Eugene Levy

He is a regular collaborator of actor-director Christopher Guest, appearing in and co-writing four of his films, commencing with Waiting for Guffman (1996). From 2015 to 2020, he starred as Johnny Rose in Schitt's Creek, a comedy series that he co-created with his son and co-star Dan Levy. Levy won a Grammy Award for Best Song Written for Visual Media in 2004 for "A Mighty Wind" from the film of the same name that he co-wrote. He received the Governor General's Performing Arts Award, Canada's highest honour in the performing arts, in 2008. He was appointed to the Order of Canada in 2011. In 2019 and 2020, he was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series, which he won in 2020.

Eugene Levy studied at McMaster University and Westdale Secondary School. The recorded working language is English. Residence is recorded at Pacific Palisades. Distinctions recorded are Member of the Order of Canada, Governor General's Performing Arts Award, Earle Grey Award and Canada's Walk of Fame.

• Name — Eugene Levy • Born — 17 December 1946 • Birthplace — Hamilton, Ontario, Canada • Occupation — * Actor • comedian • Years Active — 1969–present • Children — * Dan • Sarah • Education — McMaster University (BA) • Awards — Full list

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 a car factory. He has a brother, Fred, and sister, Barbara. His mother was born in the Gorbals area of 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, graduating in 1969 with a Bachelor of Arts in sociology. He was vice-president of the McMaster Film Board, a student film group, where he met filmmaker Ivan Reitman.

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.

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 travel series titled The Reluctant Traveler (2023) on Apple TV+, which is now in its third season. In 2024, Levy attended a ceremony honouring him with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

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 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. He is a supporter of Real Betis of La Liga.

• Year — Title — Role — Notes • 1975–1979 — King of Kensington — Bernie / Freddie Cohen — 2 episodes • 1976 — data-sort-value="Sunshine Hour, The" | The Sunshine Hour — Various • 1976–1977 — Stay Tuned — Various • 1976–1984 — SCTV — Various — Also writer • 1985 — data-sort-value="Last Polka, The" | The Last Polka — Stan Shmenge — Television film; also writer • George Burns Comedy Week — Robert — Episode: "Home for Dinner" • Martin Short: Concert for the North Americas — Stupid Eddie / Buddy — Voice, television special • 1986 — Billy Crystal: Don't Get Me Started — Morty Arnold — Television special • 1987 — data-sort-value="Disney Sunday Movie, The" | The Disney Sunday Movie — Tom Lynch — Episode: "Bride of Boogedy" • 1988 — data-sort-value="Ray Bradbury Theater, The" | The Ray Bradbury Theater — Bert Harris — Episode: "Skeleton" • 1990–1993 — Maniac Mansion — Doc Ellis — Episode: "Freddie Had a Little Lamb"; Also co-creator, writer, director, and executive producer • 1992 — I, Martin Short, Goes Hollywood — Studio Head — Voice, television special • Partners 'N' Love — David Grodin — Television film • Camp Candy — Pete, Shmenge, Bruno, Stan Bobby Bittman — Voice, 4 episodes • 1994 — data-sort-value="Martin Short Show, The" | The Martin Short Show — Directed two episodes • 1995 — Harrison Bergeron — President McCloskey — Television film • 1996 — Road to Avonlea — Rudy Blaine — Episode: "King of the Great White Way" • 1996–1997 — Duckman — Dr. Craig Ehrlich — Voice, 2 episodes • 1997 — Nightmare Ned — Mr. Nickels — Voice, episode: "Magic Bus" • 1997–1998 — Hiller and Diller — Gordon Schermerhorn — 13 episodes • 1998 — Mad About You — Doctor — Episode: "Nat & Arley" • Hercules — King Midas — Voice, episode: "Hercules and the Golden Touch" • data-sort-value="Drew Carey Show, The" | The Drew Carey Show — Dr. Rider — Episode: "The Engagement" • 1999 — data-sort-value="Wonderful World of Disney, The" | The Wonderful World of Disney — Larry — Episode: "Dogmatic" • 2000 — Dilbert — Plug Guard — Voice, episode: "The Return" • 2002 — Off Centre — Dr. Barry Wasserman — 2 episodes • 2002–2004 — Greg the Bunny — Gil Bender — 13 episodes • 2012 — I, Martin Short, Goes Home — Mr. Mortimer Rickards — Television special • 2013–2014 — Package Deal — McKenzie — 3 episodes • 2014 — Working the Engels — Arthur Horowitz — Episode: "Meet Irene Horowitz" • 2015–2020 — Schitt's Creek — Johnny Rose — 80 episodes; also co-creator, writer, and executive producer • 2020 — data-sort-value="Ellen DeGeneres Show, The" | The Ellen DeGeneres Show — Himself / Guest Host — January 10, 2020; standing in for Ellen DeGeneres • 2021 — Saturday Night Live — Himself — Episode: "Dan Levy/Phoebe Bridgers" • 2023–present — data-sort-value="Reluctant Traveler, The" | The Reluctant Traveler — Himself — Apple TV+ travel series • 2023 — Human Resources — Paul Crumbhorn — Voice, 6 episodes • 2024 — Only Murders in the Building — Himself portraying Charles — Recurring role (Season 4) • 76th Primetime Emmy Awards — Himself (co-host) — Television special

• Year — Title — Role — Notes — Ref. • 1972–1973 — Godspell — Light of the World — Royal Alexandra Theatre, Canada • 1997 — Promises, Promises — Mr. Dobitch — New York City Center, Off-Broadway

• Year — Title — Role — Notes — Ref. • 1993 — data-sort-value="Wacky World of Miniature Golf with Eugene Levy, The" | The Wacky World of Miniature Golf with Eugene Levy — Performer — Voice; Philips CD-i game • 1996 — Creature Crunch — Brian, additional characters — Voice; PC game • 2015 — R40 Live — Rockin' Mel – Host — 1970s era spoofed rock show • 2020 — Canada: Far and Wide — Narrator — Voice; short film at Epcot

Eugene Levy is recorded as having received Member of the Order of Canada, Governor General's Performing Arts Award and Earle Grey Award.

• Illustration — Levy in 2011 • Illustration — Levy at the American Reunion film premiere in 2012 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.

• Year — Title — Role — Notes • 1971 — Foxy Lady — Coffee Boy • 1973 — Cannibal Girls — Clifford Sturges • 1979 — Running — Richie Rosenberg • 1980 — Nothing Personal — Marty • Deadly Companion — Matt • 1981 — Heavy Metal — Captain Lincoln F. Sternn, Male Reporter, Edsel — Voice • 1983 — National Lampoon's Vacation — Ed, a car salesman • Going Berserk — Sal DiPasquale • 1984 — Splash — Walter Kornbluth • 1986 — Club Paradise — Barry Steinberg • Armed and Dangerous — Norman Kane • 1987 — Bride of Boogedy — Tom Lynch • 1989 — Speed Zone — Leo Ross • 1991 — Father of the Bride — Singer at Audition • 1992 — Once upon a Crime — Casino Cashier — Uncredited; also director • Stay Tuned — Crowley • 1994 — I Love Trouble — Ray, the Justice of the Peace • 1995 — Father of the Bride Part II — Mr. Habib • 1996 — Multiplicity — Vic • Waiting for Guffman — Dr. Allan Pearl — Also writer • 1998 — Almost Heroes — Guy Fontenot • Holy Man — Guy on background TV — Uncredited • Richie Rich's Christmas Wish — Professor Keanbean — Direct to video • 1999 — data-sort-value="Secret Life of Girls, The" | The Secret Life of Girls — Hugh Sanford • Dogmatic — Larry • American Pie — Noah Levenstein • 2000 — Silver Man — Leon • Best in Show — Gerry Fleck — Also writer • data-sort-value="Ladies Man, The" | The Ladies Man — Bucky Kent • 2001 — Down to Earth — Keyes • Josie and the Pussycats — Himself • American Pie 2 — Noah Levenstein • Serendipity — Bloomingdales Clerk • 2002 — Repli-Kate — Jonas Fromer / Repli-Jonas • Like Mike — Frank Bernard • 2003 — Bringing Down the House — Howie Rottman • data-sort-value="Mighty Wind, A" | A Mighty Wind — Mitch Cohen — Also writer • Dumb & Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd — Principal Collins • American Wedding — Noah Levenstein • 2004 — New York Minute — Max Lomax • 2005 — data-sort-value="Man, The" | The Man — Andy Fiddler • American Pie Presents: Band Camp — Noah Levenstein — Direct to DVD • Cheaper by the Dozen 2 — Jimmy Murtaugh • 2006 — Curious George — Clovis — Voice • Over the Hedge — Lou • For Your Consideration — Morley Orfkin — Also writer • American Pie Presents: The Naked Mile — Noah Levenstein — Direct to DVD • 2007 — American Pie Presents: Beta House • 2009 — Gooby — Mr. Nerdlinger • Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian — Albert Einstein Bobbleheads — Voice • Taking Woodstock — Max Yasgur • Astro Boy — Orrin — Voice • American Pie Presents: The Book of Love — Noah Levenstein — Direct to DVD • 2011 — Goon — Dr. Glatt • 2012 — American Reunion — Noah Levenstein • Madea's Witness Protection — George Needleman • 2015 — Being Canadian — Himself — Documentary • 2016 — Finding Dory — Charlie — Voice • 2018 — Love, Gilda — Himself — Documentary • 2021 — Star-Crossed: The Film — Doctor • 2024 — Summer Camp — Stevie D • 2025 — John Candy: I Like Me — Himself — Documentary