Chris Farley, who played rugby at Marquette University and used his athleticism as a basis for physical humor, is now in the Wisconsin Entertainer Wall of Fame (WOF).
Kevin Farley, the comedian brother of Chris Farley, the comedian who has been voted into the Wisconsin Entertainer Wall of Fame, filled The Bend Theater Saturday. Kevin gave a “thumbs up” to the newly lighted display featuring Chris in the Walkway in downtown West Bend.
A native of Madison, he developed his chops as a comedian at Chicago’s Second City Theatre and later as a five-year member of the cast of NBC’’s Saturday Night Live (SNL). In some of his skits, he used comedic mannerisms copied from his rugby teammates and his high school football coach.
Theatergoers at The Bend Theater voted him to the Wall of Fame from a list of 32 nominees with roots in Wisconsin. The other top selection was Steve Miller, the Madison big band leader.
The Bend completed the installation of a lighted display of Farley last week in the festoon-lighted Walkway on the theater’s north exterior wall. The Miller display will follow in the near future.
A protype initial display of Orson Wells, who was chosen by The Bend’s board of directors, went up March 2024. A total of ten entertainment giants will be selected and honored during 2025 and 2026.
After being fired in 1995 from SNL for his inability to control his drug addiction, Farley shifted his focus to his movie career. He starred in ten movies, including Wayne’s World and Beverly Hills Ninja, and five television shows, including Roseanne and the Jackie Thomas Show.
Farley’s career was cut short in 1997 at 33 from an overdose. He is buried in his hometown Madison. More than 500 people, including many comedian friends like Dan Ackroyd, Chris Rock and Adam Sandler, attended his funeral.
Two of his movies, Almost Heroes and Dirty Work, were released posthumously.
His comedian brother Kevin performed at The Bend to a sold-out audience Saturday.
