Chevy Chase

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Lore & Background

Cornelius Crane "Chevy" Chase was born on October 8, 1943, in Lower Manhattan and grew up in Woodstock, New York. He has an older brother, Ned Jr. His father was a book editor and magazine writer; his mother was a concert pianist and librettist. Chase’s paternal grandfather was an artist and illustrator, and his granduncle was a painter and teacher. His mother was adopted by her stepfather, an heir to a plumbing manufacturing company, and took his surname. Chase’s maternal grandmother was an opera singer who performed at Carnegie Hall, and his maternal grandfather was a rear admiral who served on an aircraft carrier during the Battle of Midway. Chase was named for his adoptive grandfather; his nickname came from his grandmother, who chose it from an English ballad because she was a descendant of the Scottish Clan Douglas. His parents divorced when he was four, and he later stated he was physically and psychologically abused as a child by his mother and a stepfather who was a psychoanalyst. He attended Riverdale Country School before being expelled, then graduated as valedictorian from the Stockbridge School in 1962. He briefly attended Haverford College, where he was known for slapstick comedy and physical humor, including pratfalls and sticking forks into his orifices. He transferred to Bard College, studied a pre-med curriculum, and graduated in 1967 with a Bachelor of Arts in English. While at Bard, he played drums in a band whose other members later founded Steely Dan. He did not enter medical school, making him subject to the military draft; he later claimed he avoided service by falsely telling his draft board he had homosexual tendencies.

Reader's Guide

Chevy Chase's significance is rooted in his emergence as the first breakout star of *Saturday Night Live* during its inaugural season, where his recurring Weekend Update segment became a defining element of the program. His work on the show, both as a performer and writer, earned him two Primetime Emmy Awards. After departing early in the second season, he transitioned to a leading man in film, starring in major 1980s comedies including *Caddyshack*, the *National Lampoon's Vacation* series, and *Fletch*. He also hosted the Academy Awards twice. Following a career downturn in the 1990s, he experienced a resurgence with his role on the sitcom *Community*. Chase's early comedic development included co-founding the underground comedy group Channel One, writing for *Mad* magazine, and contributing to *The National Lampoon Radio Hour* alongside future *SNL* cast members. His physical comedy, including signature pratfalls, was noted during his college years. His Weekend Update segment, with its catchphrase introduction and sign-off, influenced later news satire programs. Chase's personal history includes a childhood marked by physical and psychological abuse from his mother and stepfather, and he avoided military service by falsely claiming to his draft board that he had homosexual tendencies.

Did You Know?

• Chase was named for his adoptive grandfather, Cornelius, while the nickname 'Chevy' was bestowed by his grandmother from the English ballad 'The Ballad of Chevy Chase'.
• While at Bard College, Chase played drums in a band called The Leather Canary, whose other two members, Walter Becker and Donald Fagen, went on to found Steely Dan.
• Chase said he tricked his draft board into believing he deserved a 4-F classification by falsely claiming that he had 'homosexual tendencies'.

From National Lampoon to the Sitcom Pantheon

Tom Leopold's path into comedy writing began in the early 1970s when he started contributing material to National Lampoon magazine. The real turning point came when he pivoted to television situation comedies, a genre he has dominated ever since. His range across American and British television underscores a rare versatility in the comedy writing world.

The Club Paradise Wreck and the J. Edgar! Triumph

Shearer was so appalled by the result that he stripped his name from the credits entirely. Leopold, by contrast, left his name on the film but has never written for the screen again. Edgar!, which he and Shearer crafted as a radio production for L.A. Theatre Works. It found a second life at the U.S. The contrast between those two projects captures the unpredictable, often maddening nature of show-business collaboration.

Mentor, Voice Actor, and Radio Host

Beyond his television writing, Leopold has carved out a distinctive presence in education, voice work, and broadcasting. J.

Novelist, Show-Biz Phil, and a Life in New York

Leopold's creative output stretches well beyond the writers' room. Leopold and Sand even appear in promotional videos playing the characters themselves.

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