Chris Farley

Everyone loves these movies now. Critics bashed them at the time.

Before Mike Myers became synonymous with the green ogre named Shrek, his fellow SNL castmate Chris Farley was actually cast in the role and had recorded about 80-90% of his dialogue. Then, in 1997, Farley tragically died of a drug overdose, DreamWorks was forced to recast the role and, in doing so, radically rethink their version of Shrek. Today, the first footage of Farley as Shrek has popped up online and shows a very different character than the one we have come to know and love.

Chris Farley is a loss that still hurts to this day — the larger-than-life actor was a comedic force, a man who could make anyone and everyone laugh with his joyful shenanigans. The SNL cast member was a legend before his untimely death, and that passing only cemented his status as an icon. Friends and family look back on Farley’s impact, and his life and death in the trailer for I Am Chris Farley.

High quality run-acting doesn’t get a lot of official recognition. There is no Academy Award — nor even a Golden Globe. The best I can offer from my static spot in the living room is a flattering list. It goes as follows.