John Candy Biography (1950-1994)
Full name, John Franklin Candy; born October 31, 1950, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada; died of a heart attack, March 4, 1994, in Durango, Mexico; son of Sidney James and Evangeline (Aker) Candy; married Rosemary Margaret Hobor (a potter), April 27, 1979; children: Jennifer Anne, Christopher Michael. Addresses: Agent--c/o John Gaines, Agency for the Performing Arts, 9000 Sunset Boulevard, Suite 1200, Los Angeles, CA 90069; Frostbacks Production, 12328 Montana Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90049.
- Nationality
- Canadian
- Gender
- Male
- Birth Details
- October 31, 1950
- Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Death Details
- March 4, 1994
- Durango, Mexico
Famous Works
- Credits; FILM APPEARANCES
- The Class of '44, Warner Brothers, 1973.
- Tunnelvision, World Wide Films, 1976.
- Corporal Foley, 1941, Universal, 1979.
- Lost and Found, Columbia, 1979.
- Parole officer Burton Mercer, The Blues Brothers, Universal, 1980.
- Voice, Heavy Metal (animated), Columbia, 1981.
- Platoon buddy, Stripes, Columbia, 1981.
- A narrator with others, It Came from Hollywood, Paramount, 1982.
- Title role, Going Berserk, Universal, 1983.
- Amusement part security guard, National Lampoon's Vacation, Warner Brothers, 1983.
- Freddy Bauer, Splash, Buena Vista, 1984.
- Spike Nolan, Brewster's Millions, Universal, 1984.
- State Trooper, Sesame Street Presents: Follow That Bird, Warner Brothers,1985.
- Summer Rental, Paramount, 1985.
- Tom Tuttle from Tacoma, Volunteers, Tri-Star, 1985.
- Frank Dooley, Armed and Dangerous, Columbia, 1986.
- Three Amigos, Orion, 1986.
- Wink Wilkinson, Little Shop of Horrors, Warner Brothers, 1986.
- Barf the Mawg, Spaceballs, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer/United Artists, 1987.
- Del Griffith, Planes, Trains, and Automobiles, Paramount, 1987.
- Chet Ripley, The Great Outdoors, Universal, 1988.
- Voice of Don the horse, Hot to Trot, Warner Brothers, 1988.
- Title role, Who's Harry Crumb? (also see below), Tri-Star, 1989.
- Charlie Cronyn, Speed Zone, Orion, 1989.
- Title role, Uncle Buck, Universal, 1989.
- Gus Polinski, Home Alone, Fox, 1990.
- Voice of Wilbur, The Rescuers Down Under (animated), Buena Vista, 1990.
- Denis/Eldona, Nothing But Trouble, Warner Brothers, 1991.
- Master of Menace, Columbia, 1991.
- Store Manager, Career Opportunities, Universal, 1991.
- Only the Lonely, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1991.
- Delirious, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer-Pathe, 1991.
- Dean Andrews, JFK, Warner Brothers, 1991.
- Augie Morosco, Once upon a Crime, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1992.
- Irv, Cool Runnings, Walt Disney, 1993.
- Canadian Bacon, Gramercy, 1994.
- Also appeared as Kopek, It Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time, 1975; andas Ollie, The Clown Murders, 1976. Appeared in The Silent Partner, 1978; Double Negative, 1980; The Canadian Conspiracy, 1986; Tears Are Not Enough, (documentary), 1989; Wagons East, c. 1994; Find the Lady; and Face Off.
- Credits; FILM WORK
- Executive producer, Who's Harry Crumb?, Tri-Star, 1989.
- Credits; TELEVISION APPEARANCES; SERIES
- Johnny LaRue, Second City TV (also see below), syndicated, 1977-81.
- Host, Big City Comedy (also see below), syndicated, 1980.
- Johnny LaRue, Dr. Tongue, Yosh Shmenge, SCTV, Network 90 (also see below), NBC, 1981-83.
- The New Show, NBC, 1984.
- Host, voice of camp counselor and theme song performer, Camp Candy, NBC,1989.
- Narration, American Heroes and Legends, Showtime, 1992.
- Credits; TELEVISION APPEARANCES; SPECIALS
- Second City 25th Anniversary Special, HBO, 1985.
- Martin Short Concert for the North Americas, Showtime, 1985.
- The Last Polka (also see below), HBO, 1985.
- Television Academy Hall of Fame, NBC, 1986.
- Comic Relief, HBO, 1986.
- Wallace Osgood, Dave Thomas: The Incredible Time Travels of Henry Osgood,Showtime, 1986.
- Comic Relief 2, HBO, 1987.
- Host, The Best of SCTV, ABC, 1988.
- Host, Coca-Cola Presents Live: The Hard Rock, NBC, 1988.
- Host, Jackie Gleason: The Great One, CBS, 1988.
- Host, Montreal International Comedy Festival, HBO, 1988.
- The 60th Annual Academy Awards Presentation, ABC, 1988.
- Seasons Greetings: An Evening with John Williams and the Boston Pops Orchestra, NBC, 1988.
- Sesame Street Special, PBS, 1988.
- Who Shrunk Saturday Morning?, NBC, 1989.
- All-Star Pro Sports Awards, ABC, 1990.
- Dave Thomas Comedy Show, CBS, 1990.
- Seriously... Phil Collins, CBS, 1990.
- Presenter, The 62nd Annual Academy Awards Presentation, ABC, 1990.
- Bob Hope's Cross-Country Christmas, NBC, 1991.
- Presenter, The 64th Annual Academy Awards Presentation, ABC, 1992.
- Inside America's Totally Unsolved Lifestyles, ABC, 1992.
- Host, Montreal International Comedy Festival '93, Showtime, 1993.
- Also appeared in R.A.C.E., 1989.
- Credits; TELEVISION APPEARANCES; EPISODIC
- Welcome to the Fun Zone (pilot), NBC, 1984.
- Albino Alien, "Cursed with Charisma," Really Weird Tales, 1987.
- Voice of Blumpoe, "Blumpoe the Grumpoe Meets Arnold the Cat" (animated),Shelley Duvall's Bedtime Stories, Showtime, 1992.
- Also appeared on Saturday Night Live, NBC.
- Credits; OTHER TELEVISION APPEARANCES
- Hostage for a Day (also see below), Fox, 1994.
- Appeared in the television movie Drums Over Malta (also see below).
- Credits; TELEVISION WORK
- Producer, The Last Polka (also see below), HBO, 1985.
- Director, Hostage for a Day, Fox, 1994.
- Credits; RADIO APPEARANCES; SERIES
- Radio Candy (weekly music and comedy revue), syndicated, 1989.
- Credits; STAGE APPEARANCES
- Appeared with the Second City Comedy Troupe, Chicago, IL, 1972-74; also appeared in the satirical revue Creeps.
- Writings;TELEVISION SHOWS
- Second City TV, syndicated, 1977-81.
- Big City Comedy, syndicated, 1980.
- SCTV, Network 90, NBC, 1981-83.
- The Last Polka, HBO, 1985.
- Also wrote the teleplay Drums Over Malta.
Further Reference
PERIODICALS
- Detroit News, March 6, 1994, p. 2A.
- Entertainment Weekly, March 18, 1994, pp. 10-11.