Charley Chase (Charles Joseph Parrott) (October 20, 1893-June 20, 1940) was an American comedian, actor and film director, best known for his work in Hal Roach short film comedies. He was the older brother of comedian/director James Parrott.

It has been said that he first began working in films by working on the Al Christie comedy unit films in 1912. He then moved to Keystone where he began appearing in bit parts in the Mack Sennett films, including those of Charles Chaplin.

In 1920, he began working as a film director for Hal Roach Studios; among his notable early works for Roach was supervising the first entries in the Our Gang series. He eventually moving back in front of the camera with his own series of shorts. He moved into sound films in 1929 and was quite prolific. The Charely Chase shorts stood alongside Laurel and Hardy and Our Gang as the hallmark output of the Roach studio.

Chase worked frequently with Laurel and Hardy, and co-starred in their 1933 feature film Sons of the Desert. He was let go by Hal Roach due to his problem of adapting to feature films in 1936. Chase moved over to MGM, where he spent the rest of his career.

It is said he had a problem with alcoholism. Chase died of a heart attack in California on June 20, 1940.

Books

• Anthony, Brian and Edmonds, Andy (1997). Smile When the Raindrops Fall: The Story of Charley Chase. Rowman & Littlefield. [First biography on Charley Chase.]