Rick Moranis (Actor)

Rick Moranis in The Flinstones. (Photo: Universal)

A diminutive, rumpled comic actor, Rick Moranis has specialized in playing gawky, maladroit characters. A veteran of the Toronto cabaret circuit and a member of the Canadian branch of the famed Second City improvisational comedy troupe, he demonstrated his versatility and talent for mimicry on the frenetic Canadian comedy show, "SCTV" (syndicated, 1977-81), on which he teamed with Dave Thomas to create Bob and Doug McKenzie, the beer-sloshed woodsmen hosts of "The Great White North". Moranis' only other TV series was the animated "Rick Moranis in Gravedale High" (NBC, 1990), though he has appeared on such series and specials as "Twilight Theater" (NBC, 1982), "The Last Polka" (HBO, 1985), "Hockey Night" (PBS, 1987) and "Shelley Duvall's Bedtime Stories" (Showtime, 1992). With "SCTV" cohort Thomas, Moranis co-directed, co-wrote and co-starred as the fictional McKenzies in his film debut, "Strange Brew" (1983). After one teen flick ("The Wild Life", 1984), he gained wider recognition for his role as Sigourney Weaver's wimpy neighbor in "Ghostbusters" (1984). Although Moranis has appeared in several misfires ("Brewster's Millions" 1985; "Spaceballs" 1987), he scored as the florist Seymour in the 1986 musical remake of "Little Shop of Horrors" and particularly as the befuddled tinkerer in the surprise family hit, "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids" (1989).

Moranis' two biggest hits spawned their inevitable sequels: "Ghostbusters II" (1989) and "Honey, I Blew Up the Kid" (1992). He has also turned in endearingly goofy character performances in several films with Steve Martin: "Parenthood" (1989, as an over-eager dad), "My Blue Heaven" (1990, as a shy FBI agent), and "L.A. Story" (1991, a cameo as a gravedigger). Moranis personified the classic Hanna-Barbera character Barney Rubble in the summer hit, "The Flintstones" (1994). As the best friend of Fred Flintstone (John Goodman), he dyed his naturally brown hair blond and maintained a dopey smirk throughout. His next two comedies were just as broad, but not as wide in their appeal: the kids football film "Little Giants" (1994) and the high school revenge tale "Big Bully" (1995).