Jacqueline Carlin: What happened to Chevy Chase’s ex-wife?

Jacqueline Carlin was an American Actress and the ex-wife of Chevy Chase. Jacqueline Carlin’s ex-husband is an American comedian, actor, and writer who became the breakout cast member in the first season of Saturday Night Live. His Weekend Update skit soon became a staple of the show. He is 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, Fletch, and ¡Three Amigos!.

Jacqueline Carlin: Bio Summary

How old was Jacqueline Carlin?

Jacqueline Carlin was born on November 20, 1942, in  Essex Fells, New Jersey, United States of America. She was 79 years old at the time of her death. She was the daughter of Edward Walter Carlin and Gertrude Elizabeth Carlin. Jacqueline was the second eldest of four siblings. She has three sisters- Trudy Rutledge, Pamela Plant, and Charity Walton-Masters, and a brother Edward Carlin.

According to Celebsuburb, Carlin attended Saint Aloysius Grammar School and Mount Saint Dominic Academy in Caldwell for junior and high school. She was a graduate of Immaculata College in Washington, D.C. She later shifted to New York City to make her career as a fashion model with the Ford Modeling Agency. 

Jacqueline Carlin was an actress

Chevy Chase established himself as a leading man after leaving Saturday Night Live, He starred in some of the most successful comedy films of the 1980s, starting with his Golden Globe-nominated role in the romantic comedy Foul Play (1978) opposite Goldie Hawn. The actor is 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, Fletch, and ¡Three Amigos!.

ALSO, READ; Jayni Chase: Who is Chevy Chase’s wife in real life?

The actor’s ex-wife was also an actress though she didn’t attain Chase’s level of success in the industry. According to her IMDb, she is known for Thank God It’s Friday (1978), Bronk (1975), and The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962).

Carlin married thrice and is the mother of Ryan Melcher

Carlin has been married thrice, but all of them were just short-lived. She first tied the wedding knot with Peter Byam Cannon on January 8, 1966. They parted ways soon after. The actress moved on very quickly and walked down the aisle with actor Chevy Chase on December 4, 1976.

ALSO, READ; Suzanne Chase: Inside the Life of Chevy Chase’s ex-wife

Though they promised each other forever, things didn’t go as planned. Their marriage ended in a divorce on November 14, 1980; they had no children. According to Celebsuburb, Carlin sued her Chevy seventeen months after their marriage, citing ‘threats of violence from her husband.’ She also urged the court to keep the comedian away from their house. Carlin and Chevy finalized their divorce in 1980 with Carlin getting $400,000 from the divorce settlement.

She found love again when she met Terry Melcher, a producer and writer by profession.  As usual, having lots of differences led the pair to divorce in 1997. Before they ended their marriage, the couple had a son named Ryan Melcher. Ryan was birth in 1982 in New York, United States.  Ryan Melcher is the only heir of late Hollywood legend Doris Day, his grandmother. Jacqueline Carlin’s son is a Carmel, California-based real estate agent.

ALSO, READ; Chevy Chase’s children: Bryan, Cydney, Caley, and Emily Chase

What happened to Jacqueline Carlin?

Jacqueline Carlin passed away on July 1, 2021, after battling cancer for over a year. She was 78 years old at the time of her death and is survived by her son Ryan and her sister Charity Walton. According to her family and friends, Jacqueline Carlin loved them dearly and was a great believer in god and active with the church.