David Spade Remembers Chris Farley On 20th Anniversary Of His Death

David Spade and Chris Farley were a classic comedy duo for anyone who lived through the ’90s, starring together on “Saturday Night Live” and in the movies “Tommy Boy” and “Black Sheep.” The two were also close friends in real life.

Dec. 18, 2017 marked 20 years since Farley tragically died at the age of 33 of a drug overdose at his home in Chicago. To commemorate his friend’s life, Spade posted a simple and touching tribute on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bc2osbBnbdN/

Above a photo of the late comedian, it read, “Chris Farley 1964-1997.” Spade captioned the photo simply, “20 years ago today.”

In the years since his death, Spade has spoken out frequently about his dear friend, keeping his memory alive. In a 2015 appearance on “Conan,” he talked about their friendship and the origin of the famous “fat guy in a little coat” scene from “Tommy Boy”:

Spade did not attend Farley’s funeral, which many people found surprising considering their tight bond. However, in a 2014 Reddit Ask Me Anything thread, the comedian explained his decision, saying it was simply too emotional for him:

“Wow. Well, I have to say, I think about him all the time. We had such a good time for so long, and we were crammed together for so long, that we did have our squabbles, but I think people misunderstood me not going to that funeral, it was nothing about that it was just too… emotional, and I wouldn’t be able to handle it. But I still hear songs, of all things, I know it sounds stupid, but there are songs that I hear, and they remind me of him. ”

Farley’s brother, Kevin, also took to social media to remember his brother. “Hard to believe it’s 20 years. Tell the ones you love that you love them,” he wrote on Twitter.

Farley’s legacy is always close at hand for those who knew him best. “People talk about him like he’s alive,” U.S. Army Chaplain Matt Foley, Farley’s good friend, told Madison.com. “In many ways he still is, in terms of his ability to connect.”