John Candy

Candy was one of Canada's greatest and funniest character actors. His well-known role as the big hearted buffoon earned him classics in _Uncle Buck (1989)_ (qv) and _Planes, Trains & Automobiles (1987)_ (qv). His career has handed him some dry spells but Candy always rebounded.Born in Newmarket, Ontario, in the year 1950, Candy was the son of Evangeline (Aker) and Sidney James Candy. His mother was of Ukrainian and Polish ancestry. Candy found his passion for drama while attending a community college. In 1971 Candy made his TV debut in an episode of _Police Surgeon (1971)_ (qv) co-starring 'Sharon Farrell' (qv), 'John Hamelin' (qv), and 'Nick Mancuso' (qv). Candy then found a number of bit parts in other Canadian television shows and also in such small films as _Tunnel Vision (1976)_ (qv) and _Find the Lady (1976)_ (qv). However, his big success came at the age of twenty-seven, when he became part of the comedy group "Second City" in Toronto. Alongside such soon-to-be Canadian stars as 'Catherine O'Hara' (qv) (one of Candy's lifelong friends), 'Eugene Levy' (qv), 'Rick Moranis' (qv), and 'Harold Ramis' (qv), Candy was also part of the television show the group inspired. _SCTV (1976)_ (qv) earned Candy a reputation for his quirky humor and his uncanny imitations of others.After the television series, Candy appeared alongside fellow Canadian 'Dan Aykroyd' (qv) in the 'Steven Spielberg' (qv) flop _1941 (1979)_ (qv). However, other jobs followed and Candy landed a role, once again with Aykroyd, in the successful classic _The Blues Brothers (1980)_ (qv). Candy played a parole officer who is part of the chase after Jake and Elwood Blues. The film was a hit and Candy followed up accordingly.Candy acted in the smash hit _Stripes (1981)_ (qv) where he played a dopey, overweight recruit affectionately nicknamed 'Ox'. After the success of _Stripes (1981)_ (qv), Candy returned to the Second City with the other former stars, in _SCTV Network (1981)_ (qv). Candy also hosted "Saturday Night Live" before landing himself a role in the 'Ron Howard' (qv) film _Splash (1984)_ (qv), a romantic comedy about a mermaid who washes ashore and learns to live like a human. Candy played a sleazy womanizing brother to the character played by 'Tom Hanks' (qv). The film was a bigger success than even _Stripes (1981)_ (qv) and a number of people have said that _Splash (1984)_ (qv) was his breakout role.He took a second billing in the comedic film _Brewster's Millions (1985)_ (qv) where a man must spend thirty million in order to inherit three hundred million from his deceased relative. Candy played the man's best friend, who accidentally gets in the way as much as helping out. Candy continued making films tirelessly, including the film _Armed and Dangerous (1986)_ (qv) where he and 'Eugene Levy' (qv) play characters who become security guards.1987 was an especially good year to Candy, giving him two classic roles: Barf the Mawg in the 'Mel Brooks' (qv) comedy _Spaceballs (1987)_ (qv) and the bumbling salesman Del Griffith alongside 'Steve Martin' (qv)'s uptight character in the 'John Hughes' (qv) film _Planes, Trains & Automobiles (1987)_ (qv). The latter film is a golden classic and is one of Candy's greatest films. He followed up immediately with _The Great Outdoors (1988)_ (qv), once again alongside 'Dan Aykroyd' (qv). Candy landed another classic role in the film _Uncle Buck (1989)_ (qv) which was about a bumbling uncle who must look after his brother's three children.Although he was in the smash hit _Home Alone (1990)_ (qv), Candy's career fell into a slump, turning out unsuccessful films in the early nineties. This caused him to change his strategy by taking more serious roles. The first of these serious roles was the corrupt lawyer Dean Andrews in the 'Oliver Stone' film _JFK (1991)_ (qv). The film was a big success, and Candy moved on from this victory to make the film _Cool Runnings (1993)_ (qv) about the first Jamaican bobsled team.Candy was well known for his size, six feet two and weighing around 300 pounds. However, he was very sensitive about the subject and in the nineties tried to lose weight and quit smoking. He was aware that heart attacks were in his family: both his father and his grandfather died of heart attacks and Candy wanted to prevent that happening to him as best he could.In the mid-nineties Candy filmed the 'Michael Moore' (qv) comedy _Canadian Bacon (1995)_ (qv) then went to Mexico to film the western spoof _Wagons East (1994)_ (qv). It was in Mexico that Candy had a heart attack and passed away in March 1994. _Canadian Bacon (1995)_ (qv) was released a year after his death and is his last film.Candy was loved by thousands of people who loved his classic antics in _Splash (1984)_ (qv) and _The Great Outdoors (1988)_ (qv). He was well-known for his roles in _Stripes (1981)_ (qv) and _Uncle Buck (1989)_ (qv) and he himself never forgot his Canadian background.::Bob Stage