Biography
Who is Rick Moranis?
Early life and real name
Frederick Allan Moranis was born in Toronto, Ontario. He grew up as part of a Jewish family. During his elementary school years, he was classmates with Geddy Lee from the band Rush. Rick later attended York University for his education.
Career beginnings and SCTV
Rick started his entertainment career as a radio disc jockey in the mid 1970s. He used the professional name Rick Allan at several Toronto stations. These included CFTR, CKFH, 1050 CHUM, and CHUM FM. He then performed on CBC TV alongside Rob Cowan. The duo became known for a parody of Hockey Night in Canada. Rick also worked with Ken Finkleman on the show 90 Minutes Live.
In 1980, he joined the third season of Second City Television. He was the only cast member who did not come from a Second City stage troupe. Rick became famous for his impressions of people like Woody Allen and David Brinkley. He and Dave Thomas created a sketch called The Great White North. This sketch featured the characters Bob and Doug McKenzie. These characters became a pop culture hit and led to a Grammy nominated album.
Hollywood movie success
Rick Moranis made his first major film appearance in the 1983 movie Strange Brew. He followed this with a role in Streets of Fire in 1984. That same year, he appeared in Ghostbusters. He later returned for Ghostbusters II in 1989. Other well-known films from this era include Little Shop of Horrors in 1986 and Spaceballs in 1987.
He played the lead in Honey, I Shrunk the Kids in 1989. This film spawned sequels in 1992 and 1997. Rick also starred in Parenthood and My Blue Heaven. In 1994, he played Barney Rubble in The Flintstones. He provided voice work for a cartoon called Gravedale High in 1990. He was almost in The Breakfast Club but left after one week of filming.
Family and acting hiatus
Rick reduced his workload after his wife died in 1991. He took a full hiatus from the film industry in 1997. He decided to dedicate his time to raising his children. He later stated that traveling for movies was too difficult for a single parent. Rick declined a cameo in the 2016 Ghostbusters movie.
During his break, he did occasional voice work. He voiced a character in the 2001 film Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer and the Island of Misfit Toys. He also voiced Rutt the moose in the 2003 Disney film Brother Bear. He returned for the sequel to Brother Bear in 2006.
Music and recent work
Rick released a country music album titled The Agoraphobic Cowboy in 2005. This album was nominated for a 2006 Grammy for Best Comedy Album. He performed a song called Press Pound on Late Night with Conan O'Brien. In 2013, he released another comedy album called My Mother's Brisket and Other Love Songs.
He won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series. He was also honored with the Earle Grey Award. Rick served on the Advisory Committee for the comedy program at Humber College in 2004. He signed on to reprise the role of Dark Helmet in Spaceballs: The New One. This film is planned for 2027.
Birthday and age
Rick Moranis was born on April 18, 1953, which makes Rick 73 years old today. That birthday falls under the Aries sign. Rick shares the date with 56 other famous people.
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