John Candy^†

Candy didn't just land in Hollywood. He ground it out on SCTV, that weirdly brilliant Canadian sketch show that served as a farm team for 80s comedy. While everyone else was being cynical, he found a niche playing characters who were actually earnest. Splash made him a movie star, but it was Planes, Trains and Automobiles that cemented his brand. He played the annoying guy you couldn't actually hate. It's a specific trick that very few actors pull off without being grating.

Currently, he exists as a human weighted blanket for people who miss the 80s. He never had to deal with a gritty reboot or a disappointing late-career drama. Most of his movies, like Uncle Buck or The Great Outdoors, rely entirely on him being the most likable person in the room. He occupies a space in the cultural memory where he's beyond criticism, mostly because he never stayed around long enough to make truly bad career decisions. He's the patron saint of the high-concept family comedy.

He wasn't just a guy in front of the camera. He co-owned the Toronto Argonauts with Wayne Gretzky, proving he had more business ambition than his slacker roles suggested. He also famously walked away from Ghostbusters. He wanted to play the accountant Louis Tully with a thick German accent and a pair of German Shepherds. The producers said no, Rick Moranis stepped in, and Candy missed out on one of the biggest franchises in history. He was also a notorious over-thinker who struggled with the physical demands of his own brand.

Production on Wagons East! halted for several days while the studio decided how to finish the film without its lead. Filmmakers eventually used a body double and recycled footage to complete his remaining scenes. A private funeral service took place at St. Martin of Tours Church in Los Angeles, where the LAPD cordoned off the streets for the procession. Tom Hanks and Dan Aykroyd attended the service.