Michael McKean, born on October 17, 1947, is a versatile American actor, comedian, screenwriter, composer, singer, and musician. With a career spanning decades, he has received widespread recognition, including a Grammy Award and nominations for both an Academy Award and a Primetime Emmy Award. McKean first gained fame for his role as Lenny Kosnowski on the ABC sitcom Laverne & Shirley (1976–1983), later joining the cast of Saturday Night Live from 1994 to 1995 and appearing on HBO’s Dream On. He also starred in several notable films such as Used Cars (1980), Clue (1985), and The Big Picture (1989), which he co-wrote.
McKean is especially known for his long-standing collaboration with filmmaker Christopher Guest. Together, they created iconic mockumentaries like This Is Spinal Tap (1984), Best in Show (2000), A Mighty Wind (2003), and For Your Consideration (2006). His work on A Mighty Wind earned him a Grammy for the title song and an Academy Award nomination for co-writing “A Kiss at the End of the Rainbow.” In television, McKean achieved critical acclaim for his portrayal of Chuck McGill in Better Call Saul (2015–2018; 2022), earning a Primetime Emmy nomination. He also lent his voice to Lou Pickles in the rebooted Rugrats franchise and made appearances in acclaimed series such as Curb Your Enthusiasm, Veep, Grace and Frankie, Breeders, and The Diplomat.
In addition to his film and television work, McKean has had a successful stage career. He made his Broadway debut in 2004 playing Edna Turnblad in Hairspray, and later portrayed significant roles in politically and emotionally charged productions. These include dual roles as J. Edgar Hoover and Robert Byrd in All the Way (2014), and appearances in Superior Donuts (2009), The Best Man (2012), and The Little Foxes (2017). Throughout his diverse career, McKean has consistently demonstrated remarkable range and depth across comedy, drama, music, and theater.
