After a series of small parts in television commercials and low-budget Canadian films, Candy got his big break when he was offered membership in the Second City comedy troupe. In 1977, he became a regular performer and writer for the group’s television show, SCTV, along with Harold Ramis and Eugene Levy. Candy was a featured performer by the time the show came to network television in 1981. He won Emmys for the show’s writing in 1981 and 1982.

In 1984, the Ron Howard directed comedy Splash, in which he co-starred with Tom Hanks and Daryl Hannah, made Candy a movie star. Although he was sometimes criticized for his choice of roles, audiences loved Candy for his roly-poly good nature and wry humor. Some of his most popular films include The Blues Brothers (1980), Spaceballs (1987), featuring Mel Brooks; Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987), costarring Steve Martin; Uncle Buck (1989), and the Disney feature Cool Runnings (1993).

The veteran of more than forty films, Candy was also anavid sports fan and co-owner of a Canadian Football League franchise, the Toronto Argonauts. With actors Dan Aykroyd and Jim Belushi, he owned a chain of blues bars and restaurants called House of Blues.

At 6 feet 3 inches tall, Candy weighed over 250 pounds and often spoke of having a problem controlling his weight. Sadly, on March 4, 1994, while shooting a film (Wagons East) in Durango, Mexico, Candy died in his sleep of a heart attack.