Dave Foley
A sharp-witted cornerstone of alternative comedy whose deadpan delivery and surreal sketches defined a generation of Canadian humor.
Born 1963 (age 63)·Canadian stand-up comedian and actor·Birthday: January 4·Baby Boomers
Biography
Dave Foley cut his teeth in the Toronto comedy scene of the 1980s, where his dry, often exasperated stage persona became a perfect ingredient for the anarchic ensemble The Kids in the Hall. The group's self-titled sketch show, which ran from 1988 to 1995, became a cult phenomenon, with Foley's portrayals—from the head-crushing businessman to the insecure teen—showcasing a unique blend of the mundane and the bizarre. His career expanded into American television with a leading role on the sitcom 'NewsRadio,' where his straight-man anchor Dave Nelson anchored a cast of eccentrics. Beyond acting, Foley has been a vocal presence, navigating the complexities of the entertainment industry with a trademark candor that has kept him a relatable and enduring figure in comedy.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Dave was born in 1963, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Dave Was Born
The biggest hits of 1963
#1 Movie
Cleopatra
Best Picture
Tom Jones
#1 TV Show
Beverly Hillbillies
Dave's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1963Born
JFK assassinated in Dallas; Martin Luther King's 'I Have a Dream' speech
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,100Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Sugar Shack" — Jimmy Gilmer & The FireballsBest Picture: Tom Jones
1968Started school
Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy assassinated
Gas: $0.34/galHome: $14,950Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Hey Jude" — The BeatlesBest Picture: Oliver!
1976Became a teenager
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1979Could drive
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1981Could vote
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1984Turned 21
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1993Turned 30
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
2003Turned 40
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2013Turned 50
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2023Turned 60
ChatGPT goes mainstream; Israel-Hamas war begins
Gas: $3.52/galHome: $361,600Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Flowers" — Miley CyrusBest Picture: Oppenheimer
2026Age 63 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Co-founded and starred in the influential sketch comedy series 'The Kids in the Hall,' which aired from 1988 to 1995.
- Played the lead role of news director Dave Nelson on the NBC sitcom 'NewsRadio' for its entire five-season run.
- Provided the voice for the character Flik in Pixar's groundbreaking animated film 'A Bug's Life.'
Did You Know?
He was once sued by his former wife for unpaid spousal support while he was starring on the hit show 'NewsRadio.'
Foley is an accomplished cartoonist and created the comic strip 'The True Life Adventures of Dave Foley' for the National Lampoon.
He became a U.S. citizen in 2005, but remains a prominent figure in Canadian comedy.
“The secret to comedy is surprise. And the secret to surprise is... I forget.”
