Beloved actor-comedian John Candy was every bit as sweet as his name. Following the release of John Candy: I Like Me, a heartfelt documentary directed by Colin Hanks and produced by Ryan Reynolds, now streaming on Amazon Prime Video, fans are once again celebrating the man behind the laughter. Alongside the renewed love for Candy comes attention to the woman who stood by him through it all: his wife, Rosemary Margaret Hobor, fondly known as Rose Candy. 

John Candy was only 43 years old when he died in 1994 while filming his last-ever project, Waggons East, in Mexico. His untimely departure had sent shockwaves through Hollywood, leaving fans, friends and colleagues heartbroken. However, perhaps the greatest pain was felt by none other than Rose, who has been his grounding force throughout his meteoric rise to fame.

As the world revisits the beautiful man’s life, here’s a closer look at Rosemary, whom actor Martin Short once described as John Candy’s ‘calm’ and ‘grounding’ element.

John Candy and Rosemary had ‘one of the most successful marriages’ in Hollywood

Rosemary’s story with John Candy dates back to the late 1960s, long before he became a household name in the industry. From their first meeting on a blind date, it progressed after Candy reached out to Rose one day for help typing out a script. In an old interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the Planes, Trains and Automobiles actor shared:

“We didn’t get along on our first date. It was a blind date, too. But I was going to show her; how dare you not like me!”

Rosemary and John tied the knot in 1979 in a private wedding in Toronto, Canada, where they both grew up and met. While it was a private wedding, it’s famously remembered for one small detail: a McDonald’s logo that appeared in the background of some of their wedding photos. This sparked long-standing rumours that they married at the fast food chain, but they didn’t. Candy himself once addressed this incident, saying with a laugh:

“We didn’t think to look. It was under construction.”

John’s fame exploded in the 1980s with films like Splash, Uncle Buck, and Planes, Trains and Automobiles, but his married life with Rose remained refreshingly private. The couple welcomed their first child, Jennifer Candy, in 1980 and welcomed their son, Christopher, in 1984. Speaking about their marriage, their long-time friend, actor Martin Short, once said:

“What Rose always brought was this calm, in control, grounding, wise element. If John was upset about something, by the end of the day, Rose would calm him down. It’s one of the most successful marriages I’ve ever known.”

What happened to John Candy? The heartbreaking truth behind the man who only wanted to make people laugh

Beyond his genuinely delightful personality, John Candy had long been struggling with multiple health issues, which took an emotional and physical toll on him. Known for his large frame, which became a comedic asset, John suffered from multiple health issues, including obesity, heart disease and crippling anxiety.

The comedian had to endure fatphobic media coverage, which his children later described as painful to witness. Interviews often focused on his weight rather than his talent, which they now see as deeply unfair. Some of the most emotional moments in John Candy: I Like Me come from old interview clips where journalists cruelly questioned the actor about his weight and health.

According to his friends, family, and colleagues, John Candy was a people pleaser who always wanted to make others laugh to hide his struggles with low self-esteem, childhood trauma, and mental health struggles. With the release of the documentary, Candy’s son, Christopher, now 41, told Us Weekly:

“It was maddening, really, to see some of those interviews and to see what he put up with, because in the scope of time, we know the full story. And I heard a story that didn’t make it in the documentary… he was so uncomfortable eating in front of people because of the paparazzi, so it forced him to not eat. Like, ‘OK, but I can have a drink, or I can have a cigarette, and then when I get home at the end of the day, at the hotel room or whatever, then I’ll eat.’ And we all know just from simple metabolic rate, that’s terrible for you.”

The day everything changed for Rosemary and her kids

On the morning of March 4, 1994, Rosemary received the call every spouse dreads. John Candy, who was in Mexico for the filming of Waggons East, had died in his sleep of a heart attack. The news devastated the Candy family and the comedy world alike. Rosemary’s brother, Frank Hober, told PEOPLE at the time:

“None of us believed it would happen. The whole family [was] in turmoil.”

Despite losing the love of her life, Rosemary remained composed, focusing on raising her children while navigating the unbearable grief. She never remarried and instead chose to preserve the home and heart she had built with John.

Where is Rosemary Candy now?

Today, decades after John Candy’s passing, Rosemary still considers herself Mrs Candy. She continues to live a private life away from the spotlight. She runs a small studio in Santa Monica, California, under her professional name, Rose Candy, where she creates stunning ceramic and porcelain pieces.

Rose rarely agrees to do interviews but occasionally shares tributes to John on social media. One such post dates back to Father’s Day 2023, when she posted a photo of her late husband with a touching message:

“With love on this Father’s Day. Miss you. You imparted the gift of love and laughter to our children, Jennifer and Christopher. They are amazing.”

Meanwhile, the Candy siblings continue to honour their late father’s legacy in their own ways. Jennifer, now 45, is a writer, producer, and actor, while Christopher is an actor and musician. The siblings also served as co-executive producers on John Candy: I Like Me, alongside their mother. Speaking about the documentary, Jennifer told PEOPLE:

“Working on the documentary was emotional and cathartic. It brought us closer to Dad again.”

Though more than three decades have passed since John Candy’s death, Rosemary still signs her artwork and emails as ‘Rose Candy’. Friends say she never stopped loving him, and John’s presence is still felt in every piece of art she makes.

Read Next: Who Is Greta Gerwig? Four-Time Oscar-Nominated Director, Actress, Married Filmmaker, Noah Baumbach