Chevy Chase

Prefers to do family-oriented movies and has turned down roles in several films including the lead in American Beauty .

His now-famous "Good evening, Im Chevy Chase and youre not" opening line on the "Weekend Update" segments of "Saturday Night Live" was a takeoff of New York news anchor Roger Grimsby s "Here now the news" opening line.

Sat in as drummer with the college band The Leather Canary a couple of times. He refers to it as "a bad jazz band." The band also included Walter Becker and Donald Fagen , later of Steely Dan fame.

Winner of Harvard Lampoon Lifetime Achievement Award 1996.

Convicted of drunk driving.

His short-lived TV talk show was billed as a Cornelius Production, Cornelius being Chevys real first name.

Was nearly killed (electrocuted) during the filming of Modern Problems when, during the sequence in which he is wearing "landing lights" as he dreams that he is an airplane, the current in the lights short-circuited through his arm, back, and neck muscles. The near-death experience caused him to experience a period of deep depression.

Attended Bard College in Annandale-on-Hudson, New York.

Was valedictorian of his high school class.

Has perfect pitch: a rare ability to identify the pitch of musical notes without a point of reference.

His parents divorced when he was four. His father remarried into the Folger coffee family. His mothers third marriage was to Juilliard School professor/composer Lawrence Widdoes.

Daughters: Cydney Cathalene Chase , Caley Leigh Chase (born 1984) and Emily Evelyn Chase (born 1988), with wife Jayni Chase.

Chevy was actually a childhood nickname -- possibly based on the Washington, DC suburb -- bestowed by his grandmother. The Chase family was affluent and distinguished, and Chevy was listed in Social Register at early age. His paternal grandfather was painter/teacher Edward "Ned" Leigh Chase; his father, Ned Chase, was a prominent Manhattan book editor and magazine writer. His mother was descended from the Crane plumbing-fixture family.

Paul Simon is one of his best friends. He appeared alongside Simon in the music video "You Can Call Me Al," in which he lip-syncs all of Simons lines. Due to that videos remarkable success, Chase was asked to return when Simon released his follow-up album. In the music video for "Proof", Chase was accompanied by another of his best friends, Steve Martin.

Was a long-time class clown expelled from private schools like NYCs Dalton but did well at Stockbridge School in Massachusetts. Expelled from Haverford College after bringing a cow into the third floor of a campus building. Transferred to Bard College, where he dated actress Blythe Danner and graduated in 1967.

His middle name, Crane, is from his mothers family. He spent childhood vacations at Crane Castle, his mothers familys vacation home in Ipswich, Massachusetts.

Roasted into the New York Friars Club on September 28, 2002.

Has a fear of snakes.

Chevy Chase is the name of a 16th century ballad about the battle between Earl Douglas and Earl Percy, as well as the name of a city in Maryland.

He was the first member of the original "Saturday Night Live" cast to leave the show (after only one season), a decision he later said he regretted. He was replaced by Bill Murray.

Biography in: "Whos Who in Comedy" by Ronald L. Smith. Pg. 102-103. New York: Facts on File, 1992. ISBN 0816023387.

At the height of his career he earned around $7 million per film.

Is a huge jazz fan.

Used to run five miles a day to stay fit and healthy.

Admitted in an interview that making Three Amigos! was the most fun he has had on a film.

Helped campaign for John Kerry in the 2004 Presidential Election.

Attended Riverdale Country School in New York City.

His big break was performing on "Saturday Night Live" . Ironically, he was never signed as a cast member. He signed a one year writer contract and became a cast member during rehearsals.

Chase is a member of the exclusive Hollywood Gourmet Poker Club. Members included fellow card players Martin Short , Steve Martin , Carl Reiner , Barry Diller , Neil Simon and the late Johnny Carson.

In a 1975 New York magazine cover story, NBC executives referred to Chase as "The first real potential successor to Johnny Carson " and claimed he would begin guest-hosting "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson" within 6 months of the article. It never happened.

At 6 4", he was the tallest original "Saturday Night Live" cast member and was the first "tall guy" on the show. Cast members over 6 feet usually dwarfed the rest of the cast. Among the other tall guys to follow were Dan Aykroyd , Dean Edwards , Will Ferrell , Bill Hader , Anthony Michael Hall , David Koechner , Norm MacDonald , Finesse Mitchell , Bill Murray , Kevin Nealon , Randy Quaid , Rob Riggle , Jason Sudeikis , Charles Rocket , Damon Wayans , and Fred Wolf. Only Nealon, Quaid and Rocket equaled Chase in height.

The role of Eric Otter Stratton in National Lampoons Animal House was originally written with him in mind. John Landis didnt want the film to be a "Saturday Night Live" film, so he met with Chase and persuaded him not to take the film by telling him it was an ensemble piece. He starred in Foul Play instead. Tim Matheson was cast as Otter.

His brother roomed across the hall from Ted Kaczynski "The Unabomber" at Harvard.

Has streets named after him in Cochranton, Pennsylvania; Brea, California; Port Charlotte, Florida; and New Orleans, Louisiana.

In 2003, he appeared in two television commercials for Cola Turka, a soft drink developed to be in direct competition with both Coca-Cola and Pepsi, while keeping the money in the Turkish economy. The commercials, which were both comic and nationalistic in theme, feature Chase playing a confused American who notices his friend and family using Turkish idioms and exhibiting Turkish customs after consuming the drink. The commercials, exclusively shown in Turkey, were filmed in New York in English, but have Turkish subtitles.

Wanted to be a doctor when he was younger.

Fans often imitate his famous, straight-faced, "I like it!" (from Modern Problems ).

After joking about Cary Grant being gay in a 1980 television interview, the Hollywood legend sued him for slander, but they later settled out of court.

Before his breakthrough as a comedian, he worked as a cab driver, truck driver, motorcycle messenger, waiter, busboy, construction worker, audio engineer, produce manager in a supermarket, salesman in a wine store and theater usher.

Graduated from Bard College with a bachelor of arts degree in English .

Born to Edward Tinsley Chase, a Manhattan book editor and magazine writer, and his wife Cathalene Parker Browning, who both died in 2005.

Won an amateur orchestral conducting contest in Los Angeles, where he and other celebrities (such as Alan Rachins ) competed to inspire appreciation for classical music.

Is portrayed by John Viener in Gilda Radner: Its Always Something .

Was a favorite comedian of the students in "Head of the Class" .

His mother Cathalene Parker Browning was the only daughter of Capt. Miles R. Browning, Admiral Halseys Chief of Staff for much of WW2.

Turned down the role of Buzz Lightyear in Toy Story because his agent greatly advised him against doing the project. He didnt want to turn it down, as he was interested in the project.

Turned down the role of "Peter Venkman" in Ghostbusters , which went to Bill Murray. According to Chase, the finished film is nothing like the script that he read, adding that the script was much scarier than the film. He did visit the set at least once, as a picture of him on the temple steps can be seen in Don Shay s book "Making Ghostbusters".

Plays piano, drums and saxophone.

Had back surgery shortly after his time with "SNL" as a result of all the comedic falls he had taken on-stage.

Was the first person to say "Live from New York, its Saturday Night!" on "Saturday Night Live" .

Would say "toy boat" after every time he stumbled over his words during Weekend Update.

Moes Southwest Grill, a fast-food chain, has menu items named after characters from three of his films: Three Amigos! (the in-famous El Guapo sauce), Caddyshack (Billy Barou nachos with chicken), and Fletch (John Coctostan quesadilla with steak).

Daughter Caley Chase is also an actor.

Release of the book, "Im Chevy Chase - And Youre Not" by Rena Fruchter.

Met "Saturday Night Live" producer Lorne Michaels while in line to see a Monty Python movie.

His ancestry includes English, as well as Scottish, Irish, Danish, and a smaller amount of Dutch and German, roots.

He once wrote the back page of a Mad Magazine (issue #134, April 1970.) A satire of "Mission Impossible" titled "A TV Scene Wed Like To See.".

Admitted in an interview that the comments and jokes directed at him during his 2002 roast legitimately hurt him. As soon as the roast was over, he returned to his hotel room and was so depressed about it, he was sobbing most of the night and had to be consoled by roast master Paul Schfer. Chases roast was noted by fans and critics alike for being particularly mean-spirited, even by the standards of a roast.

Was considered for the role of Harry Sultenfuss in My Girl , but was known at the time for acting only in comedies, not dramas and the role was given to Dan Aykroyd instead.

Turned down the role of Dave Seville in Alvin and the Chipmunks .

Turned down the lead role in Forrest Gump .

Offered the role of Scoot Calvin/Santa Claus in The Santa Clause , but had to turn it down due to scheduling conflicts.

Born on the same day as R.L. Stine.

He named Oh Heavenly Dog as the worst film he appeared in.

He was considered for the role of Cardinal Glick in Dogma .

He was banned from hosting "Saturday Night Live" in 1995 due to his abusive behaviour to the cast and crew when he guest-hosted, although he has made cameo appearances since.

He was considered for the role of Jimmy in Thelma & Louise .

He turned down the role of Eddie Valiant in Who Framed Roger Rabbit because, due to his rule of appearing in family films, he disliked the idea of him hooking up with a cartoon character.

He was unhappy with how National Lampoons European Vacation turned out.

He was considered to star opposite Bill Murray in The Fabulous Baker Boys .

He came tenth in Rolling Stone Magazines ranking of every castmember of "Saturday Night Live" .

He was considered for the lead role in Arthur .

He was considered for Han Solo in Star Wars and Indiana Jones in Raiders of the Lost Ark .

He hated making Caddyshack II so much that after a take, he said to the director, "Let me know when youre going to install a laugh track" before walking away in disgust.

He left "Community" due to criticisms of the quality of the show, not getting on with creator Dan Harmon and disliking his characters bigotry.

He was interested in starring in The Player , but was turned down. His father helped get the original book published.

He was considered for the role of Dan Gallagher in Fatal Attraction .

He was considered for the role of Jack Butler in Mr. Mom .

He was the original choice to star in So I Married an Axe Murderer .

He was considered for the role of Ted Stryker in Airplane! .

He was considered for the role of Alan Bauer in Splash .

He was considered for the role of Phil Connors in Groundhog Day .

He named Irwin Fletcher in Fletch as his favourite role because it allowed him to play several different characters and work with props.

Was great friends with Robin Williams.

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

[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.

Somehow they took to the tall, thin, handsome guy.

I still have these knife-wound scars.

I was always the guy getting kicked out of my classes at school for having an attitude problem.

A laugh is a surprise. And all humor is physical. I was always athletic, so that came naturally to me.

I come from a much freer kind of performance thing, where I rely on my own improv and my own sense of humor.

All my children inherited perfect pitch.

Parrots make great pets. They have more personality than goldfish.

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. .