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Actor-comedian Chris Farley dead at 33
December 18, 1997
Web posted at: 5:02 p.m. EST (2202 GMT)CHICAGO (CNN) -- Chris Farley, the oversized comic who spent four seasons on TV's "Saturday Night Live" and later starred in several movies, was found dead Thursday in an apartment.
The cause of death was unconfirmed, although Chicago fire officials told Reuters that Farley died of an apparent heart attack.
Farley, 33, was an alumnus of Chicago's famed Second City improvisational comedy troupe, where he developed his frantic characters.
He was found dead in a friend's condominium apartment in the John Hancock skyscraper in downtown Chicago where he had apparently been staying.
Farley's spokesperson released the following statement: "We have lost a good friend and a wonderful talent. We are deeply saddened by this news."
Born on February 15, 1964, Farley also starred in several movies, including "Black Sheep," "Tommy Boy" and "Beverly Hills Ninja."
On television and in movies, Farley played overbearing characters with a sweet side.
Quicktime Video
See Chris Farley in "Beverly Hills Ninja"
On "Saturday Night Live," he was perhaps best known for his characterizations of the inept and overweight motivational speaker Matt Foley and a devoted but extremely unhealthy Chicago Bears football fan.
His physical comedy and manic behavior drew comparisons to the late John Belushi. As a teen-ager, Farley idolized Belushi, another "SNL" alum who also died at age 33, in 1982, after years of drug abuses, overeating and other excesses.
Farley patterned much of his comedy after Belushi's.
"Although I love this kind of comedy, sometimes I feel trapped by always having to be the most outrageous guy in the room," Farley said in 1996. "In particular, I'm working on trying not to be that guy in my private life."
"SNL" creator Lorne Michaels "told me that that's what killed Belushi more than anything else," Farley said.
Other Second City or "SNL" alumni who died young include actress Gilda Radner and Canadian actor John Candy.
Related stories:
- Farley falters as 'great white ninja' - January 21, 1997
- Home Video Preview - August 23, 1996
Related sites / Fan Appreciation:
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- The Chris Farley Homepage
- Dave's Chris Farley Page!
- Download my Chris Farley and The Respectables Themes for Microsoft Plus
- NBC: Saturday Night Live: Main
- Chris Farley fan page
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