John Candy’s daughter says actor ‘took it like a gentleman’ when Hollywood focused on his weight
The legendary actor’s wife and daughter told Fox News Digital the focus on his weight was “upsetting,” but that he handled it well.
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John Candy’s family is calling out Hollywood for how their father was treated.
During a recent interview with Fox News Digital at Televerse 26, the late actor’s daughter, Jennifer Candy-Sullivan, and her mother, Rosemary Candy, slammed Hollywood for the way their father’s weight was discussed during his fame.
“I think everyone who had some sort of difference was kind of put under a magnifying glass. So for him, it was his weight. And he kind of… he took it like a gentleman,” Jennifer said. “And I think as his career went on, he was able to be more comfortable with himself and kind of vocalize and speak up for himself.”
She went on to say that because of his career, people “thought he was the everyday guy and everyone loved him,” so it would be okay to “pal around” and “joke around him,” but that “in reality, it wasn’t that okay. It was not cool.”
John Candy’s daughter and widow slammed Hollywood for the way they spoke about his weight during his fame.(Robin L Marshall/; Steve Schapiro/Corbis
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Rosemary noted that “he was able to handle it really well,” but that it was still “upsetting” and “a challenge” he was dealing with early in his career, “from the beginning when I met him.”
Jennifer doesn’t think the public or the media would be any less harsh on her father if his rise to fame occurred today, saying, “I think there would be a different type of kind of critique to him.”
“I think if he tried losing weight, then it would be like, ‘You’re too skinny, you’re no longer funny.’ So I think Hollywood would find something,” she said. “It would be… he doesn’t… he would do something wrong. Ultimately, I think anyone in Hollywood does something wrong.”
The two attended a special FYC presentation of the documentary about the comedian, “John Candy: I Like Me,” as part of Televerse 26, the Television Academy festival.
Candy’s daughter doesn’t think Hollywood would be any nicer to her father today.(George Rose/
The film, which originally premiered at the Toronto Film Festival in September 2025, was directed by Colin Hanks, and features interviews from many of his former co-stars, including Steve Martin, Macaulay Culkin, Bill Murray, Catherine O’Hara, Martin Short and others.
“When we would see John on the screen, we felt like he was one of the most relatable people,” Hanks said. “And I think in working on the film and talking with people and learning more about John’s past, I just felt like we didn’t even understand just how relatable he was.”
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He explained that talking “about things like mental health and therapy” has only become popular in recent years and “wasn’t something that was discussed back then.” With today’s lenses on, “John was even more like one of us than we even realize.”
Hanks wasn’t the only one who learned something new about the “Planes, Trains and Automobiles” actor.
Collin Hanks called John Candy “relatable.”(Robin L Marshall/
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“I think for us, it was to see his vulnerability with those interviews. He was really good about keeping his business at work, and then family life was family life. So he tried not to bring it into the house,” Jennifer said. “My mom probably understood it more because they would have conversations about it, obviously. But for us, we didn’t really see it. So I think to see that on camera on the big screen was challenging.”
John rose to fame as a member of the sketch comedy show, “Second City Television,” on which he also worked as a writer. His writing on the show earned him two Emmy Awards.
He later made his breakthrough in Hollywood in the movie, “Splash,” and went on to star in a number of iconic films such as “Uncle Buck,” “The Great Outdoors,” “Spaceballs,” “Cool Runnings” and many others.
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Candy won an Emmy for his work as a writer on “Second City Television.”(Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection
The legendary comedic actor died in his sleep following a heart attack in March 1994 at the age of 43, leaving behind his wife Rosemary, their daughter Jennifer and their son Christopher.
