Biography for
Rick Moranis More at IMDbPro »

Date of Birth

18 April 1953, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Birth Name

Frederick Alan Moranis

Height

5' 4" (1.63 m)

Spouse

Anne Moranis

(? - February 1991) (her death) 2 children

Trade Mark

Glasses.

Nerdy characters

Trivia

Was widowed in the early 1990s when his wife died of cancer. He has two children from that marriage.

Moranis and Dave Thomas originally created the characters Bob and Doug McKenzie in protest against government requirements for "identifiable Canadian content" in domestically produced television programming. The skits, as an SCTV program "The Great White North" featured two dim witted brothers who combined as many negative Canadian stereotypes as possible. Despite this, they became so popular that the skits were included in the U.S. version of the program, and Moranis and Thomas were made members of the Order of Canada for their contribution to Canadian culture.

Was the afternoon deejay on Toronto radio station CHUM-FM in the Seventies.

Using the on-air name of "Rick Allen" he was the overnight deejay on Toronto radio station CFTR-AM in the early Seventies after that station switched formats from Beautiful Music to Top 40.

Along with Dave Thomas, scored a Billboard Top 40 hit in 1982 called "Take Off" as Bob and Doug MacKenzie in a duet with Rush lead singer Geddy Lee.

Went to school with Geddy Lee from Rush.

He made the cover of the first issue of Disney Adventures in 1990.

Was invited to the party Steve Martin was throwing that turned out to be his wedding.

Attended the funeral of his good friend John Candy.

Was considered for the role of Governor Lewis in Evolution (2001).

He was the only SCTV cast member who didn't come from the Second City theatre.

Personal Quotes

Until 1982, Canada Day was known as Dominion Day. I always thought that had more of a ring to it. Beyond the zippy alliteration, it reminded us citizens that our domain of orderly domesticity was graced by the dominant power of our "Dominus." And the rights granted therein to us by the glorious English crown through her colonial appointee, the right honourable governor general. 'There was another problem with Dominion Day. Dominion was the name of a national grocery store chain. It would be like calling the Fourth of July D'Agostino's Day. 'Independence (now there's a great name for a day!) came slowly to our country. In 1965, we dumped the old, staid British ensign for our own new flag. in lIt's the one with the big red maple leaf in the middle. A simple, sweet leaf! We also have moose and beavers on our coins. And we call our dollars loonies because the coin has an image of a loon. Another old bird, the Queen of England, is on the other side of the coin. 'I remember singing "God Save the Queen" every morning in school. "Long live our noble Queen!" we belted, thousands of us tubby little obedient Canadians. I guess it worked. She's still alive. Now they sing "O Canada" in schools and at most sporting events; usually in French and English. Around the time we were changing anthems, dumping ensigns and renaming holidays, the official use of both languages became mandatory, except in Quebec where the required use of English is a bit fuzzy. 'Canada Day comes and goes modestly every year. Sure, there are retail sales promotions and a long weekend. But there isn't bluster or commodity in Canadian celebration. Canada isn't big on bunting. Or jet flyovers, fireworks, marching bands or military pomp. 'Canadians defer. We save our loonies and don't jaywalk. It's illegal, eh. We stand on guard at red lights, even when there is no traffic. We wait for clear, green governing lights to signal our turn and lead us on. Then we tuck our heads down, under wooly toques and worn-out scarves, one eye barely open, squinting headlong into the harsh prairie wind, cautiously, quietly, demurely Canadian.

Where Are They Now

(1996-) New York City running his own production company.

(September 2005) Released a comedy/country album "The Agoraphobic Cowboy"

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