October 31, 1950 – March 04, 1994
The 43 year old, 375 pound comic was filming Wagons East, with Richard Lewis, in Durango, Mexico, located about 100 miles northwest of Mexico City. Candy was staying in the Camino del Perque,
and his room number was 120. Dig the crucifix.
On the last day of his life, they filmed for long hours in stifling heat. Filming stopped around 10 PM, when John decided to have dinner. Candy had spaghetti for his last meal. At 11o’clock, he decided to take a shower. That was the last time anyone saw him.
This video shows John’s last moments at work.
The next morning at 8, his bodyguard, Gustavo Populus phoned the house, but there was no reply. 15 minutes later, he let himself in. In the bedroom, half in and half out of bed, he found John Candy. He was wearing a long red and black checked nightshirt. It was obvious that he was dead, and there were no signs of drugs or alcohol in the room. A doctor was called, and at 9 AM, he was pronounced officially dead. It was decided that Candy had suffered a massive heart attack in his sleep. It was March 4, 1994.
See the Death Certificatei in Spanish
Upon hearing of Candy’s death, the Laugh Factory (one of his usual stomping grounds) showed their respect.
Trivia: The Laugh Factory used to be Groucho Marx’s office and according to some staff, still haunts it.
His wife begged that an autopsy not be performed, and his body remained in the bed until 4 PM, when an ambulance removed it. He was put in a body bag, and four people had to load him up, onto the jet back home.
John Candy’s funeral took place on Wednesday, March 9th, at St. Martin of the Tours church, in Brentwood, California. Nicole Simpson‘s church. Dan Aykroyd delivered the eulogy, and mourners included Chevy Chase, Tom Hanks, Rick Moranis, Jim Belushi, Martin Short, George Wendt, Rhea Perlman, Bill Murray, and Ed Harris, along with John’s widow Rosemary, and his two kids.
Candy is interred at Holy Cross Cemetery, in Culver City, California. They finally marked his grave. He is two spaces above Fred MacMurray.
I remember I was driving to school, with my mum and it came across the radio. I was too young to understand the gravity of it all, but I knew who it was straight away, Uncle Buck.
Man I loved that guy and I never met him, that’s when you know he was larger than life and still in my thoughts today.
RIP John Candy.
Find the satirical soap opera The Days Of The Week when he was with SCTV.
Absolutely hilarious as Dr. William Wainwright.
He was one of the best.
Still miss the guy.
I think I remember reading someplace that John Candy’s father also passed away from a heart attack at a relatively young age.
Era un buen tipo.
Oh si. Siempre hacía tiempo para los fanáticos. Nunca fue grosero con un fan.
The world was a much happier place
When John Candy was making movies
My god ain’t that the truth. He truly was one of the best comedic performers of his day. His timing was impeccable. R.I.P. John.