As part of the famed SCTV comedy troupe during the mid-1970s, John Candy played generous losers and big-hearted chumps who were never pathetic, but loveable and genuine. It would be an act that the Newmarket, Ontario-born comedian translated into box office success in more than 40 feature films.
As a boy, Candy dreamed of playing in the Canadian Football League, but a severe knee injury made that impossible. So he turned to the next best thing — a career in sports journalism. He enrolled in a media/journalism program at Centennial College in 1968 and found his true talent, television performer/entertainer.
John landed many small parts in Canadian film and television projects and was cast as a regular on the short-lived children’s show, “Dr. Zunk and the Zunkins”. This role led to another role in children’s television on “Coming Up Rosie”, which saw Candy cast alongside Dan Aykroyd and Catherine O’Hara. The rest, as they say, is television history.
One of the skits Candy did on SCTV was “The Schmenge Brothers,” with partner and funnyman Eugene Levy. Yosh and Stan Schmenge gained so much popularity that it was given its own HBO special called “The Last Polka.” Candy earned two Emmy Awards for writing for SCTV.
His Hollywood successes include some comic classics like “Planes, Trains and Automobiles,” “Uncle Buck,” “1941,” “Canadian Bacon” and “Cool Runnings.” As part of an illustrious group of Canadian comics who found Hollywood glory, Candy had a singular charm. He could be as funny as anyone, but what set him apart was tenderness and a gentle, emotional honesty that made him instantly credible and loveable.
Candy is survived by his wife Rosemary and their children.
