Searching for Candy
John Candy: A Biography
Tracey J Morgan
Searching For Candy
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.
The publisher/author makes no representation, express or implied with regard to the accuracy of the information contained in this publication and cannot accept any responsibility in law for any errors or omissions.
Copyright of Tracey J Morgan 2019
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
ISBN 978-1999653316
Design by Gary McGarvey youresomehorse.com
www.searchingforcandy.com
This book is about one great man,
and is dedicated to two others who are no longer with us,
Derek Morgan and Jon Hall
“No one is actually dead until the ripples they cause in the world die away”
Terry Pratchett
Contents
Credits and Acknowledgments
Interviews
Foreword by Rob Salem
Preamble
Introduction (Second Preamble)
Mexico
The Beginning
Growing Up
Fate
Setting the Stage
Second City
Johnny LaRue for Mayor
Hollywood Calling
Stripes
Always Meet Your Heroes
Making a Splash
I’m still a Million Bucks Short…
Summer Rental
Gone Fishing
Tom Tuttle from Tacoma
Armed and Dangerous
Big Bear Chase Me
I like me…
That Will Leave a Mark
Ear Candy
Harry Crumb
Buck Russell, Moley Russell’s Wart
Polka, Polka, Polka
Nothing But Trouble
Deliriously Happy
Only The Lonely
JFK
You Don’t Get Glory If You Don’t Have the Guts
A Gold Medal is a Wonderful Thing
“Surrender Pronto, or We’ll Level Toronto”
Wagons East
Filmography
Selected Bibliography
Credits and Acknowledgments
The Team
Senior Editor: Joe Shooman
Copy Editors: David Morgan and Rhys Perry
Design: Gary McGarvey @ Horse
youresomehorse.com
Illustrations: Portrait of John Candy and Alice the cat by Craig Mackay
Portrait of John Candy and Tracey Morgan by Mandy Odandiee
Big Thanks!
This is going to be a long list so hold onto your hats! Big thanks goes to Rhys Perry, Joe Shooman, David Morgan, Rob Salem, Gary McGarvey (Horse), William F. Govier, Mandy Odandiee, Craig Mackay, Derek Morgan, Carole Morgan, Richard Bailey, Jon Hall, the Howells (Elle, Elliot, Jake, Macy and Ad), Steve Swain, Mark Woodyatt Carolyn Scott, the Maloneys (and Maloney-Watsons), Juul ‘Tits Up’ Haalmeyer, Erica Shaw, Jonathan O’Mara, Glen Lovelock, Jo Reeves, Kat Davis, Lee Moore, Ella Roper, Jodie Foster, Karen Booth, Helen Hawksworth, Michael (The Green Oak Foundation), Johnny Vegas, Steven Millward, Michelle Morgan, Vincent DeSantis, Sarah Zacharek, Kristo and Holly Keogh Jones, Leigh at JohnCandy.com, Will Dorrell, Tim Schultz, Liam Pritchard, Anthony Pedersen, Peter Pedersen, Andy Merry, Andy Tippens, the Kirkdale Smurfs, the staff at VNE Telford, Sarah Wilson, Kerry-Louise Farrington, Octopus/Caveman, Amanda Sorrento, Mike Mangone, Sheldon Sturges, Carpet Martin, Shawn Chaplin, Jason Swoboda, Paul Muscat, Alison Marrs, Robert Henderson, Outliers Por Vida, Robert Young, Penelope Clements, Sophie Young, Alfie River Young, William Ford Young, the BT man who fixed my phone line the day I was due to speak to Mr Brooks, Kemal Ahmed for driving me to John’s old house, and everyone I interviewed or gave me time, you are all amazing! I know I’ll have left someone out so please accept my apologies, my brain sometimes fails me.
Thanks to Freddie Mercury, who made it not weird for me to thank my furry companions; Archie, Daisy Mimi, Millie the Moocher, Harry Bobees, Tilda, Poppy Pickle the Brave, Sprooties, Cookie, Roo, Bear, Zippy Zoo and Myrtle, and to those in the sky; Parsley, Florence and my woolly buddy, Scampo.
A big hug and huge appreciation to everyone who contributed to the crowdfunder, this book would never have happened without you! This includes; Carole Morgan, Craig Mackay, Justin Evans, Simone Burton, Kat Davis, Sarah Wilson, Rhys Perry, Mick Perry, Sarah Zacharek, Steve Swain, Sara Edwards, Shawn Bonning, Alonso Puente, Christina Kennedy, Andy Pritchard, Jonathan O’Mara, Sean O’Mara, Joan O’Mara, Richard Teixeira, Mark Darbyshire, Kevin Burgess, Maddie Jarvis, James Fisher, Kenn Stewart, Chris Ball, Juul Haalymeyer, John Brown Jnr, Steve Jones, Ella Roper, Jodie Foster, Glen Lovelock, Katie Jennnings, Reg & Pat Spooner, Rob Salem, Sarah Wellstead, Elliot & Elle Howells, Carpet Martin, Jon Anslow, Laura Gallen, Joe Shooman, Mandy Pullen, Will & Becky Dorrell and everyone at Hoo Farm, Jason Weiss, Jon Hall, Helen Hollingdale, Anita Cash, Chris Williams, Charlotte Davies, Jennifer Whitfield, Christopher D Lemmon, Kelly Shackleton, Lynette Howell, Eileen Jones, Neil & Emma Byrne, Michele Knight, Mark Corbett, Simon Whittaker, Toni Oliver, Jon Evans, Steve Oliver, Karen Booth, Chris Davies, Andrew Daley, Laura Miller, Sophie Archard, William R Wortham, Aaron Russell Mackenzie Nagy, Sorrell Norfolk, Michael Beard, Rene Riva, Millie de Leeuw, Sarah Hayes, Michael Mangone, Kris Abrams, Steve Maks, Andrew Reynolds and Robert Hotton.
Interviews
Thank you to everyone who gave me their time and memories, I couldn’t have done this without you.
Jonathan O’Mara
Ken Tipton
Scott Edgecombe
Marty Weil
Robert Zittlau
Lisa Soland
Valri Bromfield
Dave Thomas
Sheldon Patinkin
Colleen Callaghan
Martyn Burke
Lorne Frohman
Catherine McCartney
Bruce Appleby
Trish Tervit
Jim Henshaw
Monica Parker
Jane Tattersall
Allan O’Marra
Bruce McNall
Lonette McKee
Catherine McCartney
Alexandra Bastedo
Malik Yoba
Rawle D Lewis
Karen Austin
Jay Underwood
Gary LeDrew
Donna Meyer
Carl Reiner
Eddie Koroso
Tommy Swerdlow
Kevin Pollak
Mel Brooks
Peter Kaminsky
Charles Northcote
Leon Robinson
Rick Lazzarini
Conrad Dunn
Mariel Hemingway
Mark Jennings
Louisa Jean Kelly
Greg Agalsoff
Tony Rosato
Martin Ferrero
Steve Railsback
Jon Turteltaub
Jill Jacobson
Larry Hankin
Brian Cooper
Ken Levine
Howard Deutch
Walter Olkewicz
Patricia Ferrero
Marie Ferrero Ribaldo
Joe Kroger
Nina Keogh
Leo Crotty
John Stocker
Juul Haalmayer
Bruce McKenna
Rob S
alem
Greg Stillwell
Martin Anthony
Ted Schmidt
Carroll Spinney
Mickey Stanhope
Jim Clarke
Tim Kazurinsky
Rob Salem is a veteran entertainment journalist who spent almost four decades covering movies and television for the Toronto Star. Prior to that, as an actor and comedian, he studied improvisation at the Second City in workshops taught by John Candy and Joe Flaherty, and went on to work with them both on SCTV. He knew John well, as a mentor and an inspiration, and, later on, as an occasional interview subject. He lives in Toronto with his wife, fashion columnist Rita Zekas, and three very neurotic cats.
Foreword
The phrase “larger than life” is bandied about quite freely. But rarely has it been as true as it is when applied to John Candy.
Yes, he was physically large . . . kind of like a small building. But it was so much more than that.
He had an outsized personality; an immense talent; the biggest heart. An insatiable appetite for food and fun. He embraced family and friends with an un-restrained, all-encompassing love, and his fans always with a sincere and generous warmth.
He was indeed larger than his all-too-brief life could contain.
John always expected to die young – as his father had before him. And yet he lives on. His legacy survives him. He is there in his work, on TV and in the movies, and in the impact he continues to have on his fans.
One such fan is Tracey Morgan, who, like so many others, credits John (posthumously) with helping her through dark times. And this is what she has offered in return – a meticulously researched, unabashedly affectionate biographical homage.
The sometimes surprising story of John’s short life, from childhood on through SCTV and film stardom, comes from a vast variety of sources – Morgan has interviewed more than 70 people here, from those who knew him best to those he worked with to those he impacted, significantly, if only in passing.
Among the former, his best pal from high school, Jonathan O’Mara; his long-time manager, Catherine McCartney; his friend and collaborator, SCTV co-star Dave Thomas; and that show’s wardrobe wizard, who would later also dress John for Cool Runnings, Juul Haalmeyer (and yes, that’s him fronting the Juul Haalmeyer Dancers).
It is Haalmeyer who here first refers to the hugs. “John was just one big hug,” he tells Morgan. He was indeed. He was famous for those hugs. I was on the receiving end of a few of them. It was like being mauled by a giant bear, except without the teeth and claws.
I’ll miss John’s laugh. His contagious mirth. His unassuming charm. His game-for-anything energy. His Johnny LaRue-like largess. But most of all I’ll miss those giant bear hugs.
And though I despair for the loss of all the fine work John will never give us, I am grateful to Tracey Morgan for keeping him alive in such a loving and intimate way.
Rob Salem
Preamble
Have you ever stood in an empty football stadium? It is the craziest thing. In theory it is empty yet it’s so full, you can feel the passion, hear the chanting of the crowd. There is something so special about it and the residual energy is palpable, it can give you goosebumps, even if you, like me, are not a football fan. This is how I feel about John Candy (although I am a huge fan of John), especially whilst writing this book. Although we know John isn’t physically here anymore he left something far bigger behind, something magical. He is in everyone I interviewed, in his fans and his work.
I am not a writer by trade, but this has been seven years in the making and it is written with love. I have worked very hard to create this biography / book of memories as a fan’s tribute to him. I have been laughed at, told I am not good enough, that John’s life wasn’t scandalous enough and that I wouldn’t get anywhere. I have also been supported, gifted time, carried when needed and generally cheered by so many. Those people have my thanks (even the naysayers – you gave me something to fight for).
John lifted me out of a terrible depression when I needed him the most. Seven years ago I had no direction, I was in a dead end relationship and really felt there was nothing left in this world for me (thank god for my late dog, I had to stay and look after him). I have struggled on and off with depression but this time was more severe than before. I revisited a lot from my childhood, both good and bad, the good included the John Candy movies that I grew up with (thanks to my brother, David, for introducing me at a young age to Brewster’s Millions and The Great Outdoors). John, like he did for so many, just spoke to me and in every character he played, he bled a little bit of himself. This very human, kind, loving heart made you feel like he was your friend even though you had never met him. He always rooted for the underdog and made it ok to be so. I watched Cool Runnings every time I thought I could not write this and it always gave me the courage to continue.
I have so many people to thank, and indeed there is a list (a couple of pages ago), but my biggest gratitude goes to my family – my brother Dave who is a far better writer than I will ever hope to be, my late Dad who always believed in me, my Mum and Richard for going along with my hare-brained schemes. I’m indebted and so grateful to my wonderful partner, Rhys, who has listened to me for hours on end, shared my minor successes, wiped my tears and always provided a kind word of encouragement. Big thanks and love also goes to my editor, Joe Shooman, who is more patient than he is pushy and wore his kid gloves (go check out his work, for he is amazing) and Gary McGarvey for being an awesome designer and resisting the temptation to mock me when I’m being a technical dolt.
I hope I have done you proud John, you turned out to be everything I wanted you to be and more.
Peace be the journey.
Introduction
(Second Preamble)
You cannot think of 80s or early 90s comedy without thinking of John Candy. Some of today’s best loved films are still Planes, Trains and Automobiles, Uncle Buck, Cool Runnings and The Great Outdoors. They make you laugh and cry and think back to a much simpler time. A time where we would ride our bikes with friends, where going to the cinema was a huge event, our knees were scabby, and penny sweets actually cost a penny. If you watched a film on TV it was a family affair, no mobile phones to distract us and thank goodness for adverts, they gave us just enough time to take a comfort break or make a cup of tea (yes I am British). Many of my generation grew up with John Candy in our living rooms and I can’t think of a better upbringing or moral compass for any young person. John was hilarious at improvising, a physical comedy genius, a kind-hearted, wonderful dramatic actor and loved by all - on and off the screen.
Like all of us, John also had his troubles. He was hurt too easily, taken advantage of, became a victim of grief, insecurity and later on anxiety. I will touch on these subjects, however they do not make a life – I will not wallow in them nor build them up to be a tragic story, they just make him human and I felt it was important not to make a mountain out of a molehill, but likewise not to ignore them.
Throughout the book I usually refer to John as ‘John’, occasionally flipping to ‘Candy’, especially where John Hughes is concerned as the whole thing would just get confusing.
I have interviewed over seventy people for this book, friends and colleagues of John’s and I hope I have given the best 360-degree view I could. There are also many interviews I just could not get and for everyone who said “no” I understand, I wouldn’t speak to an unknown writer about my closest friends or family either. To those who did trust me, I’m truly grateful beyond words. Thank you to everyone who helped me along this journey, every interview, lead, word of encouragement and pledge on crowdfunding. This would not exist without you and I will be forever grateful.
Mexico
At the beginning of 1994 John Candy was in Durango, Mexico filming the spoof western, Wagons East.
Durango, located in North West Mexico, was known as “the land of cinema” during the 1950s right through to the 80s, with credits in over 120 films.
It was a favourite with film directors and producers because of its natural beauty and John Wayne spent so much time filming there he even acquired a ranch in the state. Durango can boast titles such as Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid, How the West was Won and The Sons Of Katie Elder on its resume, so Durango was an obvious choice for a Western setting.
John co-starred with fellow comedian Richard Lewis, Robert Picardo (Star Trek: Voyager) and Ellen Greene (Little Shop of Horrors). The film was directed by Peter Markle for Carolco Pictures. Carolco was an independent film production company that could boast films such as the first three Rambo movies, Total Recall and Terminator 2. Although they had huge Hollywood success it came at a cost, they would pay millions of dollars for their lead actors and would also make small-budget arthouse films, many of which would haemorrhage money.
By 1993 Carolco were in financial trouble. They had previously made a deal with John to work on one of their films for US$2 million, the contract was nearly up so if they didn’t put John in a role they would lose their money... enter Wagons East! As it turns out Carolco would go bankrupt less than two years later.
Apparently, John didn’t want to do this film, but due to contractual obligation he went ahead. He was hoping his fee would enable him to take some time out and focus on directing for a while after enjoying his directing debut with Hostage for a Day, a TV movie (which we will talk about later). Prior to leaving for the job, he rang his friend Maureen O’Hara and told her he was concerned as he felt “something bad was going to happen in Mexico”.
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