It’s been over 25 years since the death of Chris Farley, but his presence in comedy remains undeniable. Whether it’s Tommy Boy or his iconic Saturday Night Live sketches that continue to go viral, Farley’s legacy looms large. Now, longtime friend and collaborator David Spade imagines what Farley’s career might have looked like today.
Farley died in 1997 at 33 years old. In the three years prior, his movie credits included Airheads, Billy Madison, Tommy Boy, Black Sheep, and Beverly Hills Ninja. His star was very much still on the rise having left Saturday Night Live in 1995.
David Spade made his name in entertainment alongside Farley at Saturday Night Live and the movies Tommy Boy and Black Sheep. Appearing on Theo Von's podcast, Spade reflected on Farley's career trajectory which was cut tragically short.
“He would have been working with everybody,” Spade said . “I mean even at that point toward the end, he's almost more famous now because everyone looks back. But when you're in it and he's just getting famous ... all the big hosts that would come in [to Saturday Night Live] would like go right to him.”
Farley’s talent, larger-than-life personality, and unparalleled commitment made him one of the most magnetic performers of the '90s. It's easy to see why Spade thinks anyone coming into SNL would be drawn to Farley and want to collaborate with the comedian outside of Studio 8H.
The connections Farley made inside SNL would also have seen his career expand. “He could have worked with anybody—big directors, more drama,” Spade continued. “He would have done a lot of stuff with Adam [Sandler]. I mean, he loved Adam and always thought he was great ... he was very tight with Adam.”
Sandler and Farley only appeared in three movies together: Coneheads, Airheads, and Billy Madison (not counting their uncredited cameos in Dirty Work). Since Farley's death, Sandler has appeared in over 60 movies. How many of those could have co-starred Farley?
“I was just lucky to be in a couple [movies] with him,” Spade added. “But he would have been out there doing everything.”
Spade imagines Farley following Sandler's example and going into dramatic roles. No one knows what Farley was capable of more than Spade, so his opinion carries more that much more weight.