by Joal Ryan
December 18, 1997, 1:25 p.m. PT

Chris Farley, the rotund life-force of a comic actor for four seasons on Saturday Night Live, has been found dead, reportedly of a heart attack, in his Chicago apartment today, according to the Associated Press and sources at the NBC late-night show. He was 33.

Chicago police report he was found by his brother, John, who called 911. There was no sign of foul play. According to the Cook County Medical Examiner's office, which plans an autopsy on Friday, the close-to-300 lb comic was lying clad in his pajama bottoms in the entrance way to the apartment on the 60th floor of the John Hancock Building.

Frequent co-star David Spade said "He was one of my best friends and I will miss him everyday." Spade was recently quoted in Steppin'Out magazine expressing worry about Farley, "I mean, the fact that he cut out drugs and alcohol is the biggest thing...but he's my friend and I'm just concerned...he needs to watch his weight, he drinks too much coffee, he smokes."

Another co-star Phil Hartman said, "I always have and I always will love Chris Farley and I'll forever cherish the knowledge that I knew and worked with one of the great comedic talents of all time."

"We have lost a good friend and a wonderful talent. We are all deeply saddened by this news," said Brillstein-Grey Entertainment, Farley's Los Angeles management group, in a statement.

A statement from NBC and SNL said, "We find it hard to express how tragic it is to lose such a valued friend and colleague at such a young age. We will miss his special gifts, including a unique ability to make people laugh. More importantly, we will always remember his warm-hearted nature and deep commitment to his friends and the people with whom he worked. Our thoughts and prayers are will Chris' family."

Like his idol John Belushi, Farley died young. (Belushi was also 33 when he indulged in one drug binge too many in 1982.) Farley's career was inexorably linked, and compared, to that of Belushi's. They trained with the same improv teacher, they got their first crack at stardom on the same SNL stage, they displayed the same flair for big, big appetites--spiritually and figuratively.

Farley had been rumored to be in ill health--besieged by weight and reputed drug problems earlier this summer, but his camp denied the grave reports.

The performer parlayed his success on SNL into a film career (again, like Belushi). His big-screen comedies--modest, high-concept vehicles tailored to his boisterous personality and considerable heft--included: Black Sheep (1996), Tommy Boy (1995) and Beverly Hills Ninja, released earlier this year.

Nicolette Sheridan, who starred with Farley in the Ninja movie, said, "I'm deeply saddened by the news." It's such a waste of a kind, sweet, talented man who brought a lot of joy to many people, but couldn't find that joy within himself. I know that everyone who knew him will miss him."

Born February 15, 1964, in Madison, Wisconsin, Farley was a case study of How to Become a Comedy Star (Circa, the Late 20th Century). He studied theater at Marquette University, joined the famed Second City improv troupe in Chicago and, in 1990, snagged himself bit-player status in the comedy world's equivalent of the big leagues, TV's Saturday Night Live.

Never shy to use his tummy to get laughs, Farley swiftly became a break-out star--often paired in skits with friends and contemporaries David Spade and Chris Rock. Although he never quite perfected the SNL art of creating a trademark character (à la Emily Latella), Farley shined in a wide variety of roles, including a rather wicked portrayal of one of the Facts of Life scamps.

He made his film debut in 1992's Wayne's World--a blink-and-you-missed-him roll. His first serious screen time came in 1993's Coneheads--another SNL skit blown up for the big screen.

He teamed with Spade in both Tommy Boy and Black Sheep. In 1995, the two won an MTV Award for Best Onscreen Duo for Tommy Boy.

Throughout his career, Farley did not dismiss or shrug off the Belushi comparisons--he admitted to them.

Said the comic tellingly in 1994: "I wanted to be like him."