For this edition of Rank 'Em, let's reflect on John Candy's filmography of the '80s and pick our top 5 roles. He was in more than 15 movies throughout the decade, so it might be a challenge to choose just five! I had planned on putting together a photo montage, but I found an awesome tribute video that fits in nicely...
My good buddy Wyatt Bloom is the guest ranker this time! Wyatt occasionally writes for RD80s, co-hosts the RD80s Podcast and MASKast with me, and is the creator of Clearfield-County.Com, a resource website for residents of central PA. You can also find him on Twitter @infamouswb. I remember watching several of these movies with him back in the '80s and early '90s, so it's no surprise that we picked similar favorites.
Let's rank 'em! I've got most of Candy's roles listed below, but feel free to look at his IMDB page.
RANK 'EM!
Top 5 John Candy Movie Roles of the '80s
Burton Mercer in The Blues Brothers
Dewey "Ox" Oxberger in Stripes
Security Guard Lasky in National Lampoon's Vacation
John Bourgignon in Going Berserk
Freddie Bauer in Splash
Spike Nolan in Brewster's Millions
Jack Chester in Summer Rental
Frank Dooley in Armed and Dangerous
Wink Wilkinson in Little Shop of Horrors
Barf in Spaceballs
Del Griffith in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles
Chet Ripley in The Great Outdoors
Don (voice) in Hot To Trot
Harry Crumb in Who's Harry Crumb?
Charlie Cronan in Speed Zone
Buck Russell in Uncle Buck
Wyatt's List
- Frank Dooley in Armed and Dangerous
- Buck Russell in Uncle Buck
- Del Griffith in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles
- Chet Ripley in The Great Outdoors
- Barf in Spaceballs

Jason's List
- Barf in Spaceballs
- Buck Russell in Uncle Buck
- Frank Dooley in Armed and Dangerous
- Jack Chester in Summer Rental/Chet Ripley in The Great Outdoors
- Del Griffith in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles

Rank more of your '80s favorites by visiting the Rank 'Em Archive