Background

Ethnicity: Candy's father was of English and Scottish descent while his mother was of Polish and Ukrainian descent.

John (Franklin) Candy was born on the 31st of October 1950 in Newmarket, Ontario, Canada. He was the son of Sidney James who was a car salesperson and Evangeline who was a clerk in the toy section of a department store (her maiden name was Aker) Candy. He was brought up in a working-class Roman Catholic family. Candy's father was of English and Scottish descent while his mother was of Polish and Ukrainian descent.

Education

Candy studied at Neil McNeil Catholic High School, later enrolled in the Centennial Community College to study journalism during the years 1969-71.

Career

John worked various odd jobs, including a paper-napkin salesperson and paint mixer in early 1970s. He worked at Second City Live comedy troupe in Chicago, Illinois as a writer and performer during the years 1972-74, at Second City Company in Toronto, Ontario, as a member in 1974-77, at SCTV (televised version of Second City) then at local Canadian television as a founding cast member and writer in 1977-79, he syndicated in forty-five U.S. cities in 1979-81, and finally he was a Part-owner of the Toronto Argonauts (Canadian football team) in 1991-94.

Achievements

• John has got the Television and Radio Artists Award in 1978 and 1982, Emmy Award (with others) for outstanding writing in a variety, music, or comedy program in 1981 for his “Moral Majority Show, at SCTV, Network 90, Emmy Award (with others) for outstanding writing in a variety or music program in 1983 for “The Energy Ball/Sweeps Week, at SCTV, Network 90.

Works

More photos

• movie

  • The Blues Brothers

    (The Blues Brothers: John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd, Cab Callow...)

    1980
  • The Great Outdoors: John Candy, Dan Aykroyd, Stephanie Faracy, Howard Deutch 1988
  • Three Amigos!: Steve Martin, Chevy Chase, Martin Short, Alfonso Arau: Amazon Digital Services LLC 1986
  • Little Shop of Horrors (1986): Rick Moranis, Levi Stubbs, Ellen Greene, Vincent Gardenia: Amazon Digital Services LLC 1986
  • Speed Zone VHS 1989

Membership

He was a member of Screen Actors Guild, Writers Guild of America, American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, Alliance of Canadian Cinema.

• Screen Actors Guild , United States

• Writers Guild of America , United States

• American Federation of Television and Radio Artists , United States

• Alliance of Canadian Cinema , Canada

Personality

A versatile actor, Candy could play almost any part, although he favored comedy roles. Despite being overweight in a figure-conscious industry, he brought his brand of comedy to over forty feature- length films and numerous television programs. “He could be as funny as anyone. But what set him apart was a tenderness, a gentle emotional candor that made him instantly credible and lovable,” judged Johnson.

Quotes from others about the person

• “Candy . . . can wring a laugh out of the biggest wet noodle of a script,” commented Joanne Kaufman in People Weekly.

Interests

• Sport & Clubs

  Toronto Blue Jays, Toronto Maple Leafs.

Connections

John was married to Rosemary Margaret Hobor who was a potter on the 27th of April 1979 and they had two children: Jennifer Anne, Christopher Michael.

Father:

Sidney James Candy