
Eric Chase Bolling was the beloved only son of conservative television personality Eric Bolling and his wife Adrienne Bolling, whose tragic death in 2017 sent shockwaves through both the media world and families across America. Eric Chase Bolling was a promising young college student with his entire future ahead of him when his life was cut devastatingly short at age 19. The loss of Eric Chase Bolling profoundly impacted his parents and brought national attention to the opioid crisis affecting young Americans. Eric Chase Bolling is remembered not only as the son of a prominent media figure but as a bright, talented young man whose death became a catalyst for his parents’ passionate advocacy work in drug awareness and prevention. The story of Eric Chase Bolling serves as a heartbreaking reminder of how the opioid epidemic touches families from all walks of life, regardless of wealth, status, or privilege, leaving behind grieving parents and unfulfilled potential.
Personal Information
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Eric Chase Bolling Jr. |
| Date of Birth | 1998 |
| Date of Death | September 9, 2017 |
| Age at Death | 19 years old |
| Birthplace | United States |
| Parents | Eric Bolling (father), Adrienne Bolling (mother) |
| Education | University of Colorado Boulder |
| Cause of Death | Accidental drug overdose (opioids and other substances) |
| Funeral Location | Private service, New Jersey area |
| Burial | Private location |
| Legacy | Drug awareness advocacy in his memory |
Who Was Eric Chase Bolling?
Eric Chase Bolling was the only child of Eric and Adrienne Bolling, born in 1998 into a family that valued education, hard work, and achievement. Known to friends and family as Chase, he was described as a bright, athletic, and personable young man with numerous talents and interests. Growing up as the son of a prominent Fox News personality, Eric Chase experienced a unique childhood that included both privilege and the challenges of having a parent in the public eye.
Those who knew Eric Chase remembered him as kind-hearted, intelligent, and full of potential. He excelled academically and athletically, following in his father’s footsteps with an interest in sports, particularly baseball. His upbringing reflected the values his parents instilled—education, respect, and pursuing one’s passions with dedication.
Early Life and Education
Eric Chase Bolling grew up primarily in New Jersey, where the Bolling family maintained their residence even as Eric Bolling’s career took him to New York City for his Fox News commitments. Chase attended local schools and was known as a good student who balanced academics with extracurricular activities and social life.
His childhood was shaped by his father’s demanding career, which often required long hours and frequent travel, but Eric and Adrienne made efforts to maintain family time and create normalcy despite the public nature of Eric’s profession. Chase grew up understanding both the opportunities and responsibilities that came with his family’s position.
University of Colorado Boulder
Eric Chase Bolling enrolled at the University of Colorado Boulder, a prestigious public research university known for its beautiful campus, strong academic programs, and vibrant student life. His choice to attend CU Boulder represented an exciting new chapter—leaving home for college, experiencing independence, and pursuing higher education in a completely different environment from the East Coast where he grew up.
At Boulder, Eric Chase was beginning to establish himself as a college student, navigating the academic challenges and social opportunities that university life presents. He was building friendships, exploring his interests, and determining his future path when tragedy struck during what should have been an exciting period of growth and discovery.
Eric Chase Bolling’s Interests and Personality
Like his father, Eric Chase had an affinity for baseball and athletics. He enjoyed sports both as a participant and spectator, sharing this passion with Eric Bolling, who had his own baseball career before transitioning to Wall Street and broadcasting. This common interest created special bonding moments between father and son.
Friends and family described Chase as personable and social, someone who enjoyed spending time with friends and making connections with others. He had his whole life ahead of him, with possibilities for career paths, relationships, and experiences yet to unfold. Those who knew him saw potential for great things, making his loss all the more heartbreaking.
The Tragic Death of Eric Chase Bolling
September 9, 2017
On September 9, 2017, Eric Chase Bolling died at age 19 in Boulder, Colorado. The timing of his death was particularly devastating—it occurred just days after his father’s controversial departure from Fox News amid workplace misconduct allegations. The Bolling family was already navigating an extremely difficult situation when they received the news that would shatter their world completely.
Cause of Death: Accidental Overdose
Eric Chase Bolling’s cause of death was ruled an accidental drug overdose involving opioids and other substances. The autopsy and investigation revealed that his death was not intentional suicide but rather a tragic accident involving experimentation with drugs that proved fatal. This distinction was important to his parents, who wanted people to understand that their son’s death represented the dangers of drug experimentation rather than intentional self-harm.
The specific details of the autopsy report were kept largely private out of respect for the family, though authorities confirmed the overdose was accidental. The presence of opioids in his system highlighted the growing crisis facing young Americans, where substances laced with fentanyl and other deadly additives can turn experimentation into tragedy.
How Did Eric Chase Bolling Die?
Eric Chase Bolling died from an accidental drug overdose while at the University of Colorado Boulder. The circumstances surrounding his death reflect a heartbreaking reality faced by many families—a young person experimenting with substances, possibly unaware of the lethal danger, resulting in an outcome no one anticipated. Whether the drugs were taken at a party, with friends, or in other social circumstances, the result was the same: a promising life ended far too soon.
The investigation into his death found no evidence of suicide or foul play. Instead, it revealed the terrifying truth about modern drug use among young people: substances obtained casually can contain deadly additives like fentanyl that users don’t know about, turning what might seem like experimentation into a fatal mistake.
Eric Chase Bolling Funeral and Memorial
Funeral Services
Eric Chase Bolling’s funeral was held as a private service in the New Jersey area, where the family lived. The funeral arrangements were kept private, allowing the grieving family to mourn away from the intense media attention surrounding both Eric’s Fox News departure and their son’s death. Only close family members and friends attended the intimate service.
The decision to keep the funeral private reflected the family’s need for space to grieve without public scrutiny during the most painful moment of their lives. While many public figures and colleagues expressed condolences publicly, the actual memorial service remained a family affair.
Burial Location
Eric Chase Bolling’s burial location has been kept private, with the family choosing not to disclose the cemetery or grave site publicly. This decision protects the family’s privacy and prevents the grave from becoming a public destination. Services like Find A Grave may have limited or no information about his burial location due to the family’s privacy preferences.
Impact on Eric and Adrienne Bolling
The death of Eric Chase Bolling devastated his parents in ways impossible to fully comprehend. For Eric and Adrienne, losing their only child represented not just the loss of their son but the loss of their future as parents—no grandchildren, no watching their son grow into adulthood, no shared family milestones ahead.
Eric Bolling has spoken publicly about the pain of losing Chase, describing it as a grief that never fully heals. The timing—coming immediately after his Fox News departure—created a perfect storm of professional crisis and personal tragedy. In interviews since, Eric has said that losing his son put everything else in perspective, making career controversies seem trivial by comparison.
Adrienne Bolling, while maintaining her characteristic privacy, has supported Eric in their shared mission to honor Chase’s memory through advocacy work. Together, they have channeled their grief into efforts to prevent other families from experiencing similar losses.
Advocacy and Legacy
Drug Awareness Work
Since Eric Chase’s death, Eric and Adrienne Bolling have become passionate advocates for drug awareness and education about the opioid crisis. Eric has used his media platform to discuss the dangers facing young people, the prevalence of fentanyl in street drugs, and the importance of open parent-child communication about substance abuse.
Their advocacy emphasizes that drug experimentation can affect anyone, regardless of family background, education, or socioeconomic status. They work to remove stigma from discussing drug deaths while emphasizing prevention and education as crucial tools for protecting young people.
Honoring Chase’s Memory
The Bollings have chosen to honor their son’s memory not by hiding the circumstances of his death but by using it as a cautionary tale to help others. This courageous decision to speak openly about losing Chase to an accidental overdose has helped countless families feel less alone in their own struggles with substance abuse issues.
Their work ensures that Eric Chase Bolling’s legacy extends beyond his tragic death to potentially saving lives through increased awareness and prevention efforts. Rather than letting grief consume them entirely, they’ve transformed their pain into purpose.
Was Eric Chase Bolling Adopted?
No credible evidence supports claims that Eric Chase Bolling was adopted. He was the biological son of Eric and Adrienne Bolling. This appears to be an unfounded rumor or misconception that occasionally circulates online without factual basis. Eric and Adrienne have never indicated that Chase was adopted, and all legitimate sources identify him as their biological child.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Who was Eric Chase Bolling?
Eric Chase Bolling was the only son of conservative television host Eric Bolling and his wife Adrienne. He was a 19-year-old college student at the University of Colorado Boulder when he tragically died from an accidental drug overdose in September 2017.
How old was Eric Chase Bolling when he died?
Eric Chase Bolling was 19 years old when he died on September 9, 2017. Born in 1998, he was in the prime of his youth, attending college and building his future when his life was tragically cut short.
What was Eric Chase Bolling’s cause of death?
Eric Chase Bolling died from an accidental drug overdose involving opioids and other substances. His death was ruled accidental rather than intentional, highlighting the dangers of drug experimentation among young people, particularly with substances potentially laced with fentanyl.
When did Eric Chase Bolling die?
Eric Chase Bolling died on September 9, 2017, in Boulder, Colorado. His death occurred just days after his father’s departure from Fox News, creating a devastating convergence of professional crisis and unimaginable personal tragedy for the Bolling family.
Conclusion
Eric Chase Bolling’s story is one of tragic loss that resonates far beyond his famous father’s media career. At just 19 years old, with his entire future ahead of him, Chase’s accidental death from a drug overdose represents the heartbreaking reality of the opioid crisis affecting families across America. His parents, Eric and Adrienne Bolling, have transformed their unimaginable grief into powerful advocacy, ensuring their son’s death serves as a warning and potential lifesaver for others. The legacy of Eric Chase Bolling continues through increased awareness about the dangers young people face and the critical importance of open conversations about substance abuse. As we move through 2026, his memory reminds us that prevention, education, and compassion remain our best tools against the ongoing epidemic claiming too many young lives.







