Rick Moranis
A master of meek, hilarious everymen who walked away from Hollywood's glare at the height of his fame to raise his family.
Born 1953 (age 73)·Canadian entertainer·Birthday: April 18·Baby Boomers
Biography
Rick Moranis built a career on being the relatable center of comedic chaos. Hailing from Toronto, he first gained notice on Canadian radio and television with the sketch comedy series 'SCTV,' where his impressions and original characters showcased a sharp, understated wit. His breakout film role came as the hapless everyman Louis in 'Ghostbusters,' a part he perfected in the sequel. He then became a staple of 80s and 90s family comedy, playing the lovably nerdy inventor Wayne Szalinski in 'Honey, I Shrunk the Kids' and its sequels, and delivering a memorably paranoid performance as Dark Helmet in 'Spaceballs.' In a move that stunned the industry, Moranis largely retired from acting in the late 1990s following the death of his wife to focus on raising their two children. He has since engaged in selective voice work and returned to his musical roots, releasing comedy music albums.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Rick was born in 1953, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Rick Was Born
The biggest hits of 1953
#1 Movie
Peter Pan
Best Picture
From Here to Eternity
#1 TV Show
I Love Lucy
Rick's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1953Born
DNA structure discovered by Watson and Crick
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $8,750Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Song from Moulin Rouge" — Percy FaithBest Picture: From Here to Eternity
1958Started school
NASA founded
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Volare" — Domenico ModugnoBest Picture: Gigi
1966Became a teenager
Star Trek premieres on television
Gas: $0.32/galHome: $14,200Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"The Ballad of the Green Berets" — SSgt Barry SadlerBest Picture: A Man for All Seasons
1969Could drive
Apollo 11: humans walk on the Moon; Woodstock festival
Gas: $0.35/galHome: $15,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Sugar, Sugar" — The ArchiesBest Picture: Midnight Cowboy
1971Could vote
Voting age lowered to 18 in the US
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $18,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Joy to the World" — Three Dog NightBest Picture: The French Connection
1974Turned 21
Nixon resigns the presidency
Gas: $0.53/galHome: $22,600Min wage: $2.00/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"The Way We Were" — Barbra StreisandBest Picture: The Godfather Part II
1983Turned 30
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1993Turned 40
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
2003Turned 50
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2013Turned 60
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2023Turned 70
ChatGPT goes mainstream; Israel-Hamas war begins
Gas: $3.52/galHome: $361,600Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Flowers" — Miley CyrusBest Picture: Oppenheimer
2026Age 73 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Starred as Louis Tully in 'Ghostbusters' and 'Ghostbusters II,' creating one of the franchise's most beloved supporting characters.
- Headlined the successful family film franchise 'Honey, I Shrunk the Kids' as inventor Wayne Szalinski.
- Was a featured player on the influential sketch comedy series 'SCTV,' contributing numerous original characters and impressions.
- Released a comedy music album, 'The Agoraphobic Cowboy,' which was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2005.
Did You Know?
He initially pursued a career in radio as a news reporter and traffic helicopter announcer in Toronto.
He turned down a role in the 2016 'Ghostbusters' reboot, maintaining his semi-retirement from live-action film.
His comedy album 'The Agoraphobic Cowboy' is a collection of country-style parody songs.
He provided the voice of the titular character in the animated film 'The Brain' and its subsequent series.
“I took a break, which turned into a longer break. But I'm happy with the decisions I made.”
