Eugene Levy

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Summary

 Eugene Levy, born December 17, 1946, is a Canadian actor and comedian, celebrated for his unforgettable portrayals of flustered and unconventional characters. His remarkable career has garnered him numerous accolades, including four Primetime Emmy Awards, a Grammy Award, and a Screen Actors Guild Award. In recognition of his significant contributions, he was appointed to the Order of Canada in 2011 and elevated to Companion of the Order of Canada in 2022. Born and raised in Hamilton, Ontario, Levy's journey began in Canada. He first graced the stage in the Toronto musical production of *Godspell* and later rose to prominence in the sketch comedy series *Second City Television* (1976–1984). For his exceptional writing on *SCTV*, he earned two Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series. His creative partnership with Christopher Guest led to a series of beloved mockumentary films, where Levy not only acted but also co-wrote: *Waiting for Guffman* (1996), *Best in Show* (2000), *A Mighty Wind* (2003), and *For Your Consideration* (2006). Fans also know him for his iconic role in the *American Pie* film series (1999–2012), and he has appeared in a diverse range of films including *National Lampoon's Vacation* (1983), *Splash* (1984), *Club Paradise* (1986), *I Love Trouble* (1994), *Serendipity* (2001), *The Man* (2005), and *Goon* (2011). Levy experienced a significant career resurgence with his role as Johnny Rose in the critically acclaimed sitcom *Schitt's Creek* (2015–2020). He not only co-created the series with his son and co-star, Dan Levy, but also won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series in 2020 for his performance. More recently, he has charmed audiences as the host of the Apple TV+ travel documentary series *The Reluctant Traveler* (2023–) and lent his voice to animated characters in films such as *Over the Hedge* (2006), *Astro Boy* (2009), and *Finding Dory* (2016). Levy was born into a Jewish family in downtown Hamilton, Ontario. His mother, Rebecca, was a homemaker, and his father, Joseph, was a foreman at an automobile plant. He has a brother, Fred, and a sister, Barbara. His mother, born in Glasgow, Scotland, to Polish Jewish parents, later moved to Canada. His father was Sephardi Jewish, with ancestral roots in Spain and Bulgaria. He attended Westdale Secondary School, where he served as student council president. During his time there, he faced antisemitic bullying, with his campaign posters defaced. Despite this, he refused to remove them. He later attended McMaster University, where he became vice-president of the McMaster Film Board, a student film group, and met filmmaker Ivan Reitman. The 1972–1973 Toronto production of the hit musical *Godspell*, initially slated for a limited run, became a landmark event, launching the careers of many performers, including Levy, Victor Garber, Andrea Martin, Gilda Radner, Dave Thomas, and Martin Short, alongside musical director Paul Shaffer. The show's overwhelming success led to an extended run of 488 performances. An alumnus of both *The Second City* in Toronto and the sketch comedy series *Second City Television*, Levy became known for his unique supporting characters, often with a nerdy charm. On *SCTV*, his most recognizable role was the endearingly dimwitted Earl Camembert, the news anchor for "SCTV News," a witty parody of Canadian newsman Earl Cameron. Levy's impersonations of celebrities on *SCTV* were legendary, including figures like Perry Como, Ricardo Montalbán, Alex Trebek, Gino Vannelli, Sean Connery, Howard Cosell, Henry Kissinger, Menachem Begin, Bud Abbott, Milton Berle, John Charles Daly, Gene Shalit, Judd Hirsch, Jack Carter, Muammar al-Gaddafi, Tony Dow, James Caan, Lorne Greene, Rex Reed, Ralph Young, F. Lee Bailey, Ernest Borgnine, Dr. Morton Shulman, Norman Mailer, Neil Sedaka, and Howard McNear as Floyd the Barber. Levy also created a memorable array of original characters on *SCTV*, such as the news reporter Earl Camembert, the comic Bobby Bittman, the scandal sheet entrepreneur Dr. Raoul Withers, the naïve "report on business" commentator Brian Johns, the 3-D horror auteur Woody Tobias Jr., the cheerful Leutonian accordionist Stan Schmenge, the lecherous dream interpreter Raoul Wilson, the hammer-voiced sports broadcaster Lou Jaffe, the diminutive union patriarch Sid Dithers, the fey current-events commentator Joel Weiss, the buttoned-down panel show moderator Dougal Currie, the smarmy *Just for Fun* emcee Stan Kanter, the energetic used car salesman Al Peck, the guileless security guard Gus Gustofferson, Phil the Garment King, and the inept teen dance show host Rockin' Mel Slirrup. While he has only held "above the title" starring roles in two films, *Armed and Dangerous* (1986) and *The Man* (2005), Levy has been a prominent presence in many cinematic productions. He is a co-writer and frequent cast member in Christopher Guest's mockumentary features. His performance as the emotionally unstable folksinger Mitch Cohen in *A Mighty Wind* (2003) earned him critical acclaim, including a Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actor – Musical or Comedy and the prestigious New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actor. His other collaborations with Guest include *Waiting for Guffman* (1996), *Best in Show* (2000), and *For Your Consideration* (2006). Throughout the 1980s and into the 2010s, Levy appeared in a string of popular comedies such as *National Lampoon's Vacation* (1983), *Splash* (1984), *Club Paradise* (1986), *Father of the Bride* (1991), *Father of the Bride Part II* (1995), *Stay Tuned* (1996), *Multiplicity* (1996), the *American Pie* film series (1999–2012), *Serendipity* (2001), *Bringing Down the House* (2003), *Cheaper by the Dozen 2* (2005), and *Madea's Witness Protection* (2012). He also lent his voice to animated characters in films like *Over the Hedge* (2006), *Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian* (2009), and *Finding Dory* (2016). Levy was also the creator of *Maniac Mansion*, a television sitcom inspired by the LucasArts video game of the same name. He was notably considered for the role of Toby Ziegler on *The West Wing*, a role ultimately played by Richard Schiff. In 2015, Levy, alongside his son Dan Levy, co-created the beloved sitcom *Schitt's Creek*, which aired on CBC and Pop TV until 2020. He also starred in the series as Johnny Rose, the patriarch of the Rose family, with his daughter, Sarah Levy, portraying Twyla Sands, the diner waitress. His brother, Fred Levy, also served as a producer on the show. Eugene Levy also hosted and executive produced the eight-episode Apple Original travel series *The Reluctant Traveler* (2023) on Apple TV+. In 2024, he was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Eugene Levy married Deborah Divine in 1977. Divine has had a career in TV production. The couple, who raised their two children, actors Dan and Sarah, in Toronto, saw both of them star alongside their father in *Schitt's Creek*. Levy is a dedicated advocate for autism awareness and treatment, supporting ABA methods. He was a close friend of actor and fellow *SCTV* cast member John Candy. Levy is also a member of the Canadian charity Artists Against Racism. In 2021, he was named honorary mayor of Pacific Palisades. In October 2022, Levy was honored at Creative Community For Peace's 10th annual gala, where he also spoke. In 2025, his home in Pacific Palisades was tragically destroyed in a wildfire. Levy, along with Christopher Guest and Michael McKean, received the 2003 Grammy Award for Best Song Written for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media for the title song from *A Mighty Wind*. In 2008, Levy was presented with the Governor General's Performing Arts Award, Canada's highest honor in the performing arts, recognizing his outstanding body of work and enduring contribution to the performing arts in Canada. In March 2006, it was announced that he would receive a star on Canada's Walk of Fame. In 2002, the entire cast of *SCTV* was honored with a group star, and Levy, as a member of the cast, was included in this induction, making him one of only four individuals to be honored twice, alongside fellow *SCTV* alumni John Candy, Martin Short, and Catherine O'Hara. Levy is also among a select group of individuals who have won at least five Canadian Comedy Awards, including two for Best Writing and three for Best Male Performer. In 2010, Levy was awarded the ACTRA Award by the union representing Canadian actors. In 2011, he was made a Member of the Order of Canada for his contributions as a comic actor and writer, and for his dedication to charitable causes, and was promoted to the rank of Companion in 2022. On May 22, 2012, Levy delivered a commencement address at Dalhousie University and was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree. On June 11, 2012, he was presented with the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal. On March 13, 2016, Levy won the award for "Best Performance by an Actor in a Continuing Leading Comedic Role" at the 4th Annual Canadian Screen Awards for his portrayal of Johnny Rose in *Schitt's Creek*.
Eugene_Levy

Full Wikipedia Article

 Eugene Levy (born December 17, 1946) is a Canadian actor and comedian. Known for portraying flustered and unconventional figures, Levy has won multiple accolades throughout his career including four Primetime Emmy Awards, a Grammy Award, and a Screen Actors Guild Award. He was appointed to the Order of Canada in 2011, and was made a Companion of the Order of Canada in 2022. Born and raised in Hamilton, Ontario, Levy started his career in Canada starring in the Toronto musical production of Godspell and the sketch comedy series Second City Television (1976–1984), the latter of which he also wrote and earned two Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series. He collaborated with Christopher Guest in a series of films as a co-writer and actor in Waiting for Guffman (1996), Best in Show (2000), A Mighty Wind (2003), and For Your Consideration (2006). He is known for his role in the American Pie film series (1999–2012) and also appeared in National Lampoon's Vacation (1983), Splash (1984), Club Paradise (1986), I Love Trouble (1994), Serendipity (2001), The Man (2005), and Goon (2011). Levy gained a career resurgence playing Johnny Rose in the sitcom Schitt's Creek (2015–2020), which he also co-created with his son and co-star, Dan; and won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series in 2020. He also hosts the Apple TV+ travel documentary series The Reluctant Traveler (2023–), and voiced characters in the animated films Over the Hedge (2006), Astro Boy (2009), and Finding Dory (2016). == Early life and education == Levy was born to a Jewish family in downtown Hamilton, Ontario. His mother, Rebecca (née Kudlatz; 1910–1988), was a homemaker, and his father, Joseph (1909–1985), was a foreman at an automobile plant. He has a brother, Fred, and sister, Barbara. His mother was born in Glasgow, Scotland, to Polish Jewish parents, and later moved to Canada. His father was Sephardi Jewish, with ancestors from Spain and Bulgaria. Levy attended Westdale Secondary School, where he was student council president. He faced antisemitic bullying, with his campaign posters defaced with the word "Jew", which he refused to take down. He subsequently attended McMaster University. He was vice-president of the McMaster Film Board, a student film group, where he met filmmaker Ivan Reitman. == Career == === 1972–1989: Godspell and SCTV === The 1972–1973 Toronto production of the hit musical Godspell opened at the Royal Alexandra Theatre and was intended to be a run of a few dozen performances for a subscription audience. The cast was drawn entirely from local performers, instead of a touring cast. The Toronto production launched the careers of many actors, including Levy, Victor Garber, Andrea Martin, Gilda Radner, Dave Thomas, and Martin Short, as well as the show's musical director, Paul Shaffer. Howard Shore played saxophone for this production. After an enthusiastic response from the audience, the scheduled run at the Royal Alexandra ended, and the show moved uptown to the Bayview Playhouse in Leaside. The Bayview Playhouse production ran until August 1973, with a then-record run of 488 performances. An alumnus of both the Second City, Toronto and the sketch comedy series Second City Television, Levy often plays unusual supporting characters with nerdy streaks. Perhaps his best-known role on SCTV is the dimwitted Earl Camembert, a news anchor for the "SCTV News" and a parody of real-life Canadian newsman Earl Cameron. Celebrities impersonated by Levy on SCTV include Perry Como, Ricardo Montalbán, Alex Trebek, Gino Vannelli, Sean Connery, Howard Cosell, Henry Kissinger, Menachem Begin, Bud Abbott, Milton Berle, John Charles Daly, Gene Shalit, Judd Hirsch, Jack Carter, Muammar al-Gaddafi, Tony Dow, James Caan, Lorne Greene, Rex Reed, Ralph Young (of Sandler and Young), F. Lee Bailey, Ernest Borgnine, former Ontario chief coroner and talk show host Dr. Morton Shulman, Norman Mailer, Neil Sedaka and Howard McNear as Floyd the Barber. Original Levy characterizations on SCTV are news reporter Earl Camembert, comic Bobby Bittman, scandal sheet entrepreneur Dr. Raoul Withers, "report on business" naïf Brian Johns, 3-D horror auteur Woody Tobias Jr., cheerful Leutonian accordionist Stan Schmenge, lecherous dream interpreter Raoul Wilson, hammer-voiced sports broadcaster Lou Jaffe, diminutive union patriarch Sid Dithers ("San Francisckie! Did you drove or did you flew?"), fey current-events commentator Joel Weiss, buttoned-down panel show moderator Dougal Currie, smarmy Just for Fun emcee Stan Kanter, energetic used car salesman Al Peck, guileless security guard Gus Gustofferson, Phil the Garment King (also of Phil's Nails), and the inept teen dance show host Rockin' Mel Slirrup. === 1990–2014: American Pie and other comedy films === Though he has been the "above the title" star in only two films, Armed and Dangerous (1986) and The Man (2005), he has featured prominently in many films. He is the co-writer and frequent cast member of Christopher Guest's mockumentary features, particularly A Mighty Wind (2003), where his sympathetic performance as emotionally unstable folksinger Mitch Cohen won kudos; his accolades included a Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actor – Musical or Comedy and the prestigious New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actor. Other collaborations with Guest include Waiting for Guffman (1996), Best in Show (2000), and For Your Consideration (2006). From the 1980s through the 2010s, Levy appeared in National Lampoon's Vacation (1983), Splash (1984), Club Paradise (1986), Father of the Bride (1991), Father of the Bride Part II (1995), Stay Tuned (1996), Multiplicity (1996), the American Pie film series (1999–2012), Serendipity (2001), Bringing Down the House (2003), Cheaper by the Dozen 2 (2005), Madea's Witness Protection (2012), and other comedies. He also voiced characters in films such as Over the Hedge (2006), Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian (2009), and Finding Dory (2016). Levy was the creator of Maniac Mansion, a television sitcom based on the LucasArts video game of the same name. He was also seriously considered for the role of Toby Ziegler on The West Wing, a role that went to actor Richard Schiff. === 2015–present: Schitt's Creek and acclaim === Levy, along with his son Dan Levy, was co-creator of the CBC/Pop TV sitcom Schitt's Creek which ran from 2015-2020. He also starred in the show alongside his son as head of the Rose family, Johnny Rose. His daughter, Sarah Levy, portrayed Twyla Sands, the waitress at the Schitt's Creek diner. Eugene Levy's brother Fred was also a producer on the show. Levy hosted and executive produced an Apple Original eight-episode travel series titled The Reluctant Traveler (2023) on Apple TV+. In 2024, Levy attended a ceremony honouring him with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. == Personal life == Levy married Deborah Divine in 1977. Divine's career has been in TV production. The couple have two children whom they raised in Toronto: actors Dan and Sarah, both of whom starred alongside their father on Schitt's Creek. Levy is an advocate for autism awareness and treatment, and supports ABA methods. He was a close friend of actor and fellow SCTV cast member John Candy. Levy is a member of the Canadian charity Artists Against Racism. In 2021, he was named honorary mayor of Pacific Palisades. In October 2022, Levy was among one of the honorees of Creative Community For Peace's 10th annual gala, and also spoke at the event. In 2025, his home in the neighbourhood was destroyed in the Palisades wildfire. == Filmography == === Film === === Television === === Theatre === === Audio === == Awards and nominations == Levy, along with Christopher Guest and Michael McKean, was awarded the 2003 Grammy Award for Best Song Written for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media for the title song from A Mighty Wind. Levy received the Governor General's Performing Arts Award, Canada's highest honour in the performing arts, in 2008. In March 2006, it was announced that he would receive a star on Canada's Walk of Fame. In 2002, the entire cast of SCTV was given a group star, and although Levy is not mentioned on the actual star, he was still inducted as a part of the group. This makes him one of only four two-time honourees, alongside fellow SCTV alumni John Candy, Martin Short, and Catherine O'Hara. Levy is one of only a handful of people who have won at least five Canadian Comedy Awards, including two for Best Writing (Best in Show in 2001 and A Mighty Wind in 2004) and three for Best Male Performer (Best in Show, American Pie 2 in 2002, and A Mighty Wind). In 2008, the governor general of Canada presented Levy with the Governor General's Performing Arts Awards (GGPAA), a lifetime achievement award considered "for their outstanding body of work and enduring contribution to the performing arts in Canada.". In 2010, Levy was awarded the ACTRA Award by the union representing Canada's actors. In 2011, Levy was made a Member of the Order of Canada "for his contributions as a comic actor and writer, and for his dedication to charitable causes" and promoted to the rank of Companion in 2022. On May 22, 2012, Levy delivered a commencement address at Dalhousie University, in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and was awarded the degree Doctor of Laws (honoris causa). On June 11, 2012, Levy was presented with the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal by the lieutenant governor of Ontario. On March 13, 2016, Levy took home the award for "Best Performance by an Actor in a Continuing Leading Comedic Role" at the 4th Annual Canadian Screen Awards, for his performance as Johnny Rose in the CBC/Pop TV sitcom Schitt's Creek. == References == == External links == Eugene Levy at IMDb Eugene Levy at the Internet Broadway Database Eugene Levy discography at Discogs Article at thecanadianencyclopedia.ca Eugene Levy on Twitter Home Languages