Suzanne Chase is known as the first wife of actor Chevy Chase. Her real name is Susan Hewitt. She married Chevy in 1973, long before he became a big star. Their marriage lasted about three years. After they split in 1976, Suzanne left public life and never came back to it.
Quick Facts: Suzanne Chase
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Real Name | Susan Hewitt |
| Known As | Suzanne Chase |
| Born | 1949, United States |
| Famous For | First wife of Chevy Chase |
| Wedding Date | February 23, 1973 |
| Divorce Date | February 1, 1976 |
| Marriage Length | About 3 years |
| Children | None |
| Life Today | Private, details unknown |
Suzanne Chase’s Early Life
Not much is known about Suzanne Chase’s childhood. She was born in 1949 in the United States. No records show where she grew up in detail.
Her parents’ names have never come out in public. Her school life stays a mystery too. Nobody has shared old photos or stories from her younger years.
This kind of privacy was more normal in her time. People did not share their lives online back then. Still, even by those standards, Suzanne kept an unusual amount hidden.
Many public figures leave some trace behind. Old classmates often speak up later in life. In Suzanne’s case, nobody ever has. That silence has lasted for her whole life.
How Did Suzanne Chase Meet Chevy Chase?
Nobody knows the exact story of how Suzanne Chase met Chevy Chase. Most reports place it in the early 1970s. Chevy was not famous at that point.
He worked on small comedy shows around New York City. Fame and Saturday Night Live were still years away for him. He was just a young performer trying to find his path.
Suzanne likely met him during this simple, uncertain time. Their meeting was not covered by any newspaper or magazine. It happened quietly, away from any spotlight.
This detail says something important. Suzanne knew Chevy before the whole world knew his name. She saw him during his most ordinary years.
Suzanne Chase and Chevy Chase’s Marriage
Suzanne Chase married Chevy Chase on February 23, 1973, in New York City. She was only 19 years old. Chevy was 25 at the time.
Their wedding stayed small and simple. Reporters did not show up because Chevy had not become famous yet. Life felt normal for them in those early days.
Chevy spent these years chasing his comedy career. Meanwhile, Suzanne stood by him through the ups and downs. Steady support mattered a lot during his uncertain early days.
Three years passed in this way. Then, everything in Chevy’s career shifted at once. The couple never had children together during this period.
What Happened Between Suzanne Chase and Chevy Chase?
Chevy Chase joined Saturday Night Live in 1975. His Weekend Update segment made him famous almost overnight. Life changed fast for him after that.
Sudden fame can put pressure on any marriage. Many couples struggle when one partner becomes a celebrity so quickly. It seems this pressure affected Suzanne and Chevy as well.
Neither of them explained the details publicly. Both chose to keep their personal struggles private. That silence has continued for nearly fifty years now.
Because of this, only pieces of their story exist today. Fans and readers can only guess at the full picture.
Suzanne Chase’s Divorce From Chevy Chase
Suzanne Chase and Chevy Chase officially divorced on February 1, 1976. Their marriage had lasted about three years total. No children were involved in the separation.
At the time, no clear reason was given to the public. Years later, Chevy wrote about the marriage in his 2007 biography. He claimed Suzanne had an affair and left him.
Suzanne Chase has never responded to that claim. She has not spoken publicly about the marriage at all. Her quiet response, or lack of one, has lasted through the decades.
Only one side of this story has ever reached the public. Because of that, the full truth about their split remains unclear.
Life After the Divorce for Suzanne Chase
After 1976, Suzanne Chase disappeared from public view almost completely. She did not try to use her marriage for attention. Instead, she chose a totally private path.
No verified interviews from her exist anywhere. No confirmed photos of her have surfaced since the 1970s. She has also stayed away from any events tied to Chevy’s career.
This level of privacy is rare for someone linked to a famous person. Many former partners of celebrities eventually share their story somewhere. Suzanne never did, and she has held to that choice for a very long time.
Even when Chevy spoke about her in his biography, she said nothing. She never argued back or gave her own version. That kind of restraint says a lot about her character.
Chevy Chase’s Life After Suzanne Chase
While Suzanne stayed quiet, Chevy Chase’s career took off. Saturday Night Live turned him into a household name almost overnight. His comedy style became instantly recognizable across the country.
After leaving the show, he moved into movies. Foul Play came out in 1978 and brought him a Golden Globe nomination. Then came Caddyshack in 1980, where he played the funny golfer Ty Webb.
His fame grew even bigger with the National Lampoon’s Vacation films. In these movies, he played the well-loved character Clark Griswold. He also starred in Fletch, Three Amigos, and Spies Like Us.
Chevy married two more times after Suzanne. He wed actress Jacqueline Carlin in December 1976, and they divorced in 1980. Later, in 1982, he married Jayni Luke, and this marriage has lasted for decades. Together, Chevy and Jayni have three daughters.
Where Is Suzanne Chase Today?
People still ask this question often. Sadly, no one can confirm where Suzanne Chase lives now. She has kept her life private since the 1976 divorce.
Based on her reported birth year, she would be around 76 or 77 years old today. No social media pages carry her name. No news stories have tracked her whereabouts in recent years.
Some websites guess about her current life, but none of these claims are proven. What stays true is simple. She chose privacy fifty years ago, and she has never broken that choice.
Why Suzanne Chase’s Story Still Matters
Suzanne Chase’s life stands out for what she chose not to do. She never used her marriage to build fame of her own. She never wrote a book or gave a tell-all interview.
Public arguments between exes are common in Hollywood. Her total silence feels different in comparison. Letting someone else tell the story without ever correcting them takes real strength.
Her choice also proves something simple. Not everyone touched by fame wants to stay near it. Some people just want their own quiet life, and Suzanne built exactly that.
Final Thoughts
History will likely always remember Suzanne Chase as Chevy Chase’s first wife. That label is simple, but her real story runs deeper than one line.
She picked privacy instead of attention. She picked silence instead of public fights. For nearly fifty years, she has stuck to that choice, even while her ex-husband became a household name.
Her life offers a quiet lesson for anyone listening. You do not owe the world an explanation just because someone else became famous. Walking away quietly can be its own kind of strength.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Suzanne Chase?
Suzanne Chase, born Susan Hewitt, is known as the first wife of comedian Chevy Chase. Their marriage lasted from 1973 to 1976.
Did Suzanne Chase have kids with Chevy Chase?
No. The couple did not have any children during their marriage.
Why did Suzanne Chase and Chevy Chase get divorced?
The real reason was never made public. Chevy later said in his biography that Suzanne had an affair, but she never confirmed or denied this claim.
Is Suzanne Chase alive in 2026?
Nobody has confirmed her current status. She has stayed out of the public eye since her 1976 divorce.
How old is Suzanne Chase now?
She was born in 1949, making her around 76 or 77 years old in 2026. Her exact birthday has never been shared publicly.
The Ripple Magazine brings you real, honest stories about the people behind famous names.
