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| notable role = Lenny Kosnowski on ''[[Laverne & Shirley]]'' <br /> David St. Hubbins in ''[[This Is Spinal Tap]]'' <br />Jerry Palter in <br />''[[A Mighty Wind]]''
| notable role = Lenny Kosnowski on ''[[Laverne & Shirley]]'' <br /> David St. Hubbins in ''[[This Is Spinal Tap]]'' <br />Jerry Palter in <br />''[[A Mighty Wind]]''
}}
}}
'''Michael McKean''' (born [[October 17]], [[1947]]) is an [[United States|American]] actor, comedian, composer and musician, best known for his portrayal of Leonard 'Lenny' Kosnowski on the sitcom ''[[Laverne and Shirley]]''; as one of the members of [[Spinal Tap (band)|Spinal Tap]]; as a ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'' cast member; and for other various appearances in popular TV series and films.
'''Michael McKean''' (born [[October 17]] [[1947]]) is an [[United States|American]] actor, comedian, composer and musician, best known for his portrayal of Leonard 'Lenny' Kosnowski on the sitcom ''[[Laverne and Shirley]]''; as one of the members of [[Spinal Tap (band)|Spinal Tap]]; as a ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'' cast member; and for other various appearances in popular TV series and films.


== Early career ==
== Early career ==
McKean began his career (as well as the characters of Lenny and Squiggy) in [[Pittsburgh]] while a student at [[Carnegie Mellon University]]; [[David Lander]] was a fellow student at CMU. Their partnership grew after graduation as part of the comedy group [[The Credibility Gap]] with [[Harry Shearer]] in [[Los Angeles]] but McKean's breakthrough came in [[1976]] when he joined the cast of ''Laverne and Shirley''. McKean directed one episode, and the characters became something of a phenomenon, even releasing an album as ''Lenny and the Squigtones'' in [[1979]], which featured a young [[Christopher Guest]] on guitar (credited as ''Nigel Tufnel'', the name Guest would use a few years later as part of the spoof [[rock band]], [[Spinal Tap]]). McKean also played his character in an episode of ''[[Happy Days]]''. After leaving ''Laverne and Shirley'' in [[1982]], McKean played [[David St. Hubbins]] in the cult spoof documentary movie ''[[This Is Spinal Tap]]'' with both Guest and Shearer, and appeared in the [[soap opera]] spoof ''[[Young Doctors in Love]]''.
McKean began his career (as well as the characters of Lenny and Squiggy) in [[Pittsburgh]] while a student at [[Carnegie Mellon University]]; [[David Lander]] was a fellow student at CMU. Their partnership grew after graduation as part of the comedy group [[The Credibility Gap]] with [[Harry Shearer]] in [[Los Angeles]] but McKean's breakthrough came in [[1976 in television|1976]] when he joined the cast of ''Laverne and Shirley''. McKean directed one episode, and the characters became something of a phenomenon, even releasing an album as ''Lenny and the Squigtones'' in [[1979 in music|1979]], which featured a young [[Christopher Guest]] on guitar (credited as ''Nigel Tufnel'', the name Guest would use a few years later as part of the spoof [[rock band]], [[Spinal Tap]]). McKean also played his character in an episode of ''[[Happy Days]]''. After leaving ''Laverne and Shirley'' in 1982, McKean played [[David St. Hubbins]] in the cult spoof documentary movie ''[[This Is Spinal Tap]]'' with both Guest and Shearer, and appeared in the [[soap opera]] spoof ''[[Young Doctors in Love]]''.


== Film and television ==
== Film and television ==
McKean quickly became a recognizable name in film and television, with appearances in films such as ''[[Clue (movie)|Clue]]'' ([[1985]]), ''[[Planes, Trains & Automobiles]]'' ([[1987]]), ''[[Earth Girls Are Easy]]'' ([[1988]]), the film adaptation of ''[[Memoirs of an Invisible Man]]'' ([[1992]]), ''[[Coneheads (movie)|Coneheads]]'' ([[1993]]) and ''[[Radioland Murders]]'' ([[1994]]). He also had guest roles on such shows as ''[[Murder, She Wrote]]'', ''[[Murphy Brown]]'', ''[[Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman]]'' and ''[[Caroline in the City]]''.
McKean quickly became a recognizable name in film and television, with appearances in films such as ''[[Clue (movie)|Clue]]'' ([[1985]]), ''[[Planes, Trains & Automobiles]]'' ([[1987]]), ''[[Earth Girls Are Easy]]'' ([[1988]]), the film adaptation of ''[[Memoirs of an Invisible Man]]'' ([[1992]]), ''[[Coneheads (movie)|Coneheads]]'' ([[1993]]), and ''[[Radioland Murders]]'' ([[1994]]). He also had guest roles on such shows as ''[[Murder, She Wrote]]'', ''[[Murphy Brown]]'', ''[[Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman]]'' and ''[[Caroline in the City]]''.


Having already appeared as a musical guest and then host of ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'', McKean joined the cast in [[1994]]. During this time, he also released a video follow up to Spinal Tap, played Mr. Dittmeyer in ''[[The Brady Bunch Movie]]'', and played the boss Gibby in the [[HBO]] series ''[[Dream On (TV series)|Dream On]]''. After leaving ''Saturday Night Live'', McKean spent a lot of time doing children's fare, voicing various TV shows and movies. In [[1999]], with two children from a previous marriage (to Susan Russell, from 1970 to 1993), McKean married [[Annette O'Toole]].
Having already appeared as a musical guest and then host of ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'', McKean joined the cast in [[1994]]. During this time, he also released a video follow up to Spinal Tap, played Mr. Dittmeyer in ''[[The Brady Bunch Movie]]'', and played the boss Gibby in the [[HBO]] series ''[[Dream On (TV series)|Dream On]]''. After leaving ''Saturday Night Live'', McKean spent a lot of time doing children's fare, voicing various TV shows and movies. In [[1999]], with two children from a previous marriage (to Susan Russell, from 1970 to 1993), McKean married [[Annette O'Toole]].


== Recent career ==
==Recent career==
In [[1997]], he played the lead voice role in [[computer game]] ''[[Zork Grand Inquisitor]]'', as [[Dalboz of Gurth]].
In 1997, he played the lead voice role in [[computer game]] ''[[Zork Grand Inquisitor]]'', as [[Dalboz of Gurth]].


His more recent films have included ''[[Teaching Mrs. Tingle]]'' ([[1999]]); ''[[Mystery, Alaska]]'' (1999); ''[[Best in Show (film)|Best in Show]]'' ([[2000]]) (in which he reunited with Christopher Guest); ''[[Little Nicky (film)|Little Nicky]]'' (2000); ''[[The Guru (film)|The Guru]]'' ([[2002]]); ''[[And Starring Pancho Villa as Himself]]'' ([[2003]]); and '' [[A Mighty Wind]]'' ([[2003]]) (in which the [[The Folksmen]] are played by the actors who play [[Spinal Tap]]).
His more recent films have included ''[[Teaching Mrs. Tingle]]'' ([[1999]]); ''[[Mystery, Alaska]]'' (1999); ''[[Best in Show (film)|Best in Show]]'' ([[2000]]) (in which he reunited with Christopher Guest); ''[[Little Nicky (film)|Little Nicky]]'' (2000); ''[[The Guru (film)|The Guru]]'' ([[2002]]); ''[[And Starring Pancho Villa as Himself]]'' ([[2003]]); and '' [[A Mighty Wind]]'' ([[2003]]) (in which the [[The Folksmen]] are played by the actors who play [[Spinal Tap]]).


Recent TV guest appearances include ''[[The Simpsons]]''; ''[[Law & Order]]''; ''[[Family Guy]]''; ''[[Star Trek: Voyager]]''; and ''[[Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law]]''. He also lent his voice to an episode of [[Kevin Smith]]'s ''[[Clerks: The Animated Series]]'' that was never aired on [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] but was included on the [[VHS]] and [[DVD]] versions of the series. In [[1998]], he guest starred in a two-part episode of ''[[The X-Files]]'' called "Dreamland" in which his character, Morris Fletcher, switched bodies with [[Fox Mulder]]. The character was a success, and reappeared in 1999's ''Three of a Kind'', an episode which focused on the recurring characters of [[The Lone Gunmen]]. The character appeared on their short-lived [[spin-off]] series in [[2001]], and then returned to ''The X-Files'' in its final season for an episode called "Jump the Shark". McKean had a regular role as the brassy, heavily made-up bandleader Adrian Van Horhees in [[Martin Short]]'s [[Comedy Central]] series, ''[[Primetime Glick]]'', and in [[2003]], he guest starred on ''[[Smallville (TV series)|Smallville]]'', the [[Superman]] [[prequel]] in which his wife stars as [[Martha Kent]]. McKean played [[Perry White]], who - in the Superman universe - ultimately becomes Clark Kent's boss. He previoulsly has been related to the [[Superman]] myth. In [[1994]], on the [[Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman]] 1st. season episode "Vatman", He played Dr. Fabian Leek, a cloning expert who creates a Superman clone that belonged to corporate mogul [[Lex Luthor]] ([[John Shea]]). Also, during his short stint on [[Saturday Night Live]], McKean played [[Perry White]] in a Superman spoof.
Recent TV guest appearances include ''[[The Simpsons]]''; ''[[Law & Order]]''; ''[[Family Guy]]''; ''[[Star Trek: Voyager]]''; and ''[[Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law]]''. He also lent his voice to an episode of [[Kevin Smith]]'s ''[[Clerks: The Animated Series]]'' that was never aired on [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] but was included on the [[VHS]] and [[DVD]] versions of the series. In 1998, he guest starred in a two-part episode of ''[[The X-Files]]'' called "Dreamland" in which his character, Morris Fletcher, switched bodies with [[Fox Mulder]]. The character was a success, and reappeared in 1999's ''Three of a Kind'', an episode which focused on the recurring characters of [[The Lone Gunmen]]. The character appeared on their short-lived [[spin-off]] series in 2001, and then returned to ''The X-Files'' in its final season for an episode called "Jump the Shark". McKean had a regular role as the brassy, heavily made-up bandleader Adrian Van Horhees in [[Martin Short]]'s [[Comedy Central]] series, ''[[Primetime Glick]]'', and in [[2003 in television|2003]], he guest starred on ''[[Smallville (TV series)|Smallville]]'', the [[Superman]] [[prequel]] in which his wife stars as [[Martha Kent]]. McKean played [[Perry White]], who - in the Superman universe - ultimately becomes Clark Kent's boss. He previoulsly has been related to the [[Superman]] myth. In [[1994]], on the [[Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman]]first season episode "Vatman", He played Dr. Fabian Leek, a cloning expert who creates a Superman clone that belonged to corporate mogul [[Lex Luthor]] ([[John Shea]]). Also, during his short stint on [[Saturday Night Live]], McKean played [[Perry White]] in a Superman spoof.


In 2003, he appeared in the Christopher Guest comedy ''[[A Mighty Wind]]''. He co-wrote several songs for the film, including ''A Mighty Wind'' (with Guest and [[Eugene Levy]]), which won the [[Grammy Award|Grammy]] for "Best Song Written for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media" and ''A Kiss at the End of the Rainbow'' (with wife Annette O'Toole), which was nominated for the [[Academy Award for Best Song]].
In 2003, he appeared in the Christopher Guest comedy ''[[A Mighty Wind]]''. He co-wrote several songs for the film, including ''A Mighty Wind'' (with Guest and [[Eugene Levy]]), which won the [[Grammy Award|Grammy]] for "Best Song Written for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media" and ''A Kiss at the End of the Rainbow'' (with wife Annette O'Toole), which was nominated for the [[Academy Award for Best Song]].
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He was on [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] in a production of ''[[Hairspray (musical)|Hairspray]]'' in 2004, and is apparently writing his own [[Musical theater|musical]] with O'Toole. He was co-starring as Hines in a revival of ''[[The Pajama Game]]'' with [[Harry Connick, Jr.]] at the [[American Airlines Theatre]] in the first half of 2006. Recently, McKean reunited with most of the cast of ''A Mighty Wind'' to film the comedy, ''[[For Your Consideration (film)|For Your Consideration]]''. He also appeared in ''[[Love Song]]'' on the stage in London.
He was on [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] in a production of ''[[Hairspray (musical)|Hairspray]]'' in 2004, and is apparently writing his own [[Musical theater|musical]] with O'Toole. He was co-starring as Hines in a revival of ''[[The Pajama Game]]'' with [[Harry Connick, Jr.]] at the [[American Airlines Theatre]] in the first half of 2006. Recently, McKean reunited with most of the cast of ''A Mighty Wind'' to film the comedy, ''[[For Your Consideration (film)|For Your Consideration]]''. He also appeared in ''[[Love Song]]'' on the stage in London.


On March 22, 2006, while Harry Shearer was being interviewed on the Opie and Anthony Radio Show about the movie "Spinal Tap", he stated the following, "Well, Michael McKean had been in a band called 'The Left Banke'. They'd done a hit called 'Walk Away Renee', and 'Pretty Ballerina' was their follow-up that was a semi-hit, and he joined the band right after they had their hits."
On [[March 22]] [[2006]], while Harry Shearer was being interviewed on the Opie and Anthony Radio Show about the movie "Spinal Tap", he stated the following, "Well, Michael McKean had been in a band called 'The Left Banke'. They'd done a hit called 'Walk Away Renee', and 'Pretty Ballerina' was their follow-up that was a semi-hit, and he joined the band right after they had their hits."


McKean was recently cast in the pilot episode of [[The Thick of It (U.S. Series)|The Thick of It]] as the chief of staff. The pilot is being directed by Guest.
McKean was recently cast in the pilot episode of [[The Thick of It (U.S. Series)|The Thick of It]] as the chief of staff. The pilot is being directed by Guest.


==Recurring Characters on ''SNL''==
==Recurring characters on ''SNL''==
*Anthony, the weatherman from "Good Morning, Brooklyn"
*Anthony, the weatherman from "Good Morning, Brooklyn"


==Celebrity Impersonations on ''SNL''==
==Celebrity impersonations on ''SNL''==
*[[Bill Clinton]] (after [[Phil Hartman]] left at the end of season 19)
*[[Bill Clinton]] (after [[Phil Hartman]] left at the end of season 19)
*[[Jimmy Carter]]
*[[Jimmy Carter]]
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==Awards==
==Awards==
*2004 [[Academy Awards|Academy Award]] [[Nomination]]: [[Academy Award for Best Song|Best Song]] - ''[[A Kiss at the End of the Rainbow]]'' - (shared with [[Annette O'Toole]])
*2004 [[Academy Award]] [[Nomination]]: [[Academy Award for Best Song|Best Song]] - ''[[A Kiss at the End of the Rainbow]]'' - (shared with [[Annette O'Toole]])
*2004 [[Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards 2003|Broadcast Film Critics Association Award]] [[Winner]]: [[BFCA Critics' Choice Award for Best Song|Best Song]] - ''A Mighty Wind'' - (shared with [[Christopher Guest]] and [[Eugene Levy]])
*2004 [[Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards 2003|Broadcast Film Critics Association Award]] [[Winner]]: [[BFCA Critics' Choice Award for Best Song|Best Song]] - ''A Mighty Wind'' - (shared with [[Christopher Guest]] and [[Eugene Levy]])
*2004 [[Satellite Awards 2003|Golden Satellite Award]] Nomination: Best Original Song - ''A Kiss at the End of the Rainbow'' - (shared with Annette O'Toole)
*2004 [[Satellite Awards 2003|Golden Satellite Award]] Nomination: Best Original Song - ''A Kiss at the End of the Rainbow'' - (shared with Annette O'Toole)
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[[Category:People from Nassau County, New York]]
[[Category:People from Nassau County, New York]]
[[Category:New York musicians]]
[[Category:New York musicians]]
[[Category:Grammy Award winners|McKean, Michael]]
[[Category:Grammy Award winners]]


[[de:Michael McKean]]
[[de:Michael McKean]]

Revision as of 02:11, 9 May 2007

Michael McKean
Born
Michael McKean
Height6' (1.83 m)

Michael McKean (born October 17 1947) is an American actor, comedian, composer and musician, best known for his portrayal of Leonard 'Lenny' Kosnowski on the sitcom Laverne and Shirley; as one of the members of Spinal Tap; as a Saturday Night Live cast member; and for other various appearances in popular TV series and films.

Early career

McKean began his career (as well as the characters of Lenny and Squiggy) in Pittsburgh while a student at Carnegie Mellon University; David Lander was a fellow student at CMU. Their partnership grew after graduation as part of the comedy group The Credibility Gap with Harry Shearer in Los Angeles but McKean's breakthrough came in 1976 when he joined the cast of Laverne and Shirley. McKean directed one episode, and the characters became something of a phenomenon, even releasing an album as Lenny and the Squigtones in 1979, which featured a young Christopher Guest on guitar (credited as Nigel Tufnel, the name Guest would use a few years later as part of the spoof rock band, Spinal Tap). McKean also played his character in an episode of Happy Days. After leaving Laverne and Shirley in 1982, McKean played David St. Hubbins in the cult spoof documentary movie This Is Spinal Tap with both Guest and Shearer, and appeared in the soap opera spoof Young Doctors in Love.

Film and television

McKean quickly became a recognizable name in film and television, with appearances in films such as Clue (1985), Planes, Trains & Automobiles (1987), Earth Girls Are Easy (1988), the film adaptation of Memoirs of an Invisible Man (1992), Coneheads (1993), and Radioland Murders (1994). He also had guest roles on such shows as Murder, She Wrote, Murphy Brown, Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman and Caroline in the City.

Having already appeared as a musical guest and then host of Saturday Night Live, McKean joined the cast in 1994. During this time, he also released a video follow up to Spinal Tap, played Mr. Dittmeyer in The Brady Bunch Movie, and played the boss Gibby in the HBO series Dream On. After leaving Saturday Night Live, McKean spent a lot of time doing children's fare, voicing various TV shows and movies. In 1999, with two children from a previous marriage (to Susan Russell, from 1970 to 1993), McKean married Annette O'Toole.

Recent career

In 1997, he played the lead voice role in computer game Zork Grand Inquisitor, as Dalboz of Gurth.

His more recent films have included Teaching Mrs. Tingle (1999); Mystery, Alaska (1999); Best in Show (2000) (in which he reunited with Christopher Guest); Little Nicky (2000); The Guru (2002); And Starring Pancho Villa as Himself (2003); and A Mighty Wind (2003) (in which the The Folksmen are played by the actors who play Spinal Tap).

Recent TV guest appearances include The Simpsons; Law & Order; Family Guy; Star Trek: Voyager; and Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law. He also lent his voice to an episode of Kevin Smith's Clerks: The Animated Series that was never aired on ABC but was included on the VHS and DVD versions of the series. In 1998, he guest starred in a two-part episode of The X-Files called "Dreamland" in which his character, Morris Fletcher, switched bodies with Fox Mulder. The character was a success, and reappeared in 1999's Three of a Kind, an episode which focused on the recurring characters of The Lone Gunmen. The character appeared on their short-lived spin-off series in 2001, and then returned to The X-Files in its final season for an episode called "Jump the Shark". McKean had a regular role as the brassy, heavily made-up bandleader Adrian Van Horhees in Martin Short's Comedy Central series, Primetime Glick, and in 2003, he guest starred on Smallville, the Superman prequel in which his wife stars as Martha Kent. McKean played Perry White, who - in the Superman universe - ultimately becomes Clark Kent's boss. He previoulsly has been related to the Superman myth. In 1994, on the Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Supermanfirst season episode "Vatman", He played Dr. Fabian Leek, a cloning expert who creates a Superman clone that belonged to corporate mogul Lex Luthor (John Shea). Also, during his short stint on Saturday Night Live, McKean played Perry White in a Superman spoof.

In 2003, he appeared in the Christopher Guest comedy A Mighty Wind. He co-wrote several songs for the film, including A Mighty Wind (with Guest and Eugene Levy), which won the Grammy for "Best Song Written for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media" and A Kiss at the End of the Rainbow (with wife Annette O'Toole), which was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Song.

He was on Broadway in a production of Hairspray in 2004, and is apparently writing his own musical with O'Toole. He was co-starring as Hines in a revival of The Pajama Game with Harry Connick, Jr. at the American Airlines Theatre in the first half of 2006. Recently, McKean reunited with most of the cast of A Mighty Wind to film the comedy, For Your Consideration. He also appeared in Love Song on the stage in London.

On March 22 2006, while Harry Shearer was being interviewed on the Opie and Anthony Radio Show about the movie "Spinal Tap", he stated the following, "Well, Michael McKean had been in a band called 'The Left Banke'. They'd done a hit called 'Walk Away Renee', and 'Pretty Ballerina' was their follow-up that was a semi-hit, and he joined the band right after they had their hits."

McKean was recently cast in the pilot episode of The Thick of It as the chief of staff. The pilot is being directed by Guest.

Recurring characters on SNL

  • Anthony, the weatherman from "Good Morning, Brooklyn"

Celebrity impersonations on SNL

Filmography

Awards

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