John Candy’s Legendary On-Set Antics

Tom Hanks recently shared a humorous memory about John Candy while discussing the upcoming documentary John Candy: I Like Me, which just premiered at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival. Hanks reminisced about filming the romantic comedy Splash in 1984, revealing how a wild night out with Jack Nicholson added to Candy’s hilarious performance.

During a memorable racquetball scene, Hanks enjoyed improvising alongside Candy, noting how it added a unique dimension to their scenes together. However, on that particular day, Candy was battling the aftereffects of a night of drinking.

“John came in and just wiped himself down,” Hanks recalled with laughter. “He had been out drinking, and Jack Nicholson showed up. I think it was their first meeting, and they were definitely having a good time.”

Christopher Candy, John’s son, chimed in with his own playful take on the situation, saying, “If Jack Nicholson called me out for a night at the bar, I’d be in!”

Hanks continued to reflect on how Candy arrived on set with barely any sleep but was somehow fueled by his night with Nicholson. “We had some physically demanding scenes,” Hanks mentioned. “Everyone was entertained by one thing, while John was channeling my tiredness to enhance his performance.”

The documentary features some vintage clips of Candy promoting Splash, showcasing his trademark humor. At one point, after getting hit in the head with a racquetball, Candy laughed and quipped, “You won’t believe it, but it took three takes!”

Candy’s remarkable career spanned various hit films, including Planes, Trains and Automobiles and Uncle Buck. Tragically, he passed away from a heart attack in 1994 at just 43 years old.

Featuring insights from his family, including his wife and children, along with notable figures like Macaulay Culkin and Bill Murray, the documentary premiered on Amazon Prime Video on October 10th.