Christopher McDonald facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Christopher McDonald
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McDonald at the 2011 Tribeca Film Festival
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| Born | February 15, 1955 New York City, New York, U.S.
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| Alma mater | Hobart College |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1978–present |
| Spouse(s) |
Lupe Gidley
(m. 1992) |
| Children | 4 |
| Relatives |
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Christopher McDonald (born February 15, 1955) is an American actor. He is well-known for playing many different characters in movies and TV shows.
He is especially famous for his role as the golf villain Shooter McGavin in the 1996 comedy movie Happy Gilmore. Christopher McDonald has also appeared in other popular films like Grease 2 (1982) and Thelma & Louise (1991). He played Ward Cleaver in the movie 'Leave It to Beaver (1997). You might also recognize him from The House Bunny (2008).
On television, McDonald has been a regular on shows such as Family Law (1999–2002) and Harry's Law (2011–2012). He often plays supporting characters. He has also lent his voice to animated characters.
In 2022, Christopher McDonald was nominated for a special award, a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series. This was for his role as Marty Ghilain on the TV show Hacks.
Contents
About Christopher McDonald
Christopher McDonald was born in New York City, New York, on February 15, 1955. His mother, Patricia, was a nursing professor. His father, James R. McDonald, was a teacher and high school principal.
He grew up in Romulus, New York, with his brothers and sisters. He went to Romulus Central School and later studied at Hobart College. While in college, he played both football and soccer. His younger brother, Daniel McDonald, was also an actor and singer. Sadly, Daniel passed away in 2007.
Christopher McDonald is a big fan of the Buffalo Bills football team. He is also friends with their former quarterback, Jim Kelly. He met his wife, Lupe Gidley, in 1989. They were acting together in a play. They got married in 1992 and have four children: three daughters and one son.
His Acting Career
Christopher McDonald has had a very busy acting career since 1978. He has been in many movies and TV shows. He often plays characters who are not always the hero.
Movies He's Been In
Some of his early movie roles include Grease 2 (1982) and The Boys Next Door (1985). He also appeared in Thelma & Louise (1991). In 1996, he became very well-known for playing Shooter McGavin in Happy Gilmore.
Other movies you might know him from are Flubber (1997) and The Faculty (1998). He was also in The Perfect Storm (2000) and Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams (2002). More recently, he was in The House Bunny (2008) and About Last Night (2014).
TV Shows and Voice Acting
On television, Christopher McDonald has been in many popular shows. He had regular roles in Walter & Emily (1991–1992) and Family Law (1999–2002). He also made guest appearances on famous shows like Cheers, Star Trek: The Next Generation, and The Sopranos.
He is also a talented voice actor. He voiced Jor-El in Superman: The Animated Series. He also played an older Superman in Batman Beyond. You can hear his voice as the government agent Kent Mansley in the animated movie The Iron Giant (1999). He even voiced Boss Hogg in The Dukes of Hazzard: The Beginning (2007).
Playing Real People
Christopher McDonald has played several real-life people in movies and TV. He played game show host Jack Barry in 'Quiz Show (1994). He was also mountaineer Jon Krakauer in Into Thin Air: Death on Everest (1997). He played baseball legends Mel Allen in 61* (2001) and Joe DiMaggio in The Bronx Is Burning (2007).
More recently, he played U.S. Attorney General Harry M. Daugherty in Boardwalk Empire (2010–2012). He also played a Texas soldier named Henry Karnes in Texas Rising (2015). In 2021, he played lawyer Robert S. Bennett in Impeachment: American Crime Story.
Recent Work
In 2021, Christopher McDonald joined the cast of the HBO Max series Hacks. He plays Marty Ghilain, a casino owner. His performance earned him an Emmy nomination. In 2023, he appeared in the Disney+ series Secret Invasion, which is part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He also appeared in a music video for the country music duo The Reklaws in 2023.
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | The Hearse | Pete | |
| 1982 | Grease 2 | Bradley "Goose" McKenzie | |
| The Black Room | Terry | ||
| 1984 | Where the Boys Are '84 | Tony | |
| Breakin' | James | ||
| Chattanooga Choo Choo | Alex O'Donnell | ||
| 1985 | The Boys Next Door | Detective Mark Woods | |
| 1987 | Outrageous Fortune | George | |
| 1988 | Paramedics | Mike "Mad Mike" | |
| 1989 | Cool Blue | Peter Sin | |
| Chances Are | Louie Jeffries | ||
| 1990 | Playroom | Chris | |
| 1991 | Thelma & Louise | Darryl Dickinson | |
| Dutch | Reed Standish | ||
| Wild Orchid II: Two Shades of Blue | Senator Dixon | ||
| 1993 | Cover Story | Sam Sparks | |
| Benefit of the Doubt | Dan | ||
| Conflict of Interest | Mickey Flannery | ||
| Fatal Instinct | Frank Kelbo | ||
| Bums | Sergeant Andrew Holloman | ||
| Grumpy Old Men | Mike | ||
| 1994 | Roadflower | Glen Lerolland | |
| Monkey Trouble | Tom | ||
| Terminal Velocity | Kerr | ||
| Quiz Show | Jack Barry | ||
| 1995 | My Teacher's Wife | Roy Mueller | |
| Forget Paris | Zeus | Voice | |
| Best of the Best 3: No Turning Back | Sheriff Jack Banning | ||
| Fair Game | Lieutenant Meyerson | ||
| 1996 | Happy Gilmore | Shooter McGavin | |
| Unforgettable | Stewart Gleick | ||
| Celtic Pride | Coach Kimball | ||
| House Arrest | Donald Krupp | ||
| The Rich Man's Wife | Tony Potenza | ||
| 1997 | Leave It to Beaver | Ward Cleaver | |
| A Smile Like Yours | Richard Halstrom | ||
| Flubber | Wilson Croft | ||
| The Eighteenth Angel | Hugh Stanton | ||
| Lawn Dogs | Morton Stockard | ||
| 1998 | Dirty Work | Travis Cole | |
| Jaded | Jack Carlson | ||
| SLC Punk! | Mr. Levy | ||
| Gideon | Alan Longhurst | ||
| The Faculty | Mr. Connor | ||
| Divorce: A Contemporary Western | Tony | ||
| 1999 | Five Aces | Ash Gray | |
| The Iron Giant | Kent Mansley | Voice | |
| 2000 | Magicians | Jake | |
| Takedown | Mitch Gibson | ||
| The Skulls | Martin Lombard | ||
| Isn't She Great | Brad Bradburn | ||
| Requiem for a Dream | "Tappy" Tibbons | ||
| The Perfect Storm | Todd Gross | ||
| 2001 | The Theory of the Leisure Class | Buddy Barnett | |
| The Man Who Wasn't There | Macadam Salesman | ||
| 61* | Mel Allen | ||
| 2002 | Speakeasy | Dr. Addams | |
| Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams | President of The United States | ||
| Children on Their Birthdays | "Speedy" Thorne | ||
| 2003 | Grind | Mr. Rivers | |
| 2005 | The L.A. Riot Spectacular | Officer Koon | |
| Broken Flowers | Ron Anderson | ||
| Rumor Has It... | Roger McManus | ||
| 2006 | Funny Money | Vic Johnson | |
| 2007 | Kickin' It Old Skool | Marty Schumacher | |
| Awake | Dr. Larry Lupin | ||
| 2008 | Mad Money | Bryce Arbogast | |
| Superhero Movie | Lou Landers, Hourglass | ||
| Summerhood | Assistant Director | ||
| Player 5150 | Tony | ||
| The House Bunny | Dean Simmons | ||
| An American Carol | Lab Supervisor | ||
| 2009 | Fanboys | Chuck "Big Chuck" | |
| Spooner | Dennis Spooner | ||
| Reunion | Eamon | ||
| Deep in the Valley | Jim "Diamond Jim" | ||
| Splinterheads | Sergeant Bruce Mancuso | ||
| Middle Men | George Harris | ||
| 2010 | Black Widow | Steve | |
| Barry Munday | Dr. Preston Edwards | ||
| The Best and the Brightest | The Player | ||
| Ultraman Zero: The Revenge of Belial | Mirrior Knight | Voice (2012 English dub) | |
| 2011 | Adventures of Serial Buddies | Father Christopher | |
| Cat Run | Bill Kreb | ||
| 2012 | The Collection | Mr. Peters | |
| Not Fade Away | Jack Dietz | ||
| Grassroots | Jim Tripp | ||
| 2014 | About Last Night | Casey McNeil | |
| Believe Me | Ken | ||
| 2015 | Don't Worry Baby | Harry Lang | |
| The Squeeze | "Riverboat" | ||
| Zipper | Peter Kirkland | ||
| 2016 | Exposed | Lieutenant Galway | |
| 2017 | The Crash | Del Banco | |
| Once Upon a Time in Venice | Mr. Carter | ||
| Wetlands | Detective Paddy "Red" Sheehan | ||
| 2018 | Deep Murder | Richard Dangler | |
| Backtrace | Franks | Direct-to-video | |
| 2020 | The Stand at Paxton County | Sheriff Roger Bostwick | |
| We Can Be Heroes | President Neil Anami | ||
| 2021 | Land of Dreams | Blair | |
| Walking with Herb | Wiley Saunders | ||
| 2022 | Rosaline | Lord Capulet | |
| 2023 | Abruptio | Police Chief Richter | |
| 2024 | Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F | Golfer | |
| 2025 | The Last Rodeo | Jimmy Mack | Post-production |
| Happy Gilmore 2 | Shooter McGavin | Post-production |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Getting Married | Usher | Television film |
| 1981 | Insight | Jeff Curry | Episode: "A Step Too Slow" |
| 1982 | Cheers | Rick Walker | Episode: "Endless Slumper" |
| 1983 | Lottery! | Peter | Episode: "Being a Winner" |
| 1984 | Call to Glory | Tim O'Reilly | 2 episodes |
| 1984–1986 | Riptide | Dennis, Johnny | 2 episodes |
| 1985 | Hunter | Sonny Dupree | Episode: "The Garbage Man" |
| 1985 | Knight Rider | Joe Flynn | Episode: "Ten Wheel Trouble" |
| 1985 | It's a Living | Alexi | Episode: "From Russia with Love" |
| 1986 | 1st & Ten | Detective | Episode: "California Freeze Out" |
| 1986 | The Twilight Zone | Delivery Man | Episode: "Aqua Vita" |
| 1986–1989 | Matlock | Eric Lane, David Channing | 3 episodes |
| 1987 | The Wizard | Paige | Episode: "The Heart of a Dancer" |
| 1987 | Our House | Mr. Tollfeson | Episode: "The Best Intentions" |
| 1987 | Eight Is Enough: A Family Reunion | Jeb | Television film |
| 1988 | The Highwayman | Joshua Towler | Episode: "Billionaire Body Club" |
| 1988 | Little Girl Lost | Wolff | Television film |
| 1989 | Paradise | Dexter | 2 episodes |
| 1989 | An Eight Is Enough Wedding | Jeb | Television film |
| 1990 | Star Trek: The Next Generation | Lieutenant Richard Castillo | Episode: "Yesterday's Enterprise" |
| 1990–1991 | Empty Nest | Nick Todd | 3 episodes |
| 1991–1992 | Walter & Emily | Matt Collins | 13 episodes |
| 1992 | Home Improvement | Stu Cutler | Episode: "For Whom The Belch Tolls" |
| 1993–1994 | Good Advice | Joey DeRuzza | Series regular |
| 1994 | Another Midnight Run | Jack Walsh | Television film |
| 1994 | Midnight Runaround | Jack Walsh | Television film |
| 1994 | Midnight Run for Your Life | Jack Walsh | Television film |
| 1995 | The Tuskegee Airmen | Major Sherman Joy | Television film |
| 1996 | Superman: The Animated Series | Jor-El | Voice, 3 episodes |
| 1997 | Gun | Lutz | Episode: "Ricochet" |
| 1997–1999 | Veronica's Closet | Bryce Anderson | 9 episodes |
| 1997 | Into Thin Air: Death on Everest | Jon Krakauer | Television film |
| 1999–2002 | Family Law | Rex Weller | 68 episodes |
| 2000 | Batman Beyond | Superman | Voice, episode: "The Call" |
| 2001 | 61* | Mel Allen | Television film |
| 2002 | Total Access 24/7: Spy Kids 2 | Himself | 1 episode |
| 2002 | The Twilight Zone | Rick | Episode: "Mr. Motivation" |
| 2003 | Without a Trace | Bob Carroll | Episodes: "The Bus" |
| 2004 | Justice League Unlimited | Jor-El | Voice, episode: "For the Man Who Has Everything" |
| 2004 | North Shore | Walter Booth | 6 episodes |
| 2004–2006 | Cracking Up | Ted Shackleton | 8 episodes |
| 2004–2007 | Kim Possible | Hego | Voice, 3 episodes |
| 2005 | Fat Actress | Jimmy | 1 episode |
| 2006 | Twins | Terry | Episode: "Blast from the Past" |
| 2006 | Las Vegas | Kidnapper Chips | 2 episodes |
| 2006–2011 | Law & Order: Criminal Intent | Evan Corman, Declan Pace | 2 episodes |
| 2007 | The Dukes of Hazzard: The Beginning | Jefferson Davis "Boss" Hogg | Television film |
| 2007 | Medium | Gregory King | Episode: "1-900-Lucky" |
| 2007 | The Sopranos | Eddie Dunne | Episode: "Stage 5" |
| 2007 | The Bronx Is Burning | Joe DiMaggio | Miniseries |
| 2008 | Psych | Paul Haversham | Episode: "Ghosts" |
| 2008 | My Boys | George Newman | 2 episodes |
| 2009 | Law & Order | John Jay McIntyre | Episode: "Illegitimate" |
| 2009 | Numbers | Frank Thompson | Episode: "Ultimatum" |
| 2009–2010 | Stargate Universe | Senator Alan Armstrong | 3 episodes |
| 2010–2012 | Boardwalk Empire | Harry M. Daugherty | 7 episodes |
| 2010–2012 | Ben 10: Ultimate Alien | Captain Nemesis | Voice, 2 episodes |
| 2011 | Lemonade Mouth | Principal Stanley Brenigan | Television film |
| 2011–2012 | Harry's Law | Tommy Jefferson | 32 episodes |
| 2012–2013 | Happy Endings | Mr. Kerkovich | 2 episodes |
| 2012 | Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness | Undertaker | Voice, episode: "The Po Who Cried Ghost" |
| 2013 | Body of Proof | Gerry Roberts | Episode: "Disappearing Act" |
| 2013–2014 | Kirstie | Mr. Sheppard | 3 episodes |
| 2014 | Beware the Batman | Harvey Dent | Voice, 8 episodes |
| 2014 | Ben 10: Omniverse | Captain Nemesis | Voice, episode: "The Vengers" |
| 2014 | Regular Show | Carl Putter | Voice, episode: "Daddy Issues" |
| 2015 | Texas Rising | Henry Karnes | 5 episodes |
| 2015 | The League | Judge Raymond Hardy | Episode: "The Last Temptation of Andre" |
| 2015–2016 | The Good Wife | Judge Don Schakowsky | 7 episodes |
| 2016–2019 | Ballers | Dallas Cowboys Owner | 13 episodes |
| 2017 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Harold Coyle | Episode: "The Newsroom" |
| 2017 | Great News | Len | Episode: "Award Show" |
| 2017–2018 | Gone | Pastor | 2 episodes |
| 2018 | Superior Donuts | Ted | Episode: "The Chicago Way" |
| 2018 | Living Biblically | Ron Curry | Episode: "Honor Thy Father" |
| 2018 | Sideswiped | Mark | Episode: "Baby Steps" |
| 2018 | Rob Riggle's Ski Master Academy | Jim Bassman | Episode: "The Bassman Cometh" |
| 2018–2020 | The Real Bros of Simi Valley | Cal Surf | 9 episodes |
| 2019 | Mr. Iglesias | Coach Dixon | 9 episodes |
| 2019 | Costume Quest | Bob Dickerson | Voice, 9 episodes |
| 2021 | Search Party | Bill | 2 episodes |
| 2021–present | Hacks | Marty | 14 episodes |
| 2021 | Impeachment: American Crime Story | Robert S. Bennett | 2 episodes |
| 2022 | The Watcher | Detective Rourke Chamberland | 7 episodes |
| 2022 | Last Week Tonight with John Oliver | Cal Taylor | Episode: "Trucks" |
| 2023 | Secret Invasion | Chris Stearns | 2 episodes |
| 2023 | Captain Fall | Blake Fall | Voice |
| 2023–2024 | Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures | Grandpa Roog | Voice, 2 episodes |
Video games
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Ben 10 Ultimate Alien: Cosmic Destruction | Captain Nemesis | |
| 2025 | PGA Tour 2K25 | Himself/Shooter McGavin |
Music videos
| Year | Title | Artist |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | "The Barry Williams Show" | Peter Gabriel |
| 2023 | "Honky Tonkin' About" | The Reklaws (featuring Drake Milligan) |
See also
In Spanish: Christopher McDonald para niños
