Rick Moranis: Career, Comeback & Legacy

Rick Moranis, born Frederick Allan Moranis on April 18, 1953, in Toronto, Canada, began his entertainment journey as a high-school radio DJ before joining the Second City Television (SCTV) troupe, where he earned a Primetime Emmy for writing Source 1. His breakthrough came with roles like Bob McKenzie in Strange Brew (1983) and Louis Tully in Ghostbusters (1984) and its sequel Source 2. Family favorites such as Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (1989) and the voice of Seymour in Disney’s Little Shop of Horrors (1986) cemented his status as a beloved comedic actor.

After losing his wife, Ann Belsky, to cancer in 1997, Moranis stepped away from Hollywood to raise his two young children, largely exiting the spotlight for nearly three decades Source 3. Now 71, he is making a selective comeback, returning to the big screen in an upcoming Ghostbusters film and reuniting with the Spaceballs cast for Spaceballs 2 Source 10. Fans gave him a standing ovation at San Diego Comic-Con, where he joked that he “never actually retired” Source 9.

FAQ

1. Why did Rick Moranis leave Hollywood?
   He stepped away in the late 1990s to raise his children after his wife’s death.

2. What is Rick Moranis doing now?
   He is returning to acting with roles in a new Ghostbusters film and Spaceballs 2.

3. What is Rick Moranis best known for?
   He is best known for playing Louis Tully in Ghostbusters and for SCTV sketches.

4. Did Rick Moranis ever officially retire?
   No—he has joked that he never formally retired, just chose family over fame.

5. How old is Rick Moranis?
   He turned 71 on April 18, 2024.

6. Where can fans see Rick Moranis next?
   Look for him in the upcoming Ghostbusters sequel and Spaceballs 2.