Chevy Chase Discusses Health Scare in New Documentary
Chevy Chase has recently opened up about a serious health issue that led to a five-week hospital stay. In the upcoming CNN documentary titled “I Am Chevy Chase And You Are Not,” scheduled to air on January 1st, the 82-year-old actor shares insights into his hospitalization for a heart condition. His daughter, Caylee, reflects on the experience, stating, “I’m basically back from the dead.”
Chase’s wife, Jani, recounts the harrowing moments leading up to their visit to the emergency room. “Something was wrong, and he couldn’t tell me what it was, so we ended up at the ER. His heart stopped,” she shares. Jani explains that Chase developed cardiomyopathy as a result of his past drinking, which causes the heart muscle to weaken and affects blood pumping.
Long-time friend Peter Aaron reveals that following the heart issue, doctors decided to place Chase in a coma for about eight days. His family was faced with dire predictions; they were advised to prepare for the worst, as doctors explained, “we may not get our son back,” and even if he did recover, his future was uncertain.
During this difficult time, Chase wasn’t vocal about his condition, but later, he expressed gratitude upon returning home, saying, “I feel great. I’m really happy to be back with my family.” He briefly shared, “I was in the hospital for five weeks. It was a heart problem.”
Chase has previously discussed being diagnosed with alcohol-related cardiomyopathy, a condition characterized by a weakened heart due to excessive drinking, during a 2018 interview. In the documentary, he candidly describes what heart failure feels like, but reassures viewers, “I’m fine now.”
Chase is known for his role as one of the original cast members of “Saturday Night Live” and was the first to leave, hoping to pursue a music career. Recently, the show celebrated its 50th anniversary, but Chase felt overlooked during the event. He shared, “It was actually kind of upsetting… I was wondering why I didn’t go. No one asked me to.”
Chase’s feelings about being excluded were somewhat bittersweet, revealing a sense of disappointment despite the celebratory nature of the event. He mentioned that it hurt not to have been included, implying that perhaps there had been a mistake.
