By Associated Press, 12/19/97

CHICAGO - Chris Farley, the rotund ''Saturday Night Live'' comic whose specialty was sweaty, tightly wound characters who erupted in vein-popping frenzies, was found dead yesterday in an apartment. He was 33.

The cause of death was not immediately known.

Mr. Farley's body was found in the 100-story John Hancock Building on a stretch of Michigan Avenue known as the Magnificent Mile. Police said he owned an apartment in the building, but it was not known if that was where he was found.

On ''Saturday Night Live,'' Mr. Farley's characters were clearly inspired by John Belushi, who also became a star on ''SNL'' and died in 1982 at the age of 33.

Mr. Farley's characters included the motivational speaker Matt Foley, who ended his speeches by smashing through the furniture in a froth, his blond hair mussed and his garish plaid sports jacket bursting at the seams.

In another recurring ''SNL'' skit, Mr. Farley downed beers and bratwurst as a fan of Chicago's beloved football team, ''Da Bears.''

He also did an impersonation of Newt Gingrich on the floor of Congress, with Gingrich himself looking on, and played a flabby, bare-chested Chippendales dancer, his jiggling gut spilling over his waistband.

In the movies ''Tommy Boy,'' ''Beverly Hills Ninja'' and ''Black Sheep,'' he played the same kind of lovable, bumbling slob.

''Although I love this kind of comedy, sometimes I feel trapped by always having to be the most outrageous guy in the room,'' Mr. Farley said in an interview last year. ''In particular, I'm working on trying not to be that guy in my private life.''

''Saturday Night Live'' creator Lorne Michaels ''told me that that's what killed Belushi more than anything else,'' Mr. Farley said.

''Chris was one of my best friends and one of the funniest guys I've ever known,'' said former ''SNL'' comic Chris Rock. ''I love him and I'm going to miss him.''

Mr. Farley, a 1986 graduate of Marquette University in Milwaukee, performed with Chicago's Second City comedy troupe before joining the cast of ''Saturday Night Live'' for the 1990 season and remained until 1995.