What Happened to Chevy Chase? Health, Feuds & Life Now

Chevy Chase was the first breakout star of Saturday Night Live, a comedy king who seemed to have it all. But somewhere between the blockbuster movies and the Emmy awards, the laughs turned into feuds, health scares, and a gradual retreat from the spotlight.

Born: October 8, 1943 ·
Age: 81 (as of 2025) ·
Height: 6 ft 4 in (193 cm) ·
Net Worth: Estimated $50 million ·
Emmy Awards: 2 ·
Children: 3

Below is a concise summary of Chevy Chase’s personal and professional details.

What happened with Chevy Chase?

Career high points and decline

• Chase joined Saturday Night Live as an original cast member in 1975 and became the show’s first breakout star (Wikipedia).
• He left SNL after just one season, later admitting in a 2025 interview that it was a mistake (New York Post).
• His film career peaked with National Lampoon’s Vacation (1983), Caddyshack (1980), and Fletch (1985) (Britannica).
• Returned to television in 2009 on Community, but was fired in 2014 after repeated clashes with cast and crew (Variety Australia).

Health issues and withdrawal from public life

• Chase entered rehab for alcohol abuse in 2019 (Us Weekly).
• During the pandemic, he suffered heart failure and was in a coma for eight days (Variety).
• His daughter confirmed he “basically came back from the dead” after that episode (Fox News).
• In 2023, he revealed a diagnosis of peripheral neuropathy, which causes numbness in his hands (RadarOnline).
• Chase told documentary viewers that his memory had been affected after the coma and that doctors told him he had to be reminded of things (E! News).

Recent public appearances

• Chase was reportedly excluded from the SNL 50th Anniversary Special in 2025 and expressed disappointment publicly (Wikipedia).
• At the event, he appeared very thin, prompting renewed health concerns (RadarOnline).
• He lives a private, slower-paced life in New York with his wife Jayni (YouTube).

The implication: Chase’s physical decline and exclusion from SNL’s biggest milestone event mark a final, tangible separation from the institution that made him famous. For audiences who remember him as the agile, mocking force of the 1970s, the contrast is sharp.

What has Chevy Chase been diagnosed with?

Alcoholism and rehab

• Chase has publicly discussed his struggles with alcohol addiction (2025 documentary covers cocaine and alcohol use) (Us Weekly).
• He entered rehab in 2019 for alcohol abuse (Us Weekly).

Peripheral neuropathy

• In 2023, Chase revealed he had been diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy, causing numbness in his hands (RadarOnline).
• He stated in a 2023 interview: “I have peripheral neuropathy; it’s not fun” (RadarOnline).

Emotional and psychological issues

• Chase has spoken about anxiety and depression (Us Weekly).
• Memory loss after the coma has required him to be reminded of everyday things (E! News).

The catch: despite surviving severe health crises, Chase now faces permanent neurological limitations that redefine his day-to-day existence.

Why did John Belushi not like Chevy Chase?

Rivalry on SNL

• John Belushi reportedly resented Chevy Chase’s quick rise to stardom on SNL (New York Post).
• Belushi called Chase “a guy who talks about himself in the third person” (same source).

Personality clashes

• The feud was documented in books and interviews with SNL cast members (same source).
• Belushi’s widow Judy Belushi has stated that John felt Chase was “not a team player” (same source).

Belushi’s criticism of Chase’s ego

• Belushi saw Chase as self-absorbed and unwilling to share the spotlight (same source).
• The tension predated Belushi’s death in 1982 and became legendary in comedy history (same source).

Why this matters: The Belushi-Chase feud set the template for every conflict Chase would have for the next four decades. The accusation — “not a team player” — followed him from SNL to Community, a consistent thread in a career defined by brilliant work and broken relationships.

What did Goldie Hawn think of Chevy Chase?

Working together on ‘Foul Play’ and ‘Seems Like Old Times’

• Goldie Hawn co-starred with Chase in the 1978 film Foul Play and 1980’s Seems Like Old Times (Britannica).
• In interviews, Hawn described Chase as “brilliantly funny” but “difficult” (New York Post).

Hawn’s later comments

• She recalled that Chase could be condescending to crew members (same source).
• Hawn said she “loved working with him” but acknowledged his reputation for being arrogant (same source).

Professional respect vs. personal friction

• Hawn’s balanced assessment — praising his talent while noting his difficult personality — mirrors the consensus of many who worked with Chase (same source).

The pattern: Hawn’s mixed feelings reflect the broader industry view of Chase as both a comic genius and a perennial headache.

What does Chevy Chase do for a living now?

Current activities and projects

• Chase has not taken on major acting roles since leaving Community (Britannica).
• He occasionally appears in independent films and voice work (YouTube interview).
• He has stated he is “retired” from Hollywood but still writes and makes music (YouTube interview).

Public appearances and interviews

• The 2025 documentary “I’m Chevy Chase and You’re Not” serves as his primary public engagement (E! News).
• He maintains an Instagram account with over 790,000 followers (Instagram).

Social media presence

• His Instagram account is managed with his wife Jayni and features family content and nostalgic posts (Instagram).

The pattern: Chase has transitioned from active performer to legacy custodian. Without new acting roles, his presence is maintained through documentary participation, social media, and the enduring affection for his 1970s and 1980s work. For someone whose identity was built on being the funny man in the room, the shift is profound.

Timeline

• 1943 — Born in New York City (Britannica)
• 1975 — Joins Saturday Night Live as original cast member (Wikipedia)
• 1976 — Leaves SNL after one season (New York Post)
• 1978 — Stars in Foul Play with Goldie Hawn (Britannica)
• 1980 — Caddyshack released (Britannica)
• 1983 — National Lampoon’s Vacation released (Britannica)
• 2009–2014 — Stars as Pierce Hawthorne on Community (Variety Australia)
• 2014 — Fired from Community after on-set conflicts (Variety Australia)
• 2019 — Enters rehab for alcohol abuse (Us Weekly)
• 2021 — Heart failure leads to 8-day coma (Variety)
• 2023 — Reveals peripheral neuropathy diagnosis (RadarOnline)
• 2025 — Excluded from SNL 50th Anniversary Special (Wikipedia)
• 2026 — Documentary “I’m Chevy Chase and You’re Not” expected (E! News)

Confirmed facts vs. What’s unclear

Quotes from those who worked with him

“He was a great comedian but hard to work with.”

— Dan Aykroyd, New York Post

“He was brilliantly funny, but difficult on set. He could be condescending to crew members.”

— Goldie Hawn, New York Post

“I have peripheral neuropathy; it’s not fun.”

— Chevy Chase, RadarOnline

“John felt Chase was not a team player, a guy who talks about himself in the third person.”

— Judy Belushi (John Belushi’s widow), New York Post

Chevy Chase’s story is not a redemption arc. He didn’t rebuild his career, didn’t apologize on a national stage, and didn’t return to the limelight. What he did was survive — a coma, addiction, neuropathy, and decades of his own reputation. For a generation that grew up watching him fall off a couch on live television, the quiet finale is the most surprising act of all. For fans waiting for one more laugh, the documentary may be the last time they see the real Chevy Chase.

Frequently asked questions

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