Down by the river: watch Chris Farley create an iconic character years before its ‘Saturday Night Live’ debut

“My name is Matt Foley, and I am a motivational speaker. Now, let’s get started by me giving you a little bit of a scenario of what my life is all about. First off, I am 35 years old, I am divorced, and I live in a van down by the river!”

One of the most iconic characters from the late comedian Chris Farley is that of Matt Foley, a hyper-abrasive “motivational speaker” known for shouting off people’s ears and clumsily falling into furniture. The character made its television debut on Saturday Night Live in May 1993 (with host Christina Applegate), but Farley had been playing Foley for years before on stage.

Enjoy this early look at character from 1990, recently uploaded by famous Chicago comedy troupe Second City, alongside Foley co-creator Bob Odenkirk (of Mr. Show and Breaking Bad fame) and future SNL cast member Tim Meadows. Same costume, same mannerisms, same catchphrases — jump to the two-minute mark if you want to skip the setup.