Chevy Chase

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.

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" (1962) within 6 months of the article. It never happened.

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

Was a long-time class clown expelled from private schools like NYC's 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.

Was a long-time class clown expelled from private schools like NYC's 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.

Graduated from Bard College with a bachelor of arts degree in English (1967).

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, Anthony Michael Hall, David Koechner, Norm MacDonald, Finesse Mitchell, Bill Murray, Kevin Nealon, Randy Quaid, Rob Riggle, Charles Rocket, Damon Wayans, and Fred Wolf. Only Nealon and Quaid equaled Chase in height.

Has said that he regrets leaving "Saturday Night Live" after just one year.

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.

His now-famous "Good evening, I'm Chevy Chase and you're 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.

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.

He was the first member of the original "Saturday Night Live" (1975) cast to leave the show - after only one season, a decision he later said he regretted. He was replaced by Bill Murray.

His big break was performing on "Saturday Night Live" (1975). Ironically, he was never signed as a cast member. He signed a one year writer contract and became a cast member during rehearsals.

Was the first person to say "Live from New York, it's Saturday Night!" on "Saturday Night Live" (1975).

His now-famous "Good evening, I'm Chevy Chase and you're not" opening line on the "Weekend Update" segments of "Saturday Night Live" (1975) was a takeoff of New York news anchor Roger Grimsby's "Here now the news" opening line.

At 6' 4", he was the tallest original "Saturday Night Live" (1975) 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 Lampoon's Animal House was originally written with him in mind, but due to a scheduling conflict, he had to turn the role down. The role went to Tim Matheson instead.

The role of Eric 'Otter' Stratton in National Lampoon's Animal House (1978) was originally written with him in mind, but due to a scheduling conflict, he had to turn the role down. The role went to Tim Matheson instead.

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.

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.

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

Was nearly killed (electrocuted) during the filming of Modern Problems (1981) 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.

Fans often imitate his famous, straight-faced, "I like it!" (from Modern Problems (1981)).

Daughters: Cydney Cathalene Chase (born 1982), Caley Leigh Chase (born 1984) and Emily Evelyn Chase (born 1988), with wife Jayni Chase.

Turned down the role of Peter Venkman in Ghost Busters 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.

Turned down the role of "Peter Venkman" in Ghost Busters (1984), 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".

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

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

Was a favorite comedian of the students in "Head of the Class" (1986).

Moe's Southwest Grill, a fast-food chain, has menu items named after characters from three of his films: ¡Three Amigos! (1986) (the in-famous El Guapo sauce), Caddyshack (1980) (Billy Barou nachos with chicken), and Fletch (1985) (John Coctostan quesadilla with steak).

Admitted in an interview that making ¡Three Amigos! (1986) was the most fun he has had on a film.

Has a street named after him in New Orleans, Louisiana, possibly due to the Southern U.S. setting of Fletch Lives ; and another street named after him in Cochranton, Pennsylvania.

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

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

Turned down the role of Buzz Lightyear in Toy Story , he didn't want to as he was interested in the project, but his agent greatly advised him against doing the project.

Convicted of drunk driving.

Convicted of drunk driving. [1995]

Turned down the role of Buzz Lightyear in Toy Story (1995) because his agent greatly advised him against doing the project. He didn't want to turn it down, as he was interested in the project.

Winner of Harvard Lampoon Lifetime Achievement Award 1996.

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

Prefers to do family-oriented movies and has turned down roles in several films including the lead in American Beauty (1999).

Is portrayed by John Viener in Gilda Radner: It's Always Something (TV).

Roasted into the New York Friar's Club on September 28, 2002.

Roasted into the New York Friar's Club on September 28, 2002.

Is portrayed by John Viener in Gilda Radner: It's Always Something (2002) (TV).

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.

Helped campaign for John Kerry in the 2004 Presidential Election.

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