Chris Farley American actor and comedian Date of Birth: 15.02.1964 Country: USA

1. Biography of Chris Farley
2. Early Life
3. Education and Early Career
4. "Saturday Night Live" and Hollywood Success
5. Tragic End

Biography of Chris Farley

Chris Farley was an American actor and comedian who was a part of the renowned improvisational comedy troupe The Second City Theatre. He rose to fame in the early 90s through his participation in the popular music and comedy show "Saturday Night Live," which airs on NBC. He starred in several successful comedies, including "Tommy Boy," "Black Sheep," and the action-comedy film "Beverly Hills Ninja." However, his promising career was tragically cut short when he was found dead on December 18, 1997, in his apartment in Chicago.

Early Life

Christopher Crosby Farley was born on February 15, 1964, in Madison, Wisconsin. He was one of five children of homemaker Mary Anne Crosby and Thomas Farley Sr., the owner of an oil company. Farley grew up with three brothers, Tom, Kevin, and John, and a sister named Barbara. His cousin, Jim Farley, is the vice president of the Ford Motor Company. Raised in a devout Irish Catholic family, Farley attended Catholic schools in Madison. He spent his summers at the Red Arrow Camp, a boys' camp.

Education and Early Career

In 1986, Farley graduated from Marquette University in Milwaukee, where he studied drama and communication. After college, he worked with his father at Scotch Oil Company in Madison while pursuing his professional acting career. He joined the Ark Improv Theatre in Madison and later became a member of the Improv Olympic theater in Chicago. It was during a touring performance with the Second City Theatre troupe that he caught the attention of "Saturday Night Live" creator Lorne Michaels, who invited him to join the show.

"Saturday Night Live" and Hollywood Success

In the spring of 1990, Farley became one of the two new cast members on "Saturday Night Live," alongside comedian Chris Rock. He frequently appeared alongside Adam Sandler, Rob Schneider, and David Spade, who later became his comedy partner in several films. Farley's on-screen antics, including his famous strip tease in the window of a limousine, quickly earned him a reputation as a comedic powerhouse. After his contract with "SNL" expired, he focused on his acting career in Hollywood.

Tragic End

In his two most famous films, "Tommy Boy" and "Black Sheep," Farley co-starred with his close friend and "SNL" colleague David Spade. Both comedies grossed around $32 million at the box office and enjoyed immense popularity on home video. Farley was on the verge of stardom, but his struggles with alcohol and drugs significantly impacted his work. His health issues were frequently discussed in the press starting in early 1997.

On October 25, Farley made his final guest appearance on "Saturday Night Live," and the audience could visibly see his hoarse voice, excessive sweating, and flushed skin. Despite multiple attempts to seek treatment for obesity and addiction, Farley tragically failed to overcome his struggles. On December 18, his younger brother, John, discovered him dead in his Chicago apartment. An autopsy revealed that Farley died from a drug overdose, a combination of cocaine and morphine. Progressive atherosclerosis was also a contributing factor to his untimely death.

Chris Farley is often compared to actor John Belushi, who was also a member of The Second City Theatre, appeared on "Saturday Night Live," and died at the age of 33 from a cocaine and heroin overdose. Over 500 people attended Farley's funeral in his hometown of Madison, including many of his colleagues such as Phil Hartman, Adam Sandler, Brendan Fraser, Steve Buscemi, Christopher Walken, and Dan Aykroyd. Farley was posthumously awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on August 26, 2005.