Eugene Levy
Eugene Levy is a prominent Canadian actor, writer, and director recognized for his extensive work in comedy, particularly in film and television. He was born on December 17, 1946, in Hamilton, Ontario, and pursued his education at McMaster University, where he developed a passion for film. Levy gained fame for his roles in a variety of comedic films, notably the "American Pie" series and "Best in Show." He was also a key figure in the acclaimed television series "Schitt's Creek," which he co-created with his son, Daniel Levy. The show received critical acclaim and garnered numerous Emmy nominations, with Levy winning for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series. Throughout his career, Levy has collaborated with Christopher Guest on multiple projects, showcasing his talents in both acting and songwriting. He continues to be active in the industry, recently appearing in "Only Murders in the Building." Levy's contributions to comedy have made him a beloved figure in entertainment, and he remains a respected voice in the industry.
Subject Terms
Eugene Levy
Actor
- Born: December 17, 1946
- Place of Birth: Hamilton, Ontario
Contribution: Eugene Levy, a Canadian actor, writer, and director, has starred in over fifty movies. He is well known for playing comedic roles in a number of movies, including Best in Show (2000), the American Pie series (1999–2012), and A Mighty Wind (2003), as well as for his role as Johnny Rose in the Emmy Award–winning comedy series Schitt's Creek (2015–20).
Early Life and Education
Eugene Levy was born December 17, 1946, in Hamilton, Ontario. He attended Westdale Secondary School and McMaster University, both in Hamilton. He studied film and, in 1967, he became vice president of the university’s student film board.
Career
Through his involvement in the McMaster University film board, Levy met Ivan Reitman, who would go on to direct the film Ghostbusters, among others. Levy had wanted to be cast in Reitman’s first film, Foxy Lady, in 1971. Instead, he was cast in Reitman’s next movie, Cannibal Girls, in 1973. From 1972 to1973, Levy toured with the Toronto production of Godspell.
In 1976, Levy became part of the Toronto branch of the Second City comedy troupe, performing with the troupe until 1981. He also joined an offshoot of the troupe that starred in the late-night television show Second City TV, or SCTV for short. He was part of the show from 1976 until 1984 and won two Emmy Awards for Outstanding Writing for a Variety or Music Program in 1982 and 1983. During this time, he appeared in the movies Running (1979), Double Negative (1980; released in the United States as Deadly Companion), Nothing Personal (1980), National Lampoon’s Vacation (1983), Going Berserk (1983), and Splash (1984). He also provided several voices in the animated film Heavy Metal in 1981, and he wrote, produced, and acted in The Last Polka in 1984.
Levy went on to star in more comedies throughout the 1980s and 1990s, such as Armed and Dangerous (1986) and Father of the Bride Part II (1995) with Steve Martin. He paired up with Christopher Guest to cowrite and costar in Waiting for Guffman (1996), Best in Show (2000), A Mighty Wind (2003), and For Your Consideration (2006), composing a number of songs for these films. For his work in A Mighty Wind, he won a Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Song and a New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actor. He was also nominated for Best Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen by the Writers Guild of America for Best in Show and was nominated for two Independent Spirit Awards for A Mighty Wind and Waiting for Guffman.
In 1999, Levy was cast in the blockbuster American Pie as the embarrassing father of Jim, played by Jason Biggs. He was also in the sequels, American Pie 2 (2001), American Wedding (2003), and American Reunion (2012). His character was the only one to be in all four spinoffs of the movies, which went straight to DVD and were released between 2005 and 2009.
In addition to the American Pie series, Levy starred in many other movies in the first two decades of the twenty-first century, such as New York Minute (2004), Cheaper by the Dozen 2 (2005), Taking Woodstock (2009), Goon (2011), and Madea's Witness Protection (2012). He also lent his voice to Over the Hedge and Curious George in 2006, Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian and Astro Boy in 2009, and Finding Dory in 2016.
In terms of television, Levy's next biggest project came when he collaborated with his son, actor, writer, and director Daniel Levy, to create and produce a new comedy series about a wealthy family recovering from the loss of their fortune as they are compelled to live together at a motel in a small, isolated town. Launched in 2015 on the CBC network in Canada and the newer Pop cable network in the United States, the series, titled Schitt's Creek, earned critical acclaim but did not immediately draw in large numbers of audiences. However, as the show aired its third season in 2017, it was picked up by the streaming platform Netflix, which began hosting all of its episodes after network airing. With this accessibility and fan appreciation spreading on social media, the popularity of the show increased. The Emmy Award nominations began in 2019, and in 2020, the year in which the sixth, concluding season of the series aired, it was recognized for securing fifteen Emmy nominations. Levy took home the trophy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for his performance as the patriarch Johnny Rose.
After Schitt’s Creek wrapped up, Levy took on a few projects, the most noteworthy of which was his role in season four of the hit comedy series Only Murders in the Building in 2024. That same year, Levy and his son, Dan, cohosted the Emmy Awards.
Personal Life
Eugene Levy married television writer Deborah Divine in 1977. They have two children, Dan and Sarah Levy.
Bibliography
Levy, Eugene. “Questions for Eugene Levy.” Interview by Lynn Hirschberg. The New York Times, 20 Apr. 2003, www.nytimes.com/2003/04/20/magazine/the-way-we-live-now-4-20-03-questions-for-eugene-levy-good-humor-man.html. Accessed 23 Sept. 2024.
Lindsay, Benjamin. "Eugene Levy Reveals the Rules of Comedy That Brought Him, Finally, to 'Schitt's Creek.'" Backstage, 26 Aug. 2020, www.backstage.com/magazine/article/eugene-levy-schitts-creek-second-city-interview-71556/. Accessed 23 Sept. 2024.
Maas, Jennifer. “Emmy Hosts Dan and Eugene Levy Roast ‘The Bear’ for Being a Comedy Nominee With No Jokes and More During Monologue.” Variety, 15 Sept. 2024, variety.com/2024/tv/awards/eugene-dan-levy-emmys-monologue-2024-1236142488/. Accessed 23 Sept. 2024.