John Candy facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Candy
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![]() Candy in September 1993 at Ivor Wynne Stadium, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
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Born |
John Franklin Candy
October 31, 1950 Newmarket, Ontario, Canada
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Died | March 4, 1994 Durango City, Mexico
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(aged 43)
Resting place | Holy Cross Cemetery, Culver City, California, US |
Nationality | Canadian |
Alma mater |
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Occupation | Actor |
Years active | 1969–1994 |
Spouse(s) |
Rosemary Margaret Hobor
(m. 1979–1994) |
Children | 2 |
John Franklin Candy (October 31, 1950 – March 4, 1994) was a Canadian comedian and actor known mainly for his work in Hollywood films.
Candy rose to fame as a member of the Toronto branch of the Second City and its related Second City Television series, and through his appearances in such comedy films as Stripes, Splash, Cool Runnings, Home Alone, Spaceballs, and Uncle Buck, as well as more dramatic roles in Only the Lonely and JFK.
One of his most renowned onscreen performances was as Del Griffith, the talkative shower-curtain ring salesman in the John Hughes comedy Planes, Trains and Automobiles.
While filming the Western parody Wagons East!, Candy died of a heart attack in Durango, Mexico, on March 4, 1994, aged 43. His final two films, Wagons East! and Canadian Bacon, are dedicated to his memory.
Early life
Candy was born in 1950 in Newmarket, Ontario. He was brought up in a working-class Roman Catholic family. Candy's father was of English and Scottish descent, while his mother was of Polish and Ukrainian descent.
Candy studied at Neil McNeil Catholic High School, later enrolled in the Centennial Community College to study journalism, and went to McMaster University for higher education.
His first film role was a small, unaccredited appearance in the 1973 film Class of '44. He appeared in several other low-budget films during the 1970s. In 1976 he gained wide North American popularity when he became a cast member on the influential Toronto-based comedy-variety show Second City Television. NBC picked the show up in 1981 and it quickly became a fan favourite. It won Emmy Awards for the show's writing in 1981 and 1982.
Death
In 1994, while on vacation from film production (Wagons East!) in Durango City, Mexico, Candy called his co-stars from his hotel, then went to sleep. Some time after midnight, on March 4, 1994, Candy was found dead from a presumed myocardial infarction even though this was unproven, as no autopsy was performed. He was 43 years old. The heavyset Candy had struggled for some years with weight-related health issues.
Candy's funeral was held at St. Martin of Tours Catholic Church in Los Angeles. Candy was entombed in the mausoleum at Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City, California. His crypt lies just above fellow actor Fred MacMurray. On March 18, 1994, a special memorial service for Candy, produced by his former improvization troupe, the Second City, was broadcast across Canada.
Filmography
Year | Movie | Role | Notes |
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1973 | Class of '44 | Paule | Uncredited |
1975 | It Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time | Kopek | |
1976 | Tunnel Vision | Cooper | |
The Clown Murders | Ollie | ||
Find the Lady | Kopek | ||
1978 | The Silent Partner | Simonsen | |
1979 | Lost and Found | Carpentier | |
1941 | Pvt. Foley | ||
1980 | Top Kid | Molly Conway | Puppeter & Voice |
The Blues Brothers | Parole Officer Burton Mercer | ||
1981 | Stripes | Dewey "Ox" Oxberger | |
Heavy Metal | Desk Sergeant, Dan / Den, Robot | Voice | |
1982 | It Came from Hollywood | Himself | |
1983 | National Lampoon's Vacation | Russ Lasky | |
Going Berserk | John Bourgignon | ||
1984 | Splash | Freddie Bauer | |
1985 | Brewster's Millions | Spike Nolan | |
Sesame Street Presents Follow That Bird | Policeman | ||
Summer Rental | Jack Chester | ||
Volunteers | Tom Tuttle | ||
1986 | Armed and Dangerous | Frank Dooley | |
Little Shop of Horrors | Wink Wilkinson | ||
1987 | Spaceballs | Barf | |
Planes, Trains and Automobiles | Del Griffith | ||
1988 | The Great Outdoors | Chet Ripley | |
She's Having a Baby | Chet from 'The Great Outdoors' | Uncredited | |
Hot to Trot | Don | Voice | |
1989 | Who's Harry Crumb? | Harry Crumb | Also Executive Producer |
Speed Zone | Charlie Cronan | ||
Uncle Buck | Buck Russell | ||
1990 | Masters of Menace | Beer Truck Driver | |
Home Alone | Gus Polinski – Polka King of the Midwest | ||
The Rescuers Down Under | Wilbur | Voice | |
1991 | Nothing But Trouble | Deputy Dennis / Eldona | |
Career Opportunities | C.D. Marsh | Uncredited | |
Only the Lonely | Danny Muldoon | ||
Delirious | Jack Gable | ||
JFK | Dean Andrews Jr. | ||
1992 | Once Upon a Crime | Augie Morosco | |
Boris and Natasha: The Movie | Kalishak | ||
1993 | Rookie of the Year | Cliff Murdoch (Announcer) | Uncredited |
Cool Runnings | Irving "Irv" Blitzer | ||
1994 | Wagons East! | James Harlow | Released posthumously |
1995 | Canadian Bacon | Sheriff Bud Boomer | Filmed in 1993; Released posthumously |
Pocahontas | Redfeather | Voice, character scrapped after his death |
Television
Year | Television | Role | Notes |
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1972 | Cucumber | Weatherman | Unknown episodes |
Dr. Simon Locke | Richie | Episode: "Death Holds the Scale" | |
1974 | The ABC Afternoon Playbreak | 2nd Son | Episode: "Last Bride of Salem" |
Dr. Zonk and the Zunkins | Unknown episodes | ||
1976 | The David Steinberg Show | Spider Reichman | Episode one Episode two |
90 Minutes Live | (Various) | TV series | |
1976–1977 | Coming Up Rosie | Wally Wypyzypychwk | TV series (With Rosemary Radcliffe, Dan Aykroyd and Catherine O'Hara) |
1976–1979 | Second City TV | (Various) | 50 episodes |
1977 | King of Kensington | Bandit | Episode: "The Hero" |
1980 | The Courage of Kavik, the Wolf Dog | Pinky | TV film |
Big City Comedy | Himself (host) / Various | TV series (sketch comedy) | |
1981 | Tales of the Klondike | TV mini-series | |
Saturday Night Live | Juan Gavino | Episode: "George Kennedy/Miles Davis" (uncredited) |
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1981–1983 | SCTV Network 90 | (Various) | 38 episodes |
1983 | SCTV Channel | (Various) | Episode: "Maudlin O' the Night" |
1984 | The New Show | (Various) | Five episodes |
1985 | Martin Short: Concert for the North Americas | Marcel | TV film |
The Canadian Conspiracy | (Various) | TV film | |
The Last Polka | Yosh Shmenge/Pa Shmenge | TV film | |
1987 | Really Weird Tales | Howard Jensen ('Cursed with Charisma') | TV film |
1989 | The Rocket Boy | The Hawk | TV film |
Camp Candy | Himself | Voice | |
1990 | The Dave Thomas Comedy Show | One episode | |
1992 | Shelley Duvall's Bedtime Stories | Narrator | Episode: "Blumpoe the Grumpoe Meets Arnold the Cat/Millions of Cats" |
1994 | Hostage for a Day | Yuri Petrovich | TV film |
2009 | The Magic 7 | Smokestack Sam | TV film; Voice; Produced in 1990–1993; Movie never released |
Images for kids
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Candy with Dan Aykroyd on the set of The Great Outdoors
See also
- In Spanish: John Candy