John Candy

John Candy

  • Highest Rated: 93% Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987)
  • Lowest Rated: 0% Wagons East! (1994)
  • Birthday: Oct 31, 1950
  • Birthplace: Toronto, Ontario, Canada

  • Canadian comic actor John Candy was geared toward a performing career even while studying for a journalism degree in college. Candy's bulky frame and built-in likability enabled him to secure small roles in Canadian film and TV productions. In the early '70s, Candy joined Canada's Second City Troupe, sharing the spotlight with such potent talent (and subsequent close friends) as Joe Flaherty, Eugene Levy, Dave Thomas, Andrea Martin, and Catherine O'Hara. Second City TV, popularly known as SCTV, entered the Canadian TV airwaves in 1975 and was syndicated to the United States two years later. Candy scored an instant hit with such characters as porcine poseur Johnny LaRue, overly unctuous talk show sidekick William B., and ever-grinning "Lutonian" musician Yosh Shmenge. So popular did Candy become that suddenly many of his obscurer pre-starring Canadian films (It Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time, The Clown Murders) became hot properties on the video rental circuit. Candy stayed with the various SCTV syndicated and network programs until 1983, earning two Emmys in the process. One of the few genuine nice guys in the realm of comedy, Candy was beloved by both co-workers and fans -- even when this lovability was stretched to the breaking point in substandard films. He scored in supporting roles (Splash [1984], Brewster's Millions [1985]), but such thinnish starring features as Summer Rental (1985) and Who's Harry Crumb (1989) seemed to suggest that Candy couldn't carry a film by himself. Then he starred in Uncle Buck (1989), a disarming comedy about a ne'er-do-well with hidden nobility. Receiving relatively little promotion, Uncle Buck was a surprise hit, and stands today as perhaps Candy's best-ever vehicle after Planes, Trains and Automobiles. Unfortunately, most of his follow-up films were on a par with the disastrous Nothing but Trouble (1990) and Delirious (1992). At the same time, Candy's leading role in Only the Lonely (1991) and his supporting performance in JFK (1992) proved that a major talent was being squandered by the film industry. Candy was as frustrated as his fans, manifesting this frustration in excessive eating, drinking, and smoking. The actor's superlative seriocomic turn as a disgraced Olympic star in Cool Runnings (1993), which Candy also co-produced, seemed to point toward a career upswing. But while filming Wagons East in Mexico, 43-year-old John Candy suffered a heart attack and died in his sleep. Wagons East was released in the summer of 1994, utilizing Candy's existing footage as well as possible; it proved, sadly, an inadequate epitaph for one of film comedy's funniest and most ingratiating stars.

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Highest Rated Movies

Filmography

Movies

Rating

Title

Credit

Box
Office

Year

No Score Yet Comic Relief: The Greatest...and The Latest Actor — 2008
14% Canadian Bacon Sheriff Bud Boomer — 1995
0% Wagons East! Harlow — 1994
14% North Actor — 1994
No Score Yet Hostage for a Day Executive Producer Yuri Petrovich Director — 1994
77% Cool Runnings Irv Blitzer — 1993
35% Rookie of the Year Jeff Murdoch — 1993
No Score Yet Boris and Natasha Kallishak — 1992
No Score Yet Shelley Duvall's Bedtime Stories Actor — 1992
No Score Yet Rabbit Ears: Stormalong Actor — 1992
84% JFK Dean Andrews — 1991
44% Delirious Jack Gable — 1991
0% Once Upon a Crime Augie — 1991
64% Only the Lonely Danny — 1991
38% Career Opportunities Store Manager — 1991
5% Nothing but Trouble Sheriff/Eldona — 1991
69% The Rescuers Down Under Wilbur — 1990
65% Home Alone Gus Polinski — 1990
No Score Yet Masters of Menace Beer Truck Driver — 1990
No Score Yet The Rocket Boy The Hawk — 1989
61% Uncle Buck Uncle Buck — 1989
27% Who's Harry Crumb? Executive Producer Harry Crumb — 1989
0% Speed Zone Charlie Cronyn — 1989
40% The Great Outdoors Chet Ripley — 1988
40% She's Having a Baby Actor — 1988
0% Hot to Trot Don — 1988
93% Planes, Trains and Automobiles Del Griffith — 1987
No Score Yet Quote Alongs: Spaceballs Actor — 1987
59% Spaceballs Barf — 1987
90% Little Shop of Horrors Wink Wilkinson — 1986
11% Armed and Dangerous Frank Dooley — 1986
58% Volunteers Tom Tuttle from Tacoma — 1985
13% Summer Rental Jack Chester — 1985
92% Sesame Street Presents: Follow That Bird State Trooper — 1985
36% Brewster's Millions Spike Nolan — 1985
No Score Yet The Last Polka Actor — 1985
No Score Yet Big City Comedy Show Actor — 1985
90% Splash Freddie Bauer — 1984
No Score Yet Going Berserk John Bourgignon — 1983
93% National Lampoon's Vacation Lasky — 1983
No Score Yet It Came from Hollywood Actor — 1982
60% Heavy Metal Desk Sergeant/Dan Den/Robot — 1981
86% Stripes Ox — 1981
No Score Yet Second City Insanity Actor — 1981
84% The Blues Brothers Burton Mercer — 1980
No Score Yet Kavik, the Wolf Dog Pinky — 1980
No Score Yet Double Negative John — 1980
39% 1941 Foley — 1979
No Score Yet Lost and Found Carpentier — 1979
67% The Silent Partner Simonsen — 1978
No Score Yet The Clown Murders Ollie — 1976
No Score Yet It Seemed Like a Good Idea Actor — 1975
No Score Yet It Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time Kopek — 1975
No Score Yet Find the Lady Kopek — 1975

TV

Rating

Title

Credit

Year

No Score Yet Saturday Night Live
1975
Guest Host
  • 1983
No Score Yet SCTV
1976-1981
Performer

QUOTES FROM John Candy CHARACTERS

James Harlow
We leave at dawn! Noonish!
Sheriff Bud Boomer
There's not a locked door in the whole country.
Del Griffith
Well Marie, once again my dear, you where as right as rain. I am, with out a doubt, the biggest pain in the butt that ever came down the pike. I meet someone who's company I really enjoy, and what do I do? I go overboard. I smother the poor soul. I cause him more trouble than he has a right to. God, I got a big mouth. When am I ever gonna wake up? I wish you were here with me right now. But... I guess that's not gonna happen. Not now, anyway.
Del Griffith
I know you don't I? I'm usually very good with names, but I'll be damned if I haven't forgotten yours.
Neal Page
You stole my cab.
Del Griffith
I never stole anything in my life.
Neal Page
I hailed a cab on Park Avenue this afternoon and, before I could get in it, you stole it.
Del Griffith
You're the guy who tried to get my cab. I knew I knew you! You scared the bejesus out of me. Come to think of it - it was easy to get a cab during rush hour.
Del Griffith
Six bucks and my right nut says we're not landing in Chicago.
Neal Page
Del, what are you still doing here? Why aren't you going home?
Del Griffith
I... I don't have a home. Marie's been dead for eight years.
Screaming Driver
Put your window down!
Neal Page
He wants something.
Del Griffith
Ah, he's probably drunk.
Screaming Driver
You're going the wrong way!
Neal Page
What?!
Del Griffith
We were robbed!
Neal Page
Do you think so?
Miles Russell
Who are you?
Uncle Buck Russell
I'm your uncle?
Wilbur
Hey, who killed the music?
Uncle Buck Russell
(showing his axe to Bug) Here it is, come on over I wanna show it to ya. Maybe later? Okay.
Uncle Buck Russell
Here it is, come on over I wanna show it to ya. Maybe later? Okay.
Harry Crumb
A book cover is only skin deep. Sometimes you have to read every word to get the whole picture.
Harry Crumb
I've been so thoroughly trained that I don't even have to think before I speak.
Del Griffith
You play with your balls alot.
Del Griffith
You play with your balls a lot.
Neal Page
I do not play with my balls
Neal Page
I do NOT play with my balls.
Del Griffith
ha ha ha. Larry Bird doesn't do as much ball handling in one night as you do in an hour.
Del Griffith
Larry Bird doesn't do as much ball-handling in one night as you do in an hour!
Neal Page
Are you trying to start a fight?
Neal Page
Are you trying to start a fight?
Del Griffith
No. I'm simply stating a fact that's all. You fidget with your nuts alot.
Del Griffith
No. I'm simply stating a fact. That's all. You fidget with your nuts a lot.
Barf the Mawg Co-Pilot
What the HELL was that?!
Lone Starr Space Bum
Spaceball One...
Barf the Mawg Co-Pilot
They've gone to plaid!
Del Griffith
I knew I knew ya!
Del Griffith
Oh, man. Oh yeah. My dogs are barking.
Neal Page
...Del? Why did you kiss my ear?
Del Griffith
...Why are you holding my hand?
Neal Page
...Where's your OTHER hand?
Del Griffith
...Between two pillows...
Neal Page
...Those aren't pillows!
Del Griffith
Aaaaaahhh!
Uncle Buck Russell
"Get in your mouse, and get out of here."
Uncle Buck Russell
Get in your mouse, and get out of here.
Del Griffith
Neal: [riding in back of pickup truck in freezing cold] What do you think the temperature is? Del: One.
Neal Page
[riding in back of pickup truck in freezing cold] What do you think the temperature is?
Taxi racer
One.
Del Griffith
One.
Del Griffith
You wanna hurt me? Go right ahead if it makes you feel any better. I'm an easy target. Yeah, you're right. I talk too much. I also listen too much. I could be a cold-hearted cynic like you, but I don't like to hurt people's feelings. Well, you think what you want about me. I'm not changing. I like me. My wife likes me. My customers like me. 'Cause I'm the real article. What you see is what you get.
Freddie Bauer
What are you looking at? You never saw a guy slept with a fish before? Get back to work.
Freddie Bauer
You never seen a guy who slept with a fish before? What are you looking at? Get back to work.
Del Griffith
I haven't been home in years.
Uncle Buck Russell
"You should see the toast, I couldn't even get it through the door"
Uncle Buck Russell
You should see the toast. I couldn't even get it through the door.
Del Griffith
You wanna hurt me? Go right ahead if it makes you feel any better. I'm an easy target. Yeah, you're right. I talk too much. I also listen too much. I could be a cold-hearted cynic like you, but I don't like to hurt people's feelings. Well, you think what you want about me. I'm not changing. I like me. My wife likes me. My customers like me. 'Cause I'm the real article. What you see is what you get.
Neal Page
He says we're going the wrong way...
Neal Page
He says we're going the wrong way.
Del Griffith
Oh, he's drunk. How would he know where we're going?
Del Griffith
Oh, he's drunk. How would he know where we're going?
Harry Crumb
Maybe your eyes are- eh- playing tricks on me! *Chuckles*
Harry Crumb
Maybe your eyes are playing tricks on me! [Chuckles]
Harry Crumb
(In Salon). Too tight.... too loose... too fluffy!
Harry Crumb
(In Salon). Too tight, too loose, too fluffy!
Dennis Kimball
You don't like what you see?
Harry Crumb
Only I am the judge of that.
Dennis Kimball
Of course.
Harry Crumb
Of course!
Harry Crumb
I am *Dejoul Dilliouje* [sic.].
Harry Crumb
I am Dejoul Dilliouje.
Suki's Salon Receptionist
Could you spell that please?
Harry Crumb
I don't think so. Try it with a "D".
Harry Crumb
I don't think so. Try it with a 'D'.
Harry Crumb
My reputation precedes me. Otherwise, I'd be late for all my appointments.
Uncle Buck Russell
Oh boy, those kids. I haven't seen those kids in a while. Tia's gotta be nine. Nine, maybe ten. Oh boy. And the two new ones. They're uh... Larry and... uh... Larry and, uh... Uh... Betsy. Betsy, uh... Jennifer. Jennifer. Larry and Jennifer. Oh boy.
Uncle Buck Russell
into the phone] Hey, Bobby we should really get together sometime. I haven't been over at the new house since you moved. By the way, I want to apologize for last year at your old house... about those bushes. I had no idea they all would catch on fire like that. You were right. I should never have put the barbeque grill that close.
Uncle Buck Russell
[into the phone] Hey, Bobby we should really get together sometime. I haven't been over at the new house since you moved. By the way, I want to apologize for last year at your old house... about those bushes. I had no idea they all would catch on fire like that. You were right. I should never have put the barbeque grill that close.
Neal Page
where's your other hand?
Neal Page
Where's your other hand?
Del Griffith
between two pillows.
Del Griffith
Between two pillows.
Neal Page
those aren't pillows!
Neal Page
Those aren't pillows!
Uncle Buck Russell
Heres a quarter buy a rat chew that thing off your face!
James Harlow
I hear it's warm in Canada all year long