Chevy Chase
The deadpan, physically daring comedian who defined the original 'Saturday Night Live' and brought a smug charm to 80s Hollywood.
Born 1943 (age 83)·American comedian, writer and actor·Birthday: October 8·The Silent Generation
Biography
Cornelius Crane Chase, who adopted the name Chevy from a medieval English ballad, emerged from the counterculture satire of National Lampoon to become the first breakout star of 'Saturday Night Live.' His trademark was a cool, disruptive arrogance, delivered through the iconic 'Weekend Update' anchor desk and pratfalls that seemed to mock his own WASPish good looks. This persona translated to film, where he anchored the 'Vacation' and 'Fletch' franchises, playing hapless everymen with a sarcastic edge. His career path has been marked by both immense popularity and public friction, but his early influence on sketch comedy's move to the mainstream is undeniable. Chase's specific brand of aloof, physical humor created a template for the television comedian as a rock star.
The Silent Generation
1928–1945
Born between the Depression and the end of WWII. Too young to fight, old enough to remember. They became the conformist middle managers of the 1950s — and the civil rights leaders who quietly dismantled Jim Crow.
Chevy was born in 1943, placing them squarely in The Silent Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Chevy Was Born
The biggest hits of 1943
#1 Movie
For Whom the Bell Tolls
Best Picture
Casablanca
Chevy's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1943Born
Allies invade Sicily; Battle of Stalingrad ends
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $3,290Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"I've Heard That Song Before" — Harry JamesBest Picture: Casablanca
1948Started school
Israel declares independence; Berlin Blockade begins
Gas: $0.26/galHome: $7,450Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Twelfth Street Rag" — Pee Wee HuntBest Picture: Hamlet
1956Became a teenager
Elvis Presley appears on The Ed Sullivan Show
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $10,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Heartbreak Hotel" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: Around the World in 80 Days
1959Could drive
Fidel Castro takes power in Cuba
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $12,400Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"The Battle of New Orleans" — Johnny HortonBest Picture: Ben-Hur
1961Could vote
Yuri Gagarin becomes the first human in space
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,500Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Tossin' and Turnin'" — Bobby LewisBest Picture: West Side Story
1964Turned 21
Civil Rights Act signed; Beatles arrive in America
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $13,450Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"I Want to Hold Your Hand" — The BeatlesBest Picture: My Fair Lady
1973Turned 30
US withdraws from Vietnam; Roe v. Wade decided
Gas: $0.39/galHome: $22,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" — Tony Orlando & DawnBest Picture: The Sting
1983Turned 40
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1993Turned 50
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
2003Turned 60
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2013Turned 70
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2023Turned 80
ChatGPT goes mainstream; Israel-Hamas war begins
Gas: $3.52/galHome: $361,600Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Flowers" — Miley CyrusBest Picture: Oppenheimer
2026Age 83 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- He was the first cast member to host 'Saturday Night Live' while still a regular on the show.
- He won an Emmy in 1976 for his writing work on the inaugural season of 'Saturday Night Live.'
- His film 'National Lampoon's Vacation' spawned a multi-decade franchise and entered the cultural lexicon.
- He received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2020 for his contributions to television.
Did You Know?
His famous stage name 'Chevy' is derived from the medieval ballad 'The Ballad of Chevy Chase.'
He worked as a cab driver and audio engineer for the band Steely Dan before finding comedy success.
He turned down the role of Dr. Peter Venkman in 'Ghostbusters,' which later went to Bill Murray.
“I think what I do best is find the joke in reality. I take real things and just tweak them.”
