Facts About 'SCTV' Cast Members That Made Us Say 'Really?'

Rick Moranis was one of the greatest comedy icons of the 1980s because of his performances in successful movies such as Honey, I Shrunk The Kids and Ghostbusters. That’s why it came as a shock when he decided to slowly exit the Hollywood scene. For years many people did not know the real reason behind his decision to place his career on pause. Endearingly the truth came out - the real reason he left behind his budding acting career in 1997 was to take care of his two children after his wife died of breast cancer. Although he hasn’t given many interviews during his two-decade break from Hollywood, he has stated that he didn’t intend for the break to be long but wouldn’t change it, as he found he didn’t miss the acting world. Fortunately for fans of Moranis, he has stepped back into the acting world thanks to actor Ryan Reynolds, and appeared on the small screen in 2020.

Not many are aware of the complex medical condition known as situs inversus, even though a few celebrities have this condition, such as former SCTV cast member Catherine O’Hara. This rare condition only affects every 1 in 10,000 people. Essentially, situs inversus is a congenital condition where a person’s internal thoracic and abdominal organs (stomach, liver, and spleen) are positioned on the opposite side of where they are supposed to be. For example, a person with this condition will have a liver on the left-hand side, while the spleen is on the right, when it is supposed to be on the left. O’Hara has spent her entire life with the condition, but it hasn’t impacted her acting career as she continues to grace the silver screen with her lively personality.

Surprisingly, Rick Moranis wasn’t the first person in the running to play Louis Tully in Ghostbusters. Undoubtedly the movie might not have been as great a success without his enigmatic performance and superb comedic acting skills. One of the little-known facts about his role in the film is that Moranis actually improvised one of the most famous speeches presented during the film. This incredibly humorous scene included Moranis as Louis Tully stating specific business and tax details of a couple who had just arrived at a party. The accountant had only invited his clients so that he could write it off. This iconic scene will likely continue to reside in the minds of avid Ghostbusters fans. Director Ivan Reitman commented: Right away, Rick had all these wonderful ideas. I think it was his idea to play him as an accountant; he wrote that extraordinary speech when he is inviting people to a party at his house and he's walking that incoming couple through. I had the joke of throwing the coat on the dog that's in his bedroom, but that whole wonderful speech ... Rick just made all of it up as he was doing it. All these guys were so, so good at writing.

John Candy is a Hollywood comedic legend who played many infamous roles before his untimely death. Interestingly, one of the roles he is most well known for was quite possibly the one he earned the least amount of money for. When Candy agreed to a cameo role in Home Alone, it’s unlikely he realized he would only reportedly make $414, which is less than the pizza boy character made. Additionally, another surprising fact about his time on the show is that he filmed all his scenes in 23 hours. This is incredible, as his small role helped garner the film much-needed traction. Moreover, most of the lines Candy said during the movie were improvised, demonstrating just how talented he was.

Arguably the 1980s is the era best remembered for mainstream comedy movies with roles played by enigmatic celebrities. John Candy’s career thrived during this time, and he quickly became one of the most sought-after actors of the decade. However, most fans might not realize that Candy was not always destined to be an actor, as his first love was football. Before he fully embraced an acting career, he had dreams of playing for the Canadian Football League. Candy played offensive tackle during his high school years, but he sustained a severe knee injury that crushed his dreams of going pro. He didn’t let this devastating blow keep him down for long, as he found his passion for acting and began to thrive while participating in Canada’s comedy scene.

The TV show Schitt’s Creek immediately became a comedy that people fell in love with. The show was the brainchild of comedic actor Eugene Levy and provided many laugh-out-loud moments, but what’s interesting is how the show’s name came to be. According to an interview, Levy says the inception of the name was purely accidental. He was at a dinner one night with friends and family, and they were all having a few drinks. They started discussing a town a rich family bought because of its ridiculous name, “Schitt’s Creek,” but later on would be forced to move there. Reportedly and understandably, the name faced some backlash, but Levy and his team refused to change the iconic moniker, as the show would not be the same without it.

Catherine O’Hara is a well-loved Hollywood actresses because of her quirky personality and comedic talent. Possibly one of the most eccentric things she did on a show was name her various wigs after her close friends and family. During her time on Schitt’s Creek, O’Hara, who played Moira, confessed during an interview that names had been written for her wigs. However, she decided to change them out for people close to her. For example, the Krista wig referenced a good friend, while the choppy Maureen wig was named for one of her sisters.

Before he was an actor, John Candy had dreams of becoming a pro football player for a Canadian football league. After suffering a knee injury, he decided to turn his attention to acting. However, he never lost his passion for the sport. As a testament to his dedication to Canadian football, Candy bought and co-owned the Toronto Argonauts in 1991 for $5 million. He used his fame and career to promote the team and would often reverently speak about and champion them. Due to his dedication to the sport, the team, and its players, Candy is often credited with inspiring the Argonauts to win the 1991 Grey Cup.

Harold Ramis was an actor well known for his roles in Groundhog Day, SCTV, and Ghostbusters who began his venture into comedy during his time at college. It’s highly likely you have seen one of his films and enjoyed it. However, away from the spotlight, Ramis had a complex life. One of the little-known facts surrounding his life involved hard drugs and his wish to avoid the draft. According to reports, Ramis really didn’t want to be drafted for the Vietnam War, so he decided to go to his physical exam and select every psychological disorder box to ensure he wasn’t drafted. Additionally, to make double sure of this, he took a large dose of methamphetamine before he went to the physical, in case they wanted to test him.

Italian-born Canadian actor Tony Rosato had a prosperous comedic career until he died in 2017 at the age of 62. However, his memory lives on in the movies and TV shows he was involved with. He is perhaps most well-remembered for his SCTV character Marcello, a clumsy TV chef whose comedic talents endeared him to fans everywhere. Rosato was one of only three actors to have been a cast member on both SNL and SCTV. According to some, SNL came to be because of the pioneering cast members, writers, and crew members of SCTV. Rosato joined the SNL cast at the end of the sixth season and continued to make appearances during the seventh.

Since the 1980s, Eugene Levy has had a prominent presence in Hollywood. Although he is often best known for his role in comedy films, he has also voiced many characters in animated films. Before he voiced Charlie, who is Dory’s father in Finding Dory, he lent his voice talent to Curious George (2006) and Astro Boy (2009). Although he thoroughly enjoys voice acting, he has stated there's no other form of acting he has found more draining than voice acting. Regardless, when he first read the script for Finding Dory, he immediately decided it was a venture he would like to commit to. Levy reportedly stated that he enjoys the flexibility associated with voice work, as it allows him to play any type of character.

Andrea Martin has been entertaining audiences for about five decades. Many will remember her from her role on SCTV, but some newcomers might best recognize her for her role in the TV show Great News and the movie My Big Fat Greek Wedding. Although she has an established career as a comedic force to be reckoned with, Martin is also one of the most well-known Broadway stars. She has received the most Tony and Drama Desk nominations for Featured Actress in a Musical than any Broadway performer alive today. Additionally, Martin is a two-time Tony- and Emmy Award-winning actress. Her talent continues to serve her well, as she has begun to undertake many new projects in recent years.