John Candy died more than 20 years ago, but his footprint in the film industry remains. The late actor, who appeared in movies such as Home Alone, Spaceballs and Planes, Trains and Automobiles, will be honored in the upcoming Prime Video documentary I Like Me, which premieres in October 2025. Since John’s 1994 death is making headlines again, we’re breaking down everything we know about his health.
A spokesperson for John said he died in Durango, Mexico, on March 4, 1994, of a heart attack while filming Wagons East. Multiple outlets reported that he died in his sleep and that his security guard found him.
During an October 2016 interview with The Hollywood Reporter, John’s son, Chris Candy, recalled learning of his father’s death the following morning. Candy shared Chris and daughter Jen Candy with wife Rosemary Hobor.
“We found out that it was a heart attack pretty immediately,” Chris said. “I just remember going ‘Why?’ because it doesn’t make any sense when you’re that young.”
There is no evidence that John was using drugs before he died. However, it’s rumored that the late Rookie of the Year star had a cocaine addiction and that he smoked cigarettes, which no one from his family has confirmed.
A docuseries titled Autopsy: John Candy examines the actor’s final hours. Forensic pathologist Dr. Michael Hunter claimed that John was a drug addict.
“I think it’s probable that John’s addiction to smoking was a factor in his death,” Hunter alleged, before claiming, “But John appears to have a history of use of another drug that is also known to have a damaging impact on the heart — and that’s cocaine.”
