Born in Toronto, Rick Moranis began his career in radio as a producer and eventually as a DJ. He began performing stand-up comedy in 1975 in Toronto's improvisation and comedy clubs. In 1980 he was invited to join the cast of "SCTV," then in its third season. Moranis won an Emmy® award in 1982 for writing the "SCTV" television series for which he created a number of well-known characters including VJ Gerry Todd, and along with "SCTV" co-star Dave Thomas, the beer-drinking Canadians the McKenzie Brothers.  Bob and Doug McKenzie's 1983 album "The Great White North" went triple platinum in Canada and gold in the United States, garnered a Grammy® nomination, and won a Juno award for Best Comedy Album.  Moranis and Thomas's 1983 film "Strange Brew" won the Golden Reel Award in Canada for the highest box office gross that year. 
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Moranis went on to star in many Hollywood movies, including "Ghostbusters," "Little Shop of Horrors," Mel Brooks' "Spaceballs," "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids," "My Blue Heaven," and Ron Howard's "Parenthood." He voiced the character of Rutt in Disney's 2003 hit "Brother Bear." 
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Moranis' 2005 album of country-comedy songs entitled "The Agoraphobic Cowboy," was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album.
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Still a Canadian citizen, Moranis lives in New York City with his two children.