Chris Farley had been an actor and comedian from the United States. Farley was a member of Chicago’s Second City Theatre and later a cast member of both the NBC sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live from 1990 to 1995, and was recognised for his loud, energetic comic style. He eventually went on to appear in movies such as Airheads, Tommy Boy, Black Sheep, Beverly Hills Ninja, and Almost Heroes, among others.
Chris Farley struggled with weight and substance misuse from his early acting days to the height of his success. There at age of 33, he died of an accidental drug overdose.
Farley arrived in Chicago and had his debut performance at Improv Olympic. He subsequently began his studies at Chicago’s Second City Theatre the same day as Stephen Colbert, first as a member of the touring company.
In 1989, he was elevated towards the main stage, where he performed in three revues: The Gods Must Be Lazy, This Was Thirty Years Ago Today, as well as Flag Smoking Permitted in Lobby Only or Censorama.
Chris Farley played inside the comedy flicks Wayne’s World, Coneheads, Airheads, and also had an uncredited appearance in Billy Madison during his tenure on SNL. He also starred inside the music video for Red Hot Chili Peppers’ “Soul to Squeeze,” which was included on the Coneheads album.
Following the 1994–95 season, Farley as well as the majority of his fellow cast members were freed from their contracts at Saturday Night Live, and he began focusing on his film career. He co-starred alongside SNL colleague and close friend David Spade in his first two major films, Tommy Boy and Black Sheep.
Chris Farley struggled with alcohol and illicit substance misuse throughout most of his adult life. His frequent suspensions from the cast of Saturday Night Live were due to his addictions. Bernie Brillstein, whose company Brillstein-Grey Entertainment represented Farley, had sent him to drug and alcohol treatment on several occasions.
Farley’s health deteriorated noticeably in 1997. He appeared in a segment opposite future SNL cast member Kenan Thompson on Nickelodeon’s children’s sketch comedy show All That. The presentation went over without a hitch, although Farley’s trademark stunt humour was noticeably absent, owing to the fact that he was breathing excessively and struggling to perform.