Inside Chris Farley's Secret Side — Which Had Nothing to Do with Drugs or Addiction

Mar. 15, 2025

Chris Farley in September 1990.Photo:Alan Singer/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank

Alan Singer/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank

February 15 marks what would have been comic actorChris Farley’s 61st birthday.

And though his issues with drugs and addiction have been well documented (theSaturday Night Livestar died of an overdose of cocaine and morphine in Chicago at age 33 in 1997), adocumentary about Farley released last year, titledI Am Chris Farley, revealed a side to him that wasn’t very well known.

He was a ladies man.

His brother John Farley says in the doc that beautiful women were his achilles heel — but he wasn’t just sitting on the sidelines looking at them.

“Some of the most beautiful women in Hollywood would come to the studio to visit him, because he was nice to everybody," recalledDan Aykroyd. “He was funny, sweet, and a gentleman.”

Chris Farley at the Mann’s Village Theatre in Westwood, California.Steve Granitz/WireImage

Steve Granitz/WireImage

He also dated Victoria’s Secret modelLorri Bagley, who recalled that he just had incredible charisma.

And, he also had dance moves that rivaled his one-timeSaturday Night LivesketchmatePatrick Swayze.

ActorBob Odenkirk, who was a writer forSNLat the time, said in the doc that Farley was nervous about taking his shirt off and being typecast as “the fat guy" in the sketch about sexy Chippendales dancers.

Odenkirk told him to go out and be the funniest fat guy he should be — which Farley naturally did.

Comedian Will Sasso also said Farley’s moves were an inspiration. “As a fat kid in high school… he was my hero, especially since Farley was as good a dancer as Swayze,” Sasso said.

Though Farley’s career and life were cut tragically short, he left a lasting impact on the world of comedy. He is widely remembered as one of the comedy greats and earned a star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame in 2005, seven years after his untimely death.

“Everyone still has a real nice place in their hearts for him, they still remember him,”  good friendDavid Spadesaid about his close friend at his Walk of Fame ceremony, perToday. “He goes down as one of the greats. And I still think about him every day.”

Farley’s friends in the comedy world have kept his spirit and memory alive in the decades since his death, including Adam Sandler writing andperforminga tribute song for him as well as Spade and Dana Carvey releasing atwo-part tribute special on theirFly on the Wallpodcastaround the 25th anniversary of Farley’s death in 2022.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

On Instagram Friday, April 12, Hauserwroteof the project: “This is a glory story. Not a tale from the crypt. Ready to honor Christopher.”

source: people.com