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John Candy
John Candy.jpg
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
Occupation
  • Actor
  • comedian
Years active 1969–1994
Television Second City Television
Spouse(s)
Rosemary Margaret Hobor
(m. 1979)
Children 2

John Franklin Candy (October 31, 1950 – March 4, 1994) was a Canadian actor and comedian who is best known for his work in Hollywood films.

In addition to his work as an actor, he was a co-owner of the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League (CFL), and the team won the 1991 Grey Cup under his ownership. Candy died in 1994 at the age of 43. His final two film appearances, Wagons East and Canadian Bacon, are dedicated to his memory.

Early life and education

Candy was born on October 31, 1950, in Toronto and grew up in Newmarket, Ontario. The son of Sidney James Candy and Evangeline Candy, he was brought up in a working-class Catholic family. His childhood home was at 217 Woodville Ave in East York, Ontario. John Candy's mother was of Polish descent. His father died of complications of heart disease at age 35 in 1955 when John was five years old.

Candy attended Neil McNeil Catholic High School where he played offensive tackle on the school’s football team and participated in drama club. Long before considering acting, Candy aspired to become a professional football player, but a knee injury during his high school football career prevented him from fulfilling his dream. He later enrolled in Centennial College to study journalism, and then went to McMaster University. He started acting while at college.

Career

Candy first rose to national prominence in the 1970s as a member of the Toronto branch of the Second City and its SCTV sketch comedy series. He rose to international fame in the 1980s with his roles in comedic films such as Stripes (1981), Splash (1984), Brewster's Millions (1985), Planes, Trains and Automobiles, Spaceballs (both 1987), The Great Outdoors (1988), Uncle Buck (1989), and Cool Runnings (1993). He was also known for his supporting roles in The Blues Brothers (1980), National Lampoon's Vacation (1983), Little Shop of Horrors (1986), and Home Alone (1990); and had dramatic roles in Only the Lonely and JFK (both 1991).

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

Candy also provided the voice of Wilbur the Albatross in Disney's animated film The Rescuers Down Under (1990) and had a cameo in two more films written by Hughes, the blockbuster hit film Home Alone (1990) and the box office flop Career Opportunities (1991).

In 1991, Chris Columbus wrote and directed Only the Lonely with John Hughes serving as co-producer, and starring Candy and Maureen O'Hara; it was well reviewed but not a big hit. He made his directorial debut in the 1994 comedy television film Hostage for a Day. His last appearances were in Wagons East (1994) and Canadian Bacon (1995) .

Personal life

Candy and his wife Rosemary Hobor had two children, Christopher Michael and Jennifer Anne.

Candy publicly admitted that he suffered from severe anxiety and panic attacks.

Sports

In 1991, Bruce McNall, Wayne Gretzky, and Candy became owners of the Canadian Football League's Toronto Argonauts. The celebrity ownership group attracted attention in Canada, and the team spent a significant amount of money, even signing some highly touted National Football League prospects such as wide receiver Raghib Ismail. Under Candy's co-ownership, the Argonauts took home the 1991 Grey Cup, beating Calgary 36–21 in the final. Only McNall's name was etched onto the Grey Cup trophy as an owner of the team, but the CFL corrected the error in 2007 and added Candy's and Gretzky's names as well.

Health problems and death

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

Candy died in his sleep on March 4, 1994, in Durango City, Mexico, while filming Wagons East; a spokeswoman said that his cause of death was a heart attack. He was 43 years old.

Legacy

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. His crypt lies just above that of a fellow actor Fred MacMurray. On March 18, 1994, a special memorial service for Candy, produced by his former improvisation troupe the Second City, was broadcast across Canada.

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

Candy was posthumously inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame in 1998. In May 2006, Candy became one of the first four entertainers ever honored by Canada Post by being featured on a postage stamp. On October 31, 2020, Toronto Mayor John Tory proclaimed "John Candy Day" in honor of what would have been John Candy's 70th birthday.

After his death, the John Candy Visual Arts Studio at Neil McNeil Catholic High School in Toronto was dedicated in his honour. Candy, one of the school's most famous alumni, said during one of his annual visits to the school, "My success is simply rooted in the values and discipline and respect for others that I was taught at Neil McNeil." It has been suggested, among others, that the Canadian Screen Awards be given the official nickname "The Candys," both in honour of the actor and because the name suggests Canada.

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
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
Deadly Companion John
The Blues Brothers Parole Officer Burton Mercer
1981 Stripes Dewey "Ox" Oxberger
Heavy Metal Den / Dan, Desk Sergeant, Robot Voice roles
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 The 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 She's Having a Baby Chet (from The Great Outdoors) Uncredited
The Great Outdoors Chester "Chet" Ripley
Hot to Trot Don Voice role
1989 Who's Harry Crumb? Harry Crumb Also Executive Producer
Speed Zone Charlie Cronan a.k.a. Cannonball Fever
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 role
1991 Nothing but Trouble Dennis Valkenheiser, Eldona Valkenheiser
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
1993 Rookie of the Year Cliff Murdoch (announcer) Uncredited
Cool Runnings Irving "Irv" Blitzer
1994 Wagons East James Harlow Posthumous release
1995 Canadian Bacon Sheriff Bud Boomer Filmed in 1993; released posthumously

Television

Year Television Role Notes
1972 Cucumber Weatherman Unknown episodes
Dr. Simon Locke Richie Beck / Ramon 2 Episodes
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 / Spider 6 Episodes
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 Johnny LaRue / / Various 50 episodes
1977 King of Kensington Bandit Episode: "The Hero"
1980 The Courage of Kavik, the Wolf Dog Pinky Television film
Big City Comedy Himself (host) / various Television series (sketch comedy)
Roadshow Himself (host) / various "Improvisational journalism" (at least 2 episodes)
1981 Tales of the Klondike Hans Nelson Miniseries
1 episode
Saturday Night Live Juan Gavino Episode: "George Kennedy/Miles Davis"
(uncredited)
1981–1983 SCTV Network 90 Johnny LaRue / Zontar / Dr. Tongue / Yosh Shmenge / Various 38 episodes
1982 The Billy Crystal Comedy Hour Orson Welles 1 episode
1983 Saturday Night Live Host Episode: "John Candy/Men at Work"
SCTV Channel Various Episode: "Maudlin O' the Night"
1984 The New Show Luciano Pavarotti / Orson Welles / Various 5 episodes
1985 Martin Short: Concert for the North Americas Marcel Television film
The Canadian Conspiracy (various) Television film
The Last Polka Yosh Shmenge, Pa Shmenge Television film
1987 Really Weird Tales Howard Jensen ('Cursed with Charisma') Television film
1988 Sesame Street, Special Yosh Shmenge Television film
1989 The Rocket Boy The Hawk Television film
Camp Candy Himself, Yosh Shmenge, Dr. Tongue, Various 40 episodes, main voice role
The Wonderful World of Disney Himself Episode: "Donald, the Star-Struck Duck"
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"
Boris and Natasha: The Movie Kalishak Television film
1994 Hostage for a Day Yuri Petrovich Television film

Music videos

Year Title Role Notes
1984 Ray Parker Jr.: Ghostbusters John Candy Cameo - Uncredited
1991 The Traveling Wilburys: Wilbury Twist John Candy Cameo - Uncredited

Accolades

Work Year Accolade / Category Results Ref
SCTV Network 90 1982 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing in a Variety or Music Program (episode: "Tony Bennett") Nominated
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing in a Variety or Music Program (episode: "Christmas Show") Nominated
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing in a Variety or Music Program (episode: "Cycle Two, Show Two") Nominated
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing in a Variety or Music Program (episode: "Moral Majority Show") Won
1983 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing in a Variety or Music Program (episode: "Towering Inferno") Nominated
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing in a Variety or Music Program (episode: "Joe Walsh") Nominated
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing in a Variety or Music Program (episode: "Robin Williams, America") Nominated
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing in a Variety or Music Program (episode: "The Christmas Show") Nominated
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing in a Variety or Music Program (episode: "The Energy Ball" + "Sweeps Week") Won
The Last Polka 1985 CableACE Award for Performance in a Comedy Special Nominated
CableACE Award for Comedy Special (shared with Eugene Levy & Jamie Paul Rock) Nominated
Splash Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor Nominated
Planes, Trains and Automobiles 1988 American Comedy Award for Funniest Actor in a Motion Picture (Leading Role) Nominated
N/A 1992 Banff Television Festival for Sir Peter Ustinov Award Won
Nothing But Trouble Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Supporting Actress (playing in drag) Nominated
Cool Runnings 1994 Kids' Choice Award for Favorite Movie Actor Nominated
N/A 1995 Gemini Award for Earle Grey Award
(shared with Eugene Levy, Harold Ramis, Rick Moranis, Dave Thomas, Catherine O'Hara, Joe Flaherty, Andrea Martin & Martin Short)
Won


See also

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