Edward Tinsley Chase: What happened to Chevy Chase’s father?

Edward Tinsley Chase is a writer and the father of Chevy Chase. Edward Tinsley Chase’s son is one of America’s most recognizable comedians, actor, and writer. He first gained fame on the influential sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live (SNL), where he showcased his trademark deadpan delivery and skill at physical comedy. He later found success in such films as Caddyshack (1980) and the National Lampoon’s Vacation series.

Edward Tinsley Chase: Bio Summary

Who is Chevy Chase’s father?

Edward Tinsley Chase was born on 19 April 1919 in Woodstock, Ulster, New York, United States. He was the son of Edward Leigh Chase an artist and illustrator and Mabel Penrose (Tinsley) Chase. Ned Chase, as he was widely known, was a graduate of Princeton University.

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Majoring in English, he graduated with high honors and also with high honors in the Divisional Program in the Humanities. Elected to Phi Beta Kappa, he also was a Lyman Biddle Senior Scholar. Per reports, he briefly taught English at Stanford University before serving as a lieutenant in the Navy in World War II.

He was married to  Cathalene Parker (Browning) Widdoes a concert pianist and librettist, whose father, Rear Admiral Miles Browning, served as Admiral Raymond A. Spruance’s Chief of Staff on the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CV-6) at the Battle of Midway in World War II. He was discharged at the end of the war as a lieutenant.

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The couple tied the knot in about 1941 in a beautiful wedding ceremony in the presence of their friends, families, and loved ones. The couple gave birth to their son in Lower Manhattan on October 8, 1943, as Cornelius Crane Chase. Chevy was named for his adoptive grandfather, Cornelius, while the nickname “Chevy” was bestowed by his grandmother from the medieval English ballad “The Ballad of Chevy Chase”. Chevy has an older brother, Ned Jr.

Edward Tinsley Chase was a writer

Chevy Chase’s father started his editing career at the Hyperion Press per the New York Times. Edward Tinsley Chase was on the editorial staff of The New Yorker for three years and eventually held senior editorial positions at the New American Library, G.P. Putnam’s Sons, Times Books (now an imprint in partnership with Henry Holt), and Macmillan Publishing and Charles Scribner’s Sons.

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As a book editor and writer, Chevy Chase’s father bought and shepherded hundreds of manuscripts, primarily on politics and public policy, into print at various New York publishing houses.

Chevy Chase on the other hand chose a career as a comedian, actor, and writer. He quickly became a key cast member in the inaugural season of Saturday Night Live, where his Weekend Update skit soon became a staple of the show. As both a performer and writer, he earned three Primetime Emmy Awards out of five nominations.

Edward Tinsley Chase’s son is also well-known for his portrayal of the character Clark Griswold in four National Lampoon’s Vacation films, and for his roles in other successful comedies such as Caddyshack (1980), Fletch (1985), and ¡Three Amigos! (1986). He has hosted the Academy Awards twice (1987 and 1988) and briefly had his own late-night talk show, The Chevy Chase Show. 

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Chevy Chase was abused by his mother

In a 2007 biography, the comedian stated that he was physically and psychologically abused as a child by his mother and stepfather, John Cederquist. Chevy never told anyone what was going on at home and he also never felt that he could tell his father, Edward. Chevy received the worst treatment of the five children.

“I was afraid if Dad would face off against John Cederquist he would lose a fight. John Cederquist was a bigger, angrier, strong man. I also didn’t know I would be allowed to say anything.”- He said in the Book. By that time, Ned had remarried and had a second family after divorcing Chevy’s mother Cathalene. Chevy didn’t want him to know, didn’t want him to worry.

What happened to Chevy Chase’s father?

Edward Tinsley Chase passed away on June 9 2005 in Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States. Per the New York Times, he died after a long illness. He was 86 years old. Edward Tinsley Chase is survived by his wife of 56 years, Ethelyn Atha Chase, a past chairwoman of the Academy of American Poets; two sons, Edward Thornton Chase of Mount Vernon, N.Y., and Cornelius Crane Chase of Bedford, N.Y., the comic actor known as Chevy Chase; two daughters, Prof. Cynthia Chase-Culler of Ithaca, N.Y., and Daphne C. Rowe of Bryn Mawr, Pa.; and nine grandchildren.