The world was taken aback when news broke of John Candy’s death on March 4, 1994. For many, the comedic giant seemed larger than life, an eternally jovial presence on screen. However, behind the laughter, John Candy had privately grappled with anxieties about his health, even harboring a decades-long premonition of an early demise, much like his father who succumbed to a heart attack years before him. His passing not only stunned fans globally but also underscored a poignant reality about the man behind the comedic persona.
John Candy performing on Saturday Night Live, a celebrated comedian who tragically died young.
To those who adored John Candy, his death may have felt jarringly unexpected. The public image of Candy was synonymous with the heartwarming and humorous characters he brought to life in films. He radiated warmth and genuine affability, traits that extended beyond the screen. Known for his generous spirit and love for animals, Candy was actively involved in numerous charitable endeavors. Yet, this generous and affable exterior masked a personal struggle with unhealthy habits, including a significant smoking habit, poor dietary choices, and a battle with cocaine addiction.
In interviews conducted at his suburban home during the 1980s, a more complex picture of John Candy began to emerge. Despite his vices, those closest to him, including his children, attest to his sincere efforts to manage his health. His formative years were deeply marked by the early death of his father at the young age of 35, and a knee injury that dashed his aspirations of a college football career. These experiences cast long shadows, but Candy discovered a different path to success and fulfillment through comedy. He found his comedic footing with the renowned Second City improvisational group in Toronto and later Chicago. His talent for writing and performance quickly garnered recognition, paving the way for iconic roles in some of the most beloved comedies of the 1980s.
From Second City Stardom to Personal Struggles
Born on Halloween in 1950 in Ontario, Canada, John Franklin Candy’s early life was rooted in a working-class background. The sudden heart attack death of his father when John was only five years old had a profound impact. This family history of heart issues, coupled with his own struggles with weight, became recurring, ominous themes throughout his life.
Throughout his school years, Candy excelled in football, harboring dreams of playing at the collegiate level. However, a knee injury abruptly ended this aspiration, leading him to explore comedy. He initially pursued journalism at Centennial College, but destiny intervened in 1972 when he was accepted into the Toronto branch of the Second City comedy troupe. This pivotal moment launched his career into the stratosphere.
By 1977, Candy was a fixture on SCTV, Second City’s television program, contributing both as a performer and writer. His talent led him to Chicago, the epicenter of Second City’s influence, for further training. From there, John Candy’s career exploded into mainstream success.
He graced the screen in timeless comedies such as The Blues Brothers (1980), Stripes (1981), and box-office hits like Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987), Home Alone (1990), and JFK (1991). His performances resonated with audiences worldwide, solidifying his status as a comedic icon.
John Candy with SCTV co-stars Catherine O'Hara, Andrea Martin, and Eugene Levy, highlighting his early career success.
Despite the laughter he brought to millions, Candy wrestled with personal demons. His predisposition to drug use and overeating was an ongoing battle. While he made efforts to diet and exercise, he often relapsed into unhealthy patterns. Adding to his challenges, his comedic persona was often built around playing the “big, funny guy,” which may have inadvertently contributed to his body image struggles.
Carl Reiner, who directed Candy in Summer Rental (1985), noted the comedian’s pervasive sense of fatalism. Reiner suggested Candy felt burdened by a genetic predisposition to an early death, inherited from his father. This feeling, according to Reiner, led Candy to believe that his efforts to change his health outcomes were futile.
His son, Chris Candy, corroborated this, stating, “He grew up with heart disease… His father had a heart attack, his brother had a heart attack. It was in the family. He had trainers and would work at whatever the new diet was. I know he did his best.” Frank Hober, his brother-in-law, echoed this sentiment, “It was always in the back of everyone’s mind. No one talked about it, but it was in the back of John’s mind too.”
Candy himself acknowledged that his drug use escalated after moving to Chicago for Second City. He found himself in a social circle with figures like Bill Murray, Gilda Radner, and John Belushi, all known for their involvement with drugs. “The next thing I knew, I was in Chicago, where I learned how to drink, stay up real late, and spell ‘d-r-u-g-s,'” John Candy once remarked.
The tragic overdose death of John Belushi served as a stark wake-up call, prompting Candy to temporarily abstain from drugs. However, he continued to smoke and relied on food as a coping mechanism for anxiety. When these crutches failed to provide relief, his inner turmoil intensified, accompanying him to the set of his final film, Wagons East, in Durango, Mexico, inadvertently accelerating his health decline.
The Final Curtain: John Candy’s Untimely Death
The night before his passing, John Candy reached out to loved ones. He called his co-stars and his children, in what would unknowingly be their final conversations. “I was nine. It was a Friday,” his son Chris recounted. “I remember talking to him the night before he passed away and he said, ‘I love you and goodnight.’ And I will always remember that.”
His daughter Jen shared a more poignant, and regretful, last interaction. “I remember my dad the night before. I was studying for a vocabulary test. I was 14. He had just come home for my 14th birthday, which is February 3, so I was talking to him on the phone, and, I hate this, but I was slightly distant because I was studying.”
John Candy with his son Chris Candy, a poignant image from the life of the beloved actor before his untimely death.
On March 4, 1994, John Candy, aged 43, returned to his hotel room after a day of filming Wagons East. Reports suggest it had been a particularly productive day, with Candy feeling he had delivered one of his strongest performances. He celebrated by preparing a late-night dinner for his assistants. However, those on set, including Richard Lewis, noticed the toll his lifestyle had taken. Lewis later told Chris Candy that while his father was still incredibly funny and engaging, he appeared profoundly tired.
Jennifer Candy, daughter of John Candy, reflecting on her father's passing and the impact it had on her family.
After dinner, Candy bid goodnight to the cast and crew and retired to his room. He passed away in his sleep due to heart failure, mirroring the cause of his father’s death. His children were tragically informed of the news during Friday mass at their school. Jennifer Candy recalled her immediate reaction, “I cried hysterically for five minutes, and then I stopped. And then I was done crying in public for a while. It was a whirlwind after that point. That’s when we really knew about paparazzi because you had all the cameras.”
News reports from the time, such as KOMO News 4, documented the widespread shock and grief that followed John Candy’s death.
A Fond Farewell and Enduring Legacy
The outpouring of public affection and grief at John Candy’s funeral was immense, offering a measure of solace to his grieving family. His son Chris recounted the extraordinary scene as his father’s funeral procession made its way to Holy Cross Cemetery. “I remember when we were ready to take him to [Holy Cross Cemetery], they blocked off [Interstate] 405 from Sunset [Boulevard] all the way to Slauson [Avenue],” Chris shared. “LAPD stopped traffic and escorted us all. I still can’t believe that. Whenever I feel like I lose the importance of him to people, I just remember that happened. They do that for the president.”
Mary Margaret O’Hara’s poignant song ‘Dark, Dear Hart’ at the funeral served as a moving tribute to Candy’s sensitive and generous spirit.
John Candy’s comedic genius was intertwined with an inherent vulnerability and empathy, making him deeply relatable to audiences. “I think that’s what draws people into a lot of those characters, you felt for them,” his son Chris explained. “And that is something he came into the world with, that vulnerability.”
Hollywood luminaries like Steve Martin and John Hughes expressed their profound sadness and disbelief at Candy’s passing. Martin described him as “a very sweet guy, very sweet, and complicated,” recognizing the gentle soul beneath the comedic exterior. He lauded Candy’s performance in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles as his “best work.”
John Candy's gravestone in Holy Cross Cemetery, a final resting place for the comedic icon.
Beyond his cinematic achievements, John Candy’s legacy extends to his selfless contributions to charities, including the Make-A-Wish Foundation and the Pediatric AIDS Foundation. His compassion extended to animals, and he felt a deep connection to those facing adversity. His daughter Jen poignantly summarized his motivations, “He liked to make people laugh and feel good. And with certain kinds of charity work, especially with kids, he could do that, and that made him feel good.”
In October 2020, Toronto Mayor John Tory officially declared the actor’s birthday “John Candy Day,” a testament to his enduring impact on his hometown and the world. As his daughter Jen aptly stated, “As much as he is gone, he is not gone. He is always there.”
While reflecting on the poignant story of John Candy’s death, you might also find it compelling to learn about the tragic death of James Dean. Additionally, the story of Phil Hartman’s death by murder-suicide offers another look into the fragility of life, even for those who bring laughter to others.
