John Candy biography

Synopsis

John Candy was born October 31, 1950, in Toronto, Canada. He got his big break when he was offered membership in the Second City comedy troupe. In 1984, he co-starred with Tom Hanks in the film Splash, and became a movie star. Audiences loved Candy for his roly-poly good nature and wry humor. A veteran of more than 40 films, in 1994, he died of a heart attack while shooting a film in Mexico.

Early Life

Actor and comedian John Franklin Candy was born on October 31, 1950, in Toronto, Canada. Candy took drama courses at a community college and held various odd jobs before winning his first acting job in a children's theater group in his native Ontario.

Big Break

After a series of small parts in television commercials and low-budget Canadian films, Candy got his big break when he was offered membership in the Second City comedy troupe. In 1977, he became a regular performer and writer for the group's television show, SCTV, along with Harold Ramis and Eugene Levy. Candy was a featured performer by the time the show came to network television in 1981. He won Emmys for the show's writing in 1981 and 1982.

In 1984, the Ron Howard directed comedy Splash, in which he co-starred with Tom Hanks and Daryl Hannah, made Candy a movie star. Although he was sometimes criticized for his choice of roles, audiences loved Candy for his roly-poly good nature and wry humor. Some of his most popular films included The Blues Brothers (1980), Spaceballs (1987), featuring Mel Brooks; Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987), co-starring Steve Martin; Uncle Buck (1989) and the Disney feature Cool Runnings (1993).

Other Endeavors

The veteran of more than 40 films, Candy was also an avid sports fan and co-owner of a Canadian Football League franchise, the Toronto Argonauts. With actors Dan Aykroyd and Jim Belushi, he owned a chain of blues bars and restaurants called House of Blues.

Death

At 6 feet 3 inches tall, Candy weighed over 250 pounds and often spoke of having a problem controlling his weight. Sadly, on March 4, 1994, while shooting a film (Wagons East) in Durango, Mexico, Candy died in his sleep of a heart attack.