Age, Biography, and Wiki
John Candy was born on October 31, 1950, in Newmarket, Ontario, Canada, and passed away on March 4, 1994, at the age of 43. He rose to fame with his comedic roles in numerous films, becoming a household name in Hollywood.
| Occupation | Screenwriter |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 31 October 1950 |
| Age | 74 Years |
| Birth Place | Newmarket, Ontario, Canada |
| Horoscope | Scorpio |
| Country | Canada |
| Date of death | 4 March, 1994 |
| Died Place | Durango, Durango, Mexico |
Height, Weight & Measurements
John Candy stood at 6 feet 2 inches (1.88 meters) tall. His weight and other measurements are not widely documented, but his height often added to his comedic presence on screen.
| Height | 6 feet 2 inches |
| Weight | |
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Dating & Relationship Status
John Candy was married to Rosemary Margaret Hobor from 1979 until his death in 1994. They had two children together, Jennifer and Christopher Candy.
He was brought up in a working class Catholic family. His childhood home was at 217 Woodville Avenue in Toronto, Ontario. John Candy's mother, Evangeline Valeria (née Aker; 1916–2009) was of Polish descent. His father died of complications of heart disease at age 35 in 1955 when John was four years old.
Candy also provided the voice of Wilbur the Albatross in Disney's animated film The Rescuers Down Under (1990) and had a cameo in two more films written by Hughes, the blockbuster hit film Home Alone (1990) and the box office flop Career Opportunities (1991). According to Candy's biography, he was in talks to play Bette Midler's working-class husband in the 1990 film Stella. However, when he was informed that Midler demanded he do a screen test, Candy became incredulous proclaiming "Who the (expletive) does she think she is?!" and declined. John Goodman was eventually cast in the role. From 1988 to 1990, Candy hosted "Radio Kandy", a hot adult contemporary radio music countdown syndicated by Premiere Networks.
Candy died in his sleep at the age of 43, on March 4, 1994, in Durango, Mexico, while filming Wagons East; a spokeswoman said that Candy's cause of death was a heart attack. He struggled with weight change and weighed more than 275 lb at some points in his life. Candy had a number of risk factors for heart attack, including strong family history (his father had died prematurely of a heart attack, although his children say he was unaware of his genetic risk), smoking a pack of cigarettes a day, obesity, alcohol abuse, and cocaine use. However, Candy was concerned about his weight. He once lost 100 lbs over a summer while preparing to film Planes, Trains and Automobiles. He frequently dieted and exercised with trainers because of his family history.
| Parents | |
| Husband | Rosemary Margaret Hobor (m. 1979) |
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Net Worth and Salary
At the time of his death in 1994, John Candy's net worth was estimated at $15 million, which is equivalent to approximately $30 million in today's dollars. His earnings came primarily from his successful career in film and television, with notable roles in "Stripes," "Splash," "Uncle Buck," "Cool Runnings," and "Home Alone".
Career, Business, and Investments
John Candy began his career in comedy, initially performing at the Second City comedy troupe in Toronto. He transitioned to film and television, starring in iconic movies like "The Blues Brothers," "Planes, Trains, and Automobiles," and "Brewster's Millions". Beyond acting, Candy was involved in several business ventures, including part ownership of the Toronto Argonauts football team and investments in media projects.
Candy attended Neil McNeil Catholic High School where he was the treasurer of the student council and was a star offensive tackle on the school's football team and participated in drama club. Long before considering acting, Candy dreamed of becoming a professional football player, but a knee injury during his high school football career prevented him from fulfilling his dream. He later enrolled in Centennial College to study journalism, and then went to McMaster University. He started acting while at college.
In 1979, Candy took a brief hiatus from SCTV and began a more active film career, appearing in a minor role in Lost and Found (1979) and playing a U.S. Army soldier in Steven Spielberg's big-budget comedy 1941. He returned to Canada for roles in The Courage of Kavik, the Wolf Dog (1980) and the action thriller Double Negative (1980). He had a supporting role as easygoing parole officer Burton Mercer in The Blues Brothers (1980), starring Aykroyd, and did an episode of Tales of the Klondike (1981) for Canadian TV.
American comedian Conan O'Brien credits Candy as giving him advice that led to his career in comedy. O'Brien met Candy while at Harvard and said, "Mr. Candy... I'm thinking I might try comedy." To this, Candy replied very seriously: "You don't try comedy. You do it or you don't do it."
Social Network
John Candy does not have active social media accounts as he passed away in 1994, before the widespread use of social media platforms. However, his legacy lives on through tributes and fan pages dedicated to his memory.
In 1975 he played Richie, an accused killer, in the episode "Web of Guilt" on the Canadian TV show Police Surgeon. He was in It Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time (1975), shot in Canada, as well as the children's sitcom Coming Up Rosie (1975–78) with Dan Aykroyd. Candy had a small role in Tunnel Vision (1976).
In 1980, Candy hosted a short-lived NBC television program, Roadshow, described by The Washington Post as "improvisational journalism". Appearing as himself, Candy and a video crew traveled in a tour bus to Baton Rouge, Louisiana (home of Louisiana State University), and Carbondale, Illinois (home of Southern Illinois University Carbondale), and interviewed college students amid party atmospheres such as the latter's Halloween street celebration. He also obtained backstage access to interview Midge Ure, the lead singer of the UK electronic band Ultravox, which performed a concert on the SIU campus the evening of 10/31/80. It is unknown if more than two episodes aired.
In 1991, Chris Columbus wrote and directed Only the Lonely with John Hughes serving as co-producer, and starring Candy and Maureen O'Hara; it was well reviewed but not a big hit. Candy also had a supporting role in Nothing But Trouble (1991), Dan Aykroyd's notorious box office flop. Also unsuccessful were the comedies Delirious (1991) and Once Upon a Crime... (1992). During this time, Candy played a small dramatic role as Dean Andrews Jr., a shady Southern lawyer in Oliver Stone's JFK (1991), and had a cameo in the television film Boris and Natasha: The Movie (1992). Candy starred in his first comedic hit in a number of years with Cool Runnings (1993), a story of the first Jamaican national bobsleigh team attempting to make it to the 1988 Winter Olympics. He also had a cameo in the successful Rookie of the Year (1993). He made his directorial debut in the 1994 comedy television film Hostage for a Day. His last appearances were in Wagons East (1994) and Canadian Bacon (1995).
Candy was posthumously inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame in 1998. In May 2006, Candy became one of the first four entertainers ever honored by Canada Post by being featured on a postage stamp. On October 31, 2020, Toronto Mayor John Tory proclaimed "John Candy Day" in honor of what would have been John Candy's 70th birthday.
Education
John Candy attended the Westview Centennial Secondary School and later studied at Seneca College (now known as Seneca College of Applied Arts and Technology). He began his career in comedy at the Second City comedy troupe, which became a pivotal part of his development as a comedian.
In 1971, Candy was cast in a small part as a Shriner in Creeps by David E. Freeman, a new Canadian play about cerebral palsy, in the inaugural season of the Tarragon Theatre in Toronto. Candy guest-starred on a Canadian children's television series, Cucumber, and made a brief, uncredited appearance in Class of '44 (1973) as his first ever appearance in a feature film. He had a small part in The ABC Afternoon Playbreak ("Last Bride of Salem") and had a regular role on the TV series Dr. Zonk and the Zunkins (1974–75).
After his death, the John Candy Visual Arts Studio at Neil McNeil Catholic High School in Toronto was dedicated in his honour. Candy, one of the school's most famous alumni, said during one of his annual visits to the school, "My success is simply rooted in the values and discipline and respect for others that I was taught at Neil McNeil." It has been suggested, among others, that the Canadian Screen Awards be given the official nickname "The Candys", both in honour of the actor and because the name suggests Canada.
Conclusion
John Candy left a lasting impact on the entertainment industry with his unique blend of humor and charm. His career and financial success are a testament to his talent and dedication to his craft. Despite his untimely passing, his films continue to entertain audiences worldwide.
