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