It's been 22 years since comedian Chris Farley, a Madison native, died of a drug overdose at the age of 33. Here is a look back at his life and career in photos. He died Dec. 18, 1997.
Photos: Commemorating the life and career of Chris Farley
Baby Chris Farley
Chris Farley when he was an infant.
Farley family photo
Young Chris with his family
A young Chris Farley (second from left) with his family.
Farley family photo
Young Chris Farley with water skis
Farley family photo
Teenage hockey player
Farley family photo
Senior class photo
Chris Farley's senior class portrait from Edgewood High School in Madison.
Farley family photo
Graduation photo
Farley family photo
Chris Farley -- Marquette rugby
Chris Farley, front left, and Matt Foley, front right, were members of the Marquette University rugby team in 1984.
MATT FOLEY
The Farley family at a Badgers game
Farley family photo
Chris Farley, 1990
Comedian Chris Farley pictured on September 18, 1990. This was Farley's first year as a cast member of Saturday Night Live.
RICHARD DREW, ASSOCIATED PRESS ARCHIVES
Early comedy career
Chris Farley during a sketch early in his comedy career.
SNL cast, 1992
The cast of NBC's "Saturday Night Live" pose on the show's set in New York, Sept. 22, 1992.
From left, front row, are: Chris Farley, Al Franken and Melanie Hutsell. In middle row, from left, are: Chris Rock, Julia Sweeney, Dana Carvey and Rob Schneider. In back row, from left, are: Adam Sandler, David Spade, Ellen Cleghorne, Kevin Nealon, Phil Hartman and Tim Meadows.
JUSTIN SUTCLIFFE, ASSOCIATED PRESS ARCHIVES
Dana Carvey and Chris Farley
Dana Carvey and Chris Farley on the set of the movie "Wayne's World." Farley had a small part in the movie.
Farley family photo
On set with Dana Carvey, 1992
"Saturday Night Live" cast members Chris Farley, left, and Dana Carvey share a laugh on the set of the NBC show during a news conference in New York, Sept. 23, 1992. (AP Photo/Justin Sutcliffe)
JUSTIN SUTCLIFFE, ASSOCIATED PRESS ARCHIVES
With his mother, Mary Anne Farley
Chris Farley was devoted to his family and loved to spend time with his mother, Mary Anne Farley.
Farley family photo
On set
Chris Farley on the set of the movie "Beverly Hills Ninja."
With Newt Gingrich on Capitol Hill, 1995
House Speaker Newt Gingrich of Georgia, left, poses with "Saturday Night Live" actor Chris Farley, who impersonates Gingrich, on Capitol Hill in this April 4, 1995 photo.
JOE MARQUETTE, ASSOCIATED PRESS ARCHIVES
Hamming it up in the House of Representatives, 1995
House Speaker Newt Gingrich of Ga., right, along with fellow Republican House members, laugh as "Saturday Night Live" star Chris Farley, center, "portrays" Gingrich, on Capitol Hill in Washington, April 4, 1995. House Majority Leader Dick Armey, of Texas, is seen above Farley.
JOE MARQUETTE, ASSOCIATED PRESS ARCHIVES
Leaving a "Black Sheep" private screening, 1996
Chris Farley leaves a private Madison showing of "Black Sheep" in October 1996 with friends, fans, and reporters in tow.
MIKE DeVRIES, THE CAPITAL TIMES ARCHIVES
Swarmed by fans, 1996
Chris Farley, left, who died 20 years ago today, frequently found time to spend with his fans, including a large group following a private Madison showing of his 1996 movie, "Black Sheep."
CAPITAL TIMES ARCHIVES
With Jeffrey Katzenberg, 1997
Chris Farley pals around with Dreamworks Animation CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg in 1997 during production work for the movie "Shrek." Farley was the cast as the voice of Shrek but died before the movie was finished and it was recast with Mike Myers as Shrek.
Farley family photo
With the Packers on the Jay Leno show, 1997
Madison native Chris Farley bows to Packers players Andre Rison, left, Sean Jones and Edgar Bennett as Jay Leno looks on during a taping of "The Tonight Show" after Green Bay's Super Bowl victory in 1997. Farley, who loved to showcase his Wisconsin roots, presented the players with cheesehead hats.
ASSOCIATED PRESS ARCHIVES
Farley Publicity photo, 1997
Publicity photo of Chris Farley taken in 1997.
At the 1997 Oscars
Presenter Chris Farley, center, hugs Best Animated Short Film winners Tyron Montgomery, left, and Thomas Stellmach at the 69th annual Academy Awards in Los Angeles Monday, March 24, 1997. Montgomery and Stellmach won for "Quest."
KEVORK DJANSEZIAN, ASSOCIATED PRESS ARCHIVES
1997 Oscars
Presenter Chris Farley, background, reacts as Thomas Stellmach accepts the award for Best Animated Short Film for "Quest," at the 69th Annual Academy Awards at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, Monday, March 24, 1997.
SUSAN STERNER, ASSOCIATED PRESS ARCHIVES
Rob Schneider and Tom Arnold at Farley's funeral
"Saturday Night Live" actor Rob Schneider (center) and actor Tom Arnold (right) comfort a friend at the church during Farley's funeral in 1997.
RICH RYGH, STATE JOURNAL ARCHIVES
Chris Rock
Chris Rock and friend arrive at the funeral for Chris Farley in Madison, Wis. on December 23, 1997.
SARAH B. TEWS, STATE JOURNAL ARCHIVES
Outside Farley's funeral
Among the celebrities who attended Chris Farley's funeral at Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church on Dec. 23, 1997, were Tom Arnold, second from left, and Rob Schneider, in glasses at right.
STATE JOURNAL ARCHIVES
Mourners gather at the chapel
Guests arrive at the chapel at Resurrection Catholic Cemetery before the entombment of Chris Farley.
Among the guests are writer-comedian Al Franken, far left under the canopy; comedian George Wendt, center; the Rev. Matt Foley, seventh from right; comedian Adam Sandler, talking to Foley with his back to the camera; comedian Rob Schneider, fourth from right; and actress Bonnie Hunt, second from right.
STATE JOURNAL ARCHIVES
Lorne Michaels
"Saturday Night Live" producer Lorne Michaels, who considered Chris Farley one of the most talented actors to have worked on the show, walks alone in Resurrection Catholic Cemetery in Madison after Farley's entombment on Dec. 23, 1997.
STATE JOURNAL ARCHIVES
Funeral
Mourners at Chris Farley's funeral on Dec. 23, 1997 comfort each other outside Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church.
RICH RYGH, STATE JOURNAL ARCHIVES
Farley's mother at the funeral
Chris Farley's mother, Mary Ann Farley (center), talks with mourners at Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church at Chris Farley's funeral on Dec. 23, 1997. Among the mourners was actor George Wendt (far right), who performed with Farley in some classic Saturday Night Live skits.
RICH RYGH, STATE JOURNAL ARCHIVES
Pallbearers
Pallbearers place Chris Farley's coffin in the hearse at the conclusion of Farley's funeral on Dec. 23, 1997. The pallbearers were all boyhood friends of the actor.
RICH RYGH, STATE JOURNAL ARCHIVES
Hearse leaves the church
A hearse containing the body of actor Chris Farley leaves the parking lot of Our Lady Queen of Peace following the Madison native's funeral on Dec. 23, 1997.
JOSEPH W. JACKSON III, STATE JOURNAL ARCHIVES
Funeral procession
A procession of limousines with family and friends of Chris Farley follows the hearse carrying Farley's body to Resurrection Catholic Cemetery for internment there on Dec. 23, 1997.
RICH RYGH, STATE JOURNAL ARCHIVES
Funeral procession
The Chris Farley funeral procession makes its way to Resurrection Catholic Cemetery on Madison's West Side.
SARAH TEWS, STATE JOURNAL ARCHIVES
Media presence
Chris Farley made millions laugh with his comedy so reporters and photographers from media outlets across the country descended on Madison to cover his funeral on Dec. 23, 1997.
RICH RYGH, STATE JOURNAL ARCHIVES
Chris Farley's resting place
Chris Farley's final resting place in a Madison mausoleum.
DAVID SANDELL, THE CAPITAL TIMES ARCHIVES
Grave marker
Chris Farley's grave marker.
Jde2399, via Wikimedia Commons
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