John Candy facts for kids

Quick facts for kids John Candy
John Candy at Ivor Wynne Stadium in 1993
Born	John Franklin Candy (1950-10-31)October 31, 1950 Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Died	March 4, 1994(1994-03-04) (aged 43) Durango City, Mexico
Burial place	Holy Cross Cemetery, Culver City, California, U.S.
Alma mater	Centennial College McMaster University
Occupation	Actor comedian
Years active	1969–1994
Television	Second City Television
Spouse(s)	Rosemary Margaret Hobor ​ (m. 1979)​
Children	2

John Franklin Candy (born October 31, 1950 – died March 4, 1994) was a famous Canadian actor and comedian. He was best known for his many funny roles in Hollywood movies.

Besides acting, John Candy also helped own the Toronto Argonauts, a team in the Canadian Football League (CFL). His team even won the championship, called the Grey Cup, in 1991! John Candy passed away in 1994 when he was 43 years old. His last two movies, Wagons East and Canadian Bacon, were dedicated to him.

Early Life and Education

John Candy was born in Toronto, Canada, on October 31, 1950. He grew up in a town called Newmarket, Ontario. His parents were Sidney James Candy and Evangeline Candy. He came from a working-class Catholic family. His childhood home was in East York, Ontario. John's mother had Polish family roots. His father died when John was only five years old.

John Candy went to Neil McNeil Catholic High School. There, he played offensive tackle on the school's football team. He also joined the drama club. Before he thought about acting, John wanted to be a professional football player. However, a knee injury in high school stopped him from reaching that dream. Later, he studied journalism at Centennial College. He then went to McMaster University. He began acting while he was in college.

Comedy and Film Career

John Candy first became well-known in the 1970s. He was part of a comedy group called the Second City in Toronto. This group had a popular TV show called SCTV sketch comedy series. He became famous around the world in the 1980s. This was thanks to his roles in many funny movies.

Some of his most famous comedies include Stripes (1981), Splash (1984), Brewster's Millions (1985), Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987), Spaceballs (1987), The Great Outdoors (1988), Uncle Buck (1989), and Cool Runnings (1993).

John Candy with Dan Aykroyd on the set of The Great Outdoors (1988)

He also had important supporting roles in movies like The Blues Brothers (1980), National Lampoon's Vacation (1983), Little Shop of Horrors (1986), and Home Alone (1990). John Candy also showed his talent in serious roles. He appeared in Only the Lonely and JFK (both 1991).

John Candy also lent his voice to characters. He was the voice of Wilbur the Albatross in Disney's cartoon movie The Rescuers Down Under (1990). He also made a quick appearance in two other movies written by John Hughes: the very popular Home Alone (1990) and Career Opportunities (1991).

In 1991, Chris Columbus directed Only the Lonely. John Hughes helped produce it. John Candy and Maureen O'Hara starred in the movie. It received good reviews. John Candy also directed a comedy TV movie in 1994 called Hostage for a Day. His last movies were Wagons East (1994) and Canadian Bacon (1995).

Personal Life and Interests

John Candy was married to Rosemary Hobor. They had two children together, Christopher Michael and Jennifer Anne.

Sports Ownership

In 1991, John Candy became a co-owner of the Toronto Argonauts football team. He joined Bruce McNall and Wayne Gretzky in owning the team. This famous group of owners got a lot of attention in Canada. The team spent a lot of money and even signed some great players from the National Football League.

Under John Candy's ownership, the Argonauts won the 1991 Grey Cup. They beat Calgary 36–21 in the final game. At first, only Bruce McNall's name was put on the Grey Cup trophy as an owner. But in 2007, the CFL fixed this mistake. They added John Candy's and Wayne Gretzky's names to the trophy too.

Health and Passing

John Candy's grave at Holy Cross Cemetery, Culver City, California

John Candy passed away in his sleep on March 4, 1994. He was in Durango City, Mexico, filming Wagons East. A spokesperson said he died from a heart attack. He was 43 years old.

Legacy and Honors

John Candy's funeral was held in Los Angeles. He was buried in a mausoleum at Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City. His resting place is near that of another actor, Fred MacMurray. On March 18, 1994, a special memorial service for John Candy was shown across Canada. It was put together by his old comedy group, the Second City.

John Candy's star on Canada's Walk of Fame

In 1998, John Candy was honored with a spot on Canada's Walk of Fame. In May 2006, he became one of the first entertainers to be featured on a postage stamp by Canada Post. On October 31, 2020, the Mayor of Toronto, John Tory, declared "John Candy Day." This was to celebrate what would have been John Candy's 70th birthday.

After his death, the John Candy Visual Arts Studio was named in his honor at Neil McNeil Catholic High School in Toronto. John Candy was one of the school's most famous former students. He once said during a visit, "My success is simply rooted in the values and discipline and respect for others that I was taught at Neil McNeil." Some people have suggested that the Canadian Screen Awards should be nicknamed "The Candys." This would honor the actor and also sound like "Canada."

Filmography

Film

Television

Music Videos

Awards and Recognitions

John Candy won and was nominated for many awards during his career. He was recognized for his writing and acting in comedy.

See also

In Spanish: John Candy para niños