Category:
Richest Celebrities › Actors
Net Worth:
$30 Million
Birthdate:
Dec 17, 1946 (77 years old)
Birthplace:
Hamilton
Gender:
Male
Height:
5 ft 9 in (1.778 m)
Profession:
Actor, Television Director, Screenwriter, Comedian, Musician, Voice Actor, Songwriter, Film Producer, Film director
Nationality:
Canada
Eugene Levy is a Canadian actor, comedian, singer, and writer who has a net worth of $30 million. Eugene Levy is probably most famous for appearing in the “American Pie” movie franchise and the television series “Schitt’s Creek.” He co-created “Schitt’s Creek” with his son, Dan Levy, who also starred in the show.
Eugene began his career as a member of the renowned Second City comedy troupe in Toronto, which allowed him to hone his comedic timing and improvisational skills. It was here that Levy met many of the individuals he would collaborate with throughout his career, including Catherine O’Hara and John Candy.
Levy’s first significant exposure to a broader audience was in the late 1970s through the Canadian television sketch comedy show “Second City Television” (SCTV). His performance on the show was recognized with multiple Emmy Awards, helping to elevate his status in the industry.
Levy’s breakthrough in Hollywood came in the late 1990s when he starred in the “American Pie” series. His role as Jim’s caring yet awkward dad resonated with audiences worldwide, and this character became one of Eugene’s most recognizable roles.
However, his career truly soared to new heights with the co-creation and starring role in the critically acclaimed television series “Schitt’s Creek.” In this Canadian sitcom, Levy’s portrayal of Johnny Rose, the once-wealthy patriarch of a family suddenly finding themselves broke, won him numerous awards, including a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series. “Schitt’s Creek” also made history by sweeping all seven major comedy awards at the 2020 Emmys, a testament to the show’s quality and Levy’s leadership.
Eugene Levy was born on December 17, 1946, in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. He is the son of Rebecca Kudlatz, a homemaker who was born in Glasgow, Scotland, and later immigrated to Canada, and David Levy, a foreman at an automobile plant. Eugene has one brother, Fred. He attended McMaster University, where he was part of a student film group called McMaster Film Board. It was in this film group that he met future movie collaborator Ivan Reitman.
From 1972 to 1973, Levy was involved in the Toronto production of the hit musical “Godspell” at the Royal Alexandra Theatre. This fateful musical ended up launching the careers of many actors, including the likes of Gilda Radner, Martin Short, and Andrea Martin, as well as the show’s musical director, none other than Paul Shaffer. After the production became overwhelmingly popular, the show moved uptown to the Bayview Playhouse in Leaside. Intended to only be a handful of performances at first, the popular show ended up running for a then-record of 488 performances.
After college, Eugene joined Second City Television and The Second City, Toronto sketch group. His most well-known role on SCTV is the dimwitted and nerdish Earl Camembert, a news anchor for the “SCTV News.” The character was a parody of real-life Canadian newsman Earl Cameron. Celebrities impersonated by Levy on SCTV include Perry Como, Alex Trebek, Sean Connery, Howard Cosell, Henry Kissinger, Milton Berle, John Charles Daly, Gene Shalit, Judd Hirsch, Tony Dow, James Caan, Lorne Greene, Rex Reed, F. Lee Bailey, Ernest Borgnine, former Ontario chief coroner and talk show host Dr. Morton Shulman, Norman Mailer, Neil Sedaka and Howard McNear as Floyd the Barber. Eugene also had original characters in the form of Bobby Bittman, Woody Tobias Jr., Stan Schmenge, Al Peck, and tons of others.
Levy has been featured prominently in dozens of films, although he’s only truly “starred” in two films: 1986’s “Armed and Dangerous” and 2005’s “The Man.” His very first film was the minor part of Coffee Boy in 1971’s “Foxy Lady.” Throughout the 1980s and early 1990s, Eugene appeared in many comedies, including classics like “National Lampoon’s Vacation,” “Splash,” “Club Paradise,” “Stay Tuned,” “Serendipity,” “Father of the Bride” and “Father of the Bride II.”
In 1996, Levy appeared in “Waiting for Guffman.” He was also a writer on “Guffman,” which was directed by Christopher Guest. Eugene would go on to make memorable appearances in and co-write other Guest films including 2000’s “Best in Show” and 2003’s “A Mighty Wind.” The latter, in which he played Mitch Cohen, an emotionally unstable folk singer, won him many accolades, including a Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Musical or Comedy and the prestigious New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actor. Levy was also the creator of “Maniac Mansion,” a TV sitcom based on the LucasArts video game of the same name.
Eugene truly became a household name in 1999 after appearing as Jason Biggs‘ father in the comedy “American Pie.” He would go on to appear in seven more installments of the “American Pie” franchise, including several that were Direct-to-DVD. He is the only original “Pie” actor to appear in the Direct-to-DVD installments. He earned $1 million for his appearance in the first “American Pie” film, $3 million for the second, and $5 million for the third. It’s not known what Eugene made for Pie movies 4 8.
Levy went on to score roles in “Cheaper by the Dozen 2, “Bringing Down the House,” “Like Mike,” “Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian,” “Goon,” and “She’s Funny That Way.” In 2016, he voiced Charlie in “Finding Dory.”
In 2015, Eugene and his son, Dan, co-created the sleeper hit television series “Schitt’s Creek.” Eugene stars as Johnny Rose, the head of the fallen-from-grace Rose family. The show filmed 82 episodes over six seasons between 2015 and 2020. Eugene and Dan also served as writers, stars, and executive producers. Fred Levy, Eugene’s brother, was a producer on the show.
Eugene has been nominated for dozens of awards, including a Grammy win for Best Song Written for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media for “A Mighty Wind.” He earned a star on Canada’s Walk of Fame and has won at least five Canadian Comedy Awards. Levy is a two-time Emmy Award winner for Outstanding Writing in a Variety or Music Program for his work on “SCTV Network 90”.
In 2020, the sixth and final season of”Schitt’s Creek” was nominated for an astounding 15 Primetime Emmy Awards. This broke the record for the most Emmy nods ever given to a comedy series in its final season. In an epic sweep, the show became the first-ever comedy or drama series to sweep all four acting categories, including a win for both Levys–Eugene for Outstanding Lead Actor and Dan for Outstanding Supporting Actor. The show also took home the grand prize of Best Comedy Series.
Eugene has been married to writer Deborah Divine since 1977. They split their time between Los Angeles, Florida, and Canada. In addition to their son Dan, they have a daughter named Sarah, who played the character of Twyla on “Schitt’s Creek.” Levy was extremely close friends with the late actor John Candy. Eugene and Dan’s “Schitt’s Creek” co-star Catherine O’Hara is a very close friend to the Levy family, and Eugene and Catherine have been co-stars for numerous years on various projects.
Levy is an outspoken advocate of autism awareness and treatment and is a member of the Canadian charity Artists Against Racism.
In 2006, Eugene and Deborah paid $2.4 million for a home in LA’s Pacific Palisades neighborhood. They also reportedly own a home in Toronto, Canada.
