Eugene Levy Breaks Down His Most Iconic Characters | GQ

Eugene Levy breaks down his most iconic roles from film and television, including his roles in 'American Pie,' 'National Lampoon's Vacation,' 'Schitt's Creek,' 'Waiting for Guffman,' 'Best in Show,' 'Bringing Down the House,' 'A Mighty Wind,' 'Splash' and 'The Reluctant Traveler.'
Season 2 of The Reluctant Traveler is now available to stream on Apple TV+
Director: Robby Miller
Director of Photography: Jack Belisle
Editor: Phil Ceconi
Talent: Eugene Levy
Producer: Camille Ramos
Line Producer: Jen Santos
Associate Producer: Lyla Neely
Production Manager: James Pipitone
Production Coordinator: Elizabeth Hymes
Talent Booker: Lauren Mendoza
Camera Operator: Chloe Ramos
Gaffer: Niklas Moller
Sound Mixer: Lily Van Leeuwan
Production Assistant: Erica Palmieri
Stylist: Erica Cloud
Groomer: Ana Sorys
Post Production Supervisor: Rachael Knight
Post Production Coordinator: Ian Bryant
Supervising Editor: Rob Lombardi
Additional Editor: Jason Malizia
Assistant Editor: Andy Morell
00:00 Eugene Levy's Iconic Characters
00:20 American Pie
02:47 National Lampoon's Vacation
04:00 Schitt's Creek
08:32 Waiting for Guffman
12:02 Best in Show
14:46 Bringing Down the House
16:04 A Mighty Wind
19:40 Splash
22:11 The Reluctant Traveler
Still haven’t subscribed to GQ on KZbin? ►► bit.ly/2iij5wt
Subscribe to GQ magazine and get rare swag: bit.ly/2xNBH3i
Join the GQ Discord to talk men's fashion, watches, and more: / discord
ABOUT GQ
For more than 50 years, GQ has been the premier men’s magazine, providing definitive coverage of style, culture, politics and more. In that tradition, GQ’s video channel covers every part of a man’s life, from entertainment and sports to fashion and grooming advice. Welcome to the modern guide to style advice, dating tips, celebrity videos, music, sports and more.
/ gqvideos

[@interfusor]

So much respect to Levy for saying he did the American Pie sequels for the paycheck, not a lot of actors admit to that.

[@Woozlewuzzleable]

I don't blame him for it, he'd been working for decades before that and paid his dues.

[@andrewbowden6982]

I mean he can't claim it was for anything else really

[@rossbooth4635]

And his cameo appearances are the only thing I remember about any of those sequels.

[@jasonjerusalem]

Well, we'll just tell your mother we did it for a paycheck...

[@squamish4244]

@@andrewbowden6982He could have just ignored their existence, nobody would have cared.

[@stealintomorrow]

Him just unabashedly being a proud dad for a bit there was so sweet :)

[@someguy42093]

I’m really high

[@francescaa8331]

It's really cute.

[@TRIGGAMAN_LOCO]

He was the perfect “normal” character in American Pie. Just so funny

[@HankAaronJoseph19]

That's what he does.

[@ryukomatoi592]

When he has "the talk" with his son 😂

[@DrVenture45]

Eugene's eyebrows are nearly as iconic as his outstanding career! I've been a fan ever since SCTV.

[@frankchoi7]

I just want to nestle up in them and take a quick shnooz

[@larserik8899]

The caterpillars are kinda his staple!

[@francescaa8331]

same

[@toddanthony6664]

If there were an eyebrow hall of fame, Eugene Levy and Peter Gallagher would be the first inductees.

[@kardave2848]

I love how fondly he talks about John Candy!

[@PatrickKeating]

Fred Willard absolutely made Best In Show and he was a comedy genius. I miss him all the time. RIP

[@TheSquishySnail]

Eugene Levy being a proud dad and talking about his kids' achievements makes me smile.

[@Canada232]

I love the fact that whenever you see him these days, he's wearing his Order of Canada pin. Such a great Canadian.

[@kurtdewittphoto]

Best in Show is hysterical.

[@uncletom356]

Best in Movie, amirite?!?!?!

[@samanthab1923]

The feet 😂

[@oopik0059]

Loved him in A Mighty Wind as well!

[@JenSell1626]

@@oopik0059damn I own the DVD and never watched it

[@JimVincent]

Can't watch the kiss at the end of A Mighty Wind without tearing up. They nailed it.

[@dylanlee32]

It's so funny seeing Bringing Down The House brought up, I LOVED that movie when I was younger and hadn't even thought of it in 10+ years. It's nice to see he speaks kindly of it and of Queen Latifah

[@Ms.Fowlbwahhh]

Eugene Levy never gets the credit he deserves. He was always my favorite on SCTV along with Catherine O Hara. Great to see he's still doing well!

[@aFoundingYouTuber]

Been a Eugene Levy fan since back in his SCTV days. His dry-wit/deadpan delivery, which is the comedic form I enjoy most, has provided me a lifetime of LOLing (sometimes so loud my dogs yelp, then flee to the bedroom).

[@petecolon162]

The best eyebrows in the business

[@smokeye9765]

What a legend he is.

[@betharlington1447]

Every single cast member on SCTV was brilliant. One of the best shows ever made.

[@17gt350]

So glad he chose to do American pie. There can be no other Jim’s dad.

[@d.d8381]

don't forget Armed & Dangerous, great movie with John Candy And Eugene

[@ShinRyojin]

Armed and Dangerous is one of his most underrated movies. Him and John Candy made a great team and the soundtrack had no business going that hard.

[@rebeccakurtz7575]

I WAS JUST GOING TO POST THAT SAME THING!!! 😀😀😀

[@mandomartinez8661]

I was about to as well. Seems like im the only one who loves that movie. RIP Tiney Lister

[@blackgumball]

I was disappointed they didn't discuss Armed and Dangerous. My favorite Eugene Levy film.

[@lovatog14]

That title track is peak eighties.

[@Footyfan123]

Came here for the Armed and Dangerous comments.

[@candyapu3]

A Mighty Wind might be the funniest movie I’ve ever seen so underrated

[@ChadWhyNot]

One of the best comedies ever made

[@CoastPropertyBuyers]

Yep. Toss up between that and Best in Show.

[@brooklynboogie1405]

Anyone remember “Club Paradise” with Robin Williams? Levy was funny in that as well with Rick Moranis! 😂

[@theheddy718]

The Barry's 😂

[@Woozlewuzzleable]

He made American Pie for me.

[@jdrock9623]

Loved Eugene Levy in Bringing Down the House. So funny. Even his extremely brief cameo in Father of the Bride as he auditioned as the Wedding Singer.

[@frailingbanjo]

A Mighty Wind is my favorite film. Beautifully done

[@Devilsblood]

SCTV was genius comedy. Canada's answer to Saturday night live, every actor in that show was gold.

[@spacekitt.n]

so glad theres a mighty wind segment in this. its often skipped in a lot of these type of videos. underrated flick

[@scottportner4587]

You got me straight trippin boo was the line they promoted in all the commercials and what everyone remembers. Awesome she came up with it.

[@Rustles]

The Kiss at the end was beautiful and no doubt helped it's Best Song Oscar Nomination.

[@og87]

What a great actor that transcends so many generations and keeps reinventing himself in the same way but over and over in different movies. Incredble love him and the moves and parts he does. Shhcitts creek another absolute massive hit.

[@shaylah2725]

I am so happy he was talked into playing the dad in American Pie. hes hilarious & I cant see anybody else playing it but him ❤ I also love him in Bringing Down The House LOL

[@Kloverkill]

What an incredible career - total legend. Started watching him as Earl Camembert on SCTV on a barely viewable tv broadcast we were picking up with an antenna and am now streaming his latest stuff. Pure Canadian treasure.

[@FredrickGustafson-lv4ty]

Endlessly tasteful and forever charming, what a great guy.

[@ponchoandy]

Christopher Guest's troupe is one of the funniest group of humans on the planet.

[@Ink_Addict93]

Schitt’s Creek was HILARIOUS💀

[@MilesToGoGo]

Just gotta say that he’s the most handsome now than he’s ever been. A true silver fox lol love him

[@Theomite]

Now I wanna see Eugene play a vicious crime lord who speaks and acts exactly the way Eugene does in this interview. He's exactly like Eugene, he just says horrifying threats of violence in the same tone as talking about the AMERICAN PIE paychecks.

[@someguy42093]

If the godfather came out today. What if he played Vito?

[@welcometothemovies9157]

It'll be like when Albert Brooks played that mobster in Drive

[@OhanaFilms]

I know people toss out the term "legend" easily but he's an actual legend.

[@johnmlln9982]

SCTV was a generations Monty Python.

[@faisalsiddiqui75]

Legend

[@onenonlyhannahsarkodie]

That part ❤❤❤

[@davidd5213]

I love Eugene Levy. Nobody could do dead pan comedy they way he does. He is amazing.

[@veesvoyages]

No one else could have been Jim's dad. He was brilliant at that role!

[@Woozlewuzzleable]

Splash, great villain. First thing I saw him in.

[@jiminut]

Anti-hero to be real

[@lkf8799]

Same 😉

[@nicholaslowe4254]

Out of all the episodes I’ve watched in this “breaks down” series, this was my favorite. Eugene seems so genuine and he’s a wonderful story teller

[@owtsideperspective3588]

Schittz creek was a masterpiece

[@justinrowland5191]

Armed and dangerous. Forgotten classic.

[@itspaulwilliamsjnr]

So gifted in acting awkward, that it makes him stand out in every motion picture! Salute!!!

[@OffsetCommon]

Stay Tuned (1992) was a great movie I’m surprised he did not mention

[@CaptainZachofEarth]

I have never been this early for a video in my life lol. we love you, Mr. Levy!

[@Bobby_Barbato]

I love his character in « Multiplicity »

[@wingerfan1]

Absolutely loved him and armed and dangerous. One of my favorite movies he ever did.

[@dssouthern]

I loved Rick moranis and Dave Thomas in strange brew! Awesome flick

[@musclesforsupes]

I hope he comes back in the rumored sequel to American Reunion.

[@glmtv4071]

Now cast him for the live action "up" movie lmao fr ❤❤❤😂😂

[@darnitthelma4247]

Absolutely 😂😂😂

[@ryanm776]

Omg how do you not include> Armed and Dangerous! With John Candy

[@finch45lear]

Eugene Levy is one of the greatest comedic writers and actors in history.

[@magnusprime27]

I loved him in stay tuned as crowley

[@mikethemountie4959]

Always a favorite! I’ve loved Eugene’s writing and comedy for decades.

[@harambeftw8363]

I would love to see this town in the autumn. One of my all time favorite lines ever.

[@pcan01]

The most naturally funny human. Love him.

[@peachxblue]

He is the absolute best. I love Schitt’s Creek and Best in Show, and now I’m gonna watch the Reluctant Traveler!!

[@BigBadMoose]

I knew it was a long shot but I was really hoping “Almost Heroes” was going to be on here

[@brettbarton1911]

Club paradise is such a underrated gem.

[@gregman05]

I wouldve liked to see him talk about "Armed & Dangerous"

[@Thelasttruespic505]

Such an amazing actor

[@John_F898]

Iconic iconic iconic!!!

[@angelaward8992]

This was soo awesome and soo much fun ❤

[@Paul-zs7rd]

Armed and Dangerous 1986 - John Candy, Eugene Levy, Meg Ryan

[@derkeheath5172]

Watched his first film, Cannibal Girls, on Tubi last year. It was weird seeing him and SCTV co-actor Andrea Martin together in a fairly serious low-budget horror movie (directed by Ivan Reitman).

[@nannynadia]

This is the best interview ever

[@LoveFromALondonGirl]

Well done GQ …this was lovely guys …x x

[@jamesmorant1406]

Any movie he does he was a scene stealer

[@Tax_Master_DFW]

Awesome comedian and I love the SCTV show. I still do the 3D House of horror scene with my kids and of course, they hate it when I do. hahaha

[@kingrama2727]

I wish he had talked about Armed and Dangerous… Great movie

[@MidnightWhite420]

Those eyebrows are infamous

[@danrose1418]

In case you missed it, he's wearing an Order of Canada lapel pin. Subtle but undoubtedly deliberate accessory given the interview.

[@LuciousUnger]

Stay Tuned!

[@davidlynch9049]

Igor! Awesome interview. Thanks.

[@Agent-wn7le]

He’s sooooooo cooool

[@kelownatechkid]

Mr Levy is such a great force within comedy!!

[@roryjohnson3885]

Only person that's in ALL the movies

[@joeycalderon1556]

I always liked him as a character actor, but his role in A Mighty Wind made me love him

[@manu87495]

I've never been this quick outside of the bedroom in my life

[@danjohnston3422]

I remember him as the lead guitarist for The Queenhaters.

[@TheCurtisdavies]

legend.

[@hellrazor67]

Eugene Levy has been one of my favorite comedic actors since the SCTV days. Always makes me laugh.

[@astucity]

All of his chracters are iconic.

[@cupidhart-james4277]

I honestly think Eugene is just always playin himself. Which is brilliant!

[@jaybee9016]

The fact you didn’t ask him about SCTV is an affront to decency

[@rumham7130]

He was great in Multiplicity.

[@theunknown4570]

Seems like yesterday as a kid in the 80s watching SCTV with him and candy on it

[@user1138]

Can't believe they didn't bring up Armed and Dangerous, an underrated 80's comedy

[@johnmlln9982]

Earl Camembert, Brian John, Rockin Mel. I could name a few more also awesome characters and so funny.

[@yw1971]

22:00 - When DPs had an authority. No more

[@BoxCoverArt]

You don't talk about his best role ever in Almost Heroes.

[@keithpatrick156]

I was hoping "Armed and Dangerous" would show up. That movie had a great cast for a low-grade comedy - Levy, John Candy, Robert Loggia, Jonathan Banks, Meg Ryan, Brion James

[@jeshkam]

Davenport: "I don't know, sir."

[@donreid6399]

Poor guy. You could tell he was a mechanic who had NO CLUE where the car was, but had just been told to say, "I don't know." 🙂

[@sparklefartzpwnt]

Was hoping for Club Paradise talk.

[@Booma151676]

A true legend

[@smokinjoe2122]

As others have stated, an absolute legend.

[@jaywiseman7513]

Love her definitely need to watch yellow jackets

[@jeebs621]

Bringing down the house is hilarious