Chris Farley
A whirlwind of physical comedy and unchecked vulnerability who became the heart of 1990s sketch comedy and cult film classics.
1964–1997 (age 33)·American comedian and actor·Birthday: February 15·Baby Boomers
Biography
Chris Farley sold out theaters as Matt Foley, the motivational speaker who lived 'in a van down by the river.' The character, which debuted on 'Saturday Night Live' in 1990, turned a simple sketch into a cultural flashpoint. Farley grew up in Madison, Wisconsin, trained at Chicago's Second City, and joined SNL with a physical style that mixed roaring shouts with sudden tenderness. He paired with David Spade in 'Tommy Boy' and 'Black Sheep,' building a comic rhythm around blundering innocence and sharp sarcasm. His performances drew on a desperate need for connection, which made audiences respond with genuine warmth. Farley died at 33, leaving behind a body of work that feels both enormous and close.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Chris was born in 1964, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Chris Was Born
The biggest hits of 1964
#1 Movie
Mary Poppins
Best Picture
My Fair Lady
#1 TV Show
Bonanza
Chris's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1964Born
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
1969Started school
Apollo 11: humans walk on the Moon; Woodstock festival
Gas: $0.35/galHome: $15,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Sugar, Sugar" — The ArchiesBest Picture: Midnight Cowboy
1977Became a teenager
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1980Could drive
John Lennon shot and killed in New York
Gas: $1.19/galHome: $47,200Min wage: $3.10/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Call Me" — BlondieBest Picture: Ordinary People
1982Could vote
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1985Turned 21
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1994Turned 30
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
1997Died at 33
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
Key Achievements
- Created the iconic 'Saturday Night Live' character Matt Foley, a hyperactive motivational speaker.
- Starred in and co-wrote the hit comedy film 'Tommy Boy,' which became a cult classic.
- Was a central cast member on 'Saturday Night Live' for five seasons during a popular era for the show.
- Headlined several major studio comedies including 'Black Sheep' and 'Beverly Hills Ninja.'
Did You Know?
He was a devoted fan of the Chicago Bears and would often perform sketches in a Bears jersey.
Farley was an accomplished athlete in high school, playing football and rugby.
His father owned an oil company, and Farley worked there as a salesman before pursuing comedy.
John Belushi was his idol, and he lived in the same New York apartment building where Belushi died.
“I live in a van down by the river!”
