What was John Candy's Net Worth?
John Candy, a beloved Canadian actor and comedian, had a net worth of $15 million at the time of his unfortunate death in 1994. Candy, known for his charisma and humor, passed away on March 4, 1994, from a heart attack at the age of 43 while filming Wagons East! in Durango, Mexico.
He starred in iconic films such as Stripes, Cool Runnings, Splash, Summer Rental, Spaceballs, The Great Outdoors, and Uncle Buck. Other notable appearances include roles in JFK, Only the Lonely, Home Alone, Who’s Harry Crumb?, Planes, Trains & Automobiles, Little Shop of Horrors, Armed and Dangerous, Sesame Street Presents: Follow That Bird, Vacation, and The Blues Brothers.
Candy won two Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Writing in a Variety or Music Program for SCTV Network 90 in 1982 and 1983. He was inducted into Canada’s Walk of Fame and featured on a Canadian postage stamp.
Early Life
John Franklin Candy was born on October 31, 1950, in Newmarket, Ontario, Canada. His parents, Sidney James Candy and Evangeline Candy, were devout Catholics. Heart disease claimed his father’s life when Candy was just 35.
Candy attended Neil McNeil Catholic High School in Toronto. Initially aspiring to be a football player, a knee injury thwarted those dreams. He studied journalism at Centennial College but later transferred to McMaster University, where he began to explore his passion for acting.
Career
Candy's early career involved minor television roles on Cucumber, The ABC Afternoon Playbreak, and Dr. Zonk and the Zunkins. His breakthrough came in the 1970s as a member of The Second City’s Toronto branch and its series, Second City Television. Memorable characters he portrayed include Johnny LaRue, Doctor Tongue, and William B. Williams. The show gained massive popularity, winning two Emmy Awards in 1981 and 1982.
After a short hiatus to focus on film, Candy played minor roles like a US Army soldier in Steven Spielberg's 1941. Returning to Canada, he appeared in The Courage of Kavik, the Wolf Dog and Double Negative. In 1980, he starred as Burton Mercer in The Blues Brothers and later, as an Army recruit in Stripes, directed by Ivan Reitman.
Candy’s career soared after his breakout role as Tom Hanks’ womanizing brother in the hit romantic comedy Splash. He later co-wrote and starred in The Last Polka with Eugene Levy and played Richard Pryor's best friend in Brewster's Millions. He also made a cameo in the Sesame Street film Follow That Bird.
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Candy’s first major Hollywood lead role was in Summer Rental, directed by Carl Reiner. He reunited with Tom Hanks in Volunteers and appeared in The Canadian Conspiracy in 1985. In 1986, he starred in Armed and Dangerous alongside Eugene Levy and Meg Ryan.
His role in Planes, Trains & Automobiles with Steve Martin, directed by John Hughes, in 1987 marked the beginning of a fruitful collaboration. Candy then appeared in Hughes’ films She’s Having a Baby, The Great Outdoors, and played the title character in Uncle Buck in 1989. He also starred in and produced the animated series Camp Candy on NBC, where his children had supporting roles.
Throughout 1990 and 1991, Candy appeared in Hughes’ films Home Alone and Career Opportunities. In 1991, he starred in Only the Lonely with Maureen O'Hara. Despite a few unsuccessful films in the early 1990s, such as Delirious and Once Upon a Crime, Candy’s career rejuvenated with the 1993 hit Cool Runnings. He made his directorial debut in 1994 with Hostage for a Day and his final film roles in Canadian Bacon and Wagons East! in 1995.
Personal Life and Death
Candy married Rosemarry Hobor in 1979. The couple had two children: Jennifer, born in February 1980, and Chris, born in September 1984. Candy struggled with anxiety, panic attacks, overweight issues, and tended to binge eat due to stress. His health further deteriorated due to smoking, alcohol consumption, and a family history of heart disease.
On March 4, 1994, Candy suffered a fatal heart attack. His funeral was held at St. Martin of Tours Catholic Church in Los Angeles, and he was entombed at Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City. A memorial service produced by The Second City was broadcast across Canada.
In 1998, Candy was inducted into Canada’s Walk of Fame, and in 2006, Canada Post honored him with a commemorative stamp. In October 2020, Toronto’s mayor declared October 30th as “John Candy Day” in celebration of what would have been his 70th birthday.
