Suzanne Chase, originally known as Susan Hewitt, is best remembered as the first wife of comedian and actor Chevy Chase. Their marriage began in 1973, during the early stage of Chase’s career, and ended roughly three years later. While Chevy went on to become one of the most recognizable comedy stars of his generation, Suzanne chose a much quieter path.
Born in 1949, Susan Hewitt married Chevy Chase on February 23, 1973. Their relationship came to an end with a divorce finalized on February 1, 1976. Afterward, she largely disappeared from public life and avoided discussing her former marriage.
Her decision to remain private has left many aspects of her life unknown. Still, her connection to Chevy Chase makes her a point of interest for those exploring the comedian’s personal history and early years before fame transformed his life.
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Who Was Suzanne Chase?
Suzanne Chase was the name Susan Hewitt became known by following her marriage to Chevy Chase. She was his first wife and was with him before he reached the level of fame that would later come through Saturday Night Live and his successful film career.
Unlike many people connected to celebrities, Suzanne did not attempt to establish a public identity through her former relationship. She rarely, if ever, discussed her marriage publicly and did not become a regular presence in entertainment media.
Her life before, during, and after her marriage remains largely undocumented. This has contributed to the mystery surrounding her story.
Early Life and Background
Susan Hewitt was born in the United States in 1949. Beyond that basic information, very few verified details about her early life are publicly available.
There is no substantial public record detailing her parents, siblings, childhood, education, or early career. She also did not appear to have a public profile before meeting Chevy Chase.
Her limited public biography may partly reflect the era in which she grew up. Unlike today’s celebrity culture, people in the 1960s and 1970s had far fewer opportunities—or pressures—to share personal details with the public.
Even after becoming connected to a rising entertainment personality, Hewitt maintained a strong boundary between her private life and public curiosity.
Life Before Meeting Chevy Chase
Very little is known about Susan Hewitt’s life before her relationship with Chevy Chase. Her education, professional interests, and personal ambitions have not been clearly documented.
There are no widely reported interviews in which she described her childhood or teenage years. Likewise, few details exist about her social circle or professional life before her marriage.
This lack of information makes it difficult to reconstruct her early biography. What can be said with confidence is that she lived a relatively private existence before becoming associated with Chevy Chase.
Meeting Chevy Chase
The precise circumstances surrounding Susan Hewitt’s first meeting with Chevy Chase have never been clearly established in public accounts.
At the time, Chase was still a young comedian trying to make his way in entertainment. He had not yet become the household name audiences would later recognize from television and film.
Their relationship therefore began before the fame, financial success, and media attention that would eventually define Chase’s career. Susan knew him during a period when his future in show business was still uncertain.
The couple’s early romance appears to have developed away from the attention of the entertainment press. There were no major headlines surrounding their relationship, and they were not initially known as a celebrity couple.
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Marriage in 1973
Susan Hewitt and Chevy Chase married on February 23, 1973, in New York City. Chase was 25 years old at the time, while Susan was 19.
The wedding marked the beginning of their life together as a married couple. Chase was still working toward establishing himself professionally, and his biggest career opportunities were still ahead.
Their marriage began before Chase joined Saturday Night Live, the program that would eventually make him a major comedy star. During the early years of their relationship, the couple lived through the uncertainty that often accompanies the beginning of an entertainment career.
For Susan, this meant being married to a man whose professional ambitions were growing while maintaining the private lifestyle she appeared to value.
Life as Chevy Chase’s First Wife
Suzanne Chase’s marriage to Chevy coincided with an important period in his life. She was with him before his breakthrough and witnessed the early stages of his professional development.
Chase’s personality and career were highly public-facing, while Suzanne remained private. This contrast created a relationship dynamic in which one partner was gradually moving toward public recognition while the other preferred to remain away from attention.
During their marriage, Chase continued working toward success in comedy. His career eventually accelerated, but their relationship did not last long enough to experience the full height of his fame.
Their marriage ended before Chase became one of the biggest names in American comedy.
The Divorce in 1976
Suzanne and Chevy Chase divorced on February 1, 1976, after approximately three years of marriage. They did not have children together.
The couple did not publicly provide a detailed joint explanation for the end of their relationship. As a result, much of what is known about the divorce comes from later accounts rather than statements from both former spouses.
In his 2007 biography, Chevy Chase reportedly claimed that Suzanne had an affair and subsequently left the marriage. That account represents Chase’s version of events.
Suzanne never publicly responded to the allegation or offered her own explanation. Because she has remained silent about the marriage, the complete circumstances behind their separation remain unknown.
It is therefore impossible to know whether the public account reflects the full complexity of their relationship or only one side of it.
Why Did Suzanne Chase and Chevy Chase Divorce?
The exact reason for the couple’s divorce has never been fully established from both sides.
Chevy Chase later described the end of the marriage in his biography and attributed it to an alleged affair. Suzanne, however, did not publicly confirm or challenge his account.
Her decision not to respond has meant that the public record contains only limited information about what happened between them.
Relationships often involve circumstances that are more complicated than a single explanation can capture. Without Suzanne’s perspective, the full story of their separation remains private.
Suzanne Chase’s Acting Work
Although Suzanne never became a major Hollywood name, some film credits have been associated with her.
Her IMDb listings include:
- Shake Well Before Using
- A Trip Down Mammary Lane
- Amateur Lesbians 8
These were not mainstream productions that brought her widespread recognition, but they indicate that she had at least some involvement in acting and film projects.
Her career path was very different from that of Chevy Chase. While he eventually became a major television and movie star, Suzanne’s involvement in entertainment remained limited and largely outside the mainstream spotlight.
Life After the Divorce
Following her divorce from Chevy Chase, Suzanne Chase largely disappeared from public view.
There is little reliable information about what she did professionally or personally in the years that followed. She did not appear to pursue a public career based on her connection to Chase, nor did she become a regular participant in celebrity media.
Information about whether she remarried or had children later in life is also not clearly documented in reliable public sources.
Her absence from the public sphere has remained consistent for decades. She has not become known for interviews, memoirs, documentaries, or public discussions about her former husband.
This makes her unusual among former spouses of major celebrities. Many eventually speak publicly about their relationships, while Suzanne has maintained the same private approach throughout the years.
A Life Away From Hollywood
Suzanne Chase’s story is particularly interesting because she was connected to Chevy Chase during a crucial period in his life but chose not to remain connected to celebrity culture afterward.
She knew him before his major breakthrough and before he became widely recognized as a comedy star. Yet when their marriage ended, she did not attempt to use that connection to build her own public profile.
Instead, she appears to have stepped away from Hollywood and continued living outside the media spotlight.
The lack of information about her later years can naturally create curiosity, but it also reflects a personal decision to keep her life private.
Chevy Chase’s Life After Their Marriage
After divorcing Suzanne, Chevy Chase married actress Jacqueline Carlin on December 4, 1976. That marriage ended in divorce on November 14, 1980, and the couple did not have children together.
Chase later met Jayni Luke while working on the 1981 film Under the Rainbow. Luke was involved with the production as a production coordinator. The couple married on June 19, 1982, in Pacific Palisades.
His third marriage became his longest-lasting relationship. Together, Chevy and Jayni raised three daughters: Cydney, Caley, and Emily Evelyn Chase.
Meanwhile, Chase’s professional career continued to grow. His work in films such as Caddyshack, National Lampoon’s Vacation, and Fletch established him as one of the most prominent comedy actors of the 1980s.
By the latter part of that decade, Chase was reportedly earning millions of dollars per film and had become a major Hollywood star.
The Woman Who Knew Chevy Before Fame
Suzanne Chase occupies a unique place in Chevy Chase’s personal history. She was married to him before his career reached its peak and before Saturday Night Live turned him into a nationally recognized comedian.
She therefore knew a side of Chase that existed before widespread fame and success. Yet despite that connection, she has never publicly offered a detailed account of their life together.
Her silence has left many questions unanswered, but it also reflects the consistent privacy she has maintained for decades.
Conclusion
Suzanne Chase remains a largely mysterious figure connected to one of America’s most famous comedy stars. Born Susan Hewitt, she became Chevy Chase’s first wife in 1973 and remained married to him for approximately three years before their divorce in 1976.
While Chevy went on to build a celebrated career in television and film, Suzanne chose a very different direction. She stepped away from public attention and has rarely, if ever, discussed her marriage or later life.
The full story of their relationship and divorce remains incomplete because Suzanne has never publicly shared her side. What is known is that she was part of Chevy Chase’s life before fame transformed his career—and that after their marriage ended, she chose to live on her own terms, far from the spotlight.
FAQs
Who was Chevy Chase’s first wife?
Chevy Chase’s first wife was Susan Hewitt, who became known as Suzanne Chase during their marriage. The couple married on February 23, 1973, and divorced on February 1, 1976.
How many times has Chevy Chase been married?
Chevy Chase has been married three times. His first marriage was to Suzanne Chase from 1973 to 1976. He then married actress Jacqueline Carlin in 1976, with their marriage ending in 1980. In 1982, he married Jayni Luke, with whom he has three daughters.
Did Suzanne Chase and Chevy Chase have children?
No. Suzanne and Chevy Chase did not have children during their marriage.
What happened to Suzanne Chase after her divorce?
After the divorce, Suzanne largely withdrew from public life. There is limited reliable information about her later career, relationships, or personal circumstances. She has not publicly discussed her marriage to Chevy Chase or become involved in celebrity media.
Why did Suzanne Chase and Chevy Chase divorce?
The complete reason for their divorce is not publicly known. In his 2007 biography, Chevy Chase reportedly attributed the breakup to an alleged affair by Suzanne. She never publicly responded to the claim or shared her own version of what led to their separation.
Did Suzanne Chase have an acting career?
Suzanne Chase has been associated with a small number of film projects, including Shake Well Before Using, A Trip Down Mammary Lane, and Amateur Lesbians 8. However, she did not go on to establish a mainstream acting career like her former husband.
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