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Michael McDonald (comedian)

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Michael McDonald
McDonald in 2010
PseudonymMike McDonald
Birth nameMichael James McDonald
Born (1964-12-31) December 31, 1964 (age 59)
Fullerton, California, U.S.
MediumStand-up, film, television
Years active1987–present
GenresSketch comedy, improvisational comedy

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

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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

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Something So Right

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McDonald appeared as the lead Carly's assistant in the 1996 sitcom, first appearing in season one episode four, Something About a Family Photo.[1]

MADtv

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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

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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

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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

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1991 Uncaged Clean Cut John
1992 In the Heat of Passion Nick
Dance with Death Henry
Body Waves Squirrely
Final Judgement Rainy Video
Bloodfist IV: Die Trying Newscaster Video
1993 Full Contact -
1994 Bloodfist V: Human Target Jewelry Store Manager Video
Revenge of the Red Baron Psychiatrist
The Unborn II Welfare Worker #1
Leprechaun 2 Waiter
No Dessert, Dad, Till You Mow the Lawn Evil Hypnotist
In the Heat of Passion II: Unfaithful Bartender
The Crazysitter Mr. Smith
1995 Carnosaur 2 Evac. Team Pilot
Bloodfist VI: Ground Zero Corey Video
Hideaway Young cop
Criminal Hearts Tierney
Twisted Love Stoned kid
Bloodfist VII: Manhunt Running Officer Video
1996 Baby Face Nelson Reporter
Carnosaur 3: Primal Species Police Officer Wilson
1997 Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery Steve Harmon the Evil Henchman
Casper: A Spirited Beginning Sarcastic Protester Video
1998 Casper Meets Wendy Spike-Stretch Video
Richie Rich's Christmas Wish Montgomery Video
1999 Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me NATO Soldier
2000 Chump Change Dack
2002 Slackers Economics Professor
Austin Powers in Goldmember Royal Guard
2003 Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star Maitre d'
2004 Outing Riley Andy
2006 Moonpie Mitch Henderson
2013 The Heat Julian
2014 Minutes John Feldman Short
2015 Spy Patrick
2016 The Boss Bryce Crean
Ghostbusters Jonathan
2018 The Happytime Murders Ronovan Scargle
The Loud House: Clyde and His Dads Howard McBride Voice, short
2021 Halloween Kills Little John
2024 Mother of the Bride Clay

Television

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Television appearances by Lyric Bent
Year Title Role Notes
1987 Nightlife Himself Episode: "Episode #1.144"
Stand Up America Himself
1992 An Evening at the Improv Himself Episode: "Episode #9.9"
Revenge of the Nerds III: The Next Generation Disc Jockey Television film
1993 Family Matters Manager Episode: "Buds 'n' Buns"
The John Larroquette Show Phil Episode: "The Past Comes Back"
1994 Revenge of the Nerds IV: Nerds in Love Party Guest Television film
1995 Sherman Oaks Jules Episode: "Golf, Dating, and the Devil"
Sawbones Prostitute Television film
Virtual Seduction Disoriented Man Television film
A Bucket of Blood Dancer Television film
1995–96 Seinfeld Player #2/Jesse Episode: "The Understudy" & "The Wig Master"
Night Stand Ray Episode: "So You Think You're a Lesbian" & "Clip Show"
1997 Ellen The Guy Episode: "Alone Again... Naturally"
NewsRadio Lee Episode: "Airport"
Night Stand Chuckie MacDougal Episode: "Pushy Parents"
1998 Instant Comedy with the Groundlings Himself Episode: "Episode #1.1 & #1.2"
Just Shoot Me Reg Episode: "The Emperor"
The Drew Carey Show The Parking Attendant Episode: "From the Earth to the Moon"
1998 National Lampoon's Men in White Secret Service Agent Television film
1998–2008 MADtv Himself/Cast Member Main cast: season 4–13, guest: season 14
1999 Banned in America: The World's Sexiest Commercials Host TV special
2001 Passions The Face in the Pool Episode: "Episode #1.516-#1.518"
2001–03 Invader Zim RoboDad Voice, recurring role
2001–09 Scrubs Mike Davis Recurring cast: season 1, guest: season 2, 6-8
2002 Greg the Bunny Leo Episode: "The Singing Mailman"
2002–03 Clone High Gandhi Voice, main role
2005 Fat Actress Sam Rascal Recurring role
2005–06 7th Heaven Edward Jameson Recurring cast: season 10
2005–09 Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List Himself Recurring cast: season 1-5
2006 Talkshow with Spike Feresten Himself Episode: "Michael McDonald"
Desperate Housewives Steven Episode: "Silly People"
Lovespring International Drake Episode: "The Demuler"
2008 My Boys Paul Episode: "Spit Take"
Hannah Montana Chef Duncan Keats Episode: "Don't Go Breakin' My Tooth"
2009 Pushing Daisies Galveston Gus Episode: "Kerplunk"
Kath & Kim Neil Episode: "Home"
Head Case Stanley Episode: "Twinkle, Twinkle..."
Reaper Mr. Elliott Sprong Episode: "To Sprong, with Love"
Rita Rocks Rob Boone Recurring cast: season 2
2011 Cougar Town Wayne Gibbons 2 episodes
2012–13 Web Therapy Ben Tomlund Recurring cast: season 2-3
2013 House of Lies Carl Criswell Recurring cast: season 2
Save Me Randall Episode: "Heavenly Hostess"
2014 Community Ronald Mohammed Episode: "Basic Story"
2015 Newsreaders James Jordan Episode: "A Billionaire Goes to Hell; Sitcom Family"
2016–present The Loud House Howard McBride Voice, recurring role[2]
2017 Superior Donuts Manfred Episode: "Painted Love"
Rhett & Link's Buddy System Enrique Episode: "Spa Trip"
2017–18 Nobodies Blaine Kaine Recurring cast
2019 Crazy Ex-Girlfriend Open Mic MC Episode: "I'm in Love"
2020 Brooklyn Nine-Nine Adam Jarver Episode: "Ding Dong"
2022 God's Favorite Idiot Leviathan Episode: "God, Satan and All the Good Smells"
What We Do in the Shadows Gustave Leroy Episode: "Freddie"
2023 How I Met Your Father Warren Episode: "The Reset Button"
2024 Good Times: Black Again Elon Musk [3]

Stand-up specials

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Year Title Role Notes
2010 Michael McDonald: Model Citizen Himself TV special

References

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  1. ^ Something So Right Season 1 Episode 4, archived from the original on 2021-12-12, retrieved 2021-10-21
  2. ^ Roshanian, Arya (July 18, 2016). "Nickelodeon's 'Loud House' to Feature Married Gay Couple". Variety.
  3. ^ https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/tv-shows/Good-Times/ [bare URL]
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