Chevy Chase's Kids: Meet the 'Christmas Vacation' Star's Children

He’s been making audiences laugh for years in the National Lampoon’s Vacation film series, but Chevy Chase doesn’t joke around when it comes to being the dad of his four kids. In fact, Chevy takes his role as a father to his children, Bryan, Cydney, Caley and Emily, very seriously.

The beloved comedian experienced fatherhood for the first time when his eldest child, Bryan, was born in 1979. At the time, Chevy was recently separated from his second wife, Jacqueline Carlin, with whom he tied the knot in 1976. According to Glamour Path, the identity of Bryan’s mother has never been disclosed.

Following Bryan’s birth, it wasn’t long before the Saturday Night Live alum found love with Jayni Luke. Chevy and the writer married in 1982, and the following year they expanded the actor’s family when their first child together, Cydney, was born in 1983. Their daughter Caley arrived one year later in 1984, followed by their youngest, Emily, in 1988.

When Chevy married Jayni nearly four decades ago, she did a lot more than give him three children. The Emmy Award winner said his beloved spouse helped him “[get] out of the doldrums” he’d be in for years. “When I met Jayni, what was I, a Bowery bum?” he told People in 1983, noting she had a “very straight” influence of “no smoking of pot, no drugs, no drinking.”

Fortunately, Chevy was relieved to walk away from his “self-destructive” life. “I’m a lot happier now,” he gushed to the outlet. “I’m not that person … whoever that guy was.”

Fatherhood has changed Chevy in more ways than one. In addition to leaving behind his old bad habits, the Caddyshack actor revealed he also stopped taking gigs in romance films after he had children. “Once I got married and had kids, I moved away from romantic roles because it seemed wrong to have my [daughters] wondering why Daddy was kissing someone else,” he once said, according to MovieTalk.

Chevy’s longtime friend Jane Fonda said parenthood also “brought out a new, non-cynical sense of humor” in the star. “I enjoy this new peek into Chevy Chase. And I think he is a riot with his daughter,” she told People. “Every child should have such a father.”

Scroll through the gallery below to learn more about Chevy’s four children!

Cydney Cathalene Chase

Chevy welcomed his eldest daughter with Jayni on January 4, 1983. Unlike Bryan, Cydney has embraced her father’s celebrity status and followed in his famous footsteps. Though she isn’t an actress, the blonde beauty is a singer-songwriter.

Cydney is always showing off her musical talents on social media. On her Facebook page, she frequently shares videos of her singing and strumming the guitar. In October 2020, she uploaded a clip performing “California” by Joni Mitchell.

“This Joni Mitchell song always moves me,” she wrote in the caption. “I grew up in California, and like the idea in the lyrics of returning and calling it home… maybe one day again. Either way, the song always teaches me about rhythm and gives me joy to play and sing.”

In terms of her personal life, Cydney is married to her husband, Ryan Bartell, Glamour Path reported. However, it’s unclear when the two tied the knot.

Caley Leigh Chase

Caley is Chevy’s third child who was born on January 19, 1985. It appears Caley was bit by the acting bug like her dad as she’s made a plethora of appearances in films and TV shows since her debut in 2005’s Shakes. She’s since racked up credits in 2019’s See Me, 2018’s Sherry, 2017’s 400 to Oahu and 2016’s A Christmas in Vermont, among others.

In addition to acting, Caley is a producer and writer. Per IMDb, she helped write the 2018 series Girl’s Night, as well as worked as a producer on Shakes.

When she’s not working in Hollywood, Caley is the Artistic Associate at the Huntington Theatre Company. According to her website, “she works with the artistic department; she line produces readings, workshops, and the Dream Boston Audio Play series, works in local casting, and assists with literary.”

Emily Evelyn Chase

The actor’s youngest arrived on September 29, 1988. Emily is extremely active on social media. On Instagram, she’s often posting about her opinion on criminal-justice reform and various other topics.

Her account, which has nearly six thousand followers, is also filled with photos of her beloved dogs and, of course, tributes to her father. In honor of Valentine’s Day 2021, Emily uploaded a throwback photo with Chevy, writing, “My forever valentine.”

She also posted a pic with her dad as they spent quality time together in July 2020. “You’re gonna have fun, and I’m gonna have fun … we’re all gonna have so much f—king fun, we’re gonna need plastic surgery to remove our smiles!”