Chris Farley’s Comedy Hero: The Star Who Left Him Speechless

Next year will see a British version of Saturday Night Live arrive on our screens, finally giving UK audiences a taste of the show’s unique energy in real time, rather than the delayed American broadcasts that rather miss the point of the title. Over the years, the programme has launched the careers of many comic talents, though not all have managed to reach their full potential. John Belushi is often remembered in this context, but Chris Farley’s story is equally poignant. Farley never became a household name in Britain, largely because the original show wasn’t widely available here, so his exuberant, larger-than-life style remained something of a mystery to us. He was, in many ways, a forerunner to Jack Black, known for his wild antics and unpredictable presence, and was even seen as a possible heir to John Candy, who passed away near the end of Farley’s five-year stint at 30 Rockefeller Plaza.

Farley’s approach to comedy was all-in. He would throw himself into sketches with abandon—dancing, undressing, and generally keeping everyone on their toes. The live audience thrived on the sense that anything could happen. He worked alongside future stars such as Chris Rock and Adam Sandler, and his off-screen life was just as boisterous as his on-stage persona. Sandler and Farley, in particular, were notorious for their pranks, with Farley often stripping off and doing impressions designed to shock, including a memorable take on the villain from The Silence of the Lambs. Yet, as with many comedians before him, including his idol Belushi, Farley’s public exuberance masked private struggles. He began battling substance abuse in his mid-twenties, a fight that would shadow him for the rest of his life.

Chevy Chase: A Comedy Idol

Among the original cast members of SNL, Chevy Chase stood out as a figure Farley deeply admired. Chase, the first to anchor ‘Weekend Update’ and one of the earliest to leave the show for a successful film career—particularly with the National Lampoon and Fletch series—was a legend in his own right. Fred Wolf, a writer on the show, recalled,

“I was in such awe of Chevy, and I know Farley was too. Chevy was very nice to Farley, and Farley would sort of sit at his feet and listen to him talk – because Farley was physical, Chevy was physical, and Chevy was telling Farley that he was worried about him throwing out his back or getting into the same problems that Chevy got into because of his physicality. Chevy would talk to Farley and be very nice to him. And Farley just loved it.”

Chase’s concern for Farley was genuine, particularly regarding the physical demands of their comedic style. The two shared a bond over their willingness to put their bodies on the line for a laugh, though Chase was quick to warn Farley about the risks involved.

From Sketches to the Silver Screen

Farley eventually made the leap to film, much like his hero. He had small parts in both Wayne’s World films before landing leading roles in comedies such as Tommy Boy and Black Sheep, both alongside David Spade, another alumnus of the show. These films performed well at the box office, but success did not bring Farley peace. Instead, his personal difficulties intensified, and by 1995, he was dismissed from the programme.

Lorne Michaels, the show’s creator, spoke about Farley’s admiration for Chase and his dedication to performance:

“As a kid, Chris had taped his eyebrow up to try and look like Belushi. We often said Chris was the child John and Danny (Aykroyd) never had but would have had if they’d had a child. Chevy came to see Chris once, and Chris was doing his falls, and Chevy said, ‘Don’t you use anything to break your fall?’ Chris said, ‘What do you mean? Did you?’ Chris had welts all over his chest. He just assumed that that was the price you paid for doing it.”

The Final Act

By 1997, Farley’s health was visibly declining. He had been cast as the lead voice in the animated film Shrek, but he died before the project could be completed, leaving Mike Myers to take over the role. Farley was just 33, the same age as Belushi when he too died from an overdose. Farley’s story remains a powerful reminder of the highs and lows that often accompany a life in comedy.