Chris Farley Net Worth: Chris Farley was an American comedian and actor who had a net worth of $5 million at the time of his death. Farley is best known as a member of Chicago’s Second City Theater and as a cast member on Saturday Night Live.

He then worked with the famous Second City Improv Company, starting on the same day as Stephen Colbert, first with the touring company and from 1989 with the main stage company. As part of the main stage ensemble, Farley has been a member of the cast of three revues: “The Gods Must Be Lazy”, “It Was Thirty Years Ago Today” and “Flag Smoking Permitted in Lobby Only or Censorama”.

SNL:Farley was one of the new Saturday Night Live cast members announced in early 1990 along with Chris Rock. Farley worked frequently with Rock, as well as fellow cast members Adam Sandler, Tim Meadows, and David Spade. This group became known as the “Bad Boys of SNL”. Among Farley’s popular characters was motivational speaker Matt Foley, who frequently reminded the characters that he “lives in a van down by the river.” The character was created by Bob Odenkirk while he and Farley were working together on Second City. The character’s name comes from a longtime friend of Farley’s who became a Catholic priest. The character’s mannerisms stem from Farley’s days as a rugby player, coupled with his high school football coach’s habit of crouching down to give pep talks.

Other famous characters Farley portrayed included Todd O’Connor from Bill Swerski’s Superfans, a Chippendale’s dancer in a famous sketch with guest host Patrick Swayze, one of the “Gap Girls”, a diner lady, Bennett Brauer, a Weekend Update commentator and himself on “The Chris Farley Show,” a talk show on which Farley rarely interviewed guests or lost himself in random topics. Many of the characters were brought to life in “SNL” from his time at Second City. Farley also played Tom Arnold, Andrew Giuliani, Jerry Garcia, Meat Loaf, Carnie Wilson, Rush Limbaugh and many others.

Off-screen, Farley became known for his pranks in the offices of “SNL.” Adam Sandler and Farley would often make late-night prank calls from SNL’s Rockefeller Center office, with Sandler speaking in an old woman’s voice and Farley farting into the phone. He has also moonlit cars from a limousine and even once puked out a window. Sandler and Farley were released from their contracts at “SNL” in 1995 for various reasons, as were many of their other colleagues.

film career:During his time on SNL, Farley had become a huge movie star. He made his film debut as a security guard in Wayne’s World. In 1993, he played mechanic Ronnie in Coneheads and had an unspecified role as a bus driver in Adam Sandler’s Billy Madison. Around this time he also starred in the music video for the Red Hot Chili Peppers single “Soul to Squeeze” which was included on the “Coneheads” soundtrack. Farley appeared in 1994’s Airheads. In his first two major films, Tommy Boy and Black Sheep, Farley starred alongside his SNL colleague and close friend David Spade. The films were a huge hit at the domestic box office, grossing around $32 million each and garnering a large following on video as well.

The success of both films cemented Farley’s position as a bankable star and he landed the lead in 1996’s Beverly Hills Ninja. Farley expressed dissatisfaction with Black Sheep, the studio’s attempt to restore chemistry to Tommy Boy. On the night of Black Sheep’s premiere, Farley relapsed from his drug and alcohol addiction, requiring him to go through another rehab before he could begin work on Beverly Hills Ninja. The film was released in 1997 and Farley was nominated for an MTV Movie Award for Best Comedic Performance for his role. Before his death in December 1997, he completed two more films: Almost Heroes and Dirty Work, which was released in the summer of 1998.

Unfinished Projects: Farley was originally cast to voice the title character in Shrek and recorded about 80-90 percent of the dialogue, but died shortly before the recording was complete. The filmmakers felt it would be distasteful to continue the film with Farley, so Shrek’s dialogue was recorded by former SNL colleague Mike Myers. Farley was slated for another speaking role on Dinosaurs. After his death, the character was rewritten as a female and played by British actress Joan Plowright. At the time of his death, Chris Farley was in talks to star in The Gelfin with Vince Vaugh. Farley was originally slated to play Jim Carrey in the 1996 film The Cable Guy.

Farley was also in for the role in the film

Farley was also offered the role of Ishmael in Kingpin, which was eventually played by Randy Quaid, but was forced by Paramount Pictures to turn it down in order to star in Black Sheep. Farley was set to star in a third Ghostbusters movie, and writer Dav Pilkey wanted Farley to play the title role in a possible television series based on the Captain Underpants books. Also, at the time of his death, Farley was in talks to star in a film adaptation of the novel, A Confederacy of Dunces. He had also expressed his interest in playing Atuk in the film adaptation of the novel The Matchless Atuk. Both projects that have been shelved are said to be cursed as Farley, John Belushi and John Candy were linked to the projects prior to their untimely deaths.

Personal life:Farley was plagued by alcohol and drug addiction for most of his adult life. In 1997, Farley’s health began to deteriorate as he guest-starred on Nickelodeon’s All That and hosted SNL for the first time in October 1997. In the final years of his life, Farley had sought treatment for obesity and substance abuse 17 times. On December 18, 1997, Farley was found dead in his apartment at the John Hancock Center in Chicago by his younger brother, John. He was 33 years old. An autopsy revealed that he had died of a cocaine and morphine overdose, with advanced heart disease also playing a major role. Farley was buried privately at Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church in his hometown of Madison, Wisconsin. Over 500 people attended his funeral, including many comedians who had worked with him on SNL. His remains were buried in Resurrection Cemetery in Madison.