Birthday: Eugene Levy

Today is the 66th birthday of actor Eugene Levy.

Levy really got his start in the Canadian sketch comedy show Second City Television, which later became known as SCTV.  The show was really a big start for a few notable Canadian comics; the original cast consisted of Levy, John Candy, Joe Flaherty, Andrea Martin, Catherine O'Hara, Harold Ramis, and Dave Thomas.  Later additions to the cast included Rick Moranis and Martin Short.

What Levy is probably best known for, however, is his appearance in all eight American Pie movies - the only cast member to have done so.  Why he felt it necessary to appear in the American Pie Presents films, I don't know, but then I do question a lot of career choices that he's made.  Beyond American Pie and SCTV, Levy is also known for his appearance in a lot of not-so-great sequels of movies with varying greatness, including Father of the Bride Part II, Richie Rich's Christmas Wish, Dumb & Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd, Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian, and Cheaper by the Dozen 2.  That being said, Levy has also received two stars on Canada's Walk of Fame, one for himself and one as part of the cast of SCTV - one of only four two-time honourees, the other three being his cast members Short, Candy, and O'Hara - has won five Canadian Comedy Awards, one of the few people to do so, received the Governor General's Performing Arts Award, was made a Member of the Order of Canada, and, most recently, was presented with the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.  Which, really, is a lot of recognition and honours for a funnyman who is best known for his thoughts on masturbation with baked goods.

Happy birthday, Mr. Levy!