How did Chris Farley die? Tommy Boy director recalls SNL alum being “clean and sober” during filming

Renowned comedian Chris Farley died on December 18, 1997, at the age of 33. The Second City Theatre member passed away and was found dead at his apartment in Chicago.

Reportedly, the American comedian was addicted to alcohol, drug usage, and food. According to a People Magazine report, he lost his life to a drug overdose. Though he went to rehab many times and succeeded in remaining clean and free from addiction for around three years, once again, he got addicted to intoxication in 1995.

In a conversation with the outlet, Tommy Boy director Peter Segal discussed Chris Farley's work on this famous movie.

"I got him during a very good part, probably the best part, of his professional life."

Peter further continued,

"He was clean and sober. And obviously David and Chris are very unique. Their chemistry is one of a kind."

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Here's what we know about Chris Farley's unfortunate demise

In just two years, Farley went to rehab and got out of there 17 times. Though he stayed sober for some time, his lifestyle fell back into the old patterns. He was found visiting Hazelden, a detox center, only a few days before his passing.

Per an Entertainment Weekly report, he consumed drugs and alcohol for four days before losing his life to addiction and overdose. One of Chris's friends commented on his state after his funeral in Madison. According to this friend, anxiety, self-loathing, and addiction to alcohol, drugs, and food were the Tommy Boy actor's "death sentence."

In 1990, Chris Farley joined NBC's Saturday Night Live and continued to be a prominent part of it for five years. However, the slapstick cast member was fired in 1995.

Disclosing more about filming Tommy Boy with Chris Farley and David Spade, Peter Segal shared,

"We did not have a script that was working and we encroached on the SNL season. But it was a blessing in disguise."

The filming process was "hard" as both Farley and Spade visited the movie set thrice a week, as they had to be in New York for SNL the rest of the week. Recalling those days, the director shared,

"It was literally like putting train tracks out in front of the locomotive every day. We were kind of making it up as we were going. But if anything, it taught me, this too shall pass. If I could survive this, I can survive pretty much anything in this business, because that was a hard shoot."

Shooting with Chris was a different experience. As the actor was on his journey to remain clean and sober, he often consumed caffeine. To handle those moments, Peter often asked him to run.

The director added,

"So there were times when I'd almost have to treat him like a football player and say, 'Go run around the courtyard! Drop and give me 20!' just to calm him down."

This physical activity helped Chris Farley to feel "right and confident."