Chris Farley

Christopher Crosby Farley (February 15, 1964 – December 18, 1997) was an American actor and comedian born in Madison, Wisconsin. He was best known as a cast member on the American sketch comedy show, Saturday Night Live. He went on to enjoy a string of successful movies in the mid-1990s.

Early Life

Chris graduated from Edgewood High School after having been expelled from La Lumiere School after just one year. He then went on to graduate from Marquette University in 1986 with a degree in communications and theatre. After graduating, he worked with his father at the Scotch Oil Company in Madison. Chris got his start in professional comedy at the Ark Improv Theatre and Improv Olympic Theatre in Madison. He then went on to perform at Chicago's Second City Theatre. He initially was part of Second City's touring group, but was eventually promoted to their main stage. While working at Second City, he was discovered by Lorne Michaels and moved on to Saturday Night Live.

Saturday Night Live

Farley was one of two new SNL cast members announced in the spring of 1990, after the 1989-1990 season came to a tumultuous end. The other newcomer, introduced at a press conference, was Chris Rock. On the show, Farley frequently collaborated with fellow cast members David Spade, Rob Schneider and Adam Sandler, among others. This group came to be known as the Bad Boys of SNL. Popular characters performed by Farley, some of which were brought to SNL from his days as a Second City performer in Chicago, included an over-the-top motivational speaker named Matt Foley (who constantly reminded characters that he lived in "a van down by the river"), Todd O'Connor of Bill Swerski's Super fans (a group of stereotypical Chicagoans who constantly yell out "da Bears!"), a Chippendales dancer (in a famous skit that paired him with guest host Patrick Swayze), a "Gap Girl" (who hung out with friends at a local mall), and Bennett Brauer (a Weekend Update commentator who would often divulge his personal and hygienic problems via air quotes). As far as impersonations went, Farley was known mainly for his portrayals of Tom Arnold, who gave the eulogy at his funeral, and Newt Gingrich, who invited Farley down to Washington, D.C.

Films

Farley also made appearances in several films, including Wayne's World in 1991, Airheads in 1993, Coneheads in 1993, Wayne's World 2 in 1993 (playing a different character than he did in the first one), and Adam Sandler's Billy Madison in 1995. After Farley and most of his fellow cast members were released from their contracts at Saturday Night Live after its dismal 1994-1995 season, Farley decided to start in the film industry. His first films were made with his SNL cohort and best friend David Spade, forging a new team similar to the Dan Aykroyd-John Belushi days of old. Together, the duo made the films Tommy Boy and Black Sheep, which both gained somewhat of a cult audience. Farley and Spade were planning a third film together but his death halted all plans.

By now, however, he had managed to classify himself as a bonafide Hollywood celebrity, and went on to star in two more films: Beverly Hills Ninja in 1997 in which he was the sole leading role and Almost Heroes with Matthew Perry in 1998. He also had a cameo role in fellow SNL Bad Boy Norm MacDonald's Dirty Work in 1998, which was released well after Farley's death. Farley was popular with young audiences not only as a physical comedian but also as a comic actor, but few critics warmed to him. Only Tommy Boy was met with any degree of critical acclaim.

At the end of his 2000 feature Little Nicky, producer Adam Sandler insinuated that the film's heaven-residing angel character, played by Reese Witherspoon, began a romantic relationship with her aerobic instructor: Chris Farley.

Farley had recorded vocals for a character in an animated film produced by Dreamworks SKG, but his death necessitated that the role be recast. He was replaced by SNL colleague Mike Myers as the voice of "Shrek", in the movie of the same name.

Farley's last years

Farley, who had struggled with obesity, alcohol, and drug addiction for years, was found dead in his Chicago apartment in the John Hancock Center on December 18, 1997. An autopsy revealed that Farley had died of an accidental overdose of heroin and cocaine (a speedball) with coronary arteriosclerosis being a contributing factor. By the time of his last SNL appearance, as a guest host on October 25, 1997 ^*, he was evidently in trouble — his voice was unbearably hoarse, he looked bloated, sweated profusely, and was grossly overweight. A tabloid reported that Farley had been drinking heavily during the week of rehearsals and needed an oxygen tank. Reportedly on the set of Almost Heroes, he required almost constant hands-on caretaking.

He was 33 years old at his death, the same age John Belushi was when he died. Belushi had likewise died of an overdose of cocaine and heroin.

Farley was in some ways a contradictory character: completely uninhibited onstage and known to be willing to do anything for a laugh, he could be shy and insecure in private. His friends have said that they knew and worried about his excessive behavior, but were unable to get him to stop. After his death, the tabloid press exploited the lurid details, but people who knew Farley said he was a very kind, decent human being.

Ready to prove that he was more than just a comic actor, Farley was ready to take on a more serious role in a project about the life of silent movie comedic actor Roscoe Arbuckle that stalled at Farley's death. He also was originally going to play former Nazi Hermann Göring in the television miniseries Nuremberg, based on the Nuremberg Trials. Sadly, the Arbuckle project never came to fruition, and the Nuremburg miniseries was recast with Brian Cox in the role of Goring.

In an interview in the book Live From New York, former cast member Jay Mohr recalled a surreal moment involving Farley and fellow cast member Phil Hartman. In the SNL cast's goodbye song-and-dance performance to Hartman, the final scene featured Farley and Hartman embracing each other. They died within six months of each other.

After his death, a funeral service was held at Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church in Madison, Wisconsin on December 23, 1997. Over 500 people attended his funeral, including Lorne Michaels, Dan Aykroyd, John Goodman, George Wendt, Tom Arnold, Chris Rock, Adam Sandler, and Rob Schneider. David Spade did not come to Farley's funeral because he "could not be in a room where Chris was in a box." However, he did introduce a retrospective of his friend, a "The Chris Farley Show" sketch in which a shy, nervous Farley interviewed Paul McCartney, on the 25th anniversary special of Saturday Night Live. Farley was buried in Resurrection Cemetery in Madison.

On August 26, 2005, eight years after his death, Farley posthumously received the 2,289th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. His star is located in front of ImprovOlympic West. ^*

Filmography