The city of Toronto has established October 31 as "John Candy Day" in commemoration of the actor's 7oth birthday this year. John Candy grew up in Toronto and became one of the most reliable comedic talents of his generation, initially reaching a wide North American audience on The Second City improv troupe's TV show SCTV. He was soon lured to Hollywood in the early 1980s, often playing big clumsy guys who were mild-mannered yet lovable. Candy famously maintained a creative collaboration with influential writer-director John Hughes that encompassed his most famous roles in Home Alone, Planes, Trains & Automobiles, and Uncle Buck. In March 1994, five months after his Jamaican bobsled film Cool Runnings hit theaters, Candy died suddenly of a heart attack at just 43 years old.
Fittingly enough, given that Halloween is already a big candy day, the actor's hometown of Toronto will be cementing his legacy in honor of what would have been his 70th birthday. Toronto Mayor John Tory tweeted a proclamation officially declaring October 31, 2o2o, to be "John Candy Day," paying tribute to his influence not just on Toronto but on Canadian culture overall. See Mayor Tory's announcement below:
It's not uncommon for cities with close kinships to their celebrity residents to commemorate them, particularly if their death comes at a young age. In 2014, Aberdeen, Washington, declared February 20 to be "Kurt Cobain Day" in honor of the Nirvana singer who died when he was only 27. After Elvis Presley died at age 42, his January 8 birthday became a day of tribute in his hometown of Memphis, Tennessee, where he lived on his famous Graceland estate. These celebrations are fun and warm reminders of the unique culture every hometown bestows on its citizens, and the ways that some exceptionally talented citizens can be ambassadors of their hometown to the world.
Source: John Tory/Twitter