‘You never stop thinking about John Candy’: How a pair of projects keep his legacy alive

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Perhaps the most telling moment in John Candy’s unfortunately short career isn’t found in his work on “SCTV” or in comedies like “Stripes” or “Uncle Buck.” Instead, it’s a scene from the 1987 film “Planes, Trains and Automobiles,” where Steve Martin’s character, Neal Page, has just finished scolding Candy’s character for constantly telling stories.

Fighting back tears, Del Griffith says he’s happy with himself. “I like who I am,” he explains. “My wife and customers like me too, because I’m genuine – I’m exactly as I appear.”

This event is central to a pair of new projects exploring the life and career of the actor, who sadly passed away from a heart attack 31 years ago at just 43 years old. He would have celebrated his 75th birthday this month.

Both a new biography, “John Candy: A Life in Comedy” by Paul Myers (released Tuesday by House of Anansi Press), and a documentary, “John Candy: I Like Me” (directed by Colin Hanks and released Friday on Prime Video), share stories from those who knew John Candy best – his friends, family, and coworkers – to explore his rise to fame, his achievements, and the impact of his untimely passing.

Both the book and the movie demonstrate why audiences connected with Candy – despite his flaws, he was genuinely likable – and explain the lasting sadness felt over his unrealized potential.

A family photo of John Candy and his son, Chris, seen in “John Candy: I Like Me.” (Prime Video)

John Candy, left, and Steve Martin in “Planes, Trains and Automobiles.” (Paramount Pictures)

Ryan Reynolds, the actor and producer behind the new documentary, explained why remembering John Candy still matters. He said that when people deeply miss something they didn’t even realize was gone, it’s special. And that’s exactly how people felt about John Candy – they missed him a lot.

Since John Candy passed away, his family – his wife, Rosemary, and children, Jennifer Candy-Sullivan and Chris Candy – have been carefully considering whether to share his story with the public, and how it might affect them. As co-executive producers of the upcoming film, they’ve been grappling with this decision. “It’s about finding the right balance,” explained Chris Candy. “You want to live your own life while also paying respect to his memory.”

Recently, Candy’s children found inspiration in documentaries like Morgan Neville’s film about Fred Rogers, “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?,” and Tom Hanks’ movie, “All Things Must Pass,” which tells the story of Tower Records.

Tom Hanks, whose father worked alongside John Candy in movies like “Splash” and “Volunteers,” explained that it was difficult to find an interesting angle for Candy’s biography. Candy had a successful and generally problem-free acting career, starting in Toronto and then continuing in Hollywood.

Hanks explained that he connected with Candy’s story because of a specific detail: Candy’s father, Sidney, passed away from heart disease when Candy was just five years old. Hanks noted that it’s easy to imagine how deeply upsetting that would be for a child, or anyone, at that age.

Musician and journalist Myers, who has authored books about Barenaked Ladies and The Kids in the Hall, felt a connection to Candy both as a fellow Canadian and because Candy represented the heart of Canadian comedy.

As a Canadian, John Candy is always on my mind,” Myers shared. He explained that he and his brother, Mike – who would later become famous in movies like “Shrek” and “Austin Powers” – grew up near Toronto and loved watching comedy shows like “Monty Python’s Flying Circus” and “Saturday Night Live.”

“SCTV,” the show that helped launch the careers of stars like Candy, Catherine O’Hara, and Eugene Levy, held a special place for Myers and his family. He explained they were fans from the very beginning and felt a particular connection, as the show was filmed nearby their home.

Born and raised in Vancouver, Reynolds explained that Candy’s uniquely Canadian personality was key to his own success as a comedic actor.

Ryan Reynolds explained that Canadian comedy generally avoids making fun of those less fortunate. Instead, it focuses on self-deprecating humor – making fun of oneself. He noted that the late John Candy excelled at this, and Reynolds admired Candy’s cheerful willingness to poke fun at himself without ever becoming truly negative or self-hating.

John Candy became known for his funny characters on “SCTV,” including spot-on impressions of media figures like Johnny LaRue and celebrities like Orson Welles. This led to roles in popular movies such as “National Lampoon’s Vacation,” “The Blues Brothers,” “Brewster’s Millions,” and “Spaceballs.”

Everyone knew John Candy enjoyed drinking and smoking – it was common for the time – and it almost never affected his work. In fact, there’s a famous story about how he spent a night drinking with Jack Nicholson and then, the very next morning, filmed a hilarious racquetball scene for “Splash” where his character clumsily plays while smoking.

“That’s his work ethic, right there,” said Candy-Sullivan. “He showed up and he did the scene.”

John Candy became a leading man in comedies such as “Summer Rental,” “The Great Outdoors,” and “Who’s Harry Crumb?” He developed a strong working relationship with writer and director John Hughes, who gave him memorable roles in films like “Planes, Trains and Automobiles,” “Uncle Buck,” and “Home Alone.”

It’s heartbreaking to learn that behind that incredible charisma, John Candy was really struggling with anxiety. What really struck me, though, was how openly people – even interviewers on TV! – would ask him about his weight, like it was okay to bluntly question him about changing his body. It’s just awful to think about how much that must have hurt and added to his internal struggles.

Watching those old interviews with my brother in the documentary was really tough, honestly. It was uncomfortable for both me and my sister to see what he was dealing with. I hadn’t realized how much he had to mentally navigate those conversations, almost like he was skillfully dodging attacks. You can definitely see him becoming more and more short with the interviewers as it goes on – it’s right there in the footage.

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Candy’s difficult experiences didn’t turn him into a mean person. Instead, he dealt with the pain by working even harder to be a kind and entertaining performer.

According to Myers, the sadness often seen in John Candy’s story stems from his inner struggles. He dealt with this pain by being exceptionally kind to everyone, building relationships and striving to create a sense of community and positivity in his life.

Throughout the early 1990s, John Candy was incredibly busy. In 1991, he acted in five movies, including the poorly received “Nothing But Trouble” and a memorable, though small, part as Dean Andrews Jr. in Oliver Stone’s “JFK.” He was also getting ready to direct his first film, a TV movie called “Hostage For a Day” co-starring George Wendt. On top of everything else, Candy became a part-owner and enthusiastic supporter of the Toronto Argonauts, a Canadian football team.

After facing increasing pressures in his personal and professional life, John Candy passed away on March 4, 1994, while filming the movie “Wagons East” in Durango, Mexico. He had a private funeral near Los Angeles, and a public memorial service in Toronto led to widespread mourning across Canada.

I always felt he truly embodied the best in people. He wasn’t just funny; he was deeply human. What really struck me about his work was how he wasn’t afraid to show vulnerability and humility, even in comedies where you wouldn’t expect it. It made his characters so much more relatable and special.

John Candy’s movies are still popular on TV and streaming, with films like “Planes, Trains and Automobiles” and “Home Alone” becoming holiday traditions. However, those who document his life worry that younger generations who didn’t grow up watching him might forget what made him so beloved, and his legacy needs to be actively preserved.

Tom Hanks remembered an incident during the filming of “I Like Me.” He and his coworkers were at a restaurant, and the hostess asked them about their current project.

I told her we were making a documentary, and she asked what it was about. I said it was about John Candy, but she didn’t recognize the name. I asked if she’d seen ‘Home Alone,’ and if she remembered the man who played the polka musician and drove the van. She lit up and said she loved him and thought he was great.

Hanks explained that one of his reasons for making the film about Candy is to highlight the qualities that made people adore him and to rekindle those feelings.

One of the best parts is sharing Candy’s work with new audiences. As Hanks put it, you hope it makes people want to discover – or revisit – his classic show, ‘SCTV.’

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2025-10-08 13:34