Michael McKean

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.

Related Topics:
October 17 - 1947 - American - Laverne and Shirley

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McKean began his career as part of the comedy group The Credibility Gap with Harry Shearer and David Lander but his breakthrough came in 1976 when he joined the cast of Laverne and Shirley, paired with David Lander who played Squiggy. McKean directed one episode, and the characters became something of a phenomenon, even releasing an album as Lenny and the Squigtones in 1980, 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 and appeared in the soap opera spoof Young Doctors In Love.

Related Topics:
The Credibility Gap - Harry Shearer - David Lander - 1976 - 1980 - Christopher Guest - Rock band - Spinal Tap - Happy Days - 1982 - This is Spinal Tap - Soap opera - Young Doctors In Love

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McKean quickly became a recognisable 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) and Coneheads (1993). He also had guest roles on such shows as Murder, She Wrote, Murphy Brown, ' and Caroline in the City.

Related Topics:
Clue - 1985 - Planes, Trains & Automobiles - 1987 - Earth Girls Are Easy - 1988 - Memoirs of an Invisible Man - 1992 - Coneheads - 1993 - Murder, She Wrote - Murphy Brown - Caroline in the City

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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, and playing Mr. Dittmeyer in The Brady Bunch Movie. 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, McKean married Annette O'Toole.

Related Topics:
Saturday Night Live - 1994 - The Brady Bunch Movie - 1999 - Annette O'Toole

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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 And Starring Pancho Villa as Himself (2003).

Related Topics:
Teaching Mrs. Tingle - 1999 - Mystery, Alaska - Best in Show - 2000 - Little Nicky - The Guru - 2002 - And Starring Pancho Villa as Himself - 2003

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Recent TV guest appearances include The Simpsons, Law & Order, Family Guy, ', and Harvey Birdman, Attorney At Law. 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. In 2003, he guest starred on Smallville, the Superman prequel on which his wife starred as Martha Kent. McKean played Perry White, who - in the Superman universe - ultimately becomes Clark Kent's boss.

Related Topics:
The Simpsons - Law & Order - Family Guy - Harvey Birdman, Attorney At Law - 1998 - The X-Files - Fox Mulder - The Lone Gunmen - Spin-off - 2001 - 2003 - Smallville - Superman - Prequel - Martha Kent - Perry White - Clark Kent

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In 2003, he appeared in the Christopher Guest comedy A Mighty Wind. Along with O'Toole, McKean had written a love song A Kiss at the End of the Rainbow which was then featured in the film and won the Grammy for Best Song Written for a Motion Picture. It was also nominated for the Academy Award for best original song. In the film, the 60s-style folk song was performed by SCTV alums Catherine O'Hara and Eugene Levy.

Related Topics:
A Mighty Wind - A Kiss at the End of the Rainbow - Grammy - Academy Award - 60s - Folk - SCTV - Catherine O'Hara - Eugene Levy

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He is currently on Broadway in a production of Hairspray and is also apparently writing his own musical with O'Toole.

Related Topics:
Broadway - Hairspray - Musical

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