Biography
Bespectacled and unassuming in appearance, Moranis was a natural for socially awkward characters whose strength and charisma were visible only after serious challenges ensued, though his most popular role was that of the supernaturally dense Bob McKenzie, one half of the beer-swilling McKenzie Brothers, who debuted on "SCTV" and later earned their own feature, "Strange Brew" (1983). After the death of his wife in 1991, Moranis retired from …
Latest Tv Credits
1 - 4 of 4
Splitting Heirs
Honey, I Shrunk The Kids
Big Bully
Career Milestones
| Joined "Second City TV" syndicated TV series during its third season on CBC as a performer/writer | ||
| Performed on Toronto cabaret circuit in the 1970s | ||
| Series regular on and writer for "SCTV Network 90" series | ||
| Supplied the voice of the high school teacher protagonist of the Saturday morning animated children's program, "Rick Moranis in Gravedale High" | ||
1971 | Began career as a part-time radio engineer in Toronto, Ontario while still in high school; supplied station's deejays with funny one-liners which led to his own radio show which he hosted and wrote (date approximate) | |
1975 | Moved to Los Angeles (for five weeks) | |
1981 | Recorded first comedy album, "Great White North" (with Dave Thomas) | |
1982 | Featured on NBC TV pilot, "Twilight Theatre II" | |
1983 | Film acting, co-directing and co-writing (with Dave Thomas) debut in "Strange Brew" | |
1984 | Had small, but memorable role as nerdy, possessed Louis in the blockbuster hit "Ghostbusters" | |
1986 | Starred as nebbish Seymour in the black comedy/musical film version of "Little Shop of Horrors"; first movie with Steve Martin | |
1987 | Played Darth Vader-like villain in Mel Brooks' "Star Wars" spoof "Spaceballs" | |
1989 | Cast in the superb ensemble comedy "Parenthood" | |
1989 | First hit film, "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids" | |
1989 | Reprised role in "Ghostbusters II" | |
1990 | Co-starred with Martin in "My Blue Heaven" | |
1991 | Played an uncredited cameo role as a gravedigger in the Martin's comedy, "LA Story" | |
1994 | Starred in the kids football flick "Little Giants" | |
1994 | Was the perfect live-action Barney Rubble in "The Flintstones", starring John Goodman and Rosie O'Donnell | |
1995 | Acted in the high-school revenge comedy "Big Bully" | |
1997 | Appeared in "Honey, We Shrunk Ourselves", the second sequel to "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids" | |
Awards
1982 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing In a Variety or Music Program in SCTV Network |