John Candy: A Life in Comedy

From the bestselling author of Kids in the Hall: One Dumb Guy, the definitive biography of John Candy--a heartwarming portrait of one of comedy's most beloved and enduring stars.

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.

Author: Paul Myers
Binding Type: Hardcover
Publisher: House of Anansi Press
Published: 10/07/2025
Pages: 376
Weight: 1.37lbs
Size: 9.00h x 5.90w x 1.30d
ISBN: 9781487009526


Review Citation(s):
Library Journal 07/01/2025 pg. 57
Booklist 08/01/2025
Kirkus Reviews 08/15/2025
Publishers Weekly 08/25/2025

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, and 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.