Is John Candy in Home Alone?

Last Modified Mar 20, 2025 07:27 EDT
Is John Candy in Home Alone
John Candy (Source: YouTube)


John Candy played Gus Polinski in Home Alone.


Home Alone is a classic Christmas film directed by Chris Columbus and released on November 16, 1990. It was the 2nd highest-grossing film of 1990, earning $476.7 million worldwide. The film was nominated for many awards including 2 Academy Awards, 2 Golden Globe Awards, Grammy Awards, etc. After the success of this film, it went on to become a franchise. The cast of the film includes Macaulay Culkin, Catherine O'Hara, John Heard, Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern, etc.


Among the cast, John Candy is also a part of the film. Even though he had a small role in the film, it was a memorable part and loved by the audience. He was one of the beloved actors in Hollywood in the 1980s and 1990s. Let’s take a look at his career and the character he plays in Home Alone.


Who does John Candy play in Home Alone?


Is John Candy in Home Alone
John Candy as Gus Polinski (Source: YouTube)


John Candy played the role of Gus Polinski in the film. Gus Polinski is a musician and a lead member of a traveling polka band. He meets Kevin's mother, Kate McCallister, for the first time at the airport. He offers to help Kate reach Chicago when he learns about her situation. She agrees to travel with him in his moving van with other people. They will drop her in Chicago on their way to Milwaukee.


On their way, he and his band played the song Deck the Halls to lighten the mood and asked Kate to join them. Kate was upset and felt guilty that she left her son at home. Gus comes to cheer her up, and she shares her thoughts, expressing that she feels like a bad parent. She asks him if he ever left his child at home like she did. He shares his experience of leaving his child at a funeral home once. It was not a good experience, but after some time, his child forgave him, and they began talking again. He assures her that everything will be fine and her child will get over it.


Who is John Candy?


Is John Candy in Home Alone
John Candy in Uncle Buck (Source: Prime Video)


John Franklin Candy, also known as John Candy, was a Canadian actor and comedian, born on October 31, 1950, in Newmarket, Ontario, Canada. He started his acting career with the TV show Cucumber in 1972. He made his film debut with the film Class of '44 in 1973. He gained wide popularity when he joined the cast of the comedy variety TV show Second City Television (SCTV) from 1976 to 1979.


He has done many films over his career, including Deadly Companion (1980), The Blues Brothers (1980), Going Berserk (1983), Brewster's Millions (1985), Spaceballs (1987), Who's Harry Crumb? (1989), Uncle Buck (1989), Home Alone (1990), JFK (1991), etc. He has also done many TV projects, including The David Steinberg Show (1976), Second City TV (1976–1979), Saturday Night Live (1981), The Last Polka (1985), Camp Candy (1989), etc. Throughout his career, he was nominated for 9 Primetime Emmy Awards and won 2 of them.


He got married to his wife Rosemary Margaret Hobor in 1979. The couple had 2 children together- a son, Christopher Candy, and a daughter, Jennifer Candy. He passed away at the age of 43, on March 4, 1994.


Read more about Home Alone:

Cast of Home Alone films

Is Hope Davis in Home Alone

The Robbers from Home Alone

FAQs about John Candy

A. Yes, John Candy was a part of Home Alone.

A. John Candy was married to Rosemary Margaret Hobor.

A. John Candy had two children.

Related Stories

5 Jason Mitchell movies and TV shows to watch after The Chi 5 Jason Mitchell movies and TV shows to watch after The Chi
5 Jason Mitchell movies and TV shows to watch after The Chi
2d
The Conjuring: Last Rites confronts the Warrens’ past — but is the truth even scarier? The Conjuring: Last Rites confronts the Warrens’ past — but is the truth even scarier?
The Conjuring: Last Rites confronts the Warrens’ past — but is the truth even scarier?
10h
Angelina Jolie’s comedy adaptation Anxious People expands with new additions: Find out who Angelina Jolie’s comedy adaptation Anxious People expands with new additions: Find out who
Angelina Jolie’s comedy adaptation Anxious People expands with new additions: Find out who
2d
Why is Constance Wu calling out Andrew Barth Feldman again? Drama explained Why is Constance Wu calling out Andrew Barth Feldman again? Drama explained
Why is Constance Wu calling out Andrew Barth Feldman again? Drama explained
1d
Aaron Taylor-Johnson’s look for Werwulf by Robert Eggers revealed Aaron Taylor-Johnson’s look for Werwulf by Robert Eggers revealed
Aaron Taylor-Johnson’s look for Werwulf by Robert Eggers revealed
1d
Frequent collaborator Dave Bautista is unhappy that James Gunn hasn’t invited him to the DCU yet Frequent collaborator Dave Bautista is unhappy that James Gunn hasn’t invited him to the DCU yet
Frequent collaborator Dave Bautista is unhappy that James Gunn hasn’t invited him to the DCU yet 
1d
Same Day With Someone review — A time loop of privilege, heartbreak, and unexpected laughter Same Day With Someone review — A time loop of privilege, heartbreak, and unexpected laughter
Same Day With Someone review — A time loop of privilege, heartbreak, and unexpected laughter
7h
SNL season 51 kicks off Oct. 4 with Bad Bunny hosting and Doja Cat as musical guest: Here’s what we know SNL season 51 kicks off Oct. 4 with Bad Bunny hosting and Doja Cat as musical guest: Here’s what we know
SNL season 51 kicks off Oct. 4 with Bad Bunny hosting and Doja Cat as musical guest: Here’s what we know
43m
What did W Kamau Bell say? Comedian’s essay on Charlie Kirk, refusing to mourn the conservative activist sparks backlash What did W Kamau Bell say? Comedian’s essay on Charlie Kirk, refusing to mourn the conservative activist sparks backlash
What did W Kamau Bell say? Comedian’s essay on Charlie Kirk, refusing to mourn the conservative activist sparks backlash
2d
"She'd be a part of the family": The Housemaid first trailer sees Amanda Seyfried facing off Sydney Sweeney in a nerve-wracking thriller "She'd be a part of the family": The Housemaid first trailer sees Amanda Seyfried facing off Sydney Sweeney in a nerve-wracking thriller
"She'd be a part of the family": The Housemaid first trailer sees Amanda Seyfried facing off Sydney Sweeney in a nerve-wracking thriller
2d