He’s Chevy Chase and you’re still not — even at 82. Why comic is back in Broward
OK, so Chevy Chase didn’t get invited on stage during “Saturday Night Live’s” 50th anniversary last year — but at least South Florida loves him.
The superstar will be feted Thursday night with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival, aka FLIFF.
CNN Films’ wide-ranging documentary “I’m Chevy Chase and You’re Not” from Marina Zenovich (“LANCE,” “Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired,” “Robin Williams: Come Inside My Mind”) will also screen. The title comes from the line the comedian uttered as his smirking anchor character on SNL’s original “Weekend Update.”
“At my age, getting an award? It’s about time!” Chase told the Miami Herald from his home in Bedford, New York, about an hour from Woodstock, where he was raised.
Want to feel old, Gen-Xers? The star of such ‘80s smash hits as “Vacation,” “Caddyshack” and “Fletch” is 82.
Is Chase really underappreciated, though? That’s a complicated question, and depends on whom you ask.
Though bags of fan mail arrive to his doorstep each week, not all former colleagues had rave reviews. Many folks from his past and present participate in the warts-and-all documentary to weigh in. More than a few used the A-word, or the more politically correct, “difficult.” Dan Aykroyd called him “exciting” and “dangerous,” but in a good way.
“He has this glint in his eye that makes you feel there’s a big brain in there, and it’s ready to say something really funny or sarcastic or edgy,” said Martin Short, his “Three Amigos” costar.
All who made cameos in “I’m Chevy Chase and You’re Not” agree on one thing: He’s a comedic genius.
On the day we spoke, Chase seemed his usual, charmingly sardonic self — pleasant, irreverent and peppering his words with Clark Griswold’s familiar, guttural laugh. At one point, he teased that he was going to hang up (”Bye-Bye! Oh wait, I’m promoting myself.”).
Understood. Chase is a family man now, staying busy with engagements and appearances with his wife of 43 years, Jayni Luke. The couple, who have three adult daughters, recently became grandparents. During the call, they were babysitting 18-month-old Ivy, who was dancing to “Old MacDonald Had a Farm” in the background.
Chase would allow that he was excited to get out of the snow and head down to South Florida, not far from where he played playboy golfer Ty Webb in the 1980 classic “Caddyshack.” The fictional Bushwood Country Club was shot at the Rolling Hills Golf Club, now known as the Grande Oaks, in Davie, near Fort Lauderdale.
“I haven’t been back,” Chase said. “The area was beautiful and it’ll be nice to get out, and since I’m not Elvis, I can walk around there.”
C’mon, any juicy anecdotes?
“It’s been a long time, but I remember chasing a lot of golf balls in the woods and Bill Murray jumping in the pool back at the motel,” he said. “It sure was a lot of fun with a lot of fun people.”
Doubtful Chase will be spending too much time on the greens. Though in fine shape now, in 2021 Chase suffered from a heart ailment, cardiomyopathy, that landed him in a medically induced coma for eight days. The health scare, which his wife attributed to years of alcohol abuse, left the comic with impaired memory function. Playing chess and cards help combat more cognitive decline.
Something Chase will never forget, though: the heady days doing pratfalls and yukking it up on “SNL.” Though banned from hosting thanks to complaints about alleged backstage behavior, he still catches a few shows.
Just don’t ask what he thinks about “Weekend Update,” the faux broadcast that debuted on the original show Oct. 11, 1975.
“I came up with it, it became a big deal and is still going after all these years,” he said of the skit that’s been helmed by Colin Jost and Michael Che for 11 seasons. “It’s changed a lot. When I did it, I was doing a takeoff of a serious news guy. I would just tell the news and be done with it and leave people thinking. I never really liked it since. I don’t mean I was better, I mean, I was different.”
The documentary’s takeaway? Chase, who calls himself “an angry child,” is a talented yet polarizing figure. Despite the punches, Chase is OK with his portrayal. (“I like it! Do you?”)
You could see why he has a sweet spot for the film. It’s part critique, part homage. Fans will appreciate learning about Chase’s early days, growing up in a troubled home, then attending Bard College, when he was dating Blythe Danner and drumming in a band with Donald Fagen and Walter Becker, who would later become Steely Dan.
Chase’s musical skills — he’s also an accomplished pianist — are what led him to Off Broadway’s “National Lampoon: Lemmings,” a satire of Woodstock, whose lead singer was John Belushi.
When Lorne Michaels began putting together a live Saturday night sketch show, Chase’s name kept coming up. He and Belushi were eventually cast, along with other Not Ready for Primetime Players Garrett Morris, Laraine Newman, Jane Curtin, Dan Aykroyd and Gilda Radner.
When he wasn’t asked to appear on the stage for the 50th anniversary celebrations at 30 Rock last February, Chase admits to Zenovich he was “hurt.” Michaels later explained that there were rumblings that Chase had lost his “focus.” Short notes that another famous cast member, Billy Crystal, wasn’t up there either.
Whatever camp you’re in, there can be no doubt that Chase is a living legend behind some of the most beloved box-office hits of all time.
“His legacy really is how he made people laugh, how you tickle that part of your heart,” said his “Foul Play” and “Seems Like Old Times” costar Goldie Hawn. “And I don’t think people forget that.”
The Fort Lauderdale film fest folks are thrilled to welcome Chase and give him some overdue props.
“This recognition celebrates a remarkable body of work and enduring contributions to film and television over the course of his career,” said Lisa Grigorian, president and CEO of the festival. “In every creative field, there are countless celebrities, politicians, and musicians whose personalities may spark varied opinions, yet their enduring success reflects excellence in their craft.
“Awards such as this are intended to acknowledge that legacy — the talent, influence, and cultural impact built over decades — rather than measure public sentiment or popularity at any given moment.”
If you go
Tickets for “Live, From Fort Lauderdale, It’s Chevy Chase” on Feb. 26, start at $41.99. The event begins at 6 p.m. with a welcome party in the courtyard. The documentary screening is at 6:30 p.m., followed by a moderated conversation with Chase and the director. Savor Cinema, 503 SE Sixth St., Fort Lauderdale; 954-525-FILM, https://fliff.com
This story was originally published February 20, 2026 at 1:20 PM.
