Michael McDonald (comedian) explained

Michael McDonald
Birth Name:Michael James McDonald
Birth Date:31 December 1964
Birth Place:Fullerton, California, U.S.
Medium:Stand-up, film, television
Genre:Sketch comedy, improvisational comedy
Pseudonym:Mike McDonald
Active:1987–present

Michael James McDonald (born December 31, 1964) is an American stand-up comedian, actor, screenwriter, and director. He is best known for starring in the sketch comedy show MADtv. McDonald joined the show during the fourth season (1998) and remained in the cast until the end of the thirteenth and penultimate season, having become the longest-tenured cast member.

Early life

McDonald was born in Fullerton, California. He graduated from St. Juliana Catholic Elementary School in Fullerton, and later went to Servite High School in Anaheim, California, and graduated from the University of Southern California with a business degree. After college, a friend took McDonald to see an improv comedy show at The Groundlings Theater. McDonald quit his job at the bank and enrolled in The Groundlings improv program. He was a member of the troupe from 1992 to 1997. During that time, he was also involved in writing and directing films for Roger Corman.

Later on, McDonald would guest star in such shows as Seinfeld (in two episodes playing two different parts), Just Shoot Me!, Family Matters, Scrubs and NewsRadio. He also made brief cameos in all three Austin Powers films. McDonald had a starring role with Will Forte and Nicole Sullivan on the short-lived MTV show Clone High as the voice of Gandhi.

Career

Something So Right

McDonald appeared as the lead Carly's assistant in the 1996 sitcom, first appearing in season one episode four, Something About a Family Photo.

MADtv

McDonald joined the cast of MADtv in 1998, eventually becoming the longest-standing cast member in the show's history (10 seasons). He performed several recurring characters, including Stuart Larkin, Rusty Miller, Marvin Tikvah, Sean Gidcomb, Bible Dude, the Depressed Persian Tow Truck Man, Fightin' Ron, and F. Michael McKrofsky of "Real M*********ing Talk" (replacing Andrew Daly's token white commentator on that sketch).

After 10 years on MADtv, McDonald left the cast, but was a contributing writer and director for the show's final season. McDonald was the last member of the cast to be hired in the 1990s, and the last cast member to have been born in the 1960s, and is the only cast member to have a "best of" clip show special dedicated to him.

Cougar Town

McDonald was also a writer, director, and producer of the ABC TV series Cougar Town. He directed a number of episodes of the show, including "Letting You Go", "Everything Man", "When a Kid Goes Bad", "Stop Dragging My Heart Around", and "Don't Come Around Here No More". McDonald also wrote the episode "Wake Up Time".

Stand-up comedy

McDonald has toured at stand-up comedy clubs across the country. His stand-up comedy special Michael McDonald: Model Citizen premiered on Showtime on October 9, 2010. Filmed in Orange County at the OC Pavilion, it has been described as "Part stand-up comedy, part one man show, this special is for anyone who – like Michael – finds humor in the strange world all around us."

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1991UncagedClean Cut John
1992In the Heat of PassionNick
Dance with DeathHenry
Body WavesSquirrely
Final JudgementRainyVideo
Newscaster Video
1993Full Contact-
1994Jewelry Store ManagerVideo
Revenge of the Red BaronPsychiatrist
The Unborn IIWelfare Worker #1
Leprechaun 2Waiter
No Dessert, Dad, Till You Mow the LawnEvil Hypnotist
In the Heat of Passion II: UnfaithfulBartender
The CrazysitterMr. Smith
1995Carnosaur 2Evac. Team Pilot
CoreyVideo
HideawayYoung cop
Criminal HeartsTierney
Twisted LoveStoned kid
Running Officer Video
1996Baby Face NelsonReporter
Police Officer Wilson
1997Steve Harmon the Evil Henchman
Sarcastic ProtesterVideo
1998Casper Meets Wendy Spike-StretchVideo
Richie Rich's Christmas Wish MontgomeryVideo
1999 NATO Soldier
2000 Chump Change Dack
2002 Slackers Economics Professor
Austin Powers in Goldmember Royal Guard
2003 Maitre d'
2004 Outing Riley Andy
2006MoonpieMitch Henderson
2013The HeatJulian
2014MinutesJohn FeldmanShort
2015Spy Patrick
2016The BossBryce Crean
GhostbustersJonathan
2018The Happytime MurdersRonovan Scargle
The Loud House: Clyde and His DadsHoward McBrideVoice, short
2021Halloween KillsLittle John
2024Mother of the BrideClay

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1987NightlifeHimselfEpisode: "Episode #1.144"
Stand Up AmericaHimself
1992An Evening at the ImprovHimselfEpisode: "Episode #9.9"
Disc JockeyTelevision film
1993Family MattersManager Episode: "Buds 'n' Buns"
The John Larroquette ShowPhilEpisode: "The Past Comes Back"
1994Party Guest Television film
1995Sherman OaksJulesEpisode: "Golf, Dating, and the Devil"
SawbonesProstituteTelevision film
Virtual SeductionDisoriented Man Television film
A Bucket of BloodDancer Television film
1995–96SeinfeldPlayer #2/JesseEpisode: "The Understudy" & "The Wig Master"
Night StandRayEpisode: "So You Think You're a Lesbian" & "Clip Show"
1997EllenThe GuyEpisode: "Alone Again... Naturally"
NewsRadio LeeEpisode: "Airport"
Night StandChuckie MacDougalEpisode: "Pushy Parents"
1998Instant Comedy with the Groundlings HimselfEpisode: "Episode #1.1 & #1.2"
Just Shoot Me Reg Episode: "The Emperor"
The Drew Carey Show The Parking AttendantEpisode: "From the Earth to the Moon"
1998National Lampoon's Men in White Secret Service AgentTelevision film
1998–2008MADtvHimself/Cast MemberMain cast: season 4–13, guest: season 14
1999Banned in America: The World's Sexiest Commercials HostTV special
2001 Passions The Face in the PoolEpisode: "Episode #1.516-#1.518"
2001–03Invader ZimRoboDadVoice, recurring role
2001–09ScrubsMike DavisRecurring cast: season 1, guest: season 2, 6-8
2002 Greg the Bunny LeoEpisode: "The Singing Mailman"
2002–03Clone High GandhiVoice, main role
2005 Fat Actress Sam RascalRecurring role
2005–067th Heaven Edward JamesonRecurring cast: season 10
2005–09 HimselfRecurring cast: season 1-5
2006Talkshow with Spike Feresten HimselfEpisode: "Michael McDonald"
Desperate Housewives StevenEpisode: "Silly People"
Lovespring International DrakeEpisode: "The Demuler"
2008My Boys PaulEpisode: "Spit Take"
Hannah Montana Chef Duncan KeatsEpisode: "Don't Go Breakin' My Tooth"
2009Pushing DaisiesGalveston GusEpisode: "Kerplunk"
Kath & Kim NeilEpisode: "Home"
Head CaseStanleyEpisode: "Twinkle, Twinkle..."
ReaperMr. Elliott SprongEpisode: "To Sprong, with Love"
Rita RocksRob BooneRecurring cast: season 2
2011Cougar TownWayne Gibbons2 episodes
2012–13Web TherapyBen TomlundRecurring cast: season 2-3
2013House of LiesCarl Criswell Recurring cast: season 2
Save MeRandallEpisode: "Heavenly Hostess"
2014CommunityRonald MohammedEpisode: "Basic Story"
2015Newsreaders James JordanEpisode: "A Billionaire Goes to Hell; Sitcom Family"
2016–presentThe Loud House Howard McBrideVoice, recurring role[1]
2017Superior DonutsManfredEpisode: "Painted Love"
Rhett & Link's Buddy SystemEnriqueEpisode: "Spa Trip"
2017–18Nobodies Blaine KaineRecurring cast
2019Crazy Ex-GirlfriendOpen Mic MCEpisode: "I'm in Love"
2020Brooklyn Nine-NineAdam JarverEpisode: "Ding Dong"
2022God's Favorite IdiotLeviathanEpisode: "God, Satan and All the Good Smells"
What We Do in the ShadowsGustave LeroyEpisode: "Freddie"
2023How I Met Your FatherWarrenEpisode: "The Reset Button"
2024Elon Musk[2]

Stand-up specials

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Nickelodeon's 'Loud House' to Feature Married Gay Couple. Variety. Roshanian. Arya. July 18, 2016.
  2. https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/tv-shows/Good-Times/