John Candy Collection

Astonishingly it’s been exactly 20 years to the day since the amazing Canadian actor John Candy passed away. The man was famed for being one of the greatest movie comedians ever to have walked the earth and this post pays tribute to the great man looking at some of his greatest movie movie moments.

John Candy was only 43 when he died on March 4th 1994 of a heart attack while filming the movie Wagons East!. He died way too young but left us a plethora of amazing movies and TV shows behind for us to remember him by. Below is a just a snippet of our favourites although there are so many more.

If any of these movies are unfamiliar to you, do yourself a favour and buy it now! We dedicate this post to you John!

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Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987)

John Candy - Planes Trains and Automobiles

Directed by John Hughes, this is arguably one of John Candy’s most emotional roles as you see the likable but very annoying Del Griffith ruin Steve Martin’s life as each scene progresses. That said, the movie climaxes in a way you would never expect bringing a tear to your eye every time. This is the power of John Candy. Apparently there is a 3 hours cut of the film in the Paramount archives somewhere. We want to see this NOW!!

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Brewster’s Millions (1985)

Brewsters Millions

All of these movies need to be watched but if I were you, I’d start with Brewster’s Millions. Candy plays the best friend of Montgomery Brewster and is assigned a Manager of sorts. Although Candy isn’t the main character in this, he puts in the wonderful performance complete with a gold baseball mask around his neck for the entire movie!

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Ghostbusters Music Video (1984)

John Candy - Ghostbusters Video

Until researching this post, we had no idea but…. John Candy is in the music video for Ghostbusters! He was also down to play a part in the actual movie, here’s a fact from Shortlist which they posted recently.

Eddie Murphy and John Candy were originally scheduled to appear. Murphy was to have played Winston Zeddemore and Candy was down to star as hapless Louis Tully. Due to a clash with filming Beverley Hills Cop, Murphy had to back out, while Candy eventually declined the role.

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The Great Outdoors (1988)

still-of-dan-aykroyd-and-john-candy-in-the-great-outdoors-(1988)-large-picture

Here’s a movie that when we talk to people they seem to never have heard of but it needs to be introduced into your lives! John Candy, Dan Aykroyd, Annette Bening in the wilderness for a week and being chased by a bear. Mark this down as must see!

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Uncle Buck (1989)

Uncle Buck

John Candy with a drill…. Macauley Culkin at the prime of his career, what’s not to like!?

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Home Alone (1990)

home alone

Just one year after Uncle Buck, we see Candy back in a movie with Culkin although they have no scenes together this time. This role is much more of a cameo in this movie but still making an impact as always, Candy plays touring musician Gus Polinski who befriends Kevin’s mum (Catherine O’Hara) and helps her in her quest to get home to Chicago.

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The Blues Brothers (1980)

BluesBrothers- John Candy

Here’s Candy with the greatest wig you’ve ever seen him wear….. at least we think it’s a wig! Not a huge role in The Blues Brothers as Burton Mercer but nonetheless, well worth a watch. Also look out for the Steven Spielberg cameo at the end!

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Spaceballs (1987)

spaceballs-john-candy-bill-pullman-daphne-zuniga-19871

Mel Brooks directed it and John Candy plays a half man half dog named Barf…. what else do you need to know?!

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Cool Runnings (1993)

Cool Runnings: the 1993 movie about the Jamaican bobsleigh team

One of our favourite John Candy performances has to be that as Irv in the movie Cool Runnings! As a disgraced former bobsled champion, he’s convinced to return as a coach for the first Jamaican bobsled team with hilarious consequences! Respect to the man Irv Blitzer!

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Wagons East! (1994)

Wagons East - Jonhn Candy

And this is where we end our tribute to the wonderful actor that is John Candy. Here’s a photo taken on the set of one of his last movies, Wagon’s East! in 1994.

Thanks for leaving us such a great legacy to remember you by John and for entertaining so many generations so far and so many more to come with your wonderful works!