David Koechner facts for kids

Quick facts for kids David Koechner
Koechner in 2013
Born	David Michael Koechner (1962-08-24) August 24, 1962 (age 62) Tipton, Missouri, U.S.
Occupation	Actor, comedian
Years active	1986–present
Spouse(s)	Leigh Koechner ​ ​ (m. 1998; separated 2020)​
Children	5

David Michael Koechner (born August 24, 1962) is an American actor and comedian. He is famous for playing the loud sportscaster Champ Kind in the Anchorman movies and the annoying salesman Todd Packer on the TV show The Office.

Koechner started his career by learning improvisational comedy, which is a type of acting where you make up the scenes as you go. He studied in Chicago at famous comedy schools like ImprovOlympic and Second City Northwest.

In 1995, he moved to New York City and became a cast member on the popular comedy show Saturday Night Live. He later moved to Los Angeles and began acting in many movies and TV shows. He had small parts in films like Wag the Dog and Austin Powers: The Spy Who ... Me. His big break came in 2004 with the movie Anchorman.

Early Life and School

David Koechner was born in Tipton, Missouri. He was one of six children. His father owned a business that made coops for transporting turkeys. Koechner has said that if you see a big truck carrying turkeys, the coop it's in was probably made in his hometown.

He was raised in a Catholic family and has German, English, and Irish roots. In college, he studied Political Science, which is the study of government and politics. However, he decided he wanted to be a comedian. He moved to Chicago to study improvisational comedy with the famous teacher Del Close. He later joined the well-known comedy group The Second City.

Acting Career

Koechner in 2024

Koechner's career has included work in television, film, and live comedy shows. He is known for his loud and funny characters.

First Steps in Comedy

In 1995, Koechner joined the cast of Saturday Night Live (SNL) for one season. On the show, he worked with other comedians who would also become famous, like Will Ferrell and Adam McKay. He performed in many comedy skits, which are short, funny scenes. Some of his recurring characters were a loud storyteller named Bill Brasky and a funny neighbor in a skit with Will Ferrell.

After SNL, he worked on the show Late Night with Conan O'Brien. He continued to build his reputation as a talented comedian.

A Famous Comedy Duo

While working on a movie in 1999, Koechner became good friends with fellow comedian David 'Gruber' Allen. They started performing together as a musical comedy duo called The Trucker and T-Bones Show. Koechner played a character named Gerald "T-Bones" Tibbons.

Their act, which mixed stand-up comedy with funny country songs, became very popular in Hollywood. They even opened for the rock-comedy band Tenacious D. In 2007, they had their own sketch comedy show on the Comedy Central channel.

Becoming a Movie Star

Koechner's role as the clueless sportscaster Champ Kind in the 2004 movie Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy made him a star. The movie was a huge hit, and he became known for his catchphrase, "Whammy!" He returned to play Champ Kind in the sequel, Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues.

After Anchorman, he appeared in many other popular comedies. He played supporting roles in movies like Talladega Nights, Thank You for Smoking, and The 40-Year-Old Virgin. He also did voice acting, playing the coyote Dag in the animated movie Barnyard.

In 2007, he starred in his first leading role in the sports comedy The Comebacks, where he played a football coach.

Recent Work

Koechner has stayed busy in film and television. He played a scary role in the holiday horror-comedy movie Krampus and received praise for his part in the dark comedy Cheap Thrills.

He has also had many roles on TV. He played the recurring character Todd Packer on The Office for many years. He was also a main character on the sitcoms Superior Donuts and Bless This Mess. He often appears as Bill Lewis on the show The Goldbergs and provides the voice for the character Dick Reynolds on American Dad!.

Personal Life

Koechner lives in Los Angeles. He and his wife, Leigh, are separated. They have five children together. Koechner has a tattoo on his arm with the names of his wife and children.

He often performs comedy at clubs in Los Angeles. He has also used his fame to support causes he believes in.

Selected Filmography

Koechner has appeared in over 200 movies and television shows. Here are some of his most well-known roles.

Film

Television

See also

In Spanish: David Koechner para niños