50 free Chevy Chase trivia questions with answers — entertainment quiz, new questions added Aug 2026.
This Chevy Chase trivia quiz covers the whole career of the comedian born Cornelius Crane Chase. It starts with the strange facts of his early life — the Steely Dan connection, the cow at Haverford, the admiral grandfather — then moves through Saturday Night Live: Weekend Update, the Gerald Ford pratfalls, the two Emmys and the fistfight with Bill Murray. From there it works through the films everybody quotes: Foul Play, Caddyshack, the five Vacation movies (the Family Truckster, Walley World, the Jelly of the Month Club), Fletch, Spies Like Us, ¡Three Amigos! and Funny Farm, plus the Oscar-hosting years, the five-week Fox talk show, the 1990s flops and the Community comeback as Pierce Hawthorne. About a third are easy for any 80s comedy fan; the rest go deep into the details. Every answer has been checked against Wikipedia's articles on Chase and his films and the interviews they cite, and each explanation adds one more thing worth knowing.
30 of 50 questions with answers and explanations. Play the quiz
Q 01What is Chevy Chase's real first name?
Cornelius
He was named for his adoptive grandfather Cornelius Vanderbilt Crane, heir to the Crane Company fortune.
Q 02Where did the nickname 'Chevy' come from?
An English ballad his grandmother liked
'The Ballad of Chevy Chase' seemed apt to a grandmother proud of her Clan Douglas descent.
Q 03Chase's grandfather, Rear Admiral Miles Browning, served on which carrier at Midway?
USS Enterprise
His mother was a concert pianist and his grandmother an opera singer who performed at Carnegie Hall.
Q 04At Bard College, Chase played drums in a band with two future founders of which group?
Steely Dan
The Leather Canary also featured Walter Becker and Donald Fagen; Chase graduated in 1967 with a BA in English.
Q 05By a legend Chase himself half-confirmed, why was he thrown out of Haverford College?
Keeping a cow in his room
His old roommate insists he actually left for academic reasons.
Q 06Chase was the original anchor of which recurring Saturday Night Live segment?
Weekend Update
His sign-off, 'Good night, and have a pleasant tomorrow', was later revived by Jane Curtin and Tina Fey.
Q 07Which US president did Chase famously portray on SNL as a bumbling klutz?
Gerald Ford
The impression, based on a real trip down the Air Force One steps, stuck to Ford despite his having been a college football star; the two later became friendly.
Q 08How many Primetime Emmy Awards did Chase win for his SNL work?
2
He was nominated four times, as both performer and writer, and thanked Ernie Kovacs in an acceptance speech.
Q 09Chase was contracted to SNL's first season in what capacity, only joining the cast during rehearsals?
As a writer
He then introduced every show but two with 'Live from New York, it's Saturday Night!', usually after a pratfall.
Q 10Chase left SNL in late 1976, saying the main reason was what?
His girlfriend would not move to New York
He moved to Los Angeles, married Jacqueline Carlin, and was replaced on the show by Bill Murray.
Q 11Which cast member replaced Chase on SNL when he left?
Bill Murray
The two later came to blows in Belushi's dressing room in 1978, then reconciled to make Caddyshack.
Q 12Which musician reportedly witnessed the 1978 backstage fistfight between Chase and his SNL replacement?
Billy Joel
Murray had mocked Chase's marriage; Chase insulted Murray's looks. Harold Ramis helped them make up.
Q 13Which Animal House role, written for him, did Chase turn down for a Goldie Hawn comedy?
Eric 'Otter' Stratton
Tim Matheson got the part; Chase said he wanted to try 'real acting' instead of schtick.
Q 21The family's destination in Vacation gave rise to what real-life nickname?
'Wally World' for Walmart
The film spells it Walley World; the Walmart nickname drops the e.
Q 22Who plays Clark's long-suffering wife Ellen across the Vacation films?
Beverly D'Angelo
She returned alongside Chase for the 2015 reboot too.
Q 23In Christmas Vacation, what does Clark receive instead of his expected bonus?
A Jelly of the Month Club membership
The 1989 film took $71 million and its holiday theme made it one of Chase's most durable pictures.
Q 14Chase's first film hit and Golden Globe-nominated role came in which 1978 comedy?
Foul Play
It made more than $44 million and paired him with Goldie Hawn, whom he rejoined for Seems Like Old Times in 1980.
Q 15What is the name of Chase's laid-back golfer character in Caddyshack?
Ty Webb
Harold Ramis's film cost $6 million and took $39 million despite mixed reviews.
Q 16What is the name of the country club in Caddyshack?
Bushwood
Danny Noonan caddies there for its affluent members while chasing a college scholarship.
Q 17What is the name of the family Chase heads in the Vacation films?
The Griswolds
Clark, Ellen, Rusty and Audrey set out for Walley World, 'America's Favorite Family Fun Park', in 1983.
Q 18Who wrote the screenplay for National Lampoon's Vacation, based on his own short story 'Vacation '58'?
John Hughes
Ramis directed; the story first appeared in National Lampoon magazine.
Q 19What is the ugly, oversized car Clark is forced to buy in Vacation?
The Wagon Queen Family Truckster
His trade-in has already been crushed by the time he objects.
Q 20Which supermodel made her acting debut in Vacation as the woman in the red Ferrari?
Christie Brinkley
The cast also included Beverly D'Angelo, Randy Quaid, John Candy and Imogene Coca as Aunt Edna.
Q 24Who plays Cousin Eddie, the unwelcome relative, in the Vacation films?
Randy Quaid
In the first film Eddie is Ellen's cousin's lazy husband in Coolidge, Kansas, who palms Aunt Edna off on the family.
Q 25How many National Lampoon's Vacation films did Chase play Clark Griswold in, between 1983 and 2015?
5
The 2015 Vacation put Ed Helms's grown-up Rusty in the driving seat with Chase and D'Angelo in support.
Q 26Fletch (1985) was based on novels by which author?
Gregory Mcdonald
It grossed more than $50 million on an $8 million budget and spawned Fletch Lives in 1989.
Q 27What is Fletch's full name?
Irwin M. Fletcher
The investigative reporter's disguises are the film's running joke; his favourite team is the Lakers.
Q 28Which NBA player appears as himself in Fletch's dream of playing for the Lakers?
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Announcer Chick Hearn also turns up; the film is packed with references to Fletch's beloved team.
Q 29Which arrogant tennis-club member's tab does Fletch run up on lunches and cabana bills?
Ted Underhill
Fletch takes revenge after watching him shout at a waiter.
Q 30Chase co-starred with which fellow SNL alumnus in the 1985 John Landis comedy Spies Like Us?
Dan Aykroyd
The two play bumbling State Department wannabes used as decoys.