Remembering John Candy on His 65th Birthday: Uncle Buck, The Great Outdoors & More of the Late Star's Best Roles

It's Halloween-scary that the actor and funnyman has been gone for more than 20 years, and unbelievable how many classic moments he packed into his too-short career

Fitting that John Candy's birthday was on Halloween, because it's downright scary to think he's been gone for 21 years.

And yet, also fitting, the actor and funnyman's spirit lives on thanks to his instant-classic roles—be they big or small—in the likes of Uncle Buck, The Great Outdoors, Home Alone, Planes, Trains and Automobiles and National Lampoon's Vacation.

Candy, who passed away when he was only 43, would have turned 65 today. We'll try not to get too sad over what might have been; rather, since the Canadian-born star, who made his comedic bones in sketch comedy on SCTV, packed so many memorable moments into his too-short career, we'll focus on what we've got.

Mocking Tia's ridiculous boyfriend Bug in Uncle Buck:

Battling the bear in The Great Outdoors:

Reassuring Catherine O'Hara that she's not the worst mother in the world for leaving Kevin home alone in...

On SCTV in the 1970s, tripping out as Dr. Braino:

All great, often touching, always a scene-stealer: Long live the memory of John Candy.