Chevy Chase has come a long way since his pratfall days at "Saturday Night Live" - he's received an honorary degree from his alma mater and given a commencement address.

Chase, a 1968 graduate of Bard College, was honored Saturday at the 700-student college 90 miles north of New York City.Chase recalled that he appeared in his first movie at Bard, "and believe it or not, it began with me pratfalling over a suitcase."

He gave some parting words of tongue-in-cheek wisdom to the Class of 1990:

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"Avoid fatty foods. Avoid smoking, drugs, Bensonhurst, the Gaza Strip, bungi jumping, humorless people, bad music, fashion, weight training and hair care products."

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