Tragic Things About Chris Farley

Beloved, loud, energetic, gone too soon. Those are all fit descriptions for Chris Farley, whose peculiar comedy stylings delighted Saturday Night Live watchers and moviegoers alike in the 1990s. He brought classic SNL characters, like motivational speaker Matt Foley, to life. He appeared on small, but memorable parts in popular movies like Wayne's World 2 and Billy Madison. Before long, he started getting starring roles in films like Tommy Boy and Beverly Hills Ninja. It seemed that the funnyman...

In Hollywood, the show really must go on, even when an actor dies midway through production. We've pulled together several sad instances in which …

Pain seems to be necessary to produce a laugh from the audience, and comedians seemingly have to tap into pain, either internal or external, to become successful at their craft. Comedian Sarah Silverman said in a documentary titled Laughing Matters on the relationship between comedy and subjects like mental health and trauma, "Humor is how we all survive. I think a lot of people find humor in the darkest places." As with authors and musicians, this pain sometimes becomes too great for many comedians, and they turn to sex, drugs, or alcohol to numb themselves. In other cases, life treats them like any other person in terms of diseases or fatal incidents that they have no control over. Here are a few comedians who both made their audiences laugh and who passed away tragically...

The idea of arbitrary dates, movie shoots, and other events dooming or cursing people to death seems pretty silly. But circumstances sometimes line up in such a haunting way that it sets the imagination on fire. It makes us reflect on whether there really is either some sort of cosmic mechanism or bad joke hidden in the gears that give our lives meaning...

There aren't too many bonafide institutions in television, and Saturday Night Live looms large at the top of that list. Debuting in 1975, the late-night comedy showcase has been appointment viewing for millions for more than four decades. A uniquely American show, it keenly and effectively skewers and lampoons newsmakers and politicians while also providing the highest level of television sketch comedy. Landing a spot in the show's cast is a dream for most any performer with comedic inclinations, and it can also be a springboard to superstardom. Sitcoms and comedy films would look a lot different had Lorne Michaels not launched Saturday Night Live and given a huge break to undeniable talents like Eddie Murphy, Kristen Wiig, Adam Sandler, Kate McKinnon, Will Ferrell, Dan Aykroyd, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and literally dozens more hilarious people...