Chevy Chase Says He Was Abused as a Child in New CNN Documentary

In a new documentary about his life, Chevy Chase has made serious allegations about his childhood, saying he suffered physical abuse from his mother and stepfather.

The film, I’m Chevy Chase and You’re Not, premiered on CNN on Jan. 1. In it, Chase and several people close to him describe a home life marked by violence, fear, and emotional trauma.

Chase says his parents divorced when he was around 4 years old and both remarried soon after. He describes his stepfather, John Cederquist, as strict and quick to anger. According to Chase and his stepbrother, punishments often involved physical violence, including being slapped, hit, and locked in confined spaces like closets or a cellar.

Chase’s wife, Jayni Chase, recalled that when she first stayed overnight with him, he reacted with fear when she tried to wake him. She said Chase explained that his mother used to wake him by slapping him. Chase later described his mother, Cathalene Browning, as deeply troubled and physically abusive, saying he now feels some sympathy for her struggles but remains clear about the harm she caused.

Friends and family members in the documentary supported Chase’s account. One longtime friend said Chase told him about being locked in a closet as a child, while his brother, Ned Chase, recalled an incident where he stood up to their stepfather during a violent moment at the breakfast table. Chase described that moment as pivotal, saying it made him feel protected and supported for the first time.

In a recent interview with The New York Times, Chase also spoke about being beaten with a yardstick as punishment for poor grades. He said the abuse made it difficult for him to focus in school, as he was constantly worried about his safety and well-being.

When asked in the documentary if he ever completely cut ties with his mother and stepfather, Chase deflected the question with a joke — a moment that reflected what his family describes as a lifelong habit of using humor to cope with pain.

Chase’s children and friends say that comedy became a survival tool for him. His youngest daughter, Emily Chase, explained that he uses jokes to hide his emotions and struggles, a pattern she says continues into his later life. Others in the film suggest that this coping mechanism may also be linked to his long battles with depression.

The documentary presents Chase’s story not just as a look at his career, but as an attempt to understand how early trauma shaped both his comedy and his personal life.