Born on December 17, 1946 in Ontario, Canada, Eugene Levy is an actor, television director, musician, and writer, perhaps best known for his role as Jason Bigg’s dad in the American Pie series of movies. The son of a homemaker and an automobile plant foreman, Levy went to Westdale Secondary School and eventually attended McMaster University, graduating in 1967. He became vice president of a student film group called the McMaster Film Board.
Eugene Levy starred in the sketch comedy series SCTV where he played supporting nerdy characters. His best known role is the news anchor of SCTV News Earl Camembert. He also became known for impersonating Perry Como, Alex Trebek, Sean Connery, Henry Kissinger, and Neil Sedaka. In 1986 he starred in Armed and Dangerous and in 2005 in The Man. Other than these two starring roles, he has figured prominently in many other films. For instance, he is the co-writer and a frequent cast member of mockumentary features, such as A Mighty Wind. In 2003, he won a Grammy for Best Song Written for a Motion Picture, Television, or Other visual Media for the music of A Mighty Wind. During the 1980s, his film credits include Splash, National lampoon’s Vacation, Club Paradise, Stay Tuned, and Maniac Mansion, a sitcom which he created.
In 1999, Eugene Levy achieved mainstream popularity with the blockbuster American Pie. Reprising the role for the film’s two sequels, he gained a sort of cult following over the years. So popular that he appeared in a poster hanging outside the movie theater in Springfield in an episode of The Simpsons. Since then, he has worked with Steve Martin in Bringing Down the House and Cheaper by the Dozen 2.
Levy received his star on Canada’s Walk of Fame in 2006, after receiving one as part of the SCTV cast in 2002. He is also a few of the comedians who have won at least five Canadian Comedy Awards, two for Best Writing and three for Best Male Performer.