Monday, December 18th, was the 20 year anniversary of comedian Chris Farley's death. Farley became a household name through his work on Saturday Night Live and the movie Tommy Boy. Since his passing, his status as a comedy legend has only grown - his friends and family remember him as a larger-than-life figure with an incredible capacity for love and caring.
Hard to believe it’s 20years. Tell the ones you love that you love them. Remembering Chris Farley 20 years after his death: 'People talk about him like he's alive. In many ways he still is' https://t.co/XsHCP6B6rf via @WiStateJournal
— Kevin Farley (@Imkevinfarley) December 17, 2017
Actor and comedian Chris Farley dies at 33 #onthisday 20 years ago https://t.co/hDslZ8nPfh pic.twitter.com/mdeqXPOLwF
— Daily News Flashback (@NYDNFlashback) December 18, 2017
To remember him on this special occasion, fans began tweeting little known facts about Farley and his life.
Chris Farley’s character in “Tommy Boy” (1995) graduates from Marquette University, which was Farley’s real-life alma mater pic.twitter.com/QMzVGhOF5q
— Movie and TV Facts (@MovieAndTVFacts) October 29, 2017
Chris Farley and Pat Finn at Marquette University in the '80's. @thatPatFinn pic.twitter.com/7ShUHJImgn
— Brian Stack (@BrianStack153) August 25, 2016
His trademark physical style had to come from somewhere!
fun fact: chris farley played rugby pic.twitter.com/1C0QsZeR1T
— festive lexi 🎄 (@lexatron3000) November 26, 2016
Great pic of Chris Farley while he played #rugby at @MarquetteU pic.twitter.com/9RLOPoTsk0
— Juan G. Arango (@JuanG_Arango) August 12, 2015
Hopefully these two didn't have anything else in common...
Did you know Chris Farley's Matt Foley was named after a priest friend from @MarquetteU ? http://t.co/BwaISD4PfG pic.twitter.com/leFdq7dnvb
— Midwest Jesuits (@MidwestJesuits) August 1, 2015
Love, faith and laughter remain. Eternal rest grant him O Lord. 12/18/97 pic.twitter.com/SP59dfirtH
— matt foley (@padrematt) December 18, 2017
Farley cared deeply about his family.
Chris Farley worked at his father's oil company before getting into comedy. #snltrivia
— SNL Fans (@snltrivia) April 11, 2014
For that matter, he cared deeply about just about everyone.
"I wan't to become so famous that I can go to children's hospitals and I can cheer the kids up and they know who I am"-Chris Farley
— Logan White (@LoganWhite33) September 11, 2015
He came up from humble beginnings.
Check out this amazing photo of Chris Farley at the Ark Theater in Madison before an improv show - pic.twitter.com/KIR4cH5fhj
— Improv Asylum (@improvasylum) July 27, 2014
Farley was definitely more comfortable on the performing side of a sketch.
#IAmChrisFarley Q&A: The one sketch Chris Farley ever wrote for SNL was called "Puppy Lawyer & Doggy Doctor." It was 14-pages, never aired.
— The Second City (@TheSecondCity) July 28, 2015
Farley's life took many ups and downs...
Adam Sandler and Chris Farley were fired from SNL.
— What The F*** Facts (@WhatTheFFacts) September 12, 2013
Adam Sandler on being fired (along with Chris Farley) from SNL: "It hurt a lot at the time because we were young..." http://t.co/stsZOfX4BB
— The Daily Beast (@thedailybeast) September 13, 2014
But he always made it through with the help of good friends.
Chris Farley, Adam Sandler, Chris Rock and David Spade (1994). pic.twitter.com/z0Vj7OVTGD
— ClassicPics (@History_Pics) August 6, 2017
After SNL, Farley made a dramatic impression on Hollywood!
Chris Farley was the original voice of Shrek but died during recording. Shrek was reanimated to use air quotes to pay homage to Chris.
— Marc Hodges (@marchodges) February 24, 2014
Do you recall the scene in "Wayne's World"that was Chris Farley's 1st movie cameo when he was a bodyguard with seemingly extraneous info?🙋✌™ https://t.co/aMx9bubEWD
— Tim Mena (@superUNKNOWN92) March 5, 2017
Onscreen, you couldn't look away from him.
Christoper Walken, Chris Farley, Mike Myers and Dana Carvey on the set of Wayne’s World 2.#SixDegreesOfChicago pic.twitter.com/bkyRLHbYnr
— Chicago History (@Chicago_History) February 15, 2017
Chris Farley is in Airheads for all but 10 minutes, yet he's still a standout. What a great comedic talent he was. pic.twitter.com/ArOBgRs4UD
— JTE (@JTEmoviethinks) May 8, 2016
If Farley hadn't passed away, things might have been very different.
Grown Ups was written in the 1990s and was going to feature Chris Farley. It was shelved for more than a decade after Farley passed away.
— Adam Sandler Fanclub (@SandlersFanclub) April 10, 2017
Many celebrities used this opportunity to remember an old friend.
More reasons to love @TomArnold cameo in #coneheads Chris farley was his caddy #likeaboss pic.twitter.com/EPtvnoehHL
— Kelly (@KellyODell86) April 12, 2014
20 yrs ago I was shooting a funeral scene with @Imkevinfarley when i picked up my phone “I’m sorry about Chris.” I hung up & went to find Kevin because I knew..RIP Chris Farley. My friend, my best man & fellow addict. Your legacy is your work & wonderful family. I love you Chris.
— Tom Arnold (@TomArnold) December 18, 2017
To this day, Chris Farley reminds me to "Go Bigger." If you feel silly doing what you are doing....go sillier. RIP https://t.co/IQBI7lCceW
— Christopher Titus (@TitusNation) December 18, 2017
During his time on Earth, Farley touched many lives.
The most beautiful and loving man I ever met pic.twitter.com/rGoNqCt82T
— Jay Mohr (@jaymohr37) December 18, 2017
“People... need a time to laugh. It's up to us to bonk ourselves on the head and slip on a banana peel so the average guy can say, 'I may be bad, honey, but I'm not as much of an idiot as that guy on the screen.’” - Chris Farley (February 15, 1964 - December 18, 1997) pic.twitter.com/62d5OZWd1v
— NationalComedyCenter (@NtlComedyCenter) December 18, 2017
He's still missed.
20 years ago today. pic.twitter.com/01TzKrelLT
— David Spade (@DavidSpade) December 18, 2017