John Candy's Real Name: John Franklin Candy

Quick answer: John Candy's full name was John Franklin Candy. Candy was his real family surname, not a stage name. He was born on October 31, 1950, in Ontario, Canada. He became a star on the sketch show SCTV and in films including Splash, Planes, Trains and Automobiles, Uncle Buck, and Cool Runnings. He died of a heart attack on March 4, 1994, in Durango, Mexico, at 43 (Encyclopedia.com; Biography.com).

Real name and early life

The Library of Congress name authority files him as "Candy, John," citing "b. John Franklin Candy; October 31, 1950 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada; d. March 4, 1994 (age 43) in Durango, Mexico." An Encyclopedia.com biography, filed under "Candy, John Franklin," gives his birthplace as Newmarket, Ontario. Biography.com and the LOC say Toronto. Sources agree on the date.

According to Encyclopedia.com, his father, Sidney James Candy, a war veteran and car salesman, died of a heart attack at 35. His mother, Evangeline Aker, then moved the family to her parents' home in East York, Toronto. Candy attended Catholic schools and played football until a knee injury ended his playing days. He enrolled at Centennial Community College but left in his second year to act.

Career highlights

In 1971 Candy acted in the play Creeps alongside Dan Aykroyd. He joined Chicago's Second City troupe in 1973 and returned to Toronto in 1974 to help establish its local company. That troupe created SCTV, which ran in syndication and later as SCTV Network 90 on NBC. His characters included Johnny LaRue and Yosh Schmenge, and he did impressions of Orson Welles and Luciano Pavarotti. The Television Academy credits him with two Emmy wins, in 1982 and 1983, for outstanding writing in a variety or music program.

He had early film roles in 1941 (1979), The Blues Brothers (1980), and Stripes (1981). He broke through as Tom Hanks's brother in Ron Howard's Splash (1984). Later hits included Planes, Trains & Automobiles (1987) with Steve Martin, Spaceballs (1987), and John Hughes's Uncle Buck (1989). He played a romantic lead in Only the Lonely (1991), took a small role in JFK (1991), and starred in Cool Runnings (1993). He also co-owned the Toronto Argonauts football team.

Death

Biography.com reports that Candy was found dead on location in Durango, Mexico, on March 4, 1994, after finishing work on Wagons East. He had suffered a heart attack in his sleep.

Name notes for searchers

John was his given first name, Franklin his middle name, and Candy his inherited surname from his father, Sidney James Candy. He performed under his real name throughout his career.