The Chris Farley Show: A Biography in Three Acts

by Tom Farley

  “Yes.”

  “Um, is that true?”

  And McCartney says, “Yes, Chris. In my experience it is. I’ve found that the more you give, the more you get.”

  And Chris is just like, “Awesome!”

  And in that moment Chris isn’t acting at all. It’s really Chris, tapping into that quiet, needy part of himself. You see it up there on the stage. What you see in that sketch is the actual Chris Farley being happy that the actual Paul McCartney is telling him that there is an infinite amount of love in the world, and that someday that love will come back to him.

  Epilogue

  Christmas was always Chris Farley’s favorite time of year, a time he made certain to be home in Madison, surrounded by family and childhood friends. But on December 22, 1997, he had come home to stay. Following the funeral service at Our Lady Queen of Peace Church, Chris was laid to rest in a mausoleum at Resurrection Cemetery, just down the road.

  Although the last days of Chris’s life in Chicago had been toxic and frenzied, at some point along the way he had arrested his downward spiral and paused to do his holiday shopping, picking out special presents for his parents and his siblings, handwriting personal notes to accompany each specially wrapped box. And so on Christmas Eve, only two days after burying their son, with the winter chill blowing in from the frozen lake outside, the Farley family sat around the tree in their living room and opened their final presents from Chris. He’d bought his mother two small ceramic clowns.

  On January 2, 1998, the Office of the Cook County Medical Examiner issued an autopsy report in the case of Chris’s death. It stated that he had died of opiate and cocaine intoxication, with coronary atherosclerosis as a significant contributing condition. Chris’s body tested positive for cocaine and morphine (metabolized heroin) as well as traces of marijuana and the prescription antidepressant Prozac. No alcohol was found in his system at the time, but his liver showed signs of significant damage from years of drinking. Blockages of fifty to ninety percent were found in his major coronary arteries from years of unhealthy eating. The report ruled his death an accident.

  On May 29, 1998, Edwards & Hunt was released under the newly test-marketed name Almost Heroes. Chris’s passing cast a shadow over the film, and costar Matthew Perry’s own public struggle with addiction at the time didn’t help much, either. The film’s offbeat sense of humor failed to translate onscreen, and scenes of Chris’s character acting drunk and out of control were particularly difficult to watch. Critics panned the film, lamenting the tragedy of its being the final installment of Chris’s brief career. It earned a little over $6 million at the box office and quickly passed into history.

  That summer, Chris was treated to one last curtain call. Norm Mac-Donald’s Dirty Work, which featured Chris in a small cameo, was released on June 12. In it Chris played an ornery bar patron whose nose had been bitten off by a Saigon whore, providing some of the film’s best laughs.

  During the year after Chris’s funeral, the health of his father, Tom Farley, Sr., deteriorated rapidly. Chris’s death had forced him to stop drinking, but the damage had largely been done. Morbid obesity and liver failure left him severely debilitated, and soon his condition was exacerbated by a bad fall. In March 1999, he checked in to a hospital. After several days of constant vigil, Tom asked his family to go home and rest while he did the same. He died three hours later. He was sixty-three years old.

  In the months immediately following Chris’s death, several of his friends had made charitable donations to the family in Chris’s name. Lorne Michaels of Saturday Night Live, meanwhile, issued a Best of Chris Farley home video, pledging a portion of the proceeds once again to the family. With this capital, Tom Farley, Sr., started the Chris Farley Foundation (www.thinklaughlive.com), a nonprofit organization to promote awareness and prevention of substance abuse problems. In its earliest incarnation, the foundation produced anti-drug public service announcements with past and current stars of Saturday Night Live.

  From 1999 to 2003, the foundation hosted Comics Come Home in partnership with Comedy Central. An annual comedy event held in Madison, it featured the talents of David Spade, Dave Chappelle, Tom Arnold, Norm MacDonald, Bob Saget, and others. With the funds raised at Comics Come Home and other events, the Chris Farley Foundation works with high schools and colleges across the Midwest to develop programs and seminars aimed at educating kids on the dangers of drugs, primarily through the use of humor and strong communication skills. Today, Tom Farley, Jr., serves as the foundation president.

  In late 2003, ImprovOlympic founder Charna Halpern petitioned the Hollywood Walk of Fame committee to give Chris Farley a star on Hollywood Boulevard. The organization hands out very few posthumous honors and almost none to those who pass away in less than rosy circumstances, as Chris had. But in April 2004, John Belushi was at long last honored by the organization, and Halpern seized on the precedent to lobby even more strongly on Chris’s behalf. Michael Ewing, one of the producers of Tommy Boy, approached Paramount Studios to sponsor Chris’s application. With the tenth anniversary DVD release of Tommy Boy just on the horizon, the right moment presented itself. Paramount helped push the nomination through and pegged the DVD’s launch to the upcoming event.

  On Friday, August 26, 2005, the Farley family joined several luminaries from Chris’s life—Adam Sandler, David Spade, Chris Rock, Tom Arnold, Sarah Silverman, Peter Segal, Bernie Brillstein, and more—as they unveiled Chris’s star, the 2,289th, on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame. The tone was far more festive than somber. Mary Anne Farley accepted the award on Chris’s behalf. Chris Rock declared that “every fat comedian working today owes Chris eighty bucks,” and David Spade wistfully observed that if Chris were alive today, “he’d be working for Sandler, too.” Chris’s star is located at the corner of Hollywood Boulevard and Cosmo Street, directly in front of the theater for ImprovOlympic West.

  In 2007, St. Malachy’s Church in New York celebrated the second annual Father George Moore Awards. Moore was a pastor at St. Malachy’s in the 1970s and 1980s and was a driving force in the efforts to save Times Square from the drugs and crime that had overtaken it. The George Moore Awards honor individuals who embody the clerygyman’s commitment to community service and who have elevated mankind’s spirit through their work in theater, television, film, music, or art. Chris, both as a famous movie star and as a humble parishioner, surely fit that description, and, on the tenth anniversary of his passing, St. Malachy’s chose him to receive it.

  On October 1, the Farleys joined Lorne Michaels, Alec Baldwin, Dan Aykroyd, and the entire current cast of Saturday Night Live for a special mass said in Chris’s honor—with a sermon delivered by Father Matt Foley—followed by a dinner and awards ceremony at the landmark Broadway restaurant Sardi’s. At the dinner, SNL’s Amy Poehler served as emcee, presenting a number of smaller awards to other members of the St. Malachy’s community and introducing the evening’s enertainment: a sketch from the SNL players, and young Broadway star Matthew Gumley performing “The Rose,” a song Chris had often sung for the seniors he entertained at St. Malachy’s social events.

  In the midst of the proceedings, just before Mary Anne Farley accepted Chris’s award from Lorne Michaels, SNL veteran Dan Aykroyd rose to say a few words. He did not go up to use the microphone and podium on the dais, but instead walked the aisles among the dinner guests, speaking off the cuff about his memories. He did a few spot-on impressions of Chris. He spoke of time spent together on the set of Tommy Boy, how the young star would come to his trailer and sit at his knee to hear stories about the old days. He spoke of Chris’s faith, of his belief in using laughter to bring joy to those less fortunate. He spoke of Chris taking his God-given talent and turning it back out into the world to try and make it a better place. Concluding the speech, Aykroyd singled out all the actors, comedians, and other artists in attendance, and he challenged them to do the same.

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  TOM FARLEY:

  I want to t
hank everyone who poured their heart out in these interviews. I know well how talking about Chris can be both fun and painful, so I appreciate everyone who shared their memories and emotions in this book. I would especially like to acknowledge the following people who have provided endless help and support to me, the Chris Farley Foundation, and this project:

  My beautiful wife, Laura; my fantastic kids, Mary Kate, Emma, and Tommy; my mom, Mary Anne Farley, and my sister, Barb; my brothers Kevin and John, the greatest, funniest guys I know; Fr. Matt Foley and Fr. Tom Gannon; the SNL family, who have been amazing to us every step of the way, especially Marci Klein, who understood Chris the second he walked into 30 Rock, and Lorne Michaels; Chris’s buddies David Spade, Adam Sandler, Chris Rock, Robert Smigel, and Rob Schneider, who have all supported our foundation from the beginning; Chris’s homeboys, Dan Healy, Mike Cleary, Greg Meyer, Todd Green, Robert Barry, and Pat O’Gara; Bob and Sue Krohn and the entire Red Arrow Camp family, who gave the Farley boys so much of our character and values; Marquette University and former dean of communications Michael Price, for believing in Chris and pointing him toward the stage; Madison, Wisconsin—our hometown and the greatest place on earth; the Second City, especially Joyce Sloan and Andrew Alexander—I feel like I’m home every time I walk in the door; the Second City gang: Holly Wortell, Tim Meadows, David Pasquesi, Joel Murray, Pat Finn, Tim O’Malley, and Tim Kazurinsky; Charna Halpern at ImprovOlympic, for all she’s done for Chris and his lasting memory.

  Humorology at the University of Wisconsin, year after year the most amazing group of young, talented, and philanthropic college students in the country; Jim Farley, my cousin, college roommate, and true friend; my good buddies Neil Lane, Nils Dahl, and John Plum; James Bonneville and Trevor Stebbins; Tim Henry and Don Beeby; Michael and Carol Lesser for helping to launch the Chris Farley Foundation; Shelly Dutch, who does more to help kids in recovery than any foundation I know; Cindy Grant, for her endless support for the foundation and all that we do; Tanner Colby, who now knows more about Chris than anyone alive (welcome to therapy, my friend).

  And finally, Chris’s closest friend and conscience, the late Kevin Francis Cleary.

  TANNER COLBY:

  I would like to thank, first and foremost, Tom Farley and the Farley family—Mary Anne, Barb, Kevin, and Johnny—for trusting me with their first, last, and only chance to do this project.

  This book almost didn’t happen, and credit for the fact that it did goes to the newest and greatest literary agency in the western world, Foundry Media. I owe an incalculable debt to Peter McGuigan, my agent, for picking up this ball and running with it—and sticking with it despite some rocky moments; Hannah Gordon, for bringing me to Foundry and fielding my near-daily queries and neurotic pesterings; Yfat Reiss Gen-dell, for her crack legal advice and perpetually sunny demeanor; as well as Kristina Schulz, Stephanie Abou, and everyone else at Foundry who makes it feel like a second home.

  On the day this book was purchased by Viking, it was remarked in the publishing blogosphere that Viking was “too good” an imprint for a book about Chris Farley, a comment I take some pride in. Chris’s story is not what most people think it is or expect it to be, and I thank Wendy Wolf, a great editor and a wonderful collaborator, for seeing the story underneath and being its greatest advocate. Given her list of bestselling and prize-winning authors, it’s an honor just to be stacked on the same shelf in the same office. I also want to thank Liz Parker, for proving that a good assistant can be your best friend in the whole world; Carolyn Coleburn and Ann Day, for plotting a PR campaign that every author should be lucky enough to have; Nancy Sheppard and Andrew Duncan, for the shrewdest of marketing strategies; Sharon Gonzalez, for ferreting out the last (?) mistakes and errors; Paul Buckley, for a book jacket that deserves to be framed; and Daniel Lagin, for a layout that begs to be read.

  Months of collaboration were required to pull this off, and for those who helped I’m eternally grateful. I’d like to thank John and Kevin Farley, again, for lobbying where it was most needed; Ted Dondanville, for opening his Rolodex and, more reluctantly, his memories; Tom Davis, Todd Green, and Ian Maxtone-Graham, for their extracurricular help; Christie Tuite, for finding the elusive Jim Downey; Marc Liepis, for enduring far too many e-mails; Mike Bosze and Joey Handy, for their access to Broadway Video; Mike Shoemaker and Marci Klein, for access at SNL; Chris Osbrink and Tyson Miller at Callahan, for fielding my constant follow-ups; Julie Warner, for the same; Chris Saito, Susan Wright, and Brian Palagallo, for extra help at Paramount; Jillian Seely, Brian Stack, Lorri Bagley, Holly Wortell, Jim Murphy, and Mark Hermacinski, for their wonderful photographs; Edie Baskin, for hers; Jay Forman and Todd Levin, for poring over much longer drafts than this; Becky Poole, for doing the hard work I didn’t want to do; Anna Thorngate, for a great edit; Shawn Coyne, for giving me a great start; Michelle Best, Father Baker, and everyone at St. Malachy’s for honoring Chris; and all the agents, managers, publicists, their assistants, and their assistants’ assistants, for helping us get the 130- plus interviews that make up this book.

  And lastly, I’ll always remember Mach Arom, for opening a door; Matt Atkatz, for his continuing friendship and patronage; Sheila Thibodaux and Marla Fredericks, for getting the money in on time; Richard Belzer, for being there at the beginning; Chris Meloni, for being, very simply, a great guy; Rex Reed, for his home, hospitality, and friendship; Mitch Glazer and Kelly Lynch, for their hospitality in Los Angeles; Laila Nabulsi, for being such a wonderful muse; Judy Belushi Pisano, for her inspiration and spirit; Jerry Daigle, for being a clutch player; Alan Donnes, for everything else; Mom and Dad, for always being there when I need them; Mason, Jenni, Gus, and Lena, for being family; and Ms. Emily Holland, for bringing me home.

  NOTE ON SOURCES AND METHOD

  The text of Chapter 1, “A Motivated Speaker,” was transcribed and condensed from a speech given by Chris Farley at the Hazelden drug rehabilitation facility in Center City, Minnesota, in the summer of 1994. The Chris Farley quote at the opening of Chapter 13, “The Devil in the Closet,” was taken from the article “Chris Farley: On the Edge of Disaster,” which appeared in US magazine and was written by Erik Hedegaard. Some quotes from Tom Davis were drawn from his forthcoming memoir, 38 Years of Short-Term Memory Loss. Other books that were helpful as general references include Live from New York, by Tom Shales and Jim Miller, and Gasping for Airtime, by Jay Mohr. Otherwise, all of the quotes and material in this book were drawn from original interviews conducted by the authors between the months of October 2005 and May 2007.

  Given the confidential, anonymous nature of drug and alcohol rehabilitation, not to mention Chris Farley’s nonexistent filing and organizational skills, very little hard documentation exists as to the exact dates and places of his attempts at treatment and his attendance at various recovery meetings. The facts and time lines presented here were drawn from personal notes kept by Mary Anne Farley over the course of Chris’s life.

  To every extent possible, the stories presented by the interviewees were checked against contemporary sources as well as the accounts of other eyewitnesses. In many instances, however, no such verification was possible. And, naturally, the opinions and recollections recounted by the participants vary wildly and often directly contradict one another. (Chris Farley was many different things to many different people; such was the nature of his personality.) We have endeavored to present all points of view—even some the authors and the Farley family do not agree with— in the belief that everyone’s opinions have merit and deserve their day in court. Somewhere in this tangle of foggy recollection, iffy hindsight, and outright delusion lies the truth, and readers are invited to find it on their own.

  THE - OGRAPHIES

  FILMOGRAPHY

  1992

  Wayne’s World, dir. Penelope Spheeris as Security Guard

  1993

  Coneheads, dir. Steve Barron as Ronnie the Mechanic

  Wayne’s World 2, dir. Stephen Surjik as Milton


  1994

  Airheads, dir. Michael Lehmann as Officer Wilson

  1995

  Billy Madison, dir. Tamra Davis as Bus Driver (uncredited)

  Tommy Boy, dir. Peter Segal as Thomas “Tommy” Callahan III

  1996

  Black Sheep, dir. Penelope Spheeris as Mike Donnelly

  1997

  Beverly Hills Ninja, dir. Dennis Dugan as Haru

  1998 (POSTHUMOUS RELEASE)

  Almost Heroes, dir. Christopher Guest as Bartholomew Hunt

  Dirty Work, dir. Bob Saget as Jimmy (uncredited)

  SELECTED VIDEOGRAPHY: NOTABLE SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE APPEARANCES

  1990-91 SEASON

  09/29/90, Host: Kyle MacLachlan "Tim Peaks,” as Leo the killer

  10/20/90, Host: George Steinbrenner "Middle-Aged Man,” as drinking buddy "Weekend Update,” as Tom Arnold

  01/12/91, Host: Joe Mantegna "Bill Swerski’s Super Fans,” as Todd O’Conner "I’m Chillin,” as B-Fats

  01/19/91, Host: Sting "Hedley & Wyche,” as British toothpaste user

  02/16/91, Host: Roseanne “After the Laughter,” as Tom Arnold

  02/23/91, Host: Alec Baldwin “The McLaughlin Group,” as Jack Germond

  05/18/91, Host: George Wendt “Bill Swerski’s Super Fans,” as Todd O’Conner

  1991-92 SEASON

  09/28/91, Host: Michael Jordan “Bill Swerski’s Super Fans: Michael Jordan,” as Todd O’Conner “Schmitt’s Gay,” as house sitter

  10/05/91, Host: Jeff Daniels “The Chris Farley Show,” as himself

  11/16/91, Host: Linda Hamilton “The Chris Farley Show,” as himself (with Martin Scorsese) “Schillervision: Secret Taste Test Gone Wrong,” as angry dinner patron