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Chris Farley's older brother Tom is director of the Chris Farley Foundation, an institution dedicated to educating young people about addiction and inspired by the tragic early death of his comedian sibling. Farley has teamed up with Colby (coauthor of Belushi: A Biography and also aA National Lampoon Radio Hour A head writer) for this rip-roaring memory mosaic, talking to "all the people who either knew Chris the best or were there at the important moments in his life." The interview quotes have been rearranged into a chronological narrative, which starts with Farley's childhood pranks in Madison, Wis., and moves on to the Marquette University theatricals that revealed Farley's flair for improv. Chicago's Second City catapulted him to Saturday Night Live, where he performed many well-remembered characters. Next came movies, but drugs, alcohol and rehab lurked in the background of his rise to fame. Molly Shannon recalled: "He was just indulging in everything: girls, Chinese food, drugs, booze, cold syrup. Everything." With talents such as Mike Myers, Chris Rock, Conan O'Brien and David Spade analyzing his humor and detailing Farley's escapades and hijinks, this is a boisterous book the comedian's fans will want to buy, borrow or steal. (May)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Chris Farley's unique comedic talents catapulted him to national fame via television's Saturday Night Live and films such as the popular Tommy Boy. His flair for improvisation and his ability to connect with people were outstanding. His life, however, was eclipsed and ultimately cut short by ongoing alcohol and drug addiction. Here, his brother, Tom Farley Jr., and Colby (coauthor, Belushi) provide an honest and compelling portrait of Farley from his early years until his death in 1997. The unusual structure of the book adds to its poignancy; each chapter contained in the three acts of Farley's life is a well-organized compilation of vivid reminiscences from family and former schoolmates, TV and film personalities, and community center workers. A heartbreaking story of a complex man emerges: the popular public figure, the kindhearted private one-a religious man, caring friend, and dedicated volunteer to the aged and homeless-and an insecure, troubled individual, who, despite a supportive network and wholehearted attempts at rehab, succumbed to his addictions. Essential for fans.
—Carol J. Binkowski
Introduction Tom Farley, Jr. Farley, Tom, Jr.
Act I
Ch. 1 A Motivated Speaker 3
Ch. 2 Madison, Wisconsin 11
Ch. 3 An Epiphany 36
Ch. 4 Attacking the Stage 56
Ch. 5 Whale Boy 73
Ch. 6 Super Fan 98
Ch. 7 The Place in Alabama 118
Act II
Ch. 8 A Friendly Visitor 145
Ch. 9 The Magic Sixty-six 171
Ch. 10 The Lost Boys 191
Ch. 11 The Polar Bear Pit 212
Act III
Ch. 12 Raising the White Flag 239
Ch. 13 The Devil in the Closet 261
Ch. 14 Fatty Falls Down 290
Ch. 15 The Parting Glass 311
Epilogue 327
Acknowledgments 331
Note on Sources and Method 335
The -ographies 337
Index 343
Anonymous
Posted April 4, 2012
I LOVE THIS BOOK!!!!!!!
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.I never realized how unique Chris was until I read this book. The book is written well and provides unbelievable insight. It gave me the closure on Chris' death I never knew I needed.
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Posted December 29, 2010
This book is a must read for a fan of Chris Farley, but it is worth the time for anybody. The book is composed of stories told by the people who knew him best. This book will make you laugh out loud, and cry over the addiction he suffered which he tried and tried to outrun but couldn't.
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Overview
The New York Times bestselling biography of an American comedy legendAfter three years of sobriety, Chris Farley's life was at its creative peak until a string of professional disappointments chased him back to drugs and alcohol. He fought hard against them, but it was a fight he would lose in December 1997. Farley's fans immediately drew parallels between his death and that of his idol, John Belushi. Without looking deeper, however, many failed to see that Farley was much more than just another Hollywood drug overdose. In this officially authorized oral history, Farley's friends and family remember his work and life. Along the way, they tell a ...