Whatever Happened to the Cast of ‘SCTV’?
What To Know
- SCTV was a groundbreaking Canadian sketch comedy show featuring a cast of comedic legends.
- Though some original cast members have passed away, the show’s legacy endures through its timeless satire and the continued success of its alumni.
SCTV (a.k.a. Second City Television and SCTV Network) was a legendary sketch comedy show from the Great White North that originally aired from 1976 to 1984. Though the show was known for its beloved characters, from Bob and Doug McKenzie and Johnny LaRue, it was most famous for its cast of comedic geniuses, including John Candy, Catherine O’Hara, Eugene Levy, Martin Short, Andrea Martin, Rick Moranis, and Joe Flaherty, who would go on to define funny TV for the next 50 years.
An offshoot of the Toronto branch of The Second City improv troupe, the sketch show centered on the fictional television station Channel 109 in the town of Melonville and offered parodies of pop culture with an edgy take.
Celebrated for its smart, satire-driven, and character-driven sketches, which often focused on low-budget TV programming, talk shows, fake commercials, and whoever or whatever was in the mainstream at the moment.
Sadly, only a handful of the original cast remain, but their legacy lives on through the timeless comedy they created.
Eugene Levy, 79
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Eugene Levy was a central cast member, writer, and a driving creative force behind SCTV. He was renowned for playing characters that often bordered on the pathetic or absurd, including sleazy promoter Bobby Bittman, newscaster Earl Camembert, TV host Alex Trebel (a parody of Alex Trebek), and one of the Five Neat Guys.
As a writer for the show, Levy won Emmys for Outstanding Writing in 1982 and 1983.
After SCTV, Levy became a player in many of Christopher Guest‘s mockumentaries, such as Best in Show and A Mighty Wind, often teamed with former SCTV gal pal, Catherine O’Hara. He was also known for comedic turns as the antagonist in Ron Howard‘s Splash and Jim’s Dad in American Pie.
Levy had a career renaissance with the show Schitt’s Creek, which he starred, wrote, and produced with his son Dan Levy, winning a pair of Emmys for his work.
Martin Short, 75
Everett Collection/ Monica Schipper/Getty Images
Martin Short was a standout cast member and writer known for his high-energy characters, most notably the hyper-nerdy Ed Grimley (who played the triangle and loved Wheel of Fortune), elderly songwriter Irving Cohen, and defense attorney Nathan Thurm.
After SCTV, Short joined SNL for one season, bringing over Ed Grimley and becoming famous for impressions of Jerry Lewis and Katharine Hepburn. He became a star of the silver screen in the ’80s and ’90s, with roles in hit movies Three Amigos, Innerspace, and Father of the Bride.
Recently, Short is picking up critical love for his role as Oliver in Only Murders in the Building, which he also exec produces.
Rick Moranis, 72
Everett Collection/ Theo Wargo/Getty Images
Rick Moranis was one of the standout performers on SCTV, where his character work helped define the show’s off-kilter tone. On the show, he played one half of the iconic beer-swilling, hoser-hating duo Bob and Doug McKenzie, talk show host Merv Griffin, and commentator Gerry Todd.
After SCTV, Moranis went on to become a major film star in the 1980s and ’90s with hits like Ghostbusters, Spaceballs, and Honey, I Shrunk the Kids.
In the late 1990s, Moranis stepped away from Hollywood to focus on raising his children after the death of his wife. However, the comedy legend is set to make his return in the upcoming sequel to Spaceballs.
Andrea Martin, 79
Everett Collection/ John Medland / © Disney+ / Courtesy Everett Collection
On SCTV, Andrea Martin was known for characters that were loud, abrasive, bizarre, and utterly unforgettable. Her most iconic characters included the leopard-print-loving Edith Prickley, talk show host Perini Scleroso, and gossip Mrs. Falbo.
After SCTV, Martin built an equally impressive career, with notable roles in films such as Aunt Voula in My Big Fat Greek Wedding, and recurring and starring turns on TV series like The Gilded Age, Evil, Will & Grace, Difficult People, One Day at a Time, Modern Family, and Only Murders in the Building, so name a few. She also carved herself out a career on the stage, and earned her a Tony Award for My Favorite Year, with additional nominations for Oklahoma! and Candide.
Dave Thomas, 76
Everett Collection/ © Amazon Prime Video /Courtesy Everett Collection
Dave Thomas joined SCTV when it began in 1976 and was a key performer and head writer on the series until it ended in 1984. He was best known on the show for playing one-half of the beer-loving McKenzie brothers, station editorial journalist Bill Needle, and TV adman Harvey K-Tel.
After SCTV, Thomas costarred in the show Grace Under Fire for several seasons, and had bit parts in Stripes, Coneheads, Arrested Development, and Rat Race. He was also an accomplished voice actor, with roles in Disney’s Big Brother, King of the Hill, and The Simpsons.
In addition to acting, Thomas also flexed his chops as a writer and consulting producer for shows like Bones and The Blacklist.
Robin Duke, 71
NBC / Courtesy of Everett Collection/ Ben Mark Holzberg / ©FXX / courtesy Everett Collection
An original cast member and writer, Robin Duke was in the first season of the show and became a regular player in 1980. She left SCTV to join Saturday Night Live in 1981, replacing Catherine O’Hara, who decided to return to SCTV.
After a few bit parts in Groundhog Day and Club Paradise, Duke is a retired professor who taught comedy writing, performance, and improvisation for 19 years at Humber College in Toronto. She also had a recurring role as Wendy Kurtz in Schitt’s Creek. Duke was honored with the Firecracker Trailblazer Award in 2024 for her work in comedy. She is currently working on a memoir and can be found as a voice on local radio.
Catherine O’Hara
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Core member Catherine O’Hara was famous for creating characters like the boozy, washed-up lounge singer Lola Heatherton and the clueless comedian Dusty Towne, along with celebrity impressions of Brooke Shields, Lucille Ball, and Katharine Hepburn. O’Hara won an Emmy in 1982 for writing on SCTV and later gained a new generation of fans as Moira Rose on Schitt’s Creek.
The actress passed away on January 30, 2026.
John Candy
David Street/ TV Guide / courtesy Everett Collection
Candy was a standout performer known for creating larger-than-life characters, including sleazy television personality Johnny LaRue, 3-D horror auteur Doctor Tongue, sycophantic talk-show sidekick William B. Williams, and polka musician Yosh Shmenge. He later became a full-fledged movie star with memorable turns as lovable Del Griffith in Planes, Trains and Automobiles, the titular character in Uncle Buck, and the bobsled coach in Cool Runnings.
Candy died of a heart attack in his sleep on March 4, 1994, at age 43.
Joe Flaherty
David Street/ TV Guide / courtesy Everett Collection
An original cast member and writer, Joe Flaherty was a mainstay of the ensemble, famous for playing characters such as the wheelchair-using station manager Guy Caballero, vampiric late-night host Count Floyd, and straight-man news anchor Floyd Robertson. After SCTV, he became known for his performance as Harold Weir in Freaks and Geeks, as well as small but memorable parts in Stripes andHappy Gilmore
Flaherty died at age 82 on April 1, 2024, following a brief illness.
Harold Ramis
Warner Bros./courtesy Everett Collection
As a writer, performer, and founding member of SCTV, Harold Ramis often played the cynical, deadpan station manager Moe Green, as well as other characters like Officer Friendly. After SCTV, Ramis became a fixture of ’80s movies, best known for his role as Dr. Egon Spengler in the Ghostbusters franchise and Russell Ziskey in Stripes. He was also a prolific director and writer, penning Ghostbusters, Groundhog Day, Animal House, Caddyshack, and Stripes.
Ramis died on February 24, 2014, at age 69.
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