Suzanne Chase is the name widely used for the first wife of comedian Chevy Chase. Wikipedia lists her as Suzanne (or Susan) Hewitt. The two married in New York City on February 23, 1973, and divorced on February 1, 1976, just months after Saturday Night Live turned Chevy into a national star.
Chevy Chase is known for Weekend Update, Caddyshack, Fletch, and the Vacation movies. He has been married to his third wife, Jayni, for more than 40 years. But his first marriage came before almost all of that fame.
The woman in that marriage has stayed almost completely out of view. This article covers what is confirmed about her, the life Chevy was living when they married, how their marriage ended as his career took off, and why so little else is known.
Quick Facts: Suzanne Chase
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Name used online | Suzanne Chase |
| Name in Wikipedia | Suzanne Hewitt (also given as Susan Hewitt) |
| Known as | Chevy Chase’s first wife |
| Wedding | February 23, 1973, New York City |
| Divorce | February 1, 1976 |
| Children with Chevy | None reported |
| Birth date | Not publicly confirmed |
| Birthplace | Not publicly confirmed |
| Career | Not publicly confirmed |
| Later life | Not publicly confirmed |
| Net worth | Not publicly confirmed |
Who Is Suzanne Chase?
Suzanne Chase is the first woman Chevy Chase married. Chevy’s Wikipedia page lists her as Suzanne Hewitt in its summary box and Susan Hewitt in the main text. Websites often call her “Suzanne Chase,” using her married name.
She was married to Chevy for just under three years. According to Us Weekly, she has never spoken publicly about the marriage.
That silence is why her story is so short in the public record.
The Man Suzanne Married
Chevy Chase was born Cornelius Crane Chase on October 8, 1943, in New York City. His father, Ned Chase, was a book editor and magazine writer. His mother, Cathalene Parker, was a concert pianist and librettist.
His mother had been adopted by Cornelius Vanderbilt Crane, heir to the Crane Company, which is where Chevy’s birth name comes from. His maternal grandfather was Rear Admiral Miles Browning, who served at the Battle of Midway.
Chevy graduated from Bard College in 1967 with an English degree. While there, he dated actress Blythe Danner, whom he later called his first real love.
Chevy Chase Before Fame
In 1973, the year he married Suzanne, Chevy was a young comedy writer and performer in New York. He was not yet a household name.
He was part of the comedy scene around National Lampoon, the humor magazine that fed into much of 1970s American comedy. That scene included future SNL stars like John Belushi.
So the Chevy that Suzanne married was a struggling, rising comic, not the movie star the world would soon know.
A New York City Wedding
Wikipedia records that Chevy and Suzanne married in New York City on February 23, 1973. No public details about the ceremony, guests, or how they met have been confirmed.
They began their married life in the city where Chevy was born and where his career was about to explode.
For the first two years, their life seems to have stayed far from the spotlight.
The Arrival of Saturday Night Live
Everything changed on October 11, 1975, when Saturday Night Live premiered on NBC. Chevy was in the original cast.
He became the show’s breakout star in its first season. As the first anchor of Weekend Update, he opened with his famous line, “I’m Chevy Chase, and you’re not.” His pratfalls as President Gerald Ford became a running joke on the show.
Within months, he went from an unknown writer to one of the most famous comedians in America.
The Marriage Ends
Just as Chevy’s fame peaked, his marriage ended. Wikipedia records the divorce date as February 1, 1976, less than four months after SNL began.
Neither Chevy nor Suzanne explained the split at the time. Years later, in the 2007 biography I’m Chevy Chase… and You’re Not, Chevy said that she was the one who left the marriage, as quoted by Us Weekly.
That is his account. Suzanne has never shared hers, so the full story remains unknown.
Fame and Marriage in the 1970s
It’s hard to imagine a bigger change in a couple’s life than the one Chevy and Suzanne faced. In one season, a regular New York marriage collided with sudden national fame, late nights, and constant attention.
SNL’s early years were famous for long hours and a wild backstage culture. A 2026 CNN documentary about Chevy described heavy drug use among the early cast.
Many marriages struggle under far less pressure. Whatever the exact reasons, timing likely played a role.
Chevy Chase’s Second Marriage
Chevy moved on quickly. He married actress Jacqueline Carlin on December 4, 1976, Wikipedia says. He left SNL in its second season and moved to Los Angeles to be with her.
That marriage was stormy, by Chevy’s own account. In a 2002 oral history, he said she once threw a candelabra at him, according to Us Weekly. They divorced in 1980.
Carlin later married twice more and died in 2021, Us Weekly reports.
Chevy Chase’s Lasting Marriage
Chevy’s third marriage has lasted. He met Jayni Luke on the set of the 1981 film Under the Rainbow, where she worked as a production coordinator. They married on June 19, 1982, in Pacific Palisades.
They have three daughters: Cydney, Caley, and Emily. They live in Bedford, New York, according to Wikipedia.
In June 2025, they celebrated their 43rd wedding anniversary. That makes Jayni, not Suzanne, the wife most fans picture today.
Chevy Chase’s Career After the Divorce
Chevy’s career soared after he left SNL. He played Ty Webb in Caddyshack (1980) and Clark Griswold in National Lampoon’s Vacation (1983) and its sequels.
He starred as Fletch in 1985 and joined Steve Martin and Martin Short in ¡Three Amigos! (1986). Decades later, he played Pierce Hawthorne on NBC’s Community (2009 to 2014).
In January 2026, CNN aired the documentary I’m Chevy Chase and You’re Not, which brought new attention to his life and relationships, including his early marriages.
Clearing Up the Confusion About Suzanne Chase
Many websites write about “Suzanne Chase,” and much of what they say isn’t confirmed. Here is what to know.
Her name. Wikipedia uses both Suzanne Hewitt and Susan Hewitt. “Suzanne Chase” is a married name that websites use, not a name she has used in any public record we found.
Children. Some sites suggest she had children with Chevy. No trusted source reports any. His three daughters are all with Jayni.
Her career. Sites give her various jobs. None are confirmed.
Her life after the divorce. Claims about remarriage, where she lives, or her current age are not supported by trusted sources.
Why they split. Chevy’s 2007 comment is one side of the story. She has never responded publicly.
Why Suzanne Chase Stays Out of the Spotlight
Suzanne left the marriage just as Chevy became famous. She never joined the celebrity world that followed.
She has given no interviews, written no book, and made no public comments about Chevy, according to Us Weekly. In an era of tell-alls, that kind of silence is rare.
Whatever her reasons, she seems to have chosen a private life over a public connection to a famous ex.
Suzanne Chase Today
As of 2026, nothing about Suzanne’s current life has been confirmed by trusted sources. Where she lives and what she does remain private.
Chevy, now in his eighties, lives in New York with Jayni. His CNN documentary in early 2026 reopened interest in his early years.
For many viewers, that’s where they first heard that Chevy had a first wife at all.
Final Thoughts
Some people are part of a famous life only before the fame begins. They knew the person when nobody else did, and then they were gone before the crowds arrived. Their place in the story is small, but it’s real.
Suzanne Chase belongs to that quiet group. She married a young comedy writer in New York, and less than three years later, that writer was on every TV in America. By then, she had already stepped away.
Maybe there’s something to respect in that. In a world that rewards people for telling everything, she chose to say nothing. Her story invites a simple question: how much of our past do we owe the public, and how much can we keep for ourselves?
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Who is Suzanne Chase?
Suzanne Chase is the name commonly used for Chevy Chase’s first wife. Wikipedia lists her as Suzanne (or Susan) Hewitt.
When did Chevy Chase marry his first wife?
He married Suzanne Hewitt in New York City on February 23, 1973.
When did Suzanne and Chevy Chase divorce?
Their divorce was finalized on February 1, 1976, just months after Saturday Night Live made Chevy famous.
Did Suzanne Chase and Chevy Chase have children?
No children from this marriage have been reported. Chevy’s three daughters are with his third wife, Jayni.
How many times has Chevy Chase been married?
Three times: to Suzanne Hewitt (1973 to 1976), Jacqueline Carlin (1976 to 1980), and Jayni Luke (since 1982).
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