Legendary Actor Was Hilariously Hungover During Iconic 'Splash' Movie Scene: 'He Had 17 Rum and Cokes'

Legendary Actor Was Hilariously Hungover During Iconic 'Splash' Movie Scene: 'He Had 17 Rum and Cokes' originally appeared on Parade.

Hollywood heavyweight Brian Grazer gave '80s fans a nostalgic treat during a recent conversation with Roku’s The Rich Eisen Show host Rich Eisen, reflecting on comedy legendJohn Candy and his unforgettable racquetball scene in the 1984 film Splash. The film, produced by Grazer and starring Tom Hanks, remains a comedy classic — and Candy’s hilarious performance is one of its standout moments.

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The legendary film and television producer sat down with Eisen to promote his upcoming Apple TV+ sports docu-series The Dynasty: New England Patriots. During their discussion, Eisen skillfully steered the conversation to some of Grazer’s most iconic films, including Splash and Candy’s memorable scene with Hanks.

Grazer was quick to share a behind-the-scenes story about Candy’s performance in Splash saying, “He stayed out with Jack Nicholson ‘til like four or five in the morning and then he went right to work.”

He went on to describe their first meeting, “He said, ‘The only way I’ll do this is if I meet you and see if there’s chemistry.’ So I went to a Mexican restaurant right across the street from Warner Brothers, and he had 17 small rum and Cokes. But he drank them like one after the next. He just lit up and was fun—it never got sloppy. He just kept going. But that night with Nicholson, I think he overdid it.”

Grazer’s charming recollections reminded fans of John Candy’s immense charisma and comedic talent. The beloved actor passed away in 1994 at the age of 43, but his legacy continues to resonate.

Fans flooded the comment section with tributes to the late actor, “John Candy was America’s uncle,” one wrote. Another added, “John Candy was the first star I ever cried for when he died.”

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“Splash was a great movie,” commented one fan. Another declared simply, “John Candy is a LEGEND.”

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Legendary Actor Was Hilariously Hungover During Iconic 'Splash' Movie Scene: 'He Had 17 Rum and Cokes' first appeared on Parade on Jul 11, 2025

This story was originally reported by Parade on Jul 11, 2025, where it first appeared.