For decades, Chevy Chase built a career on sharp wit, physical comedy, and unforgettable performances. From sketch comedy to classic films, his work left a lasting mark on American entertainment. Now in his eighties, Chevy Chase is reflecting on a very different chapter of his life, one shaped not by punchlines but by survival.
As detailed in People, Chevy Chase and his family are speaking candidly about a serious health emergency that changed him in lasting ways. A new authorized CNN documentary reveals how a hospitalization for heart failure led to ongoing memory loss, altering how the actor recalls both his career and his past.
Chevy Chase’s Heart Failure Led to a Critical Hospital Stay
COMMUNITY, Chevy Chase in ‘Advanced Introduction To Finality’ (Season 4, Episode 13, aired May 9, 2013), 2009-, ph: Vivian Zink/©NBC/courtesy Everett Collection
Chevy Chase suffered heart failure in 2021, an event that resulted in a five-week hospital stay. In the documentary, his wife, Jayni Chase, explains that the condition was cardiomyopathy, caused by weakened heart muscles that struggled to pump blood effectively. At one point, his heart stopped, forcing doctors to act quickly.
Chevy Chase/ImageCollect
According to longtime friend Peter Aaron, doctors placed Chevy Chase into a medically induced coma for about eight days. His daughter Caley Chase described the experience as terrifying, recalling warnings from doctors who told the family to prepare for the worst. She emotionally reflected that her father had “basically come back from the dead,” underscoring how close the situation came to a tragic outcome.
Chevy Chase Says the Incident Affected His Memory
NATIONAL LAMPOON’S CHRISTMAS VACATION, Chevy Chase, 1989, (c) Warner Brothers/courtesy Everett Collection
In the documentary, Chevy Chase admits he no longer remembers certain disputes and moments from his career, including incidents from Saturday Night Live and Community. When asked about those events, he explains that doctors told him his memory would be affected by the heart failure and coma. “That’s what’s happened here,” he said plainly.
NATIONAL LAMPOON’S VACATION, from left, Beverly D’Angelo, Chevy Chase, 1983. © Warner Bros. / courtesy Everett Collection
Despite the challenges, Chevy has found ways to cope. He shared that he plays card games and chess to help manage what he described as a “cognitive disability.” His daughters, Caley and Cydney Chase, both recalled how frightening it was to see him hospitalized during the COVID period. Yet they also knew he was recovering when he cracked a familiar joke to a nurse, a moment that confirmed his spirit remained intact. Today, Chevy Chase says he feels fine physically, even as he relies on reminders to fill in the gaps left behind.