‘Moved and delighted’: Chevy Chase’s big night in South Florida

Live from Broward County, it’s Chevy Chase.

The veteran comedian got some serious props Thursday night when he was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival.

As part of its 40th anniversary, the FLIFF also screened CNN Films’ wide-ranging documentary of his career, as well as his reputation of being “difficult” on set, “I’m Chevy Chase and You’re Not.” The title comes from the classic line the “Saturday Night Live” star uttered on the original “Weekend Update,” which he created back in 1975.

Chase arrived on the red carpet at the Savor Cinema downtown in a wheelchair, which sparked some concern. In 2021, the “Vacation” star suffered from a heart ailment, cardiomyopathy, that landed him in a medically induced coma for eight days. But a fellow guest at the event told the Miami Herald, Chase was soon up on his feet and fine, walking around unassisted and cracking jokes.

On Instagram, he showed off highlights from the “blast” he had that night, including a snap of him posing on the red carpet with his wife of four decades, Jayni; their oldest daughter Cydney; manager Erik Kritzer; and the documentary’s director Marina Zenovich (”LANCE”).

The comic’s caption said he was “moved and delighted to receive the FLIFF award surrounded by friends and family, adding, “Florida is a beautiful state.”

Chase told the Miami Herald last month that he hadn’t been to the area since shooting 1980’s “Caddyshack” when he played wisecracking golfer Ty Webb shot at what is known as the Grande Oaks golf course, in Davie, near Fort Lauderdale.

“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 recalled. “It sure was a lot of fun with a lot of fun people.”