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Kevin McDonald

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For other people named Kevin McDonald, see Kevin McDonald (disambiguation).
Kevin McDonald
McDonald in 2012
Born
Kevin Hamilton McDonald

(1961-05-16) May 16, 1961 (age 63)
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Occupations
  • Actor
  • comedian
Years active1987–present
Spouse
Tiffany Lacey
​
​
(m. 1993; div. 1995)​
Parent(s)Sheila McDonald (mother)
Hamilton McDonald (father)
RelativesSandra McDonald (sister)

Kevin Hamilton McDonald (born May 16, 1961) is a Canadian actor and comedian. He is a member of the comedy troupe The Kids in the Hall, who have appeared together in a number of stage, television and film productions, most notably the 1988–1995 TV series The Kids in the Hall. He played Pastor Dave in That '70s Show, and starred as a co-pilot in the 2011 web comedy series Papillon. He also does voice work in animation, most notably as Agent Wendy Pleakley in the Lilo & Stitch franchise, Waffle in Catscratch, and the Almighty Tallest Purple in Invader Zim.

He starred alongside Rodney Dangerfield, Lou Ferrigno and Dom DeLuise as the titular character in the gangster parody film The Godson.

Early life

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McDonald was born in Montréal, Québec, the son of Sheila and Hamilton "Hammy" McDonald, who was a dental equipment salesman.[1] He moved to Los Angeles, California, at the age of seven, after his father was transferred there.[2] His family subsequently lived in Toronto, Ontario, as well. McDonald has a younger sister, Sandra.

During an interview on WTF with Marc Maron, McDonald discussed his father's severe alcoholism, which inspired the Kids in the Hall sketches "Daddy Drank" and "Girl Drink Drunk." Although he calls his mother "a wonderful woman," she was nevertheless reluctant to leave his father until Kevin turned 19, when his father's drinking had escalated to two bottles of vodka daily. McDonald, his mother and sister rented an apartment, where they quietly moved their belongings "every night [after his father would] collapse on the stairs." Once they had completely moved, his parents divorced, his father lost his job, went bankrupt and lived in a homeless shelter for a year, during which he abstained from drinking (although he alleged "his roommates were drinking Drano"); coincidentally, McDonald used the same building to rehearse with The Kids in the Hall as they were starting out on stage. His father was able to find employment at a flower shop, then an apartment and, over time, resume his career in dental equipment sales. Eventually, he did drink again, but not to the extent he had earlier in his life. He died of an aneurysm in 2004.[3] McDonald used his relationship with his father as the basis for a one-man show, Hammy and the Kids, in which he said he had no happy ending to the story of his father.[4] However, during an interview with Marc Maron, he said after one performance of his one-man show, he was approached by a stranger who said that he had served his father as a bartender, and that his father mentioned how proud he was of his son, the famous comedian, which moved McDonald to tears "like the ending to a bad movie."

McDonald briefly studied acting at a community college, where he was kicked out for being "a one-legged actor" (i.e. he could perform comedy, but not drama) by a dean who had a leg amputated, and was therefore a literal one-legged actor. However, one of his professors, William B. Davis (who later found fame in his portrayal of Cigarette Smoking Man on The X-Files), saw McDonald's potential and encouraged him to pursue improv comedy by giving him the number to The Second City in Toronto.[3]

Career

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McDonald founded The Kids in the Hall comedy troupe with his friend Dave Foley. They met in Toronto at the Second City Training Center, and the two wrote and performed in sketches together more than any other pair in the group. In the troupe's TV and stage shows, he portrays several popular recurring characters, such as the King of Empty Promises, Sir Simon Milligan, and Jerry Sizzler. A frequent running gag was that McDonald is the least popular member and always struggling not to get kicked out.

When the troupe ended the five-season run of its eponymous television series in 1994, the five members moved to a number of solo projects. McDonald has played roles in movies like Boy Meets Girl, Pleakley in the Lilo & Stitch franchise, and Harry Potter in Epic Movie. On television, he has appeared on The Martin Short Show, Ellen (as a radio personality), That '70s Show (as a confused young cleric, Pastor Dave), Seinfeld, Friends, NewsRadio (on which Foley starred), MADtv, Arrested Development, and Corner Gas. McDonald has also done voice work for various animated series, including Johnny Bravo, Invader Zim (in which he did the voice for Almighty Tallest Purple), The Angry Beavers, Catscratch (in which he voiced Waffle), and Clerks: The Animated Series. He also played an imaginary friend named Ivan in the Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends episode Sight For Sore Eyes, and appeared in the music video for "Roses" by OutKast.

In 2006, McDonald hosted a CBC Television special, Sketch with Kevin McDonald, featuring several of Canada's best-known sketch comedy troupes. The special received two nominations, for the performances by The Minnesota Wrecking Crew and by The Imponderables, for Canadian Comedy Award in the category Best Taped Live Performance, with The Minnesota Wrecking Crew winning the award.

Since 2000, McDonald and the other members of The Kids in the Hall have reunited for a number of tours and televised performances. The troupe played the 2007 Just for Laughs festival, where McDonald also performed his one-and-a half-man show Hammy and the Kids with Craig Northey, based on his two dysfunctional families, his father ("Hammy") and The Kids in the Hall.

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1987 Distant Horizons Lonely Met Tech Video
1995 National Lampoon's Senior Trip Travis Lindsey
1996 Kids in the Hall: Brain Candy Dr. Chris Cooper / Doreen / Chris' dad / Lacey
1997 The Wrong Guy Motel Manager
1998 Boy Meets Girl Jack
The Godson Guppy Calzone
1999 Galaxy Quest Announcer
2000 The Ladies Man Mail Man
2002 Lilo & Stitch Agent Wendy Pleakley Voice[5]
2003 Stitch! The Movie Voice, direct-to-video[5]
2005 Sky High Dr. Medulla
Thru the Moebius Strip Agent Po Voice, English dub[5]
Lilo & Stitch 2: Stitch Has a Glitch Agent Wendy Pleakley Voice, direct-to-video[5]
2006 Leroy & Stitch Voice, television film
Unaccompanied Minors Guard in the Hall #1
2007 Epic Movie Harry Potter
2009 Year of the Carnivore Mr. Smalls
2011 Keyhole Ogilbe
2012 Dead Before Dawn Prof. Duffy
2018 Sorry for Your Loss Vince Kendall
2019 Boys vs. Girls Coffee
2021 Mouth Congress Uncle Kevin
2024 Deaner '89 Principal Gil

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1988–1995; 2022 The Kids in the Hall Various 109 episodes
1996 MADtv Himself Host, Episode #2.6
1997 Friends Guru Saj Episode: "The One with Ross's Thing"
NewsRadio Throwdini Episode: "Stupid Holiday Charity Talent Show"
Seinfeld Denim Vest Episode: "The Strike"
1997–1998 Ellen Chuck 2 episodes
1997–2004 Johnny Bravo Mime, Young Clown, Timmy, Kevin McDonald Voice, 3 episodes[5]
1998 Cow and Chicken Canadian Dad / Jorge Voice, episode: "Meet Lance Sackless/Who's Afraid of the Dark?"[5]
The Angry Beavers Zookeeper Voice, episode: "Zooing Time"[5]
The Drew Carey Show Heller Episode: "Drew and the Conspiracy"
2000–2001 That '70s Show Pastor Dave 6 episodes
2001 Clerks: The Animated Series Batman Fan - Freak #1 Voice, episode: "The Last Episode Ever"
The Santa Claus Brothers Mel Claus Voice, television film[5]
2001–2003 Invader Zim Almighty Tallest Purple, Tae, Lobotomy Cop, Malfunctioning SIR Units Voice, 10 episodes
2002 Whatever Happened to... Robot Jones? Mr. Mitchell Voice, episode: "Sickness"[5]
The True Meaning of Christmas Specials The Ghost of Christmas Specials Yet to Come Television film
2003 Sick in the Head Television film
A Minute with Stan Hooper Officer Dector Episode: "Fear Finds the Falls"
Las Vegas Monty McClure Episode: "Decks and Violence"
2003–2004 What's New, Scooby-Doo? Officer Claphammer, Julian Libris Voice, 2 episodes
2003–2006 Lilo & Stitch: The Series Agent Wendy Pleakley Voice, 29 episodes
2004 Corner Gas Marvin Drey Episode: "Tax Man"
Yes, Dear Bob Episode: "Dead Aunt, Dead Aunt..."
Grounded for Life Steve Episode: "Pressure Drop"
Arrested Development Det. Streudler Episode: "Not Without My Daughter"
Zeroman Rusty Woodenwater Voice, episode: "Smotherly Love"
2005 Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends Ivan Voice, episode: "Sight for Sore Eyes"[5]
2005–2007 Catscratch Waffle, Gomez, Waffle Robots, Newts Voice, 20 episodes[5]
2006 Minoriteam Alien Leader Voice, 2 episodes
Bratz Scott Voice, episode: "Inner Beauty Queen"
Casper's Scare School Beaky (The Pirate's Parrot) Voice, television film[5]
Sketch with Kevin McDonald Host Television film
2007 According to Jim Therapist Episode: "All the Rage"
Carpoolers Donny Daramajian Episode: "The Seminar"
The Emperor's New School Security Guard Voice, 1 episode
2008–2010 WordGirl Vocab Bee, Police Chief, Judge, The Baker Voice, 4 episodes
2008–2012 Less Than Kind Walter 4 episodes
2009 Back at the Barnyard Baxter, Flaky, Alien 1 Voice, 3 episodes[5]
2009–2011 The Penguins of Madagascar Barry Voice, 2 episodes[5]
2010 The Kids in the Hall: Death Comes to Town Various 8 episodes
The Soup Grownup Pageant Princess 1 episode
Dino Dan Mr. Curry Episode: "Dino Trap/Big Bad Spinosaurus"; uncredited
2011 Dan Vs. Barry Ditmer Voice, episode: "Technology"
Papillon Darius 15 episodes
2011–2012 Fish Hooks Dr. Frog, Chicken Voice, 9 episodes[5]
2012–2016 Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness Lu Kang Voice, 2 episodes[5]
2013 Phineas and Ferb Professor Bannister Voice, episode: "Sidetracked"[5]
Brooklyn Nine-Nine Disco Strangler Episode: "Pilot"; uncredited
2014 Spun Out Damian Episode: "Middle Aged Men in the Hall"
Comedy Bang! Bang! Galactic Commander of the Planet Pylon Episode: "Craig Robinson Wears a Bordeaux Button Down & Dark Jeans"
Odd Squad Lord Rectangle Episode: "Crime at Shapely Manor"
2015 Tiny Plastic Men Billy Bland / Billy Blumpie Episode: "Billy Blumpie"
Wander Over Yonder Sherblorg King Voice, 2 episodes[5]
Moonbeam City Accoutrement Voice, episode: "Lasers and Liars"
The Plateaus Jimp 10 episodes; web series
2016 Man Seeking Woman Chainsaw Episode: "Cactus"
The Bagel and Becky Show Bagel Voice, 30 episodes[5]
Delmer & Marta Creston 8 episodes
2017 Billy Dilley's Super-Duper Subterranean Summer TV Announcer Voice, episode: "The Mushroom Prince/Count Wretcher"[5]
2017–2018 Walk the Prank Mr. Dingley 7 episodes
2019 Amphibia Albus Duckweed Voice, 3 episodes[5]
Invader Zim: Enter the Florpus Almighty Tallest Purple Voice, television film[5]
Carter Russell Langham Episode: "Harley Insisted On Wearing Pants"
2023 Scott Pilgrim Takes Off The Director Voice, 3 episodes[5]

Video games

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Year Title Role Notes
2002 Lilo & Stitch: Trouble in Paradise Agent Wendy Pleakley Voice
2002 Lilo & Stitch: Hawaiian Adventure
2007 Catscratch (video game) Waffle
2014 Disney Infinity 2.0 Agent Wendy Pleakley Voice, Stitch's Tropical Rescue Toy Box Game
2022 High on Life Dr.Giblets Voice

Internet web series

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
2018 Deep Space 69 P3-NI5 Voice (Season 4)

Theme parks

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
2004 Stitch's Great Escape! Agent Wendy Pleakley Voice, Short; theme park attraction

Awards and nominations

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  • 1989 - Gemini Award for Best Writing in a Comedy or Variety Program or Series - Won
  • 1989 - Gemini Award for Best Performance in a Variety or Performing Arts Program or Series - Won
  • 1990 - Gemini Award for Best Writing in a Comedy or Variety Program or Series - Won
  • 1992 - Gemini Award for Best Performance in a Comedy Program or Series - Nominated
  • 1993 - Gemini Award for Best Performance in a Comedy Program or Series - Won
  • 1993 - Emmy Award for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Writing in a Variety or Music Program - Nominated
  • 1993 - CableACE Award - Nominated
  • 1994 - Gemini Award for Best Performance in a Comedy Program or Series - Nominated
  • 1994 - Emmy Award for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Writing in a Variety or Music Program - Nominated
  • 1995 - Emmy Award for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Writing in a Variety or Music Program - Nominated
  • 1995 - Gemini Award for Best Writing in a Comedy or Variety Program or Series - Nominated
  • 1996 - Gemini Award for Best Writing in a Comedy or Variety Program or Series - Nominated
  • 1996 - Gemini Award for Best Performance in a Comedy Program or Series - Nominated
  • 1998 - Silver Hugo Award for Best Documentary - Won
  • 2003 - Gemini Award for Best Performance or Host in a Variety Program or Series - Nominated

References

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  1. ^ "Kevin McDonald Biography (1961-)". www.filmreference.com.
  2. ^ "KITHfan.org : Kids in the Hall : Kevin McDonald". www.kithfan.org. Archived from the original on February 15, 2017. Retrieved February 10, 2007.
  3. ^ a b Freddie Hodges (October 19, 2014). "WTF with Marc Maron Podcast Episode 477 Kevin Macdonald / Kevin McDonald". Archived from the original on December 22, 2021 – via YouTube.
  4. ^ "Hammy and the Kids". September 6, 2010.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w "Kevin McDonald (visual voices guide)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved December 7, 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.
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