John Candy
Acting Born Oct 31, 1950 Died Mar 4, 1994 Toronto, Ontario, Canada 102 credits
Biography
John Franklin Candy was a Canadian actor and comedian born on October 30, 1950, or October 31, 1950, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and died on March 4, 1994, at the age of 43. He rose to fame as a member of the Toronto branch of The Second City and its related television series, Second City Television. He appeared in numerous comedy films, including Stripes, Splash, Cool Runnings, The Great Outdoors, and Uncle Buck. One of his most renowned onscreen performances was playing the loquacious shower curtain ring salesman Del Griffith in the John Hughes comedy Planes, Trains and Automobiles. Across his career, he accumulated eighty-nine known acting credits in movies and television shows.
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Career overview
John Franklin Candy was a Canadian actor and comedian born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, on October 30, 1950, with his birthday also recorded in some sources as October 31, 1950. He rose to fame as a member of the Toronto, Ontario branch of The Second City and its related television series, Second City Television. Throughout his acting career, he amassed 89 known credits.
He transitioned to prominent roles in comedy films, appearing in such titles as Stripes, Splash, Cool Runnings, The Great Outdoors, and Uncle Buck. One of his most renowned onscreen performances was playing the character Del Griffith, described as the loquacious, on the move, shower curtain ring salesman in the John Hughes comedy Planes, Trains and Automobiles.
John Candy passed away on March 4, 1994, at the age of 43. His contributions to television and film established him as a celebrated comedic performer within the industry.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
You Had to Be There: How the Toronto Godspell Ignited the Comedy Revolution...Marty, Life Is Short
John Candy: I Like Me
Catherine O'Hara: All of Us Shine
Drunk Stoned Brilliant Dead
Mel Brooks: Make a Noise
Christmas with SCTV
John Candy: Comic Spirit
Making a 'Splash'
Canadian Bacon
Hostage for a DayHostage for a Day · DirectorWagons East!Wagons East! · ThanksSesame Street | All-Star 25th Birthday: Stars and Street Forever!
Cool RunningsRookie of the YearFriends of Gilda
Shelley Duvall's Bedtime StoriesBoris and NatashaOnce Upon a Crime
Career OpportunitiesCareer OpportunitiesJFKNothing but TroubleOnly the Lonely
Seriously... Phil CollinsThe Rescuers Down UnderMasters of MenaceHome AloneRabbit Ears - Stormalong
Camp CandyCamp Candy · ProducerCamp Candy · Theme Song PerformanceUncle BuckThe Rocket Boy
The Great OutdoorsShe's Having a BabyThe Best of SCTVThe Best of SCTV · WriterHot to Trot
SpaceballsPlanes, Trains and AutomobilesCitizen SteveCitizen Steve · Director
Little Shop of HorrorsDonald, the Star-Struck DuckArmed and DangerousThe Canadian ConspiracyThe Incredible Time-Travels of Henry Osgood
The Last PolkaThe Last Polka · WriterBrewster's MillionsSummer RentalFollow That Bird
SplashThe New ShowDavid Steinberg in Concert With John Candy
National Lampoon's VacationGoing BerserkThe 8th Annual Young Comedians Show
Late Night with David LettermanLate Night with David LettermanIt Came from HollywoodThe Billy Crystal Comedy HourRome, Italian Style · Writer
StripesHeavy MetalSCTV Network 90SCTV Network 90 · Writer
The Blues BrothersThe Courage of Kavik, the Wolf DogDouble Negative
1941Lost and Found
The Silent Partner
Second City TelevisionSecond City Television · WriterTunnel VisionThe Clown MurdersFind the Lady
Saturday Night LiveSaturday Night LiveIt Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time
Dinah!Cucumber
Class of '44
Full filmography
- You Had to Be There: How the Toronto Godspell Ignited the Comedy Revolution... (2026) as Self (archive footage)
- Marty, Life Is Short (2026) as Self (archive footage)
- John Candy: I Like Me (2025) as Self (archive footage)
- Catherine O'Hara: All of Us Shine (2021) as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
- Drunk Stoned Brilliant Dead (2015) as Self - Actor (archive footage)
- Mel Brooks: Make a Noise (2013) as Self (archive footage)
- Christmas with SCTV (2006)
- John Candy: Comic Spirit (2005) as Self (archive footage)
- Making a 'Splash' (2004) as Self (archive footage)
- Canadian Bacon (1995) as Sheriff Bud B. Boomer
- Hostage for a Day (1994) as Yuri Petrovich (uncredited)
- Hostage for a Day (1994) Director
- Wagons East! (1994) as James Harlow
- Wagons East! (1994) Thanks
- Sesame Street | All-Star 25th Birthday: Stars and Street Forever! (1994) as Self (archive footage)
- Cool Runnings (1993) as Irv
- Rookie of the Year (1993) as Cliff Murdoch - Announcer (uncredited)
- Friends of Gilda (1993) as Self
- Shelley Duvall's Bedtime Stories (1992) as Narrator (voice)
- Boris and Natasha (1992) as Kalishak
- Once Upon a Crime (1992) as Augie Morosco
- Career Opportunities (1991) as C.D. Marsh (uncredited)
- Career Opportunities (1991) as Target Store Manager
- JFK (1991) as Dean Andrews
- Nothing but Trouble (1991) as Dennis / Eldona
- Only the Lonely (1991) as Danny Muldoon
- Delirious (1991) as Jack Gable
- Seriously... Phil Collins (1990) as Self
- The Rescuers Down Under (1990) as Wilbur (voice)
- Masters of Menace (1990) as Beer Truck Driver
- Home Alone (1990) as Gus Polinski
- Rabbit Ears - Stormalong (1990) as Narrator (voice)
- Sesame Street: Sing Yourself Silly! (1990) as Yosh Shmenge (archive footage)
- Camp Candy (1989) as (voice)
- Camp Candy (1989) Producer
- Camp Candy (1989) Theme Song Performance
- Uncle Buck (1989) as Buck Russell
- The Rocket Boy (1989) as The Hawk
- Who Shrunk Saturday Morning? (1989) as Himself
- Who's Harry Crumb? (1989) as Harry Crumb
- Who's Harry Crumb? (1989) Executive Producer
- Speed Zone (1989) as Charlie
- The Great Outdoors (1988) as Chet Ripley
- She's Having a Baby (1988) as Chet (uncredited)
- The Best of SCTV (1988)
- The Best of SCTV (1988) Writer
- Hot to Trot (1988) as Don The Horse (Voice)
- Sesame Street: Put Down the Duckie (1988) as Self
- Jackie Gleason: The Great One (1988) as Host
- Spaceballs (1987) as Barf
- Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987) as Del Griffith
- Citizen Steve (1987) as Clip Maxwell
- Citizen Steve (1987) Director
- Little Shop of Horrors (1986) as Wink Wilkinson
- Donald, the Star-Struck Duck (1986) as Himself
- Armed and Dangerous (1986) as Frank Dooley
- The Canadian Conspiracy (1986) as Self
- The Incredible Time-Travels of Henry Osgood (1986) as Wallace Osgood
- Really Weird Tales (1986) as Howard Jensen (segment "Cursed With Charisma")
- The Last Polka (1985) as Yosh Shmenge
- The Last Polka (1985) Writer
- Brewster's Millions (1985) as Spike Nolan
- Summer Rental (1985) as Jack Chester
- Follow That Bird (1985) as State Trooper
- Volunteers (1985) as Tom Tuttle
- Tears Are Not Enough (1985) as Self
- Martin Short: Concert for the North Americas (1985) as Marcel
- Splash (1984) as Freddie Bauer
- The New Show (1984)
- David Steinberg in Concert With John Candy (1984) as Self
- National Lampoon's Vacation (1983) as Lasky, Guard at Walleyworld
- Going Berserk (1983) as John Bourgignon
- The 8th Annual Young Comedians Show (1983)
- Late Night with David Letterman (1982) as Self
- Late Night with David Letterman (1982) as Self - Guest
- It Came from Hollywood (1982) as Self
- The Billy Crystal Comedy Hour (1982) as Himself
- Rome, Italian Style (1982) Writer
- Stripes (1981) as Dewey "Ox" Oxberger
- Heavy Metal (1981) as Desk Sergeant / Dan / Den / Robot (voice)
- SCTV Network 90 (1981) as Various
- SCTV Network 90 (1981) Writer
- The Blues Brothers (1980) as Burton Mercer
- The Courage of Kavik, the Wolf Dog (1980) as Pinky
- Double Negative (1980) as John
- 1941 (1979) as Pvt. Foley
- Lost and Found (1979) as Carpentier
- The Silent Partner (1978) as Simonsen
- Second City Television (1976) as Self - Various Characters
- Second City Television (1976) Writer
- Tunnel Vision (1976) as Cooper
- The Clown Murders (1976) as Ollie
- Find the Lady (1976) as Kopek
- Saturday Night Live (1975) as Self - Host
- Saturday Night Live (1975) as Juan Gavino (uncredited)
- It Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time (1975) as Kopek
- Dinah! (1974) as Self
- Cucumber (1974) as Weatherman
- Class of '44 (1973) as Paule (uncredited)
- The David Steinberg Show (1972)
- Foxy Lady (1971) Production Assistant
- The Oscars (1953) as Self