John Candy (31st October 1950 – 4th March 1994)
From around the age of 7, I have always felt a strong connection to the actor John Candy.
I was raised on films like Spaceballs, Splash, The Great Outdoors, Uncle Buck, and of course Planes, Trains and Automobiles. A film that I have seen over a thousand times, and one that would break into my top 10 of all time with relative ease. Apparently locked away in the Paramount vault, lies a three-hour version of the film (although not in order), which i’m hoping will one day be restored and edited for the whole world to see.
Whenever I feel down, or even if I just can’t decide on what to watch, i’ll always stick on one of his films, safe in the knowledge that I know i’m in for a good time. He had an endearing quality to him on and off camera, and brought bags full of heart and charm to each character that he played. None more so than the role of Del Griffith (Director of Sales, American Light and Fixture, Shower Curtain Ring Division) in PTAA.
There are only a few pieces of Candy left that I haven't seen. Going Berserk is probably the main one, as all of the other films are bit part roles and voice work. Not to mention the hundreds of SNL sketches that he did, especially the ones with the likes of Eugene Levy and the other 3 Neat Guys. I've held on to Going Berserk for quite some time now. In a similar way I guess to that of Chuck Noland in Castaway with the last fed-ex parcel. I'm keeping it back, because I know that if I watch it there will be no more Candy left in the factory. And I honestly don’t think i’m ready to let him go just yet.
I have been collecting most of his work on VHS all my life, but some are just too rare to find. I had to pay £20 for an RCA edition of Armed and Dangerous a while back because it had been deleted. I also couldn’t find Going Berserk on VHS either, so if anybody has it and wants to sell i’d be interested. I couldn't seem to find my Splash or 1941 tapes though.
He died while filming the 1994 train wreck that was Wagons East. He declared this to be his last movie and even before heading out to Mexico to start filming, John apparently told actress and friend Catherine O’Hara that he feared going to Mexico because he felt something bad was going to happen there. Little did he know the truth in those fears.
John Franklin Candy was interred in the mausoleum at Holy Cross cemetery in California. There he is surrounded by various Hollywood legends such as Bela Lugosi, Bing Crosby, Rita Hayworth, John Ford, Chris Penn and also most of the cast from The Wizard of Oz.
It’s always sad to see a major talent’s career cut short at any age, but even worse when you consider that he hadn’t even reached his 44th birthday by the time of his death. In that respect, John has joined an illustrious group of people such as John Belushi, Bill Hicks, Chris Farley, Bruce Lee, River Phoenix, James Dean, Andy Kaufman, Marilyn Monroe and Judy Garland to name but a few, who all suffered the same cruel fate.
Most notable films include:
The Blues Brothers, Stripes, National Lampoon’s Vacation, Going Berserk, Splash, Brewster’s Millions, Summer Rental, Volunteers, Armed and Dangerous, Spaceballs, Planes, Trains and Automobiles, The Great Outdoors, Who’s Harry Crumb?, Uncle Buck, Nothing But Trouble, Only the Lonely, Cool Runnings and Canadian Bacon.
“When I'm dead and buried, all I'll leave behind are some shower curtain rings that didn't fall down.”
John Candy was a hilarious, charming and warm hearted family man that inspired and captured the hearts of everyone. He is missed every day.
