Chris Farley, the larger-than-life comedian and actor, left an indelible mark on the world of comedy with his uproarious performances on “Saturday Night Live” and in iconic films like “Tommy Boy” and “Black Sheep.” However, Farley's career was tragically cut short, leaving fans and the entertainment industry mourning the loss of one of its brightest talents.
In this article, we explore the circumstances surrounding Chris Farley's untimely death and reflect on the impact he had on comedy.
Who was Chris Farley?
Chris Farley's comedic genius and physical comedy prowess quickly propelled him into the spotlight. Born on February 15, 1964, in Madison, Wisconsin, Farley joined the cast of “Saturday Night Live” in 1990, where his energetic performances and unforgettable characters made him a fan favorite.
His comedic chemistry with fellow cast members, including Adam Sandler and David Spade, contributed to some of the most memorable sketches in the show's history.
Farley was noted for his boisterous, energetic comedic style and was a member of Chicago's Second City Theatre before joining the cast of the NBC sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live for five seasons from 1990 to 1995.
Later in his career, he went on to star in films such as Airheads, Tommy Boy, Black Sheep, Beverly Hills Ninja, and Almost Heroes.
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Farley suffered from obesity and substance abuse disorder from his early performing days to the height of his success. At the age of 33, he died of a heroin overdose.
How Did Chris Farley Die?
Farley battled to break his habits of excessive alcohol consumption, drug use, and overeating. He went in and out of weight-loss clinics, rehab clinics, and AA meetings.
However, Farley continued to embark on more dangerous binges in the late 1990s, some of which allegedly involved heroin and cocaine.
“You're going to die from that, buddy; you've got to stop,” Adam Sandler recalls telling a friend. “It's not going to end well.”
Others, such as Chevy Chase, recall using tough love. Chase once used Farley's admiration for SNL's original problem kid, John Belushi, against him, telling him, “Look, you're not John Belushi. And if you overdose or kill yourself, you will not receive the same attention as John. You don't have his track record of accomplishment.”
Chris Farley returned to SNL to host the show he once ruled, just two months before he died in 1997. His lack of stamina astounded the crowd and cast, who could see something was amiss right away.
Chris Farley couldn't outrun his issues even after 17 visits to treatment. After a four-day binge involving booze and various drugs, Farley was found dead at age 33 on December 18, 1997. His brother John found him sprawled in his Chicago apartment entryway, wearing only pajama bottoms.
His binge reportedly began at a club called Karma, where Farley partied until around 2 a.m. Afterward, the party moved to his apartment.
The next evening, he stopped by the 38th-anniversary party for Second City. He was later spotted at a pub crawl.
The following day, he blew off plans to get a haircut and allegedly spent time with a $300-per-hour call girl instead. She later claimed that the star was more interested in her providing cocaine than anything else.
“I don’t think he knew what he wanted,” she said. “You could just tell he was on a rampage… He just kept bouncing from room to room.”
By the time Farley’s brother John found him, it was too late. The police said they found no sign of foul play or drugs in the apartment. It took weeks for a toxicology report to state the cause of Chris Farley’s death.
While some immediately speculated on drug and alcohol abuse, others suggested heart failure. Some even thought he choked to death.
In January 1998, the cause of death was revealed to be a deadly overdose of morphine and cocaine, known as a “speedball.”
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It was an eerily similar combination of drugs that claimed the life of his hero, John Belushi, who also died at age 33 back in 1982.
In Farley’s case, another significant contributing factor was a narrowing of the arteries that supply the heart muscle.
Blood tests also revealed an antidepressant and an antihistamine, but neither contributed to Farley’s death. Traces of marijuana were also found. However, alcohol was not.
