Eugene Levy is a Canadian actor, writer and comedian. Over his career he has received two Actor Awards, a Critics' Choice Award, four Emmy Awards and a Grammy Award as well as nominations for a Golden Globe Award and two Independent Spirit Awards.
Levy started his career as an actor and writer on the Canadian sketch comedy series Second City Television (1976–1984). For his work on the series he received two consecutive Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series in 1982 and 1983. He then acted and co-wrote several comedic films directed by Christopher Guest starting with Waiting for Guffman (1996) for which he was nominated for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Screenplay. He also starred and co-wrote A Mighty Wind for which he was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Song Written for Visual Media. Levy also played a caring but naïve father in the American Pie franchise (1999–2009).
He then received acclaim for his role as the patriarch in Schitt's Creek (2015–2020) for which he won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series and the Actor Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series as well as a nomination for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Musical or Comedy. He also guest-starred in the Hulu mystery-comedy series Only Murders in the Building (2025) for which he was nominated for the Actor Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series.
Levy has received various honorary awards including a star on Canada's Walk of Fame in 2006 and the ACTRA Award by the union representing Canada's actors in 2010. Levy was made a Member of the Order of Canada "for his contributions as a comic actor and writer, and for his dedication to charitable causes" in 2011 and promoted to the rank of Companion in 2022.
Major associations Actor Awards Year Category Nominated work Result 2019 Outstanding Ensemble in a Comedy SeriesSchitt's Creek rowspan=2 2021 Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series Outstanding Ensemble in a Comedy Series 2025 Outstanding Ensemble in a Comedy Series Only Murders in the Building
Critics' Choice Awards Year Category Nominated work Result Critics' Choice Movie Awards 2003 Best Song A Mighty Wind (from "A Mighty Wind") Critics' Choice Television Awards 2020 Best Actor in a Comedy Series Schitt's Creek 2021
Emmy Award Year Category Nominated work Result Primetime Emmy Awards1982Outstanding Writing in a Variety or Music ProgramSCTV Network (Episode: Moral Majority Show) SCTV Network (Episode: Cycle Two, Show Two) SCTV Network (Episode: Christmas Show) 1983Outstanding Writing in a Variety or Music ProgramSCTV Network (Episode: Sweeps Week) SCTV Network (Episode: The Christmas Show) SCTV Network (Episode: Towering Inferno) SCTV Network (Episode: Jane Eyrehead) SCTV Network (Episode: Midnight Cowboy II) 2019Outstanding Comedy SeriesSchitt's Creek Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy SeriesSchitt's Creek (Episode: Rock On!) 2020 Outstanding Comedy Series Schitt's Creek Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy SeriesSchitt's Creek (Episode: The Pitch)
Golden Globe Award Year Category Nominated work Result 2021 Best Actor – Television Series Musical or Comedy Schitt's Creek
Grammy Award Year Category Nominated work Result 2004 Best Song Written for Visual Media A Mighty Wind (from "A Mighty Wind")
Canadian awards Organizations Year Category Work Result ACTRA Awards2010ACTRA Award of ExcellenceLifetime Achievement 2017Members' Choice Series EnsembleSchitt's Creekrowspan=2 20182019 Canadian Comedy Awards2001Best Performance by a Male – Film Best in Showrowspan=5 Best Writing – Film2002Best Performance by a Male – FilmAmerican Pie 22004A Mighty Wind Best Writing – Film2016Legacy AwardLifetime Achievement Best Comedy SeriesSchitt's Creekrowspan=2 Best Actor in a Continuing Leading Comedic Role2017Best Comedy Seriesrowspan=3 Best Actor in a Continuing Leading Comedic Role20182019Best Comedy Series Best Actor in a Continuing Leading Comedic Role 2020Best Comedy Seriesrowspan=3 Best Actor in a Continuing Leading Comedic Role2021Best Comedy SeriesBest Actor in a Continuing Leading Comedic Role Gemini Awards1992Best Comedy SeriesManiac Mansionrowspan=4 Best Writing in a Comedy or Variety Program or Series 1993Best Comedy Series 1994 1995Earle Grey Award (with the cast of SCTV)SCTV
Critics awards +YearAwardCategoryWorkResult 2003New York Film Critics Circle AwardsBest Supporting ActorA Mighty Windrowspan=2 Seattle Film Critics AwardsBest MusicBest Screenplay, Original 2003 Florida Film Critics Circle AwardsBest Cast Phoenix Film Critics Society AwardsBest Ensemble Castrowspan=3
Miscellaneous awards Organizations Year Category Work Result Behind the Voice Actors Awards 2016 Best Vocal Ensemble in a Feature FilmFinding Dory Blockbuster Entertainment Awards 2000 Favourite Supporting Actor, Comedy American Pie CableACE Awards 1984 Writing a Comedy or Music Program SCTV Channel 1985Ace Award for Best Comedy SpecialThe Last Polka Performance in a Comedy Special 1989 Directing a Comedy SpecialBiographies: The Enigma of Bobby Bittman Writing a Comedy Special DVD Exclusive Awards2006Best Supporting Actor in a DVD Premiere MovieAmerican Pie Presents: Band Camp Gotham Independent Film Award 2006 Best Ensemble Cast For Your Consideration Independent Spirit Award 1998Best Screenplay Waiting for Guffman 2003 A Mighty Wind Kids' Choice Awards 2016 #Squad Finding Dory Sitges Film Festival 1973 Medalla Sitges en Plata de Ley for Best Actor Cannibal Girls Teen Choice Awards 2003 Choice Movie Chemistry Bringing Down the House Choice Movie Liar New York Minute Producers Guild of America2020 Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television – Comedy Schitt's Creek Satellite Awards 2019 Best Actor in a Series, Comedy or Musical Schitt's Creek 2021 Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy Series Writers Guild of America Awards2000 Best Screenplay Best in Show
Honorary awards Organizations Year Award Result Governor General of Canada 2008 Governor General's Performing Arts Award Banff World Media Festival 2011 Award of Excellence Banff Television Festival 2019 Sir Peter Ustinov Awards Newport Beach Film Festival 2020 Lifetime Achievement Award
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