Mike McShane explained

Mike McShane
Birth Name:Michael McShane
Birth Date:25 June 1955
Birth Place:Boston, Massachusetts
Years Active:1986–present

Michael McShane (born June 25, 1955) is an American actor, singer, and improvisational comedian. He appeared on the original British version of the television show Whose Line Is It Anyway? (1988–97) and went on to appear in films such as (1988), (1991), Richie Rich (1994), and Office Space (1999). McShane has also been involved in several Disney productions, including Tom and Huck (1995), the television series Brotherly Love (1995–97), Tower of Terror (1997), and A Bug's Life (1998). He also voiced the Revolting Slob in the Canadian-American variety television series Crashbox.

McShane voiced Marlon, Caracticus P. Doom and various other characters in Cosgrove Hall Films's Avenger Penguins (1993–94), Gareb in Todd McFarlane's Spawn (1997–99), and Quosmir in Dave The Barbarian (2004–05).

Career

McShane studied drama at San Joaquin Delta College and San Francisco State University,[1] performing with Faultline Theatre, the San Francisco Shakespeare Festival, American Conservatory Theater and the Eureka Theatre. McShane is also an alumnus of Los Angeles Theatresports.

McShane gained exposure in 1988 on the British show Whose Line Is It Anyway?. He remained a regular performer on the show for the next ten years. McShane and fellow Whose Line regular Tony Slattery starred in the comedy sketch show S&M in 1991. In 1992 McShane starred in the sitcom The Big One alongside another Whose Line performer Sandi Toksvig.

Other TV roles include a guest appearance on Seinfeld as Kramer's nemesis Franklin Delano Romanowski (FDR). McShane played Friar Tuck in Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves in 1991, had a small role as a doomed hypnotherapist in the 1999 film Office Space, and played the friendly scientist, Professor Keenbean, in the 1994 movie Richie Rich. In 1998 he appeared in an episode of Frasier as Frank, the manager of the Shangri-La apartments. He also co-starred with Sir John Gielgud, Emily Watson and Rosemary Harris in "A Summer's Day Dream" for BBC "Performance" series.

In 1995, McShane starred as Harley in the BBC Screen Two TV Movie Crazy For A Kiss, about a young boy who is sent to a mental institution for teenagers in McShane's home state of Kansas. McShane appeared in Tom and Huck as Muff Potter and on Brotherly Love as the experienced but wisecracking mechanic, Lloyd.

In 1997 he appeared in Tower of Terror, a TV movie starring Steve Guttenberg and Kirsten Dunst based on the Disney attraction, as "Q".

McShane also appeared with Dunst in the 1999 comedy film Drop Dead Gorgeous, playing a quick-tempered beauty pageant judge who serves as caretaker for his learning disabled brother.

McShane provided voice work for the anime , as D's sarcastic possessed left hand. He also provided the voice of Detective Twitch in the HBO animated series Spawn. Other voice work by McShane includes the characters of Tuck and Roll, the twin pill bugs in A Bug's Life[2] and the video game of the same name in 1998. He also provided the voice of Shalulu in Disney's redub of Castle in the Sky, and Baron Rakan Harkonnen in the 2001 strategy game . He provided the voice for Cid in the video games Final Fantasy X and Final Fantasy X-2.

McShane appeared as the voice of Audrey II (as well as playing a number of peripheral characters) in the London revival of Little Shop of Horrors at the Menier Chocolate Factory in Southwark between December 2006 and February 2007. The show was a critical success and was sold out for the duration of its run, and Mike had been contracted to continue in the role following the show's transfer to the West End at the Duke of York theatre. In September 2007 he took part in the British Library's celebration of Jack Kerouac, reading excerpts from On The Road on the 50th anniversary of its publication.

In 2008, McShane appeared as a guest performer in Paul Merton's Impro Chums, a live improv show, and was asked to join the permanent company for three UK tours, and is still ongoing with the group. and as Dr. Vaabit in episode 5 of BBC's sitcom Lab Rats,[3] and has appeared twice on the BBC radio programme Just a Minute.

In September 2012, McShane appeared as the character Grayle in the television series Doctor Who in the series 7 episode "The Angels Take Manhattan". In November 2012, Mike starred as a CIA military consultant in BBC Three comedy series Bluestone 42. In February 2013, Mike created the role of Louis B. Mayer in the new musical "The Tailor Made Man" at The Arts Theatre in London's West End, garnering rave reviews.

On May 17, 2013, Radio 5 Live's breakfast show accidentally announced Mike McShane had died. This was following the death of Paul Shane on May 16, 2013. A retraction was issued.

In 2014, McShane was in the horror comedy film Love in the Time of Monsters. From November 2014 through March 2015, he appeared in the Stephen Sondheim musical Assassins at the Menier Chocolate Factory.

In August 2015 McShane appeared at an Edinburgh Fringe gala regarding mental health issues. At the same time he paid tribute to his friend Robin Williams. McShane said: “I worked with Robin when we were young and he came to see me backstage in the past, too. Any improviser my age or younger was inspired by him...Even with his condition he was still doing benefit gigs, making servicemen laugh and championing young acts. He would pick you up and make you feel like the exploration of your imagination and expression was a good thing. Laughter is good. It's group consensus and a release of tension.”[4]

In 2016, McShane starred as Sam in the Western web series Red Bird.

Filmography

Film

scope=col Yearscope=col Titlescope=col Rolescope=col Notes
scope=row Castle in the SkyCharles (voice)
scope=row Recording Engineer
scope=row Angry Driver
scope=row Best ShotsFriendly Bob
scope=row Friar Tuck
scope=row Richie RichProfessor Keenbean
scope=row Tom and HuckMuff Potter
scope=row BaltoExtra voices
scope=row Princess MononokeAdditional voices
scope=row Maxwell BaxterDirect-to-Video
scope=row Todd McFarlane's SpawnTwitch Williams / Gareb (voice)Direct-to-Video
scope=row Todd McFarlane's Spawn 2Gareb (voice)
scope=row Tuck / Roll (voice)[5]
scope=row Todd McFarlane's Spawn 3: The Ultimate BattleGareb (voice)
scope=row Office SpaceDr. Swanson
scope=row Drop Dead GorgeousHarold Vilmes / Judge #2 Double role
scope=row Jerry
scope=row Left Hand (voice)
scope=row Big TroubleBruce
scope=row Thunder PigThunderpig (voice)Short film
scope=row Treasure PlanetHands (voice)
scope=row Assad (voice)
scope=row Mr. Norway
scope=row Evil Alien ConquerorsRabirr
scope=row MemronKen ClayMockumentary
scope=row Death and TexasPrison Guard
scope=row Thru the Moebius StripHymo (voice)
scope=row Happily N'Ever AfterRumplestiltskin (voice)
scope=row CarelessNaked Man
scope=row FatherShort film
scope=row Love in the Time of MonstersSlavko

Television

scope=col Yearscope=col Titlescope=col Rolescope=col Notes
-scope=rowWhose Line Is It Anyway?himself43 episodes
scope=row ArenaFatty Arbuckle / The God of HollywoodEpisode: "Hollywood Babylon"
Documentary series
scope=row James Howard7 episodes
scope=row Bernard MatthewsEpisode: "Wild Turkey"
scope=row Anton DvorakEpisode: "Prague, August 1917"
-scope=row Avenger PenguinsMarlon / Caractacus P. Doom / Barracuda Stink (voice)9 episodes
scope=row Uncle Frank1 episode
scope=row Broadway StoriesNarrator10 episodes
-scope=row PerformanceFranklyn Heimer / Hal2 episodes
-scope=row JackanoryStoryteller5 episodes
scope=row Screen TwoHarleyEpisode: "Crazy for a Kiss"
scope=row ERHugoEpisode: "The Match Game"
scope=row Chris 'Q' ToddEpisode: "Tower of Terror"
-scope=row Brotherly LoveLloyd Burwell40 episodes
scope=row Aaahh!!! Real MonstersTimid Man / Customer #1 / Mallard (voice)2 episodes
-scope=row SeinfeldFranklin Delano Romanowski2 episodes
-scope=row FrasierFrankEpisode: "How to Bury a Millionaire"
scope=row Caroline in the CityBooEpisode: "Caroline and the Fright Before Christmas"
scope=row KlounbergEpisode: "Honey, I'm Not Just Clowning Around"
-scope=row Todd McFarlane's SpawnGareb / Twitch Williams / Cain / Minister17 episodes
-scope=row Locksmith / Officer Big Mac / Priest / Randal's Japanese husband / X (voice)3 episodes
scope=row Ray2 episodes
scope=row 3rd Rock from the SunPhilEpisode: "InDickscretion"
scope=row Thug (voice)Episode: "Tarzan and the Missing Link"
scope=row Animated Tales of the WorldNarratorEpisode: "A Story from Taiwan: Aunt Tiger"
scope=row Ohio Attorney GeneralEpisode: "Life Sentence"
scope=row Samurai JackDrake Nightshade (voice)3 episodes
scope=row Believe NothingProfessor BrinsleyEpisode: "Double First"
scope=row John DoeRay BrunellasEpisode: "John Deux"
scope=row King of the HillMountain Man (voice)Episode: "Full Metal Dust Jacket"
scope=row Oliver BeeneFat ManEpisode: "Home, a Loan"
scope=row Dave the BarbarianQuozmir / Ted / Enchanted Tree (voice)3 episodes
scope=row Malcolm in the MiddleDr. PhelpsEpisode: "Living Will"
-scope=row Holly Hobbie & FriendsJim Bidderman / Station Manager2 episodes
scope=row Lab RatsDr. VaabitEpisode: "A Bee"
scope=row Nick Jr. IDsEpisode: "Pilot"
scope=row Glenn Martin, DDSJudge (voice)Episode: "The Tooth Shall Set You Free"
scope=row American Dad!Brian P. Mahon (voice)Episode: "Don't Look a Smith Horse in the Mouth"
scope=row Doctor WhoGrayleEpisode: "The Angels Take Manhattan"
scope=row Third String KickerNed FinkelsteinEpisode: "Ned Finkelstein: World's Worst Lawyer"
scope=row Bluestone 42Carter1 episode
scope=row You'll Be FineEvan EdwardsEpisode: "Company Policy"
scope=row Wayward PinesBig Bill4 episodes
scope=row PriestEpisode: "King Louis XIV"
scope=row Red BirdSam3 episodes
scope=row Warden John NewtonEpisode: "The One That Got Away"
scope=row BarbariansAldarich (voice)2 episodes
scope=row NCISDr. Matthew HellerEpisode: "Unearth"

Videos games

scope=col Yearscope=col Titlescope=col Voice rolescope=col Description
scope=row Blade RunnerMarcus Eisenduller / Hawker's Barkeep / Sergeant Walls Based on the game it is not a direct adaptation of Ridley Scott's 1982 film Blade Runner
scope=row Tuck / RollBased on the Disney/Pixar 1998 film of the same name
scope=row Baron Rakan HarkonnenSequel to Dune videogame
scope=row Final Fantasy XCidDeveloped and published by Square as the tenth main entry in the Final Fantasy series[6]
scope=row Final Fantasy X-2Cid

Podcast

scope=col Yearscope=col Titlescope=col Rolescope=col Notes
2021The Zip Code Plays: Los ÁngelesWilliam MulhollandEpisode: "90026: Echo Park - $10 and a Tambourine"

Notes and References

  1. McShane. Mike. Mike McShane . Libby Purves . Barbara Dickson; Mike McShane; Dr Sarah Coombes; Giles Abbott . BBC . London . 2015 . BBC Radio 4 Midweek . April 9, 2018.
  2. Web site: AT THE MOVIES; Bug's Word: Yaddanyafoo . Sterngold . James . December 4, 1998 . The New York Times . https://web.archive.org/web/20170920190630/http://www.nytimes.com/1998/12/04/movies/at-the-movies-bug-s-word-yaddanyafoo.html . September 20, 2017 . December 18, 2017.
  3. Web site: BBC - Press Office - Network TV Programme Information Week 32 Thursday 7 August 2008. www.bbc.co.uk.
  4. Web site: Robin Williams' comedian pal headlines Fringe gala on mental health. Paul. English. August 15, 2015. Daily Record.
  5. News: Sterngold . James . December 4, 1998 . AT THE MOVIES; Bug's Word: Yaddanyafoo . January 21, 2024 . The New York Times . en-US . 0362-4331.
  6. Web site: Michael McShane (visual voices guide) . Behind The Voice Actors . January 16, 2023.