JOHN CANDY Biography - Other artists & entretainers

 
 

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JOHN CANDY
       

John Franklin Candy was born in Toronto, Canada, October 31, 1950. Candy grew up in Scarborough, Canada, where he was known as an intelligent student and talented football player at Neil McNeil high school. After graduation, Candy enrolled in a local community college, where he took a handful of drama courses and discovered his passion for comedy and acting.

       

While a student, Candy auditioned for as many bit parts as his time would allow. After several years of study, he found a position with the Children’s Theater in Ontario, and a small offering of walk-on roles in local television commercials and small budget Canadian films. Candy’s first ever television performance was at CBC’s Toronto headquarters, where he appeared in the children’s classics as “Coming Up Rosie” and later in “Dr. Zonk and the Zunkins.”

       

In 1977, at the age of 27, John was offered a position with Second City, a comedic improvisational team based in Chicago. He eagerly accepted, moving to Illinois, and becoming a regular performer, comedian and writer for the popular television show, SCTV, also hosted by the group. Candy became a favorite at the Chicago theatre, on Toronto stages and as a performer with SCTV. During this same time, Candy auditioned for a role beside John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd in the soon-to-be famous film, “The Blues Brothers.” He earned the part, and starred in his first major film, playing Burton Mercer. By 1981, Candy had won two Emmy’s for his writing work with the show SCTV, appeared in the movie “Stripes” and “Heavy Metal,” and was ready for bigger things.

       

Candy put his comedy routines aside and began to concentrate on his acting. In 1984, he would make a name for himself playing opposite Tom Hanks in the super-smash-hit, “Splash.” During the ten years that followed, Candy starred in thirty-four movies, including “Cool Runnings,” “Only The Lonely,” “JKF,” “Uncle Buck,” and “Home Alone.” Until his death in 1994, John Candy worked tirelessly, appearing in at least one film a year between 1974-1991.