Candy John - Searching for Candy: John Candy: a biography

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

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

Im 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 Russells Wart

Polka, Polka, Polka

Nothing But Trouble

Deliriously Happy

Only The Lonely

JFK

You Dont Get Glory If You Dont Have the Guts

A Gold Medal is a Wonderful Thing

Surrender Pronto, or Well 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 OMara, 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 Johns old house, and everyone I interviewed or gave me time, you are all amazing! I know Ill 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 OMara, Sean OMara, Joan OMara, 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 couldnt have done this without you.

Jonathan OMara

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 OMarra

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 Salem

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.