Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Chevy Chase
Discover the career path of Chevy Chase, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.
Chevy Chase, born Cornelius Crane Chase, is a prominent American comedian, actor, and writer. His career took off with his pivotal role in the inaugural season of Saturday Night Live (1975-1976). During his time on SNL, his 'Weekend Update' segment became highly popular. Chase's contributions as both a performer and writer on the show were recognized with two Primetime Emmy Awards from four nominations. He is considered one of the original Not Ready For Prime Time Players.
1967: Co-founding Channel One
In 1967, Chevy Chase co-founded an early underground comedy ensemble called Channel One.
1970: Writing for Mad magazine
In 1970, Chevy Chase wrote a one-page spoof of Mission: Impossible for Mad magazine.
1973: Writer and Cast Member of The National Lampoon Radio Hour
By 1973, Chevy Chase made the move to comedy as a full-time career when he became a writer and cast member of The National Lampoon Radio Hour.
1974: Appearance in The Groove Tube
In 1974, Chevy Chase appeared in the movie "The Groove Tube", which was directed by Ken Shapiro.
October 1975: Saturday Night Live Premiere
Beginning in October 1975, Chevy Chase was one of the original cast members of Saturday Night Live (SNL).
1975: Saturday Night Live Debut
In 1975, Chevy Chase became a cast member on Saturday Night Live.
1975: Successor to Johnny Carson
In 1975, NBC executives referred to Chevy Chase as "The first real potential successor to Johnny Carson".
1975: Writing for Smothers Brothers TV show
In the spring of 1975, Chevy Chase was a writer for the short-lived Smothers Brothers TV show comeback.
1976: Left SNL as full time cast member
Chevy Chase exited Saturday Night Live as a full-time cast member in 1976.
1976: Won Writers Guild and Primetime Emmy Awards
In 1976, Chevy Chase won a Writers Guild of America Award for "Writing for a Variety Series" for The Smothers Brothers Show and a Primetime Emmy Award for his work on Saturday Night Live's first season.
1976: Release of Tunnel Vision
In 1976, Chevy Chase's early film roles included "Tunnel Vision".
1976: Weekend Update Segment on Saturday Night Live
In 1976, Chevy Chase's recurring Weekend Update segment became a staple of Saturday Night Live.
1976: Departure from SNL
In late 1976, Chevy Chase left Saturday Night Live (SNL), citing his girlfriend's reluctance to move to New York as the main reason.
May 4, 1977: Appearance on The Tonight Show
On May 4, 1977, Chevy Chase appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson to promote a prime-time special for NBC.
1978: First time hosting SNL
In 1978, Chevy Chase hosted SNL for the first time.
1978: Foul Play Release
In 1978, Chevy Chase starred in "Foul Play", a box-office hit that earned him a Golden Globe nomination.
1978: Nomination for Golden Globe in Foul Play
In 1978, Chevy Chase starred in "Foul Play", for which he received a Golden Globe nomination.
1980: Starred in Caddyshack with Bill Murray after reconciliation
Chevy Chase starred in Caddyshack in 1980 with Bill Murray after the pair reconciled with the help of Harold Ramis.
1980: Starring in Caddyshack and Seems Like Old Times
In 1980, Chevy Chase portrayed Ty Webb in "Caddyshack" and starred in "Seems Like Old Times".
1980: Caddyshack, Seems Like Old Times and self-titled record release
In 1980, Chevy Chase starred in "Caddyshack", reunited with Goldie Hawn for "Seems Like Old Times", and released a self-titled record album.
1980: Oh! Heavenly Dog Release
In 1980, Chevy Chase starred in "Oh! Heavenly Dog".
1983: Release of National Lampoon's Vacation
In 1983, Chevy Chase played Clark Griswold in National Lampoon's Vacation, which became his most successful movie at the time.
1985: Starred in Fletch, National Lampoon's European Vacation, and Spies Like Us
In 1985, Chevy Chase starred as Irwin "Fletch" Fletcher in Fletch, which grossed over $50 million. That same year, he appeared in National Lampoon's European Vacation, which made just under $50 million, and co-starred with Dan Aykroyd in Spies Like Us, which grossed $60 million.
1985: Starring in Fletch and Spies Like Us
In 1985, Chevy Chase starred in "Fletch" and "Spies Like Us".
1986: Starred in ¡Three Amigos! and appeared in Paul Simon's "You Can Call Me Al" video
In 1986, Chevy Chase starred in the comedy ¡Three Amigos!, which grossed nearly $40 million, and he said it was the most fun he'd had making a film. He also appeared in Paul Simon's second video for "You Can Call Me Al" in 1986, lip-syncing Simon's lyrics.
1986: Starring in ¡Three Amigos!
In 1986, Chevy Chase starred in the movie "¡Three Amigos!".
1987: Hosting the Academy Awards
In 1987, Chevy Chase hosted the Academy Awards.
1987: Signed deal with Warner Bros. and hosted Academy Awards
In 1987, Chevy Chase's Cornelius Productions company signed a non-exclusive deal with Warner Bros. to develop four feature projects and set up a fifth at Universal Pictures. In 1987, he also hosted the Academy Awards.
1988: Hosting the Academy Awards Again
In 1988, Chevy Chase hosted the Academy Awards for the second time.
1988: Starred in Funny Farm and Caddyshack II
In 1988, Chevy Chase starred in Funny Farm, which was a hit. In 1988, he also appeared in Caddyshack II, which was a flop.
1989: Starring in Fletch Lives and Funny Farm
In 1989, Chevy Chase starred in "Fletch Lives" and "Funny Farm".
1989: Starred in Fletch Lives and National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
In 1989, Chevy Chase starred in Fletch Lives, which grossed over $35 million, and National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, which made $71 million. In 1989, he was earning around $7 million per film.
1991: Played saxophone at Simon's concert and appeared in "Voices That Care" music video
In the summer of 1991, Chevy Chase played saxophone at Paul Simon's free concert in Central Park. Later in 1991, he helped record and appeared in the music video "Voices That Care" to support U.S. troops in Operation Desert Storm.
1992: Starred in Memoirs of an Invisible Man
In 1992, Chevy Chase starred in Memoirs of an Invisible Man, which was a film flop.
September 1993: Hosted The Chevy Chase Show
In September 1993, Chevy Chase hosted The Chevy Chase Show, a weeknight talk show on Fox, which was canceled after five weeks. He later referenced the show's failure in a Doritos commercial.
1993: The Chevy Chase Show
In 1993, Chevy Chase briefly had his own late-night talk show called "The Chevy Chase Show".
1994: Starred in Cops & Robbersons
In 1994, Chevy Chase starred in Cops & Robbersons, which was a film flop.
1995: Starred in Man of the House
In 1995, Chevy Chase starred in Man of the House, which grossed $40 million.
1997: SNL Hosting Gig
In 1997, Chevy Chase hosted SNL for the eighth time.
1997: Starred in Vegas Vacation
In 1997, Chevy Chase starred in Vegas Vacation, which was a box office success, grossing $36.4 million.
1999: SNL 25th anniversary special
In 1999, Chevy Chase appeared on SNL's 25th anniversary special.
2000: Appeared in Snow Day
In 2000, Chevy Chase appeared in Snow Day, which grossed over $60 million.
2001: SNL appearance as the Land Shark
In 2001, Chevy Chase appeared on SNL as the Land Shark in a Weekend Update segment.
2002: Appeared in Orange County
In 2002, Chevy Chase appeared in Orange County, which grossed over $40 million.
2005: NBC special on SNL
In 2005, Chevy Chase was interviewed for a NBC special on the first five years of SNL.
November 3, 2006: Guest-starred on Law & Order
On November 3, 2006, Chevy Chase guest-starred as an anti-Semitic murder suspect in "In Vino Veritas", an episode of Law & Order.
2007: Weekend Update segment
In 2007, Chevy Chase made another appearance on SNL in a Weekend Update segment.
2009: Voiced himself in Family Guy episode
In 2009, Chevy Chase and Dan Aykroyd voiced themselves in the Family Guy episode "Spies Reminiscent of Us".
2009: Role on Community
In 2009, Chevy Chase began his role as Pierce Hawthorne on the NBC sitcom "Community".
2009: Returned to NBC in the sitcom Community
In 2009, Chevy Chase returned to NBC in the sitcom Community, playing Pierce Hawthorne. The series received critical acclaim.
2010: Appeared in Vacation short film and Funny or Die sketch
In 2010, Chevy Chase appeared in an online Vacation short film Hotel Hell Vacation and in the Funny or Die comedy sketch "Presidential Reunion", playing President Ford. In 2010, he also appeared in the film Hot Tub Time Machine.
2013: Appearance in Justin Timberlake's monologue
In 2013, Chevy Chase appeared in Justin Timberlake's monologue on SNL as a member of the Five-Timers Club.
2014: End of Community Role
In 2014, Chevy Chase's role as Pierce Hawthorne on the NBC sitcom "Community" came to an end.
February 2015: Participation in 40th anniversary special
In February 2015, Chevy Chase participated in SNL's 40th anniversary special.
2015: Reprised role as Clark Griswold in Vacation
In 2015, Chevy Chase reprised his role as Clark Griswold in the fifth Vacation installment, titled Vacation. Although it was largely negative critical reception, the film proved to be a financial success.
2019: Starred in The Last Laugh
In 2019, Chevy Chase starred in the Netflix movie The Last Laugh alongside Richard Dreyfuss.
2024: Starred in The Christmas Letter
In 2024, Chevy Chase starred in the film The Christmas Letter with Randy Quaid and Brian Doyle-Murray.
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