Michael McKean (born October 17 1947) is an American actor, comedian, composer and musician, perhaps best known for his portrayal of Squiggy's friend, 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.
Did celebrity impersonations of Robert Evans (I), Gary Busey, Howard Stern (I) and Bill Clinton (I) on "Saturday Night Live" (1975).
Children: Fletcher McKean and Colin McKean (I) and Colin McKean (II) (born to Susan).
Engaged to 'Annette OToole in 1998.
At age 46, was the oldest man to join the cast of "Saturday Night Live" (1975).
Is the only person to have appeared as a musical guest, hosted, then become a regular cast member, in that order, on "Saturday Night Live" (1975).
The song "A Kiss at the End of the Rainbow," performed by Mitch & Mickey in Mighty Wind, A (2003), was written by McKean and his wife, 'Annette OToole, as a love song to each other after the movie was conceived.
Performed as the comedy trio The Credibility Gap with David L. Lander and Harry Shearer (among others) in the 1960s and 1970s, best known for their rock band version of the classic Bud Abbott/Lou Costello (I) routine "Who's on First?".
He and wife 'Annette OToole were one of three husband/wife teams nominated for an Oscar for the 2003 season. The others were Peter Jackson (I) and his wife Fran Walsh and Shari Springer Berman and her husband Robert Pulcini.
Wrote the song "Potato's In The Patty Wagon" with his wife while commuting back and forth from the United States to Canada, where "Smallville" (2001) was being filmed (his wife plays Martha Kent on the series). There was ample time to write due to the long checks at the border as this was just weeks after September 11th, 2001.
Attended North Shore High School in Glen Head, New York
Has co-starred with wife 'Annette OToole as a married couple in at least two TV shows: "Boy Meets World" (1993) and "Law & Order" (1990).
Son Fletcher attended and graduated from Agoura High School.
Gilbert and Ruth McKean, his parents, hailed from Louisiana. Gilbert was a recording executive who worked for RCA and Columbia as well as being one of the founders of Decca Records. Ruth was a library clerk at North Shore High School. The couple, along with Michael's grandmother, attended Louisiana Tech University. He also has an older sister.
He began playing the guitar at the age of 14.
He decided to become an actor after seeing British actor and comedian Stanley Holloway performing in a one-man show in New York City.
Began his career in Pittsburgh while a student at Carnegie Mellon University. David L. Lander was a fellow student at CMU and their partnership grew after graduation as part of the comedy group The Credibility Gap with comedian Harry Shearer in Los Angeles. McKean and Lander's breakthrough came in 1976 when they were cast as Lenny and Squiggy on "Laverne & Shirley" (1976).
He, Dean Cain, Patrick Cassidy (I) and Richard Gant are the only four actors to appear in both "Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman" (1993) and its prequel of sorts, "Smallville" (2001).
Is a descendant of Thomas McKean, one of the signers of the Decleration Of Independence.
Became an honorary member of the Friars Club in 2000. Has participated in events involving Rob Reiner, Jerry Lewis (I), Pat Cooper (I) and Jerry Stiller.
Turned down a regular role in "Married with Children" (1987) because he felt the show wouldn't be a hit with him in it. Also, passed on the part of Dean Cyrus O'Dell of Hearst College in "Veronica Mars" (2004). He decided to do the West End production of "Love Song" by John Kolvenbach instead.
Olympia Dukakis was his acting teacher at New York University. Learned improvisation from Omar Shapli. The improvisation class played some dates as a comedy group called Section 10.
