John Candy
Canadian actor and comedian (1950–1994)
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Key Takeaways
- John Franklin Candy (October 31, 1950 – March 4, 1994) was a Canadian actor and comedian best known for his work in Hollywood comedy films.
- (1989), and Cool Runnings (1993).
- He co-owned the CFL's Toronto Argonauts, who won the 1991 Grey Cup under his ownership.
- Early life John Franklin Candy was born in Newmarket, Ontario, on October 31, 1950, the son of Evangeline Valeria (née Aker; 1916–2009) and Sidney James Candy (1920–1955).
- Candy was raised in a working-class Catholic family in Toronto, where his childhood home was at 217 Woodville Avenue.
John Franklin Candy (October 31, 1950 – March 4, 1994) was a Canadian actor and comedian best known for his work in Hollywood comedy films.
Candy first rose to prominence in Canada during the 1970s as a member of the Toronto branch of The Second City and its sketch comedy series Second City Television. He achieved international fame in the 1980s with starring roles in comedy films such as Stripes (1981), Splash (1984), Brewster's Millions (1985), Summer Rental (1985), Armed and Dangerous (1986), Spaceballs (1987), Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987), The Great Outdoors (1988), Uncle Buck (1989), Who's Harry Crumb? (1989), and Cool Runnings (1993).
Candy also had supporting roles in comedy films such as The Blues Brothers (1980), National Lampoon's Vacation (1983), Little Shop of Horrors (1986), Home Alone (1990), Nothing but Trouble (1991), and Rookie of the Year (1993). He co-owned the CFL's Toronto Argonauts, who won the 1991 Grey Cup under his ownership. He died of a heart attack in 1994, at the age of 43, with his final two film appearances in Wagons East (1994) and Canadian Bacon (1995) dedicated to his memory.
Early life
John Franklin Candy was born in Newmarket, Ontario, on October 31, 1950, the son of Evangeline Valeria (née Aker; 1916–2009) and Sidney James Candy (1920–1955). His paternal grandparents were English immigrants who had moved to Canada in 1913, while his mother had Polish and Ukrainian ancestry. Candy was raised in a working-class Catholic family in Toronto, where his childhood home was at 217 Woodville Avenue. On October 31, 1955—Candy's fifth birthday—his father died from complications of heart disease at the age of 35.
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