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Christopher McDonald
McDonald at the 2011 Tribeca Film Festival
Born	(1955-02-15) February 15, 1955 (age 69) New York City, New York, U.S.
Alma mater	Hobart College
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1978–present
Spouse	Lupe Gidley ​(m. 1992)​
Children	4
Relatives	Daniel McDonald (brother)

Christopher McDonald (born February 15, 1955) is an American film, television, theatre and voice actor.

McDonald is best known for playing the villainous professional golfer Shooter McGavin in the 1996 comedy Happy Gilmore. Other notable starring roles for McDonald in film include "T-Birds" member Goose McKenzie in Grease 2 (1982), Darryl Dickinson opposite his former fiancée Geena Davis in Thelma & Louise (1991), Ward Cleaver in the film adaptation Leave It to Beaver (1997), and Tappy Tibbons in Requiem for a Dream (2000). Along with numerous independent and small-budget film roles, he played supporting characters in box-office hits Grumpy Old Men (1993), Flubber (1997), Rumor Has It (2005), The House Bunny (2008) and About Last Night (2014).

On television, McDonald was a series regular on network TV shows Walter & Emily (1991–1992, NBC), Good Advice (1993–1994, CBS), Family Law (1999–2002, CBS), Cracking Up (2004, FOX) and Harry's Law, (2011–2012, NBC).

McDonald has portrayed several notable real-life people, including game show host Jack Barry in Quiz Show (1994), mountaineer Jon Krakauer in Into Thin Air: Death on Everest on ABC (1997), sportscaster Mel Allen in the HBO film 61* (2001), Yankee legend Joe DiMaggio in ESPN's The Bronx Is Burning (2007), U.S. Attorney General Harry M. Daugherty on HBO's Boardwalk Empire (2010–2012), Texas revolution soldier Henry Karnes in History Channel's Texas Rising (2015), and Clinton lawyer Robert S. Bennett on FX's Impeachment: American Crime Story (2021).

In 2022, McDonald was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for his role as casino CEO Marty Ghilain on the HBO Max show Hacks.

Personal life

McDonald was born in New York City, to Patricia, a nursing professor and real estate agent, and James R. McDonald, an educator and high school principal.

Of Irish descent and a practicing Catholic, he and his siblings were raised in Romulus, New York. He graduated from Romulus Central School in 1973 and later earned a degree from Hobart College in Geneva, New York where he played football and soccer. He was also a member of the Kappa Alpha Society. His younger brother, actor and singer Daniel McDonald, died of brain cancer in February 2007. He is a prominent fan of the Buffalo Bills and a friend of former Bills quarterback Jim Kelly.

McDonald was engaged to future Thelma & Louise co-star Geena Davis for a period in the mid-80s until 1985, when she left him for Jeff Goldblum. He met actress Lupe Gidley in 1989 when they performed together in a theatre production in New Mexico. They married in 1992 and have three daughters and one son.

Career

In 1978, McDonald appeared, as a contestant, on The Dating Game. McDonald has numerous film and television roles, often as a supporting actor and often portraying villains. His credits include Grease 2 (1982), Breakin' (1984), Where the Boys Are '84 (1984), The Boys Next Door (1985), Outrageous Fortune (1987), Thelma & Louise (1991), Fatal Instinct (1993), Grumpy Old Men (1993), Quiz Show (1994), the HBO film The Tuskegee Airmen (1995), Happy Gilmore (1996), Celtic Pride (1996), House Arrest (1996), Flubber (1997), Dirty Work (1998), The Faculty (1998), The Skulls (2000), The Perfect Storm (2000), Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams (2002), Broken Flowers (2005), Rumor Has It (2005), American Pie Presents: The Naked Mile (2006), American Pie Presents: Beta House (2007), and Superhero Movie (2008). In 1994, he starred in the film Terminal Velocity as an aggressive Russian mafia villain. He was featured as Ward Cleaver in the film version of Leave It to Beaver (1997). He also played Tappy Tibbons in Requiem for a Dream (2000), and was in The House Bunny (2008) and About Last Night (2014).

In television, along with a starring role on the TV series Walter & Emily (1991–1992), Family Law (1999–2002), Cracking Up (2004-2006), and recurring roles on North Shore (2004), Veronica's Closet (1997-1999), Good Advice (1993–1994), and Harry's Law (2011–2012), McDonald has also made guest appearances on Matlock, Cheers, Riptide, Knight Rider, The Sopranos, Psych, both the 1985 and the 2002 versions of The Twilight Zone, Home Improvement, Las Vegas, the Law & Order franchise, Stargate Universe, and Star Trek: The Next Generation. He also played the eponymous lead in Peter Gabriel's 2002 music video for the song "The Barry Williams Show".

McDonald has also done voice work, including Jor-El in Superman: The Animated Series and Justice League Unlimited, and an older version of Superman in Batman Beyond. He also voiced the determined government agent Kent Mansley in the animated film The Iron Giant (1999). He subbed for Burt Reynolds as Boss Hogg in The Dukes of Hazzard: The Beginning (2007). In 2009, McDonald lent his voice talents in the Thomas Nelson audio Bible production known as The Word of Promise. In this dramatized audio, McDonald played the role of Luke.

McDonald replaced Robert De Niro in the Midnight Run film franchise, playing Jack Walsh in three 1994 films: Another Midnight Run, Midnight Runaround, and Midnight Run for Your Life. He portrayed mountaineer Jon Krakauer in the ABC film Into Thin Air: Death on Everest (1997), famous baseball broadcaster Mel Allen in the HBO film 61* (2001), baseball player Joe DiMaggio in the ESPN original series The Bronx Is Burning (2007) and U.S. Attorney General Harry M. Daugherty on HBO's Boardwalk Empire (2010–2012). In October 2013, McDonald started filming for A Conspiracy on Jekyll Island. Under the title The Crash, it was released direct-to-video in 2017. McDonald also played Texas revolution soldier Henry Karnes in History Channel's Texas Rising (2015), and Clinton lawyer Robert S. Bennett on FX's Impeachment: American Crime Story (2021).

McDonald appeared as Murphy in the Broadway show The Front Page at the Broadhurst Theater, which opened in late 2016.

In 2021, McDonald joined the cast of Hacks on HBO Max as Las Vegas casino owner Marty Ghilain, where he was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for his role. In May 2021, he was cast in the Disney+ series Secret Invasion, set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which premiered in 2023. In 2023, McDonald appeared in the music video for country music duo The Reklaws' song "Honky Tonkin' About" with Drake Milligan.

Filmography

Film

Television

Video games

Music videos

References

1. "CHRISTOPHER MCDONALD 09.18.17..mp3".
2. 'Happy Gilmore' Actor Christopher McDonald Charged With DUI, popculture.com; accessed July 28, 2018.
3. "Christopher McDonald Answers Every Question We Have About Happy Gilmore". February 25, 2021.
4. "Emmys 2022: The Complete Nominations List". July 12, 2022.
5. "Christopher McDonald Biography". Filmreference.com. Retrieved March 8, 2014.
6. Arar, Yardena (June 11, 1991). "Christopher McDonald plays a good movie heel". The Ledger. Retrieved July 22, 2013.
7. "All in the Family". Fltimes.com. July 22, 2010.
8. "Catholic actor McDonald gets high profile on TV's 'Harry's Law'". Archived from the original on March 4, 2022. Retrieved July 29, 2018.
9. "Christopher McDonald Flexes His Comedic Muscles Playing a Supervillain in Superhero Movie". PR.com. April 4, 2008. Retrieved July 22, 2013.
10. Harris, Will (November 8, 2011). "Christopher McDonald profile". The A.V. Club. Retrieved July 22, 2013.
11. Johnson, Sabeeha (February 3, 1991). "Namedropping". Democrat and Chronicle. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
12. "Daniel McDonald, Broadway Musical Actor, Is Dead at 46". Playbill. Retrieved July 28, 2018.
13. Miller, Ryan (October 21, 2019). "Shooter McGavin hangs out with Jim Kelly and Dan Marino before Bills-Dolphins game". Democrat & Chronicle. Archived from the original on October 20, 2021. Retrieved October 22, 2019.
14. "On the Movie Screen, He's No Mr. Nice Guy".
15. King, Susan (January 11, 1992). "Actor is one mean husband—but only in the movies". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
16. Rhodes, Francoise (2012). "Meet Christopher McDonald" (PDF). Colorado Golf Magazine. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
17. "The Word of Promise: Cast". Archived from the original on October 29, 2014.
18. Groves, Martha (November 16, 2009). "Beliefs : Stars lined up for elaborate audio Bible : Michael York, Jason Alexander and many others gave voice to a 79-CD reading of Old and New Testaments". Los Angeles Times.
19. Justin Kroll (October 29, 2013). "'The Butler' Producer Sets up Next Pic Starring Frank Grillo and Minnie Driver (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety.
20. "Frank Grillo Tries To Stop An Economic Cyber Attack In Trailer For 'The Crash'". December 13, 2016.
21. "Starry Front Page Revival Arrives on Broadway Tonight". Playbill. September 20, 2016. Retrieved October 12, 2016.
22. "'Hacks' Is the Hilarious Star Vehicle Jean Smart Deserves". Time. Retrieved May 21, 2021.
23. Andreeva, Nellie (May 26, 2021). "'Secret Invasion': Christopher McDonald Joins Marvel Series For Disney+". Deadline. Archived from the original on May 26, 2021. Retrieved May 26, 2021.
24. Vaux, Robert (July 3, 2023). "Secret Invasion's Skrull Leader Is an Animated DC Veteran". CBR. Retrieved July 5, 2023.
25. Watts, Cindy (October 19, 2023). "CMT PREMIERE: THE REKLAWS AND DRAKE MILLIGAN HEADED TO ROMANIA TO GIVE "HONKY TONKIN' ABOUT" A "BACK TO THE FUTURE" VIBE". CMT. Archived from the original on October 31, 2023. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
26. ^ "Christopher McDonald (visual voices guide)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved October 8, 2023. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.
27. Scheck, Frank (September 14, 2017). "Wetlands: Film Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved December 21, 2024.
28. Lang, Brent (June 5, 2017). "Christopher McDonald, Katie Aselton Duplass, Johnny Simmons to Star in Horror Comedy Deep Murder (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved December 21, 2024.
29. Gyarkye, Lovia (September 2, 2021). "Sheila Vand and Matt Dillon in Land of Dreams: Film Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved December 21, 2024.
30. Juneau, Jen (September 23, 2022). "Rosaline: Watch Kaitlyn Dever Try to Steal Romeo Back from Juliet in Trailer for Hulu Rom-Com". People. Retrieved December 21, 2024.
31. "Puppetus Interruptus". EStuartMarlowe - author of Pauper King. Retrieved December 21, 2024.
32. Gajewski, Ryan (March 22, 2024). "Happy Gilmore 2 Script in the Works From Adam Sandler, Says Original Film Star". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved December 21, 2024.
33. Warrier, Vishnu (July 20, 2023). "Captain Fall on Netflix: Release date, air time, plot, and more details". Sportskeeda. Archived from the original on July 20, 2023. Retrieved July 27, 2023.

External links

• Christopher McDonald at IMDb
• Christopher McDonald at the Internet Broadway Database

• 1955 births
• Living people
• American male film actors
• American male television actors
• American male voice actors
• Catholics from New York (state)
• Hobart and William Smith Colleges alumni
• Hobart Statesmen football players
• Male actors from New York City
• People from Romulus, New York
• 20th-century American male actors
• 21st-century American male actors
• American people of Irish descent