Highlights Archives
New Exhibit: Chris Farley Remembered
A little more than 10 years ago, comedian and Madison native Chris Farley passed away at the age of 33. With the help of the Farley family, the Wisconsin Historical Museum will celebrate his life and his love of Wisconsin, and will acknowledge the anniversary of his passing with a new exhibit, Chris Farley Remembered.
 Chris Farley as an Edgewood High School nose guard, 1980, wearing a jersey similar to one in the exhibit Chris grew up in Maple Bluff and graduated from Edgewood High School and Marquette University before leaving for Chicago, where he worked at The Second City comedy club. It was there that Lorne Michaels of Saturday Night Live discovered Chris and brought him to New York. From 1990 to 1995 he starred on that show, bringing to life such characters as motivational speaker Matt Foley, da Chicago Bears fan Todd O'Conner, and Bennett Brauer, a "Weekend Update" commentator known for revealing his hygienic problems. In 1995 Farley starred in the film Tommy Boy, which opened number one at the box office. He went on to make three more films, Black Sheep, Beverly Hills Ninja and Almost Heroes before dying from a drug overdose on December 18, 1997.
The exhibit will include photographs and objects from every phase of his life — many donated by the Farley family, including his Marquette rugby jacket, costumes and props from all four movies such as his Black Sheep campaign coat and Beverly Hills Ninja sword, and mementoes from his funeral. As an added bonus, Saturday Night Live is lending Chris' Matt Foley costume and letting the museum use clips from the show so visitors can relive highlights from his television career.
Tom Farley, Chris' brother and keeper of his legacy, formed the Chris Farley Foundation shortly after Chris' death to help prevent others from succumbing to addiction. His biography of Chris, The Chris Farley Show: A Biography in Three Acts, is available for sale by calling the Wisconsin Historical Museum gift shop, toll free, at 888-999-1669. Tom Farley is coming to the Wisconsin Historical Museum on June 5 to sign copies and speak on Growing Up with Chris and Living with His Legacy, a must-see for all Chris Farley fans.
:: Posted May 5, 2008
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