John Franklin Candy (October 31, 1950 - March 4, 1994) was a Canadian comedian and actor. He rose to fame as a member of the Toronto, Canada, branch of The Second City, often playing lovable losers and characters with bad luck but big hearts. His film roles were mostly comedic.

The musical group Ween dedicated their 1994 LP, 'Chocolate And Cheese', to him.

Interred at Holy Cross Cemetery, Culver City, California, USA in the Mausoleum, Room 7, Block 1.

He was a co-owner of the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League

He died while filming Wagons East (1994) in Mexico.

He was part of the group Northern Lights who sang the song "Tears Are Not Enough" which was on the We Are The World album.

He has a cameo in Ray Parker Jr.'s "Ghostbusters" music video.

Father of Jennifer Candy and Christopher Candy (I).

He attended Holy Cross Catholic School up to grade 8 which was the same school attended by actress Natalie Higashi, several years later.

Graduated Neil McNeil Catholic Secondary School.

He was born in East York (which is a suburb of Toronto) and he attended high school in Scarborough (another suburb of Toronto).

Turned down repeated offers to join "Saturday Night Live" (1975), citing devotion to his fellow "Second City TV" (1976) cast members.

Has appeared in ten movies with "Saturday Night Live" (1975) alumni, more than any other non-SNL actor.

He stayed in the notorious Whidden Hall residence during his years at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario.

His father, Sidney, died of a heart attack at age 35 in 1955 when John was only five years old.

Biography in: "Who's Who in Comedy" by Ronald L. Smith. Pg. 87-88. New York: Facts on File, 1992. ISBN 0816023387

Weighed over 300 pounds for most of his life.

Turned down the role of Louis Tully in Ghost Busters (1984). The part went to Rick Moranis. Candy, did however, appear in Ray Parker Junior's music video "Ghost Busters", celebrating the soundtrack of the film, along with other individuals who either refused to be in or failed to make the final cut for casting of the film Ghost Busters.

According to 'Catherine OHara (I), just before going to Mexico, Candy talked to her on the phone and told her that he feared going to Mexico because he felt that "something bad is going to happen there".

Has appeared in more John Hughes (I) movies than any other actor. He's starred and cameoed (brief appearances) in a total of seven of Hughes' films. Starting with National Lampoon's Vacation (1983), Planes, Trains & Automobiles (1987) costarring Steve Martin (I), Great Outdoors, The (1988) costarring Dan Aykroyd; appears in a small cameo in She's Having a Baby (1988). Stars in Uncle Buck (1989), costarring a young Macaulay Culkin. Has a brief cameo in Career Opportunities (1991) and a bit part alongside "Second City TV" (1976) alumni and best friend 'Catherine OHara (I) in Home Alone (1990), also starring Macaulay Culkin.

Sat in the front row for Super Bowl XXIII (49ers vs. Bengals). According to legend, right before the 49ers game-winning drive, quarterback Joe Montana (I) pointed toward the stands and said to tackle Harris Barton, "Hey look over there. Isn't that John Candy?".

Was supposed to host "Saturday Night Live" (1975) with Eugene Levy in 1985 (he, Levy and Billy Crystal did a promo for it on SNL the week before it was supposed to happen), but that episode never happened, due to a writer's strike shortly after the promo was aired.

Pictured on one of four 51¢ Canadian commemorative postage stamps honoring "Canadians in Hollywood", issued 22 May 2006. Others honored in this set are Fay Wray, Lorne Greene, and Mary Pickford.

Was a good friend of Wayne Gretzky and was co-owner of the Toronto Argonauts with him.

Was considered by many to be one of the most genuinely nice people in Hollywood/Show Business.

He played a cop in 7 movies Only the Lonely (1991), Blues Brothers, The (1980), Armed and Dangerous (1986), Nothing But Trouble (1991), Sesame Street Presents: Follow that Bird (1985), Canadian Bacon (1995),Heavy Metal. This does not include Vacation (1983), in which he played a rent-a-cop.

Was a fan of Doctor Who.

Was a part-owner of the Toronto Argonauts of the CFL with Bruce McNall and Wayne Gretzky. The group signed Raghib Ismail on the first day of the 1991 NFL draft, where he was projected the #1 overall pick.

In a 2004 interview Steve Martin (I) stated that at the time of John's death Steve was going through a divorce, so he briefly moved in with John's widow and daughters to help them out through this tough time and to get away from his soon to be ex-wife.

House near New Market, Ontario, Canada was just several blocks from the residence of fellow, Canadian comedian Jim Carrey.