Chevy Chase: Health, Career, Net Worth & Personal Life

Chevy Chase made America laugh as the pratfall-prone anchor on Saturday Night Live and as the bumbling Clark Griswold in National Lampoon’s Vacation. But after a 2017 heart failure that landed him in a hospital for weeks and left him with lasting memory loss, fans have wondered about his current health, which has led to wheelchair use.

Full name: Cornelius Crane Chase ·
Born: October 8, 1943 ·
Known for: SNL, National Lampoon’s Vacation ·
Children: 3 ·
Spouse: Jayni Chase (m. 1982)

Eight key biographical points, one pattern: a life carved out on stage and screen bookended by a sudden, severe health crisis.

What has Chevy Chase been diagnosed with?

Heart failure and cardiomyopathy

In 2017, Chevy Chase was hospitalized for a serious heart condition. His wife Jayni later told Variety (entertainment industry publication) that years of drinking had led to cardiomyopathy, a weakening of the heart muscle that can trigger heart failure. Multiple reports from The Hollywood Reporter (Hollywood news source) confirmed he spent roughly five weeks in the hospital, with doctors placing him in a medically induced coma for about eight days.

The implication: the heart failure has had lasting effects beyond the initial crisis.

Impact on memory and mobility

In the CNN documentary I’m Chevy Chase and You’re Not, the actor stated that the coma caused significant memory gaps. “I have trouble remembering things,” he said, as reported by People (celebrity news outlet). His wife Jayni and friend Peter Aaron also described the episode as a near-death experience.

The implication: Chase’s health crisis didn’t just affect his heart — it fundamentally altered his cognitive function, which partly explains his reduced public presence.

Why is Chevy Chase in a wheelchair today?

Mobility issues after health events

Beginning around 2020, Chevy Chase has been photographed using a wheelchair during rare outings. A 2026 sighting captured by Yahoo Entertainment showed the 82-year-old being pushed through an airport. The exact cause hasn’t been confirmed, but a few factors likely contribute: the lingering weakness from heart failure, potential nerve or muscle damage from prolonged hospitalization, and simple age-related mobility decline.

Public appearances in wheelchair

Chase’s mobility aid use is intermittent. A mobility retailer claimed, without official confirmation, that his manager attributed the wheelchair use to airport travel demands. The trade-off: while the public sees a man in a wheelchair, the full medical picture remains private — his family has not released a specific diagnosis for the mobility issue.

The pattern: while the wheelchair use is visible, the underlying cause remains a private medical matter, leaving room for speculation.

What is Chevy Chase’s ethnicity?

Family background

Chevy Chase was born in New York City to a publishing executive father and a pianist mother. According to published biographies and genealogical records, his ancestry is of English, Scottish, and German descent. While Chase himself has not publicly discussed his ethnic heritage in detail, the data is consistent across multiple reference sources.

Ancestry details

The actor’s paternal lineage traces to early American settlers, while his maternal side includes German immigrants. No direct primary-source interview exists, but biographical works by Britannica (encyclopedia) and his official website confirm the New York upbringing that shaped his comedic voice.

Is Chevy Chase still wealthy?

Net worth overview

Although no official financial disclosure exists, Chevy Chase is widely reported to have accumulated an estimated net worth of around $20 million over his decades-long career. Income streams included salaries from SNL, film residuals from hits like National Lampoon’s Vacation and Fletch, writing for the Smothers Brothers and National Lampoon, and his role on the TV series Community.

Sources of income

Chase’s wealth likely stems from a combination of upfront fees, profit participation on films, and ongoing royalty payments. The financial cushion has allowed him to maintain a substantial lifestyle even after reducing his work output. However, without audited statements, the figure remains an industry estimate.

What this means: passive income from past work may sustain him, but his reduced output suggests a limited financial future.

How many marriages has Chevy Chase had?

Marriage timeline

Chevy Chase has been married three times. His first marriage (1976 to 1980) was to Susan Hewitt; his second (1980 to 1982) to Jacqueline Carlin; and his third and current marriage to Jayni Chase, whom he wed in 1982. Reports from E! News refer to Jayni as his wife and mother of his three daughters.

Current spouse

Jayni Chase has been a constant presence, especially during his health crises. She gave an on-camera interview for the documentary I’m Chevy Chase and You’re Not, recounting the 2017 heart failure and its aftermath. The couple lives in upstate New York and have three daughters together: Cydney, Caley, and Emily.

Timeline signal

• 1943 — Born Cornelius Crane Chase in New York City (Official Website)
• 1975–1976 — Breakout cast member on Saturday Night Live (Britannica)
• 1980s — Stardom with National Lampoon’s Vacation, Fletch
• 2009–2014 — Role as Pierce Hawthorne on Community
• 2017 — Hospitalized for heart failure; spent 8 days in a coma (E! News)
• 2020s — Reduced public appearances, uses wheelchair at events (Yahoo Entertainment)

What we know vs. what’s unclear

Quotes and perspectives

“I have trouble remembering things. The heart failure and coma did that.”

— Chevy Chase, via People

“During years of drinking he developed cardiomyopathy, which weakens the heart muscle. It leads to heart failure.”

— Jayni Chase, via Variety

“Chase spent about five weeks in the hospital in 2021 and was grateful to be back with his family.”

— Statement reported by The Hollywood Reporter

The thread running through these accounts: Chase’s health story is told by family and close friends, making it both intimate and incomplete. For fans and media alike, the biggest unknown remains his day-to-day condition — something only he and his family fully know.

Frequently asked questions

For anyone following the arc of Chevy Chase’s life, the choice is clear: treat his public appearances as bulletins from a long recovery, not as a career comeback. The man who made millions laugh in the 80s is now quietly managing the consequences of a catastrophic health event — and the biggest unanswered question may be whether we will ever hear his full story from him directly.

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