Chris Farley | |
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.jpg) Farley in 1993 | |
| Born | Christopher Crosby Farley (1964-02-15)February 15, 1964 Madison, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| Died | December 18, 1997(1997-12-18) (aged 33) Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Burial place | Resurrection Cemetery |
| Alma mater | Marquette University (BA) |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1984–1997 |
| Relatives |
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Christopher Crosby Farley (February 15, 1964 – December 18, 1997) was an American actor and comedian. Farley was a member of Chicago'sSecond City Theatre[1] and later acast member of theNBC sketch comedy showSaturday Night Live for five seasons, from 1990 to 1995.[2][3] He went on to pursue a film career, appearing in films such asAirheads,Tommy Boy,Black Sheep,Beverly Hills Ninja, andAlmost Heroes.
Influenced byJohn Belushi, Farley was widely known for his physical performance/comedy and athleticism (similar toCurly Howard andRoscoe Arbuckle).[4] This was used to great effect during his time onSaturday Night Live, and continued through many of his films. From his early acting days, and through the height of his fame, Farley struggled withobesity,alcoholism, andsubstance abuse. He died of a drug overdose in 1997 at the age of 33.[5]
Christopher Crosby Farley was born inMadison, Wisconsin, on February 15, 1964 to anIrish-American family, and grew up inMaple Bluff.[6] His father Thomas John Farley Sr. owned an oil company and his mother Mary Anne (née Crosby) was a homemaker.[2] He had four siblings: Tom Jr.,Kevin,John, and Barbara. His cousinJim is the current CEO ofFord Motor Company.[7][8] Farley attendedparochial schools in Madison, includingEdgewood High School of the Sacred Heart. According toJoel Murray, a fellow Second City cast member, Farley would "always make it tomass."[9]
Many of his summers were spent as a camper and counselor at Red Arrow Camp, nearMinocqua, Wisconsin. He graduated fromMarquette University in 1986, with a double major incommunications andtheatre.[10] At Marquette, he playedrugby union and discovered a love of comedy.[11] After college, he worked with his father at the Scotch Oil Company in Madison.[12] He first learned the art of improvisational comedy at the Ark Improv Theatre in Madison.
Farley made his way to Chicago, performing first atImprov Olympic. He then attendedChicago'sSecond City Theatre, starting the same day asStephen Colbert,[13] initially as part of Second City's touring group. He was eventually promoted to their main stage in 1989, and was a cast member of three revues,The Gods Must Be Lazy,It Was Thirty Years Ago Today, andFlag Smoking Permitted in Lobby Only or Censorama.[1] Farley also auditioned for a role as a Mall Santa inHome Alone, but he wasn't what directorChris Columbus was looking for.[14]
Along withChris Rock, Farley was one of the newSaturday Night Live cast members announced in early 1990.[2][3] OnSNL, Farley frequently collaborated with fellow cast membersChris Rock,Adam Sandler,Tim Meadows,Rob Schneider andDavid Spade. This group came to be known as the "Bad Boys of SNL."[15][16]
Popular characters performed by Farley includedMatt Foley, an over-the-topmotivational speaker who frequently reminded other characters that he was "living in a van down by the river!" The character was created byBob Odenkirk when he and Farley were performers at Second City. The character's name came from a longtime friend of Farley's who became a Catholic priest and currently serves as pastor at St. James Catholic Church inArlington Heights, Illinois.[17] In early renditions of the character, Farley used other names, depending on whom he knew in the audience, until the real-life Foley went to the show and had his name used, at which point Farley felt the name best suited the character and refused to change it. Some of the mannerisms of the character were a combination of the positions Farley noticed his rugby teammates took on the pitch coupled with his high school football coach's habit of squatting down when giving pep talks and the voice his father used when he was angry.[18]
Other famous Farley characters included Todd O'Connor ofBill Swerski's Superfans, a group of stereotypical Chicagoans who repeatedly shouted"da Bears!";[19] a would-beChippendales dancer, ina famous sketch that paired him with guest hostPatrick Swayze;[20][21] one of the "Gap Girls", who worked together at a local mall; a stereotypicallunch lady, to the theme of "Lunchlady Land"' performed by Adam Sandler;[22] Bennett Brauer, aWeekend Update commentator who often divulged his personal and hygienic problems viaair quotes; and himself onThe Chris Farley Show, a talk show in which Farley "interviewed" the guest with poorly conceived questions or trailed off about subjects not germane to the guest.
Some of these characters were brought toSNL from his days at Second City. Farley also performed impersonations ofTom Arnold (who gave Farley's eulogy at his private funeral),Andrew Giuliani,Jerry Garcia,Meat Loaf,Norman Schwarzkopf,Dom DeLuise,Roger Ebert,Carnie Wilson,Newt Gingrich,Mindy Cohn,Mama Cass,Hank Williams Jr., andRush Limbaugh.[23]
Off-screen, Farley was well known for his pranks in the offices ofSaturday Night Live. Sandler and Farley would make late-night prank phone calls from theSNL offices inRockefeller Center, with Sandler speaking in an old woman's voice and Farley farting into the phone andmooning cars from a limousine, and even once defecating out a 17th floor window. He was also known to frequently get naked and do various stunts for laughs, including imitatingJame "Buffalo Bill" Gumb from the then-current filmThe Silence of the Lambs. Rock once claimed that he probably saw Farley's genitals more than Farley's girlfriend did.[24][25] Farley, alongside Sandler, wasfired by NBC in 1995.[26][27]
During his time onSNL, Farley appeared in the comedy filmsWayne's World,[28]Wayne's World 2,Coneheads,[29]Airheads,[30] and had an uncredited role inBilly Madison.[31] He also appeared in the music video for theRed Hot Chili Peppers single "Soul to Squeeze", which was featured on the soundtrack toConeheads.[32]
After Farley and most of his fellow cast members were released from their contracts atSaturday Night Live following the1994–95 season, Farley began focusing on his film career. In his first two major films,Tommy Boy andBlack Sheep, he starred withSNL colleague and close friendDavid Spade. These were a success at the domesticbox office, earning around $32 million each and gaining a largecult following onhome video.[33][34] The two films established Farley as a relativelybankable star, and he was given the title role ofBeverly Hills Ninja, which finished in first place at the box office on its opening weekend.[35]
Farley was particularly dissatisfied withBlack Sheep, an attempt by the studio to recapture the chemistry inTommy Boy, and which was only 60 pages into the script when the project was green-lit. As a result, he relapsed on the night of the premiere, which required further rehab before he could begin work onBeverly Hills Ninja.[36] His final completed films —Almost Heroes andDirty Work — were posthumously released in May and June 1998, respectively.
Farley was originally cast as the voice of thetitle character in the animated filmShrek (2001), recording 85% (or 95% by some accounts) of the character's dialogue, but he died just before the voice-over was completed.[37][38] Farley's formerSNL castmateMike Myers replaced him in the role, and insisted Shrek's lines were rewritten.[37] A story reel andanimation test featuring a sample of Farley as Shrek was released in 2015 and 2022 respectively.[39] The original version of Shrek was more like Farley himself, according to his brother.[40] Additionally, inDana Carvey andDavid Spade's podcastFly on the Wall tribute episode to the 25th anniversary of Chris's death,John Farley said he had been approached by the studio to complete Chris's lines due to his voice sounding almost identical to his brother's. While lamenting he wished he had completed the film for Chris, John admitted he just could not bring himself to do it at the time, even though Chris had five days left of line readings.[41]
Farley was slated for another voice role inDinosaur (2000) as a young maleBrachiosaurus named Sorbus who, despite his gigantic stature, was frightened of heights. After his death, the character was rewritten as Baylene, an elderly femaleBrachiosaurus voiced byJoan Plowright.[42]
At the time of his death, Farley had been in talks to co-star withVince Vaughn inThe Gelfin, and to star in a biographical film about comedianFatty Arbuckle to be written byDavid Mamet.[43]Jim Carrey's role in the 1996 filmThe Cable Guy was originally intended for Farley, but scheduling conflicts forced him to decline.[44] Farley was also offered the role of Ishmael (eventually played byRandy Quaid) inKingpin, though he was forced by Paramount to turn it down to honor his commitment to star inBlack Sheep.
Farley was slated to appear in a thirdGhostbusters film, which was at the time intended to be about a new trio of Ghostbusters taking on overpopulation in Hell.[44][45]Dav Pilkey, author of the children's book seriesCaptain Underpants, had wanted Farley to play the title role in a potential live-action television series based on the books.[46]
Farley had been in talks for the lead in an adaptation of the novelA Confederacy of Dunces.[47] Farley even expressed interest in portrayingAtuk in an adaptation of the novelThe Incomparable Atuk.[48] Both of these shelved projects, along with the Arbuckle biopic, have been alleged to be cursed as Farley,John Belushi, andJohn Candy were each attached to both roles, and all three died before any of the films entered production.[44][49] Farley was written in mind for a part inGrown Ups during early conception of the film. Development was put on hold due to his death and would not be released until 2010 withKevin James in his place as Eric Lamonsoff.[50]
Two months before his death, Farley had a conversation with Spade about a hypothetical third film that would have starred the duo (based on the box office successes ofTommy Boy andBlack Sheep). Although nothing was ever formalized, directorStephen Surjik developed a script for a film namedTree with both Farley and Spade in mind. The plot was described as "...involving a low-level White House employee who goes to the Pacific Northwest in search of a presidential Christmas tree. The White House staffer hooks up with a quirky truck driver and hijinks ensue", presumably with Spade as the White House employee and Farley as the truck driver.[51][52]
For most of his adult life, Farley battledalcohol anddrug addiction. These addictions resulted in him being suspended from the cast ofSaturday Night Live. ProducerLorne Michaels had little patience for Farley's drug use (having had similar problems withJohn Belushi) and threatened to dismiss Farley permanently if he refused to obtain help.[53]Bernie Brillstein, whose firm ofBrillstein-Grey Entertainment managed Farley, had repeatedly sent Farley todrug and alcohol rehabilitation.[54]
In 1997, there was a visible decline in Farley's health. He made aguest appearance onNickelodeon's children's sketch comedy showAll That. The appearance proceeded without incident, but the physical comedy Farley was famous for was minimal, arguably because it was noticeable Farley was breathing heavily and struggling to perform. In the final years of his life, Farley sought treatment for his weight and drug abuse on 17 occasions.[55]
On October 25, 1997, Farley made his final appearance onSaturday Night Live as a first-time host. The cold open featured Lorne Michaels doubting Farley's ability to host, with Tim Meadows advocating that "he will be calm, he will be focused and he will be good ... His party days are over."Chevy Chase was Farley's "sponsor" in the sketch.[56] In fact there was genuine uncertainty over whether Farley would be able to perform;Chris Rock, who appeared in his opening monologue, was reportedly on standby to host himself if required. Farley's voice was noticeably hoarse following the dress rehearsal, and he appeared flushed and out of breath during the episode.[57]
On December 18, 1997, at 2:00 p.m. CST, Farley was found dead by his younger brotherJohn in his apartment in theJohn Hancock Center in Chicago, at the age of 33.[58] An autopsy revealed that Farley had died of anoverdose of a combination ofcocaine andheroin,[59] commonly known as a "speedball". Advancedatherosclerosis as well as asthma and Type 2 Diabetes was cited as a "significant contributing factor".[36][59]
A private funeral was held for Farley on December 23 at Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church in his hometown of Madison, Wisconsin. Over 500 people attended his funeral, including many comedians who had worked with him onSaturday Night Live and on film, such asDan Aykroyd,Adam Sandler,Chris Rock,Rob Schneider,Lorne Michaels,Al Franken,John Goodman,Bob Odenkirk,Tim Meadows,Norm Macdonald,Robert Smigel,George Wendt, andPhil Hartman.[60][61] One of Farley's best friends and colleague,David Spade, was absent, fueling some speculation that there was some falling out with Farley prior to his death. Years later Spade denied this, saying that his absence from the funeral was because he would have found it too emotionally overwhelming.[62] Another funeral was held on January 13, 1998, at St. Monica Catholic Church.[63] Farley's remains were interred atResurrection Cemetery in Madison.[64]
Farley's career, private life, and early death have often been compared to that of his comedy idolJohn Belushi, who died at the same age and from a similar drug overdose.[21][59]
On August 26, 2005, Farley was posthumously awarded the 2,289th star on theHollywood Walk of Fame, located in front ofIO West.[65] An authorized biography of Farley,The Chris Farley Show, was written by his brother Tom Jr. and Tanner Colby. The song "Purple Stain" from theRed Hot Chili Peppers' 1999 album,Californication, contains the lyric "Farley is an angel and I can prove this" as a tribute to Farley.[66]
A television documentary on his lifeI Am Chris Farley was shown on August 10, 2015.[67][68] Farley was also the subject of the TV program,Autopsy: The Last Hours of Chris Farley, which premiered on November 19, 2016, on theReelz channel.[69]
In 2018,Adam Sandler wrote and performed an emotional tribute song dedicated to Farley in his Netflix stand-up specialAdam Sandler: 100% Fresh. Netflix released the performance onYouTube later that year to commemorate the 21st anniversary of Farley's death.[70] Sandler later played the song live on an episode ofSaturday Night Live that he hosted on May 4, 2019.[71]
On April 12, 2024, a Chris Farley biopic starringPaul Walter Hauser and directed byJosh Gad from a script byScott Neustadter andMichael H. Weber was announced to be in the works, with SNL creatorLorne Michaels set to produce. Later that month,New Line Cinema andWarner Bros. Pictures acquired the rights to the project for $2.5 million.[72][73][74]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Wayne's World | Security Guard | Film debut |
| 1993 | Coneheads | Ronnie Bradford | |
| Wayne's World 2 | Milton | ||
| 1994 | Airheads | Officer Wilson | |
| 1995 | Billy Madison | Bus Driver | Uncredited |
| Tommy Boy | Thomas "Tommy" Callahan III | MTV Movie Awards Best On-Screen Duo(Shared withDavid Spade) | |
| Shrek - I Feel Good Animation Test | Shrek (voice) | Animated test short; released in 2023 | |
| 1996 | Black Sheep | Michael "Mike" Donnelly | |
| 1997 | Beverly Hills Ninja | Haru | Nominated:MTV Movie Awards Best Comedic Performance[75] |
| 1998 | Almost Heroes | Bartholomew Hunt | Posthumous release |
| Dirty Work | Jimmy No-Nose | Uncredited; posthumous release (final film role)[76] |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990–1995 | Saturday Night Live | Matt Foley / Various characters | 100 episodes |
| 1992 | The Jackie Thomas Show | Chris Thomas | Episode: "Ottumwa 52501" |
| 1993 | Roseanne | Man in Clothing Store | Episode: "Glengarry, Glen Rosey" |
| The Larry Sanders Show | Himself | Episode: "NY or LA?" | |
| 1994 | Tom | Chris | Episode: "He's Heavy, He's My Brother" |
| 1997 | All That | The Chicago Ketchup Chef | Episode: "Mint Condition" |
| Saturday Night Live | Himself (host) | Episode: "Chris Farley/The Mighty Mighty Bosstones" |
an agreement with the Estate of Chris Farley under which Network (Entertainment) will develop and produce a feature documentary on the life and legacy of legendary funny man Chris Farley. We very much look forward to working with Kevin and the rest of the Farley family to recount Chris' life and work, and the impact he had on all those around him, in an authentic, moving, and of course very funny, way.
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