Michael McDonald (comedian)

Michael James McDonald (born December 31, 1964) is an American stand-up comedian, actor, director and writer. 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.

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

McDonald also directed several episodes of the comedy-drama series Scrubs, on which he guest-starred six times.

McDonald currently divides his time between writing, directing, and acting on various film and television projects, as well as performing live on stage across the country.

Currently, McDonald is working on Nickelodeon's The Loud House as one of Clyde's fathers.

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

Stand-up comedy

McDonald is currently touring 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."

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".

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).

Much like Darrell Hammond, Phil Hartman, Dan Aykroyd, and Bill Hader on Saturday Night Live, McDonald was the go-to cast member for a litany of impressions, ranging from past and present movie and TV stars to world leaders and American political figures. Some memorable impressions he's done include Criss Angel, Bob Barker, Hugh Beaumont (as Ward Cleaver from Leave it to Beaver), Chris Burke, JC Chasez, Simon Cowell, Larry David, Bob Denver (as Gilligan from Gilligan's Island), Plácido Domingo, Jeff Foxworthy, Brad Garrett (as Robert Barone from Everybody Loves Raymond), Barry Gibb, Mel Gibson, Tim Gunn, Jack Haley (as the Tin Man from The Wizard of Oz), Chris Hansen, Saddam Hussein, Bruce Jenner, Steve Jobs, John Kerry, Hugh Laurie (as Gregory House), Tommy Lee, Howie Mandel, Chris Martin from the band Coldplay, Dr. Phil McGraw, Bill O'Reilly, Ozzy Osbourne, Terry O'Quinn (as John Locke from Lost), Sarah Jessica Parker (as Carrie Bradshaw from Sex and the City), Dr. Drew Pinsky, Maury Povich, Jeff Probst, John Bennett Ramsey, Rob Reiner (as Michael Stivic from All in the Family), Michael Richards, John Ritter (as Jack Tripper from Three’s Company), David Schwimmer (as Ross Geller from Friends), Adam Sandler, Charlie Sheen (as Charlie Harper from Two and a Half Men), J. K. Simmons (as Mac McGruff from Juno and as Vernon Schillinger from Oz), Howard K. Stern, Linda Tripp, and Eddie Vedder.

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.

Filmography

Year Title Role Remarks
1987 Stand Up America Himself
1991 Dance with Death Henry
Uncaged Clean-cut John
1992 Final Judgement Rainy
In the Heat of Passion Nick
Body Waves Squirrely
Revenge of the Nerds III: The Next Generation Disc-jockey
1993 Full Contact (uncredited)
The John Larroquette Show Phil
Family Matters Manager of the Mighty Weenie Season 4, Episode 24: Buds 'n' Buns
1994 In the Heat of Passion II: Unfaithful Bartender
Revenge of the Nerds IV: Nerds in Love Party-guest
Revenge of the Red Baron Psychiatrist (also screenwriter)
No Dessert, Dad, Till You Mow the Lawn Evil hypnotist
The Unborn II Welfare-worker #1
Leprechaun 2 Bar owner
1995 The Crazysitter Mr. Smith (also screenwriter and director)
Criminal Hearts Tierney
A Bucket of Blood Dancer (also screenwriter and director) Remake of the 1959 film of the same name.
Virtual Seduction Disoriented man
Baby Face Nelson Reporter
Bloodfist VI: Ground Zero Corey
Carnosaur 2 Evac-team pilot
Hideaway Young cop
Sawbones Prostitute
Twisted Love Stoned kid
Bloodfist VII: Manhunt Running officer
Seinfeld Player #2
1996 Carnosaur 3: Primal Species Police Officer Wilson
Seinfeld Jesse
1997 Ellen The guy
NewsRadio Lee
Casper: A Spirited Beginning Sarcastic protester
Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery Steve (security guard crushed by a steamroller)
1998 The Drew Carey Show Parking-attendant
Casper Meets Wendy The Human Stretch
Richie Rich's Christmas Wish Montgomery
Just Shoot Me (1998) Reg - episode The Emperor
MADtv (1998–2008) Various 239 episodes (Seasons 4-13)
1999 Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me NATO soldier
Banned in America: The World's Sexiest Commercials Host
Futurama Various
2000 Chump Change Dack
2001 Passions The face in the pool
Scrubs Mike Davis Season 1, Episode 9: My Day Off
Invader Zim Robo-Dad and other characters (voice) 2 episodes (2001); 2 episodes (2004)
2002 Slackers Economics professor
Greg the Bunny Leo
Austin Powers in Goldmember Royal Guard
Scrubs Mike Davis Season 1, Episode 12: My Blind Date
Season 2, Episode 3: My Case Study
2003 Clone High Gandhi (voice)
Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star Maitre d'
2004 Outing Riley Andy
2005 Fat Actress Sam Rascal Played agent of titular character
Desperate Housewives Steven Season 2, Episode 14: Silly People
All Grown Up! Jason Matheny
2006 Talkshow with Spike Feresten Himself
7th Heaven (2005–2007) Edward Jameson
2007 Scrubs Dr. Toilet (voice) Season 6, Episode 20: My Conventional Wisdom (also director)
Moonpie Mitch Henderson Main role
2008 Scrubs Patient's husband Season 7, Episode 8: My Manhood (also director)
Hannah Montana Chef Duncan Keats
MADtv 4 episodes (director)
2009 Kath & Kim Judge from Parade of Homes
MADtv Himself Best of Special
Scrubs Mr. Cropper Season 8, Episode 18: My Finale
Reaper Mr. Elliott Sprong Season 2, Episode 11: To Sprong, with Love
Pushing Daisies Galveston Gus Season 2, Episode 13: Kerplunk
Rita Rocks Rob Boone 4 episodes
2010 Michael McDonald: Model.Citizen. Himself One hour stand up comedy special on Showtime
Web Therapy Ben Tomlund Season 3, Episode 2: Staff Infection
Season 3, Episode 13: I Love You, Man
Season 3, Episode 15: Can You Get Up?
2011 Cougar Town Wayne Gibbons Season 2, Episode 16: Baby's a Rock 'n' Roller
Season 2, Episode 17: You're Gonna Get It
2012 Web Therapy Ben Tomlund Season 2, Episode 3: Campaign Reform
Season 2, Episode 7: Infanticipation
2013 House of Lies Carl Criswell Season 2, Episode 5: Sincerity is an Easy Disguise in this Business
Season 2, Episode 7: The Runner Stumbles
The Heat Julian
2014 Community Ronald Mohammed Season 5, Episode 12: Basic Story
2015 Spy Patrick
2016 The Loud House Howard McBride[1] (voice) Supporting role
MADtv Himself 20th Anniversary Reunion Special
The Boss Bryce Crean
Ghostbusters Jonathan (theater manager)
2017 Nobodies Himself Season 1, Episodes 2-12 (director)
2018 The Happytime Murders Ronovan Scargle
2019 Splitting Up Together Season 2, Episodes 20-22 (director)
Man with a Plan Season 3, Episode 7 (director)
Crazy Ex-Girlfriend Open-mic emcee Initially cast as Darryl Whitefeather but the role went to Pete Gardner
American Princess Season 1, Episode 7 (director)
2020 Brooklyn Nine-Nine Adam Jarver Season 7, Episode 7: Ding Dong

12 episodes (director)

Outmatched Episode #7: Failing (director)

Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List

Episode NumberEpisode TitleAirdateNotes
01 (Season 1)Hot to TotAugust 10, 2005
02 (Season 2)Red State, Blue StateJune 13, 2006
03 (Season 2)IraqJune 20, 2006
04 (Season 2)Rocket AttackJune 27, 2006
05 (Season 4)No Time for SiestasJuly 17, 2008
06 (Season 4)What's Woz's Love Got to Do with ItAugust 7, 2008
09 (Season 4)Red, White and Don't Be BlueAugust 14, 2008
07 (Season 5)Grammy ShmammyJune 22, 2009
08 (Season 5)Paris Is My New BFFJune 29, 2009
09 (Season 5)Maggie's Bucket ListJuly 6, 2009

References

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