John Candy

[Subdeacon Joe]

It was a brisk morning on the set of *Only the Lonely*, the kind of day that hinted at a storm brewing—not in the sky, but in the undercurrents of the production crew. The clamor of cameras being adjusted, lines rehearsed, and coffee cups being passed around filled the air. Amid this controlled chaos stood Maureen O’Hara, a living legend, Hollywood royalty whose name evoked golden-age cinema. But here she was, relegated to a trailer that could generously be described as modest. More accurately, it was a cramped, barely functional box that seemed to mock her illustrious career.

John Candy, the film’s star, noticed it immediately. His towering frame and warm demeanor made him the unofficial big brother of the set, someone who believed in fairness and respect. Candy couldn’t ignore the injustice. O’Hara, a woman who had starred opposite John Wayne and carried films with her fiery charisma, deserved better. Yet, when he approached the producers about the issue, their response was cold and transactional. The budget, they claimed, was stretched thin, prioritizing the film over “extras” like accommodations for “old movie stars.”

Candy’s good-natured smile faded, replaced by a steely determination. Without a word, he walked to his own trailer—a spacious, well-appointed haven that was everything O’Hara’s wasn’t. He gathered his things, handed the keys to O’Hara, and announced that she would be using it from now on. Candy, ever the gentleman, decided he could manage without a trailer at all. For days, he lounged in folding chairs between takes, reading scripts in the open air and cracking jokes with the crew to keep spirits high.

O’Hara, at first reluctant to accept, was visibly moved. She later described Candy as “a true gentleman” whose kindness reminded her of the camaraderie from her early days in Hollywood. Word of Candy’s gesture spread like wildfire across the set, causing a ripple of discomfort among the producers. This wasn’t just a minor protest—it was a statement, one impossible to ignore.

The pressure mounted as whispers turned into outright criticism. If John Candy, the film’s leading man, was willing to go without basic comforts, what did that say about the studio’s treatment of its actors? It didn’t take long for the producers to relent. A new trailer, appropriately comfortable, was brought in for O’Hara, and Candy finally got his space back. But the story didn’t end there.

O’Hara would go on to speak fondly of Candy in interviews, calling him one of the kindest people she’d ever met. For Candy, it wasn’t a grand act of defiance but a simple decision rooted in decency. “It just didn’t sit right with me,” he would later say, brushing off the incident as no big deal. Yet, for those who worked with him, it was a defining moment, a glimpse into the soul of a man who understood the value of respect, no matter the cost.

The story became a quiet legend in Hollywood, a rare reminder that even in an industry often criticized for its ruthlessness, moments of true humanity could shine through. For Candy, it wasn’t about earning applause; it was about standing up for someone who deserved it. And for O’Hara, it was a testament to the kind of character that wasn’t written in scripts but lived in the hearts of those who cared.

 

 

[Pat Riot]

John Candy is one of my very favorite actors and people. He was one of a kind. 
 

Rest In Peace, John Candy. You did make the world a better place for me and I am sure, many others. 

Thank you Joe. Made my day! 

[Subdeacon Joe]

I'll admit that I don't care much for the roles he played.   He played them well,  but his characters never resonated with me.   

[John Kloehr]

While a difficult movie at times as I did not really like any of the characters, there were some good moments in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles.

 

Selling shower curtain rings to the Moonies as nose rings and the incredible line "those aren't pillows." These are my most memorable instances of his acting. RIP, Mr. John Candy. I know it has been 30 years, you are still remembered.

Edited January 9 by John Kloehr

[watab kid]

everything i ever saw him in made me laugh , he was a fantastic actor and super comedian , 

[Spiritmaker]

As they say,

 

    The good die young.

 

RIP