Summary
- John Candy predicted his own young death due to genetic heart disease and the impact of obesity on his health.
- Candy felt that he couldn't escape his family's history of heart attacks, believing he was genetically cursed.
- Despite his premature passing, John Candy left behind a treasured body of work for fans to enjoy and remember.
Comedy legend John Candy was a household name in the 1980s and 1990s. The actor starred in classics such as Uncle Buck, Planes, Trains, and Automobiles, Spaceballs, and The Great Outdoors. Well known for his distinctive persona and comedic style, Candy was a larger-than-life personality. Despite Candy's massive success, he struggled deeply with health issues during his years of fame.
In March 1994, Candy suddenly passed away while shooting what was to be his last film. Eerily, the comedian predicted his own death before relocating to New Mexico for the shoot. In this article, we will discuss why John Candy predicted his own passing, his health struggles, and what his legacy is today.
Why Did John Candy Believe He Would Pass Away Young?
At the height of his powers, John Candy was one of the most in-demand and beloved comedians in the world. Hit movie after hit movie, Candy earned a diverse audience. Adults loved his work, and so did children and teenagers. Candy's unique comedy style resonated with fans and made him a global superstar.
Candy was at the top of the world in 1994. He was busy working on new projects and furthering his career. However, Candy was well aware of his health challenges. At times in his life, he was dangerously obese. After his dear friend and mentor, John Belushi, passed away, it impacted Candy greatly and inspired him to focus on his health. Despite Candy working hard on improving his health, he understood the complications that come with obesity.
Furthermore, Candy knew his family had a history of heart attacks. He recognized that this could be in the cards for him. According to Rare, his father and brother had experienced heart attacks. Even more critically, Candy's father did not survive his heart attack and passed away when Candy was a small child, according to All Things Interesting. Carl Reiner, who directed Candy in Summer Rental, shared that "he felt he had inherited in his genes a Damoclean sword, so it didn't matter what he did."
While Candy knew of his family's heart attack history, he most likely was not aware that the cause was heart disease. According to his son, Chris Candy, "we are fortunate to have more information than he was able to. I don't think he was aware of the genetic heart disease that was in the family. You wish he had figured that out." Based on the context provided by Carl Reiner and Chris Candy, it is safe to assume that John Candy felt he was genetically cursed and could not get around a potential heart attack, especially since he suffered from obesity. He most likely believed that even if he tried his best to get in shape and eat well, it would not make a difference.
Candy had weird feelings about heading to New Mexico to film Wagons East. He reportedly told a friend that he believed something terrible was going to occur while in New Mexico, according to Grunge. Additionally, he allegedly told family and friends that Wagons East would be his last project. Candy was unfortunately correct in his eery insticts. While working on Wagons East, Candy was found lifeless in his hotel room on March 4th, 1994.
- He had succumbed to a heart attack while sleeping
- John Candy was 43 years old
Candy is not the only celebrity to have predicted their death, far from it. Jimi Hendrix predicted that he would die young, which proved to be accurate. The rock 'n' roll legend died at 27 years old in 1970. Jim Morrison also predicted that he would prematurely pass away and join the infamous 27 Club.
Heart disease and obesity were not the only health challenges Candy faced. According to Grunge, he reportedly struggled with:
- Addiction
- Panic attacks
- Depression
Candy's passing not only shook his family and friends, but his legions of fans. His death felt personal. Candy was laid to rest in a mausoleum at Holy Cross Cemetery in Los Angeles, California, where fans continue to pay their respects to the comedy legend.
What Is John Candy's Legacy?
John Candy was young when he passed away. Furthermore, he was at the top of his game. He could have made many more classic comedy films, but it was simply not meant to be. Despite Candy's premature passing, he left behind a treasured body of work for fans to enjoy.
From the more adult centric humor of John Hughe's Planes, Trains, and Automobiles, to the family-friendly Star Wars spoof, Spaceballs, Candy knew how to make people laugh and smile. His on-screen persona was goofy and welcoming. Even more importantly, Candy was reportedly a good person and larger than life behind the scenes as well, according to Looper. According to comedy legend Martin Short, "John was how you thought he'd be. He was affable, he was funny, he was a brilliant comedian, a brilliant actor...He was always larger than life."
John Candy has been gone since the early 1990s. However, he still finds an audience with each new generation. This is due in part to his legendary cameos or smaller roles in films such as Home Alone, The Blues Brothers, National Lampoon's Vacation, Little Shop of Horrors, and Stripes. While Candy was most known for goofy comedy roles, he also led successful and timeless films such as Cool Runnings, which was inspired by a true story. For fans young and old, Candy will always be remembered as a unique personality who excelled at his job.
