John Candy: A Life in Comedy

Description

The definitive biography of John Candy–a heartwarming portrait of one of comedy’s most beloved and enduring stars.

INSTANT NATIONAL BESTSELLER

“Reading this book was like reconnecting with an old friend. I laughed, I cried, I didn’t want it to end.” –Judd Apatow

“A thoughtful, thorough and entertaining portrait of one of the funniest people ever.” –Marc Maron

From his humble beginnings in sketch comedy with the Toronto branch of Second City, to his rise to fame in SCTV and Hollywood film classics like Planes, Trains and Automobiles, The Great Outdoors, and Uncle Buck, John Candy captivated audiences with his self-deprecating humour, emotional warmth, and gift for improvisation. Now, for the first time since Candy’s tragic death, bestselling biographer Paul Myers tells the full story of the man behind the laughs.

Drawing on extensive research and exclusive interviews with many of Candy’s closest friends and colleagues, including Dan Aykroyd, Chevy Chase, Tom Hanks, Ron Howard, Steve Martin, Catherine O’Hara, Martin Short, and many more, John Candy: A Life in Comedy celebrates the comedian’s unparalleled talent, infectious charm, and generosity of spirit. Through ups and downs, successes and failures, and struggles with anxiety and self-doubt, Candy faced the world with a big smile and a warm demeanour that earned him the love and adoration of fans around the world.

Binding Type: Hardcover
Contributors: Paul Myers,Dan Aykroyd (Foreword by)
Published: 10/07/2025
Publisher: House of Anansi Press
ISBN: 9781487009526
Pages: 376
Weight: 1.37lbs
Size: 1.30″ H x 9.00″ L x 5.90″ W

About the Author
Myers, Paul: –

PAUL MYERS is a Canadian writer and musician living in Berkeley, California. His previous books include The Kids in the Hall: One Dumb Guy, which was the source for the Canadian Screen Award-winning documentary The Kids in the Hall: Comedy Punks from Amazon Studios, on which he served as executive producer; the critically acclaimed A Wizard a True Star: Todd Rundgren in the Studio; It Ain’t Easy: Long John Baldry and the Birth of the British Blues; and Barenaked Ladies: Public Stunts, Private Stories.