Comedians and entertainers who took over the earliest decades have all paved the way for popular ones today. They’re often mentioned as trailblazers, using their humor to help people get through some of the toughest times. John Candy was one of them, and not only are his family and supporters keeping his legacy alive, but Deadpool star Ryan Reynolds is, too. The actor announced in 2022 that he’d be working on a documentary about the life and legacy of the Canadian comedian, calling him “as resonant now as he was” before his death in 1994. Candy was only 43 when he died, but during the time he was alive, he created a lane in comedy, and many are now following in his footsteps.
According to Deadline, Reynolds gave Candy fans and his supporters an update on the highly-anticipated documentary he’s making with Colin Hanks through Reynolds’ Maximum Effort production company. While making an appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, he said, “I get to meet heroes. There was a group of eight to ten people that were really generation-defining creators, and it’s wonderful to talk to storytellers about a beautiful man, who was a beautiful storyteller, who passed at 43, way too young.”
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The John Candy documentary will provide an intimate look at the iconic comedian’s life.
The actor said he was learning a lot about Candy and mentioned that not only was the comedian one of the greatest of all time, but he was truly a good person, something that is just as important as having skills. “He was so generous with people, and he was a good person when no one was watching. And I think that’s really important.”
News first broke about the upcoming documentary in 2022 when Reynolds posted about it on X (formerly Twitter). He wrote, “With John Candy trending, I’ll just say I love him. So much so, [Maximum Effort] is working on a documentary with [Colin Hanks]. Expect tears.”
Reynolds paid tribute to the comedy legend throughout the years, with one time being on the 25th anniversary of Candy’s passing, which was also in 2022. He shared a reel of Candy’s most iconic moments with a caption that said, “It’s the 25th anniversary of John Candy’s passing. We cooked up a small tribute to a comedic genius and Canadian hero. If you haven’t seen much of his work, take a look at his films. He was a treasure.” Candy died on March 4, 1994, of a heart attack in his sleep while filming a movie in Mexico.
A man of many talents, John Candy had his heart set on playing football professionally before stepping into the world of comedy and acting. While in high school, Candy was a star offensive tackle, and was an active member of many clubs at the school. In fact, he was the treasurer of the student council and a member of Neil McNeil Catholic High School’s drama club. Candy dreamed of playing football at the highest level, but an injury prevented that dream from coming true. Instead, he became one of the most recognizable faces in comedy.
Source: Deadline
Ryan Reynolds
- Birthdate
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October 23, 1976