Christopher McDonald
Born: 1955-02-15 in New York City, New York, USA
Known For: Acting
Biography
Christopher McDonald (born February 15, 1955) is a European American actor. He is known for his roles in Happy Gilmore and 61. Other notable starring roles for McDonald in film include "T-Birds" member Goose McKenzie in Grease 2 (1982), Darryl Dickinson opposite his former fiancée Geena Davis in Thelma & Louise (1991), Ward Cleaver in the film adaptation Leave It to Beaver (1997), and Tappy Tibbons in Requiem for a Dream (2000). Along with numerous independent and small-budget film roles, he played supporting characters in box-office hits Grumpy Old Men (1993), Flubber (1997), Rumor Has It (2005), The House Bunny (2008) and About Last Night (2014). On television, McDonald was a series regular on network TV shows Walter & Emily (1991–1992, NBC), Good Advice (1993–1994, CBS), Family Law (1999–2002, CBS), Cracking Up (2004-2006, FOX) and Harry's Law, (2011–2012, NBC). In 2022, McDonald was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for his role as casino CEO Marty Ghilain on the HBO Max show Hacks.
Filmography
2026
- Jimmy as Lionel Barrymore
2025
- Happy Gilmore 2 as Shooter McGavin
- Swiped as Robert
- Netflix Tudum 2025 as Self
- The Last Rodeo as Jimmy Mack
2024
- Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F as Golfer
- Abruptio as Police Chief Richter
2023
- Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures as Grandpa Roog (voice)
- Secret Invasion as Chris Stearns
- Captain Fall
2022
- Rosaline as Lord Capulet
- The Watcher as Rourke Chamberland
- Land of Dreams as Blair / Bob
2021
- Hacks as Marty
- Stallone: Frank, That Is as Self
- Walking with Herb as Wiley
2020
- We Can Be Heroes as President Neil Anami
- The Stand at Paxton County as Sheriff Roger Bostwick
2019
- Deep Murder as Richard
- Mr. Iglesias as Coach Dixon
- Costume Quest as Bob Dickerson, Grubbin Bob
2018
- Backtrace as Franks
- Gone
- Rob Riggle's Ski Master Academy as Jim Bassman
- Keith Lemon: Coming in America as Self
- Pink Elephants as Self
2017
- Wetlands as Det. Paddy Sheehan
- The Crash as Del Banco
- Great News as Len
- The Tank as Lawson
- Once Upon a Time in Venice as Mr. Carter
- Life After Flash as Self
- The Real Bros of Simi Valley as Cal
2016
- American Crime Story as Robert S. 'Bob' Bennett
- Search Party as Bill
- Exposed as Lt. Galban
- Don't Worry Baby as Harry Lang
- The Giant's Dream: The Making of the Iron Giant as Self
2015
- The Late Show with Stephen Colbert as Self
- Ballers as Dallas Cowboys Owner
- The Squeeze as Riverboat
- Zipper as Peter Kirkland
- Soul Ties as Sydney
- Texas Rising as Henry Karnes
2014
- Last Week Tonight with John Oliver as Company CEO
- Believe Me as Ken
- About Last Night as Casey McNeil
- Being American as Mark
2013
- Beware the Batman as Harvey Dent / Weapons Seller (voice)
- Kirstie as Jeffrey Sheppard
2012
- Grassroots as Jim Tripp
- The Collection as Mr. Peters
- Not Fade Away as Jack Dietz
2011
- Happy Endings as Mr. Kerkovich
- Harry's Law as Tommy Jefferson
- Cat Run as Bill Krebb
- Lemonade Mouth as Principal Brenigan
- Balls to the Wall as Mr. Matthews
2010
- Regular Show as Carl Putter (voice)
- Boardwalk Empire as Harry Daugherty
- Ben 10: Ultimate Alien as Captain Nemesis (voice)
- Black Widow as Steve
- Barry Munday as Dr. Preston Edwards
- Refuge as Jack Phillips
- The Best and the Brightest as The Player
2009
- The Good Wife as Judge Don Schakowsky
- Stargate Universe as Alan Armstrong
- The League as Judge Hardy
- Celebrity Ghost Stories as Self
- Fanboys as Big Chuck
- Spooner as Dennis Spooner
- Deep in the Valley as Diamond Jim
- Splinterheads as Sargeant Bruce Mancuso
- Reunion as Eamon
2008
- Mad Money as Bryce Arbogast
- Superhero Movie as Lou Landers
- Summerhood as Assistant Director
- The House Bunny as Dean Simmons
- Player 5150 as Tony
- An American Carol as Lab Technician
2007
- American Pie Presents: Beta House as Mr. Stifler
- American Family as Mr. Pratt
- The Dukes of Hazzard: The Beginning as JD "Boss" Hogg
- Awake as Dr. Larry Lupin
- Kickin' It Old Skool as Marty Schumacher
- The Bronx Is Burning as Joe DiMaggio
- My Sexiest Year as Adult Jake
2006
- Psych as Paul Haversham
- American Pie Presents: The Naked Mile as Mr. Stifler
- Funny Money as Vic
2005
- Medium as Gregory King
- Numb3rs as Frank Thompson
- Broken Flowers as Ron
- Rumor Has It... as Roger McManus
- Fat Actress as Jimmy
- The L.A. Riot Spectacular as Officer Koon
- New Car Smell as Mac
- Twins as Terry
2004
- Justice League Unlimited as Jor-El (voice)
- Best Week Ever
- North Shore
- Cracking Up as Ted Shackleton
2003
- Las Vegas as Kidnapper Chips
- Grind as Mr. Rivers
- Thelma & Louise: The Last Journey as Self
2002
- Without a Trace as Bob Carroll
- The Twilight Zone as Rick
- Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams as President of the USA
- Children on Their Birthdays as Speedy Thorne
- Speakeasy as Dr. Addams
2001
- Law & Order: Criminal Intent as Evan Korman
- The Man Who Wasn't There as Macadam Salesman
- 61* as Mel Allen
- The Theory of the Leisure Class as Buddy Barnett
2000
- The Skulls as Martin Lombard
- Takedown as Mitch Gibson
- The Perfect Storm as Todd Gross
- Requiem for a Dream as Tappy Tibbons
- Magicians as Jake
- Isn't She Great as Brad Bradburn
1999
- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit as Harold Coyle
- The Sopranos as Eddie Dunne
- Batman Beyond as Superman (voice)
- The Iron Giant as Kent Mansley (voice)
- Family Law as Rex Weller
- Five Aces as Ash Gray
- My Teacher's Wife as Roy Mueller
- The Making of 'The Iron Giant' as Self
1998
- SLC Punk as Dad
- Gideon as Alan Longhurst
- The Faculty as Mr. Frank Connor
- Jaded as Jack Carlson
- Dirty Work as Travis Cole
- Divorce: A Contemporary Western
1997
- Flubber as Wilson Croft
- Lawn Dogs as Morton
- Veronica's Closet as Bryce Anderson
- Leave It to Beaver as Ward Cleaver
- Into Thin Air: Death on Everest as Jon Krakauer
- The Eighteenth Angel as Hugh Stanton
- A Smile Like Yours as Richard Halstrom
1996
- The Daily Show as Self
- Superman: The Animated Series as Jor-El (voice)
- Happy Gilmore as Shooter McGavin
- House Arrest as Donald Krupp
- Unforgettable as Stewart Gleick
- Celtic Pride as Coach Kimball
- Superman: The Last Son of Krypton as Jor-El (voice)
- The Rich Man's Wife as Tony Potenza
1995
- Road Rules
- The Tuskegee Airmen as Major Joy
- Fair Game as Lieutenant Meyerson
- Best of the Best 3: No Turning Back as Sheriff Jack Banning
1994
- Quiz Show as Jack Barry
- Monkey Trouble as Tom
- Terminal Velocity as Kerr
- Midnight Runaround as Jack Walsh
- Midnight Run for Your Life as Jack Walsh
- Another Midnight Run as Jack Walsh
- The Road Killers as Glen
1993
- Fatal Instinct as Frank Kelbo
- Grumpy Old Men as Mike
- Bums as Sgt. Andrew Holloman
- Telling Secrets as Terry Kelsey
- Good Advice as Joey DeRuzza
- Conflict of Interest as Mickey Flannery
- Benefit of the Doubt as Dan
1991
- Home Improvement as Stu Cutler
- Thelma & Louise as Darryl
- Fatal Exposure as Robert Parker
- Dutch as Reed Standish
- Red Wind as Victor Lange
- Wild Orchid II: Two Shades of Blue as Senator Dixon
- Walter & Emily as Matt Collins
1990
- Law & Order as John Jay McIntyre
- Cool Blue as Peter Sin
- Playroom as Chris
1989
- Chances Are as Louie Jeffries
- An Eight Is Enough Wedding as Jeb
1988
- Paramedics as Mad Mike
- Little Girl Lost as Wolff
- Paradise as Dexter
- Aaron's Way
1987
- Star Trek: The Next Generation as Lt. Richard Castillo
- Outrageous Fortune as George
1986
- Matlock as Eric Lane
- The Boys Next Door as Detective Mark Woods
- Triplecross as Steve Tyler
1985
- The Twilight Zone as (segment "Aqua Vita")
1984
- Hunter as Sonny Dupree
- Breakin' as James
- Chattanooga Choo Choo as Paul
- Call to Glory as Major Tim O'Reilly
- Where the Boys Are as Tony
1982
- Knight Rider as Joe Flynn
- Cheers as Rick Walker
- Grease 2 as Goose McKenzie
- The Black Room as Terry
1981
- Twirl as Buddy Butler
1980
- The Hearse as Pete
1978
- Getting Married as Usher