

Chevy Chase on Community

Chevy Chase played the character Pierce Hawthorne on the TV show “Community.” Pierce is an older student at Greendale Community College and is often portrayed as being out of touch, insensitive, and sometimes outright bigoted, which often puts him at odds with the other members of the study group. Despite his flaws, there are moments when he displays depth and vulnerability, making his character complex and multi-dimensional.

As for Chevy Chase’s exit from the show, his departure was surrounded by controversy. He had public disagreements with the show’s creator, Dan Harmon, which included voicemails and public statements. Chase had also expressed his dissatisfaction with the direction of his character and the show in general.

These conflicts, combined with other behind-the-scenes tensions, eventually led to his departure from “Community” before the conclusion of its fourth season. It’s worth noting that while he left the regular cast, Chase made a brief cameo in the fifth season.

Chevy Chase’s Awards and Accolades

Chevy Chase has received numerous awards and accolades throughout his career in film and television. Some of his most notable awards and accolades include:

Primetime Emmy Award: Chase won the Outstanding Writing in a Comedy-Variety or Music Program Primetime Emmy Award in 1976 for his work on Saturday Night Live.

Golden Globe Award: In 1977, Chase won the Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy for his role on Saturday Night Live.

American Comedy Award: In 1988, Chase won the American Comedy Award for Funniest Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture for his role in Three Amigos.

National Lampoon: Chase was inducted into the National Lampoon Radio Hour Hall of Fame in 2002, in recognition of his contributions to the National Lampoon and his role in helping to launch the careers of many talented comedians and writers.

Chevy Chase’s Philanthropy

Chevy Chase has been involved in a number of philanthropic efforts over the years. However, he has been known to keep his charitable activities private.

The few organizations we can confirm he has made donations to are the National Children’s Museum and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. He has also been involved in supporting environmental causes, including organizations that work to protect and preserve wildlife and their habitats.

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