Levy was born on December 17, 1946, to a Jewish family in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada and he went to Westdale Secondary School and attended McMaster University where he studied film. Levy graduated from the university in 1969.
Levy is the current vice-president of the McMaster Film Board (MFB), a student film group he was a member of when he went to the university. It was as a student member that Levy met moviemaker and MFB founder Ivan Reitman. Reitman later cast Levy in the leading role of Clifford Sturges in his 1973 film, Cannibal Girls, which was Levy’s second film. His first film was a small part in the 1971 film Foxy Lady, also directed by Reitman.
In 1977, he joined Second City Theater but left the ensemble in 1981 to work with the television offshoot of the group called SCTV. Here he made a name for himself with his quirky celebrity impersonations and his role as Earl Camembert, a dimwitted news anchor for SCTV News. Fellow castmates included Catherine O Hara, Rick Moranis, Martin Short, John Candy, Joe Flaherty, and Andrea Martin.
He appeared in Father of the Bride in 1991 as an audition singer, with Steve Martin, Diane Keaton, Kimberly Williams, and Martin Short. He again appeared in the 1995 sequel Father of the Bride Part II where he had a larger part as Mr. Habib.
Most of the character roles Levy chooses to play are unusual supporting characters with nerdy streaks. He has only been the above the title star in two films during his career: Armed and Dangerous in 1986 and The Man in 2005.
During the 1980s, he had cameos in movies like Splash in 1984, with Tom Hanks, Daryl Hannah, and John Candy; Vacation; and Club Paradise. He also had a cameo in 1996’s Multiplicity starring Michael Keaton.
In 1999, Levy landed the tremendous career boosting role in American Pie with Jason Biggs, Chris Klein, Thomas Ian Nicholas, Tara Reid, Shannon Elizabeth, and Jennifer Coolidge. Since then he has worked with Queen Latifah and Steve Martin in 2003’s Bringing Down the House. He worked with Steve Martin again in Cheaper by the Dozen 2 in 2005.
Levy is the creator of the television sitcom Maniac Mansion. The show won a Gemini or Best Picture Editing in a Comedy, Variety or Performing Arts Program or Series in 1992. The series ran from 1990 to 1993.
In 2006 Levy received a star on Canada’s Walk of Fame. He has been married to wife Deborah Divine since 1977 and has two children with her.
YUDDY
