Chevy Chase ‘Chooses to Be Genuinely Kind These Days’: His ‘Nasty Spots Are Gone’

Chevy Chase may have a reputation for being quite difficult in Hollywood, but sources exclusively tell Closer that his prickly personality has softened over the years.

“A lot of people can fake being nice and then show their true colors, but that’s not the case with Chevy,” says a source. “His nasty spots are gone, and he’s prioritizing other people’s feelings over his own.”

Over the years, the 81-year-old National Lampoon’s Vacation star has had former costars from shows like Saturday Night Live and Community call him out for poor behavior.

During a 2022 interview on CBS Sunday Morning, correspondent Jim Axelrod asked the actor, “When people [say], ‘Chevy’s been a jerk,’ are those unfounded cheap shots?”

“I guess you’d have to ask them,” Chevy responded with a laugh, adding, “I don’t give a crap! I am who I am. And I like who I am. I don’t care. And it’s part of me that I don’t care. I’ve thought about that a lot, and I don’t know what to tell you, man. I just don’t care.”

These days, however, Chevy — who shares three adult daughters, Cydney, Caley and Emily, with wife Jayni Luke — is quite the softie at home.

“For one thing, he’s a total family man, and his wife and his grown daughters have him wrapped around their fingers,” the Closer source reveals.

According to the insider, “Chevy’s always happy to help neighbors — even strangers on the street — and he’ll pick up the tab after lunch with friends. His reputation as a cantankerous brat may precede him, but Chevy chooses to be genuinely kind these days, and people are happy to see the change is here to stay.”

It’s possible that Chevy’s various health scares in recent years have made him look at life a little differently.

In 2021, the Caddyshack actor suffered a near-fatal cardiac crisis, and late last year, the comedy icon fell, badly bruised his knee and was forced to use a wheelchair for months.

“He can’t afford to get angry and take swipes at people. His blood pressure couldn’t take him carrying on that way,” a separate source told Closer in April.

“His health has improved, and he doesn’t need the wheelchair as much. Another miracle, he’s smiling and in a cheery mood. He credits his doting wife, Jayni, and other loved ones. He almost died of heart failure. But he recovered and is practically kissing the ground he walks on,” the insider added. “These days, when someone does or says something he doesn’t like, Chevy doesn’t get mad. He gives a great big hug instead.”

Plus, in August, the comedian’s daughter Emily, 36, announced that she welcomed her first baby, a daughter named Ivy Jay Baglieri, with her partner, Alex Baglieri.

Now that he is a grandfather for this first time, Chevy can’t stop bragging about baby Ivy. In fact, before she was born, he told his Instagram following, “I can’t wait to be a Grandad!”

Added the insider, “He really has changed for the better!”