Cornelius Crane (Chevy) Chase   [1943]

With a first name like Cornelius and knowledge that your ancestry dates back to New Amsterdam in the 1600’s, there is little doubt about Chevy Chase’s Dutch ancestry.

Chevy Chase is a well-known American comedian, script writer, TV and film actor. He began his acting as a comedian with National Lampoon, and thereafter quickly became a cast member of “Saturday Night Live”, where his Weekend Update skit became an important part of the show.

Chase is also well-known for his film roles. He played Clark Griswold in four National Lampoon’s Vacation films. He also played comedic roles in “Foul Play” in 1978, “Caddyshack” in 1980, “Seems like Old Times” in 1980, “Fletch” in 1985, “Spies Like Us” in 1985, and “Three Amigos” in 1986.

Chase has hosted the Academy Award shows in 1987 and 1988, and for a while he had his own late-night talk show, “The Chevy Chase Show”. From 2009 until 2012 he was a regular cast member, Pierce Hawthorn, on the NBC comedy series “Community”.

A good measure of the quality of one’s work, are the awards that are handed out each year. Golden Globes nominated Chase for both Best Actor and Best Motion Picture Debut for “Foul Play” in 1979.

Prime Time Emmy nominated Chase for Best Supporting Actor for his work on “Saturday Night Live” in 1977.

In 1977 Prime Time Emmy also nominated Chase for Outstanding Writing in a Comedy for his work on “Saturday Night Live” [shared with 10 other writers].

In 1977 Chase won the Prime Time Emmy Best Supporting Actor Award for his performance on “Saturday Night Live”. In that year he also won the Prime Time Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing in a Comedy on “Saturday Night Live” [shared with 10 other writers].

In 1993 the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films nominated Chase for Best Actor in “Memoirs of an Invisible Man”. In 1976 the Writers Guild of America nominated him for the WGA Award for “The Smothers Brothers Show”. In addition he has received some minor awards for his work from other organizations.

Chase’s total output as a writer, performer or host during his career amounts to about 50 films between 1968 and 2012, and about 30 TV shows between 1975 and 2012.

Chevy Chase was born on October 8, 1943. His father was Edward Tinsley Chase, a prominent book editor and magazine writer. His mother was Cathalene Browning Parker, a concert pianist and librettist. Her ancestry traces back to 1624, when New York was first settled by the Dutch immigrants and it was then known as New Amsterdam.

Among Chevy Chase’s numerous ancestors is one noted Dutch American, Stephanus Van Cortlandt, the first mayor of New York City. Stephanus was mayor just after the city name was changed from New Amsterdam to New York City.

Chase received a BA degree from Bard College and had previously also attended Haverford College. He has had three marriages. From 1973 to 1976 he was married to Suzanne Chase, from 1976 to 1980 to Jacqueline Carlin, and from 1982 until the present he is married to Jayni Luke. He has three children, Bryan P. born in 1979, Cydney C. born in 1983, Caley L. born in 1985 and Emily E. born in 1988.

*Image: Chase at PaleyFest in March 2010 

 

REFERENCES

Several websites including IMDB, Wikipedia and Biography

Bill Carter, “With Pratfalls, Chevy Chase’s Plans for Late-Night TV”, New York Times, July 13, 1993

Cal Fussman,”Chevy Chase’s: What I’ve Learned”, Esquire, September 23, 2010

 

 

E-BOOKS AVAILABLE FROM AMAZON; GOOGLE: Kindle Store Pegels

 

 

 

PROMINENT DUTCH AMERICANS, CURRENT AND HISTORIC

 

EIGHT PROMINENT DUTCH AMERICAN FAMILIES: THE ROOSEVELTS, VANDERBILTS AND OTHERS, 2015

 

FIFTEEN PROMINENT DUTCH AMERICAN FAMILIES: THE VAN BURENS, KOCH BROTHERS, VOORHEES AND OTHERS, 2015

 

PROMINENT DUTCH AMERICANS IN U.S. GOVERNMENT LEADERSHIP POSITIONS, 2015

 

 

 

DUTCH PEGELS INVOLVED IN WARS

 

ALLIED EUROPE CAMPAIGN—1944/1945: TACTICAL MISTAKES, 2017

 

THE SECOND WORLD WAR IN THE NETHERLANDS: MEMOIRS, 2017

FRENCH REVOLUTION, NAPOLEON AND RUSSIAN WAR OF 1812, 2015