Actor Chevy Chase – whose real name is Cornelius Crane Chase – was named after his grandfather and not the city in Maryland. Star of film and screen, he was born to a wealthy family who own Ipswich Castle in Ipswich Massachusetts. He got his nickname ‘Chevy’ from his grandmother. His father is Ned Chase, a well-known Manhattan book editor and magazine contributor, and is mother is the heiress to the Crane Plumbing Fixtures fortune. Obviously, Chase’s foray into acting was his way of adding to his family’s legacy.
Anyone who is familiar with Chase’s work will know him from the popular ‘Caddyshack’, ‘Vacation’, and ‘Fletch’ movie series, but they will also know him as one of the main writers and performers of the long running NBC television show ‘Saturday Night Live’. He was not originally supposed to be a case member, but the producers put in the spotlight and were instantly dubbed the star of the show. Chase only held a one year contract and left in 1976 to launch his film career.
That film career saw movies such as ‘Snow Day’, ‘Vegas Vacation’, ‘Nothing By Trouble’, ‘Funny Farm’, ‘Deal of the Century’ and more hit the big screen and seriously send his career soaring. In addition to ‘Saturday Night Live’, his television credits include ‘All In The Family’, ‘The Nanny’, ‘The Howard Stern Show’, ‘Primetime Glick’, and ‘Chevy Chase Show’.
Chase has a long history of playing and enjoying high stakes poker games. He is a member of the Hollywood Gourmet Poker Club that was founded by the late Johnny Carson, and is joined by such noted celebrities as Martin Short, Steve Martin, Carl Reiner, Barry Diller, Neil Simon, former MGM head Dan Melnick, and producer David Chasman. Once a month the group gathers for a gourmet dinner and a game of poker.
Chase appeared on Bravo’s ‘Celebrity Poker Showdown’ Tournament 4, Game 4.
