Who is Ghostbuster Rick Moranis?
He’s perhaps known best as the iconic character from the 1984 movie “Ghostbusters”, Louis Tully, however, the actor Rick Moranis has over 40 acting credits to his name, and is also an awarded producer and writer. The character, Louis Tully, is certainly the most significant role in his acting career, and perhaps you didn’t know that this character was based on the similar one Rick played in “SCTV”, a comedy series which brought Rick numerous accolades and awards.
If you’ve wondered where Rick Moranis is today and what he’s doing, let us tell you the naked truth about his life before and after “Ghostbusters”.
Early life, family, and education
Born Frederick Allan Moranis under the zodiac sign of Aries on 18 April 1953, Rick recently celebrated his 70th birthday. He’s a native of Toronto, Ontario Canada, holds Canadian nationality, and comes from a family of Russian-Jewish and Polish-Jewish descent. Nothing else is known about his family since he respects their privacy.
As a teenager, Rick began his entertainment industry career as a radio disc jockey, with his on-air name ‘Rick Allan’. When it comes to his educational background, he attended a local high school, and upon matriculating in 1971, he enrolled at York University in Toronto, from which he graduated with a BA degree in 1975.
Roles in series
Rick made his acting debut playing various characters in the show “SCTV” in 1981, however, the character which caused most interest with the audience was Bob McKenzie, and this character was an inspiration for his portrayal of Louis Tully. He reprised this role in the 1982 sequel “SCTV Network”, which he also co-wrote and produced with his co-stars, John Candy, Eugene Levy, Joe Flaherty and Andrea Martin.
The crew shares the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing in a Variety or Music Program, and they also received an Earle Grey Award. The show followed the story of the staff of a TV station in Melonville, who put on the air its own silly program.
Rick’s next television series involvement was his voice role as Max Schneider in the 1990 series “Gravedale High”, and most recently, he was heard as Dark Helmet in an episode of the series “The Goldbergs” in 2018.
Honored to have Rick Moranis reprise his role as Dark Helmet on tomorrow’s tribute to Spaceballs on #TheGoldbergs! 🙌 https://t.co/QALNwxfyYE
— The Goldbergs (@TheGoldbergsABC) May 8, 2018
Roles in movies
Rick made his big-screen debut as Bob MacKenzie in the 1983 movie “Strange Brew”, written, directed and starring himself, and Dave Thomas. The movie won a Genie Award- Golden Reel. In the following year, Rick was seen as Billy Fish in “Streets of Fire”, also starring Diane Lane and Michael Pare.
Later that year, Rick was cast to play his first major movie role as Louis Tully in “Ghostbusters”. Fun fact: the first choice for this role was John Candy, however, after he dropped out, Rick was brought in as a last-minute replacement, starring opposite Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd and Sigourney Weaver in this epic fantasy action-comedy, which won two Oscar-nominations – Best Music, Original Song, and Best Effects, Visual Effects. In 2015, the movie was listed on the National Film Registry.
Also in 1984, Rick was seen as Harry in “The Wild Life”, and starred as Willy Leipert in the TV movie “Hockey Night”, followed in 1985 by his role as Linsk Minyk in “The Last Polka”, another movie made for television,.
Rick returned to the big screen playing Morty King in the 1985 comedy “Brewster’s Millions”, followed later that year by his role as Howard Gross in “Head Office”. In 1986, Rick was seen as Barry Nye in “Club Paradise”, followed by another notable role as Seymour Krelborn in “Little Shop of Horrors”, a musical comedy horror, also starring Ellen Greene and Vincent Gardenia; the movie followed the story of a nerdy florist and a giant man-eating plant, and was nominated for two Oscars (Best Effects, Visual Effects, and Best Music, Original Song).
Rick was next cast to play Dark Helmet in the 1987 science-fiction comedy “Spaceballs”, starring opposite John Candy and Mel Brooks, then two years later, Rick reprised his role as Louis Tully in “Ghostbusters II”, which didn’t have as much success as the first part, although it was nominated for the Young Artist Award- Best Family Motion Picture-Comedy.
Later that year, Rick starred as Wayne Szalinski in the comedy “Honey, I Shrunk the Kids”. The plot revolved around the scientist father of two teenagers who with his new invention accidentally shrinks his children and their two friends to the size of insects. The movie had 10 award nominations and two wins, including the British Academy of Film and Television Art (BAFTA) Award for Best Special Visual Effects.
In the following years, Rick starred in “Parenthood” (1989) and “My Blue Heaven” (1990), and then reprised his role as Wayne Szalinski in “Honey, I Blew Up the Kid” (1992). Next, he was seen as Barney Rubble in the 1994 comedy “The Flintstones”, also starring John Goodman and Rosie O’Donnell. The movie had 10 award nominations and won six, but including the Razzie Award for Worst Screenplay.
Rick followed with his roles in “Little Giants” (1994), “Big Bully” (1996), and “Honey, We Shrunk Ourselves!” in 1997, which was his last role before his acting hiatus, which lasted until 2001, when he was heard as Toy Taker in “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer & the Island of Misfit Toys”.
Two years later, Rick was heard as Holley in “Miss Soider’s Sunny Patch Kids” and as Rutt in “Brother Bear”; he reprised his voice role as Rutt in the 2006 sequel “Brother Bear 2”. He returned on television as Bob McKenzie in the 2007 TV movie “Bob & Doug McKenzie Two-Four Anniversary”, and in the following year made his return to the big screen again as Bob McKenzie, in “Rush: Snakes & Arrows – Live in Holland”, which was his most recent role.
What is he doing today?
If you loved his role as Wayne Szalinski, then we have a great piece of news for you. Rick will be back in the cinemas playing this role in the movie “Shrunk”, which is currently in development, and set to be released later in 2023. This is a remake of the 1989 movie “Honey, I Shrunk the Kids”, and this time, Rick’s co-star is great Josh Gad.
Love life and wife
Rick is quite secretive when it comes to his personal matters, but it’s known that he married Ann Belsky, a make-up department worker, in 1986, and they had two children together, namely Rachel and Mitchell. Sadly, Ann died on 4 February 1991, after a long battle with breast cancer.
The reason Rick took his acting break was his inability to manage his work and his responsibilities as a single father, and as he put it, he decided to devote his time to his children.
As of April 2023, it seems that Rick is still single.
Net worth
Rick has amassed a sizable fortune as a result of his acting career and major film appearances. It was a long road from radio presenter to one of the most popular comedians, but it looks that the effort paid off in the end. Rick’s net worth is estimated to be more than $10 million, as of April 2023, according to sources.
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