Danny Cooksey
A child star whose voice defined 90s cartoons and whose face became a familiar friend in cult classic TV and film.
Born 1975 (age 51)·American actor·Birthday: November 2·Generation X
Biography
Danny Cooksey entered the entertainment industry as a kid, quickly becoming a fixture in American living rooms. His breakout role came as the wisecracking Sam McKinney on the final seasons of 'Diff'rent Strokes,' but his true cultural footprint was made with his voice. As the brash cowboy Montana Max on 'Tiny Toon Adventures,' he delivered a performance that was both hilariously obnoxious and oddly endearing, cementing the character as a 90s animation staple. On screen, he shifted gears dramatically as Tim, the doomed friend of John Connor in 'Terminator 2: Judgment Day,' a role that brought a touch of vulnerable humanity to the blockbuster. Cooksey never stopped working, lending his distinctive voice to a wide array of projects from 'Xiaolin Showdown' to the DC Animated Universe, proving his adaptability and lasting presence in the industry far beyond his child star beginnings.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Danny was born in 1975, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Danny Was Born
The biggest hits of 1975
#1 Movie
Jaws
Best Picture
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
#1 TV Show
All in the Family
Danny's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1975Born
Fall of Saigon ends the Vietnam War
Gas: $0.57/galHome: $27,600Min wage: $2.10/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Love Will Keep Us Together" — Captain & TennilleBest Picture: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
1980Started school
John Lennon shot and killed in New York
Gas: $1.19/galHome: $47,200Min wage: $3.10/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Call Me" — BlondieBest Picture: Ordinary People
1988Became a teenager
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1991Could drive
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1993Could vote
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
1996Turned 21
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2005Turned 30
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2015Turned 40
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
2025Turned 50
AI agents go mainstream
Gas: $3.10/galHome: $385,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"APT." — Rose & Bruno Mars
2026Age 51 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Played the pivotal role of Tim, John Connor's friend, in the landmark film 'Terminator 2: Judgment Day'.
- Voiced the iconic antagonist Montana 'Monty' Max on the influential animated series 'Tiny Toon Adventures'.
- Joined the cast of the hit sitcom 'Diff'rent Strokes' for its final two seasons as Sam McKinney.
- Starred as the lead, Budnick, in the beloved Nickelodeon summer camp series 'Salute Your Shorts'.
Did You Know?
He was the lead singer for the hard rock band Bad4Good, which was formed by guitarist Steve Vai.
Cooksey provided the voice for the character Numbuh 4 in the pilot episode of 'Codename: Kids Next Door' before the role was recast.
He is a talented musician who plays multiple instruments, including guitar and drums.
His first major acting role was on the TV series 'The Cavanaughs'.
“I grew up on set, but my voice found a home in animation.”
