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Top 10 Astonishing Facts about Eugene Levy

Image by Wikimedia Commons-

 Actor, comedian, and Polish Jewish Eugene Levy was born on December 17, 1946, in downtown Hamilton, Ontario. His mother, Rebecca, was a homemaker, and his father was a foreman at an automobile plant.

He was student council President at Westdale Secondary school. Subsequently, he attended McMaster University and became the Vice President of the McMaster Film Board. It is while governing the student film group that he met his friend, filmmaker Ivan Reitman in the late 1960s.

Here are some more amazing facts about the often flustered and unconventional figures actor!

1.Levy’s Debut was a horror-comedy movie

Ch̢teau Frontenac, Quebec city, Canada. Photo by Wilfredor РWikimedia Commons

Levy’s first break in the movie industry was serving coffee on the Toronto set of the 1971 comedy Fox Lady. He started his professional acting career as a leading man in the 1973 horror-comedy, “Cannibal Girls.”

He went on to act in the Canadian television sketchy comedy show, SCTV (Second City Television) from 1976-1984 as the comedian Bobby Bittman. He managed to become a well-known award-winning Canadian actor, film producer, and comedian.

2. Levy’s fame in Hollywood & Canada

He has appeared in over 60 motion pictures to date, 8 topping the 100M mark, with major roles and box office successes like the American Pie franchise, Cheaper by the Dozen 2, Waiting for Guffman, Bringing Down The House, Father Of The Bride and most recently co-created sitcom Schitt’s Creek alongside his son Dan Levy.

Levy also appeared alongside Ellen DeGeneres and Diane Keaton as a voice artist in the Disney Pixar animated film “Finding Dory” the highest-grossing animated film of all time surpassing the $ 1B mark.

He won the lead actor in a comedy at the Canadian Screen Awards and Executive Producer, the CSA for Best Comedy. Schitt’s Crept won 9 of the possible 10 categories in the Canadian Screen Awards and the prestigious legacy Award from the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television.

3.Good Guy and an Activist

Besides his passion for acting, he is a kind man who cultivates his interest and involvement into charity. He is a member of the Canadian Charity Artists Against Racism, and an outspoken advocate of Autism awareness and treatment.

4.”Comedian?” Not me

image as SidDithers –wikimedia commons

The irony of identifying Levy as a comedian is in the testimony of the above quote. He sees it as bizarre that more often people label him as a funny comedian but he says it rolls down to his acting skills.

He says he is very good at acting out his scripted lines by becoming that character and selling it as real at the moment.

 5. Levy’s has Two Left Feet

Image by austinthaijam from Pixabay – Wikimedia Commons 

Eugene can’t dance to get or stay married. Early in their marriage, Eugene and his wife Deborah Divine, discovered they disliked dancing. However, they discovered that they are great singers and performed at their daughter’s wedding.

6.He was a bad boy

Since acting is his passion, he was already earning from it, while still in college. This was no easy fete and he was often in trouble with his professors for missing classes. Dropping out of college, was out of the question. He considered a college degree a big achievement not only for him but for his family as well.

to stay out of trouble, he approached his professors for support and guidance on what materials to read on and which topics to focus on to be a good actor and student. This helped him balance school and his career.

7.Out of character, on set

Levy’s character on set is always bubbly and funny. The Johnny character in Schitt’s Creek performance was not only different but also felt difficult for him. This was out of his usual character from earlier roles that he acted, usually witty, warm, and wise-crackly.

This was made possible because of Chris Elliot who challenged him to come out of his comfort zone.

8. Awards and Achievements

Through his acting, he has been able to win several awards of which his first was the MedallaSitges en Plata de Ley for Best Actor in the Sitges Film Festival.

Levy was also awarded the 2003, Grammy Awards for Best Song Writer for a motion picture, television, and other visual media for the title song “A Mighty Wind” along with Christopher Guest and Micheal Mc Kean.

He has further been awarded five Canadian comedy awards. Three for Best Male Performer for American Pie 2 and Mighty Wind, and two for Best Writing in Mighty wind and Best in Show. He has also been awarded the Governor General’s Performing Arts Award also known as the (GGPAA).

9.Some friends stay closer to be family

Image by Rufino Hermandad -Wikimedia Commons

Where the bond of friendship becomes stronger over time, magic is bound to happen. Steve Martin and Levy not only are co-stars but have forged their relationship in comedy to becoming lifelong close friends. It’s by no surprise that they have both starred alongside each other in three movies: Father of The Bride, Bringing Down the House, and Cheaper by the Dozen.

10. Schitt’s Perfect Ending

Film – Pixabay – Wikimedia Commons

Schitt’s Creek ending- Perfect! He believed this, since once the show had picked up momentum then it could have been tempting enough to drag on for another few seasons.

Luckily, the series ended in a very natural way and it wouldn’t have made sense to force out more from the story line. As he started “it ended when it should have ended”. They had already received 15 Emmy nominations which were already mind-blowing and reaching such a peak again was impossible.

When the show began, the intention was to make a great character comedy and he gives his son Dan the credit for steering the show until its destination.