Paul Myers’ John Candy: A Life in Comedy offers a warm and engaging look at the life and career of one of comedy’s most beloved performers. From his beginnings with Toronto’s Second City to SCTV and Hollywood favorites such as Planes, Trains and Automobiles, The Great Outdoors, and Uncle Buck, the book traces Candy’s remarkable rise while also looking beyond his familiar on-screen persona.
Drawing on interviews with friends, family, and longtime colleagues, Myers captures both Candy’s extraordinary comedic talent and the generosity and warmth that made him so well loved. The personal stories from collaborators such as Dan Aykroyd, Catherine O’Hara, Martin Short, Steve Martin, and Tom Hanks add a particularly enjoyable dimension to the book.
For fans of Candy, the book is both a celebration of his work and a poignant reminder of what he accomplished in far too short a career. It provides plenty of appreciation for the performances that made audiences laugh while giving a fuller picture of the man behind them.
