Rick Moranis

Biography

Rick Moranis is a Canadian comedian and actor who built a following in television comedy before becoming a fixture of 1980s Hollywood films. Born in Toronto, he began in radio, spinning records on local stations in the mid-1970s, then performed on CBC-TV with Rob Cowan. After teaming with Ken Finkleman on live shows and pilots, he joined Second City Television in 1980, where he became known for celebrity impressions and, with Dave Thomas, created the Bob and Doug McKenzie characters. Their Great White North sketch produced a Grammy-nominated album and led to his first major film role in Strange Brew (1983), followed by Streets of Fire (1984). His film run included Ghostbusters (1984), Brewster's Millions (1985), Little Shop of Horrors (1986), Spaceballs (1987), Ghostbusters II (1989), Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (1989), Parenthood (1989), My Blue Heaven (1990), and The Flintstones (1994). He later voiced Rutt in Brother Bear (2003) and released comedy albums, including the Grammy-nominated The Agoraphobic Cowboy.

73years old

Turns 74 on April 18in 188 days

Born April 18, 1953Toronto
Star sign: AriesThe sign runs March 21 to April 19
Frederick Allan Moranis (birth name)

Movie Career

Films: 21
Career span: 23 years1983 to 2006

Genres

Comedy90%, 19 films
Adventure33%, 7 films
Family24%, 5 films
Sci-Fi19%, 4 films
Animation14%, 3 films

First and latest

Photos

Did you know?!

A role that slipped away
Moranis was cast as the janitor in The Breakfast Club, but after about a week of filming producer Ned Tanen released him because his over-the-top Russian caricature did not suit the film's serious tone.
A change of course
In the mid-1970s Moranis started his entertainment career as a radio disc jockey. At Toronto stations CFTR, CKFH, 1050 CHUM and CHUM-FM he went by the on-air name "Rick Allan".
Big break
Moranis joined the third-season cast of SCTV in 1980 after friend and SCTV writer Dave Thomas persuaded him, and he was the only cast member who had not come from a Second City stage troupe.
A first
On SCTV, Moranis played Gerry Todd, a disc jockey who showed music clips on TV. The sketch ran before MTV started in the United States, so Martin Short called Moranis the creator of the video jockey.
A role that slipped away
Moranis declined to voice Bob in the animated Bob and Doug McKenzie series Bob & Doug, with Dave Coulier taking over the role, though Moranis stayed on as an executive producer.
Behind the camera
In 1980, when SCTV was picked up by CBC, Moranis and Thomas needed two more minutes of Canadian content, so they invented The Great White North, a sketch starring Bob and Doug McKenzie.

Rick Moranis movies on Netflix

Brother Bear 22006IMDb rating 6.1as Rutt (voice)
Brother Bear2003IMDb rating 6.9as Rutt (voice)
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer & the Island of Misfit Toys2001IMDb rating 5.3as Toy Taker
Honey, We Shrunk Ourselves1997IMDb rating 5.0as Wayne Szalinski
Big Bully1996IMDb rating 4.8as David Leary
Little Giants1994IMDb rating 6.5as Danny O'Shea
The Flintstones1994IMDb rating 5.1as Barney Rubble
Splitting Heirs1993IMDb rating 5.5as Henry Bullock
Honey, I Blew Up the Kid1992IMDb rating 4.9as Wayne
My Blue Heaven1990IMDb rating 6.3as Barney Coopersmith
Ghostbusters II1989IMDb rating 6.6as Louis Tully
Honey, I Shrunk the Kids1989IMDb rating 6.5as Wayne Szalinski
Parenthood1989IMDb rating 7.1as Nathan Huffner
Spaceballs1987IMDb rating 7.1as Dark Helmet
Club Paradise1986IMDb rating 5.2as Barry Nye
Little Shop of Horrors1986IMDb rating 7.1as Seymour Krelborn
Brewster's Millions1985IMDb rating 6.5as Morty King
Head Office1985IMDb rating 5.4as Howard Gross
Ghostbusters1984IMDb rating 7.8as Louis Tully
Streets of Fire1984IMDb rating 6.7as Billy Fish
Strange Brew1983IMDb rating 6.6as Bob McKenzie

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

Top

Honey, I Shrunk the Kids1989 Adventure, Comedy, Familyas Wayne Szalinski
IMDb rating 6.5179K votes
Spaceballs1987 Adventure, Comedy, Sci-Fias Dark Helmet
IMDb rating 7.1229K votes
Ghostbusters1984as Louis Tully
IMDb rating 7.8491K votes
Little Shop of Horrors1986as Seymour Krelborn
IMDb rating 7.196K votes
Brother Bear2003as Ruttvoice
IMDb rating 6.9138K votes
Ghostbusters II1989as Louis Tully
IMDb rating 6.6242K votes
The Flintstones1994as Barney Rubble
IMDb rating 5.193K votes
Honey, I Blew Up the Kid1992as Wayne
IMDb rating 4.950K votes

Most often with

Ivan Reitman directed two of these films, Walter Hill two. Four actors appear in three of them each. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

Top

Bill Murray

Steve Martin

John Candy

Dave Thomas

Frank Welker

Dan Aykroyd

Ivan ReitmanDirector, 2 films

Walter HillDirector, 2 films

Films together

Bill Murray3 films together, 1984 to 1989
Bill Murray's page
- Ghostbusters II1989IMDb rating 6.6Moranis as Louis TullyMurray as Dr. Peter Venkman
- Little Shop of Horrors1986IMDb rating 7.1Moranis as Seymour KrelbornMurray as Arthur Denton
- Ghostbusters1984IMDb rating 7.8Moranis as Louis TullyMurray as Dr. Peter Venkman
Steve Martin3 films together, 1986 to 1990
Steve Martin's page
- My Blue Heaven1990IMDb rating 6.3Moranis as Barney CoopersmithMartin as Vincent 'Vinnie' Antonelli
- Parenthood1989IMDb rating 7.1Moranis as Nathan HuffnerMartin as Gil Buckman
- Little Shop of Horrors1986IMDb rating 7.1Moranis as Seymour KrelbornMartin as Orin Scrivello - D.D.S.
John Candy3 films together, 1985 to 1987
John Candy's page
- Spaceballs1987IMDb rating 7.1Moranis as Dark HelmetCandy as Barf
- Little Shop of Horrors1986IMDb rating 7.1Moranis as Seymour KrelbornCandy as Wink Wilkinson
- Brewster's Millions1985IMDb rating 6.5Moranis as Morty KingCandy as Spike Nolan
Dave Thomas3 films together, 1983 to 2006
Dave Thomas's page
- Brother Bear 22006IMDb rating 6.1Moranis as RuttvoiceThomas as Tukevoice
- Brother Bear2003IMDb rating 6.9Moranis as RuttvoiceThomas as Tukevoice
- Strange Brew1983IMDb rating 6.6Moranis as Bob McKenzieThomas as Doug McKenzie
Frank Welker2 films together, 1989 to 1994
Frank Welker's page
- Little Giants1994IMDb rating 6.5Moranis as Danny O'SheaWelker as Animation Vocal Sound Effectsvoice
- Honey, I Shrunk the Kids1989IMDb rating 6.5Moranis as Wayne SzalinskiWelker as Special Vocal Effectsvoice
Dan Aykroyd2 films together, 1984 to 1989
Dan Aykroyd's page
- Ghostbusters II1989IMDb rating 6.6Moranis as Louis TullyAykroyd as Dr. Raymond Stantz
- Ghostbusters1984IMDb rating 7.8Moranis as Louis TullyAykroyd as Dr. Raymond Stantz
Ivan ReitmanDirector, 2 films, 1984 to 1989
All films by Ivan Reitman
- Ghostbusters II1989IMDb rating 6.6Moranis as Louis Tully
- Ghostbusters1984IMDb rating 7.8Moranis as Louis Tully
Walter HillDirector, 2 films, 1984 to 1985
All films by Walter Hill
- Brewster's Millions1985IMDb rating 6.5Moranis as Morty King
- Streets of Fire1984IMDb rating 6.7Moranis as Billy Fish
Also two films together15 more actors
- Sigourney WeaverGhostbusters II (1989) and Ghostbusters (1984)
- Ernie HudsonGhostbusters II (1989) and Ghostbusters (1984)
- Carol KaneBig Bully (1996) and My Blue Heaven (1990)
- Andrea MartinBrother Bear 2 (2006) and Club Paradise (1986)
- Michael Clarke DuncanBrother Bear 2 (2006) and Brother Bear (2003)
- Joaquin PhoenixBrother Bear (2003) and Parenthood (1989)
- Brian Doyle-MurrayClub Paradise (1986) and Head Office (1985)
- Stuart PankinHoney, We Shrunk Ourselves (1997) and Big Bully (1996)
- Annie PottsGhostbusters II (1989) and Ghostbusters (1984)
- David MarguliesGhostbusters II (1989) and Ghostbusters (1984)
- Harold RamisGhostbusters II (1989) and Ghostbusters (1984)
- Marcia StrassmanHoney, I Blew Up the Kid (1992) and Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (1989)
- Jeremy SuarezBrother Bear 2 (2006) and Brother Bear (2003)
- Robert OliveriHoney, I Blew Up the Kid (1992) and Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (1989)
- Amy O'NeillHoney, I Blew Up the Kid (1992) and Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (1989)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.