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He Was A Part Owner Of The Argos
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A lifelong fan of the Toronto Argonauts, John Candy became a minority shareholder when he bought a 10 per cent stake in the CFL team in 1991, along with Wayne Gretzky and former L.A. Kings owner Bruce McNall.
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He Turned Down ‘Ghostbusters’
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Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis wrote the part of the nerdy Louis Tully with their pal Candy in mind. However, the comedian reportedly turned down the role (and the lead in “Honey, I Shrunk The Kids”) because he thought his friend and fellow Canadian Rick Moranis would be a better fit. While the movie didn’t land Candy, he did make a cameo appearance in Ray Parker Jr.’s “Ghostbusters” music video.
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He Had His Own Radio Show
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Candy just didn’t play a DJ on film, he was a radio host in real life. Three years after the actor played fast-talking radio host Wink Winkinson in “Little Shop Of Horrors”, he launched his own L.A. radio show called “Radio Kandy” in 1989. His two-hour programme featured top 40 hits and comedy bits, including guest appearances by his Second City friends. Candy had also spent a brief stint on the radio in Canada with his own rock n’ roll and oldies show.
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His ‘SCTV’ Character Johnny LaRue Was The Most Like Him
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In 2016, Candy’s children, Chris and Jen Candy, told The Hollywood Reporter the actor put a lot of himself into his roles, but he was the most like his “SCTV” character Johnny LaRue. Jen said: "Johnny LaRue was most [like] him, to an extent. And the reason I say that is Johnny LaRue was a business guy, he was lovable, but Dad was not smarmy. You mix that with Uncle Buck and Del Griffith [from ‘Planes, Trains and Automobiles’] and you’ve got my dad. He brought a little bit of himself to all of his characters."
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He Turned Down ‘SNL’
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A staple of “SCTV”, Candy allegedly said “no” to Lorne Michaels and “Saturday Night Live” several times because he thought it would be disloyal to his sketch comedy castmates, including Catherine O'Hara, Andrea Martin and Eugene Levy.
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He Directed A Movie
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While Candy is best remembered for his lovable on-screen roles, he also stepped behind-the-camera to direct his first and only project, the TV movie “Hostage For A Day” in 1994.
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He Appeared In Eight Movies By John Hughes
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No other actor worked with director John Hughes more than Candy. The two collaborated on eight films together. Candy’s daughter Jen told The Hollywood Reporter the actor loved working with Hughes. "I know there were films he didn’t want to do, but with John Hughes, it was always 'What’s the next one? You gotta hurry up and write something,' because they were perfect for each other," she said.
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His Famous Friends Were There For His Family
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Following his sudden death while filming “Wagon’s East” in Mexico in 1994, Candy’s longtime pals Dan Aykroyd and Steve Martin supported his family. Aykroyd gave the eulogy at his funeral, while the recently-divorced Martin moved in with the family.
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He Was Honoured By Canada Post
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Candy’s legacy was honoured by Canada Post in 2006 with a $0.51 stamp as part of the “Canadians In Hollywood” collection. The collection also featured silent star and Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences founder Mary Pickford, “King Kong” starlet Fay Wray and “Bonanza” star Lorne Greene.
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