Kevin McDonald
A cornerstone of the surreal Canadian comedy troupe The Kids in the Hall, known for his gangly physicality and portrayals of hapless everymen and bizarre authority figures.
Born 1961 (age 65)·Canadian actor, comedian and writer·Birthday: May 16·Baby Boomers
Biography
With a perpetually worried expression and a frame built for awkward comedy, Kevin McDonald became the essential straight man—and sometimes the unhinged id—of The Kids in the Hall. A founding member of the troupe, his chemistry with Dave Foley defined countless sketches, from the bickering office mates to the terrifyingly bland Head Crusher. McDonald's genius lay in his ability to pivot from utter pathos to sinister weirdness in a heartbeat. While the troupe's TV series cemented his cult status, he built a parallel career as a distinctive voice actor, bringing to life the anxious, insectoid alien Pleakley in Disney's 'Lilo & Stitch' franchise. His career, marked by collaboration and a steadfast commitment to the troupe's unique vision, exemplifies a certain breed of comic actor: one who thrives within an ensemble, elevating everyone else while creating a gallery of unforgettable, oddly relatable characters.
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.
Kevin was born in 1961, 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 Kevin Was Born
The biggest hits of 1961
#1 Movie
101 Dalmatians
Best Picture
West Side Story
#1 TV Show
Wagon Train
Kevin's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1961Born
Yuri Gagarin becomes the first human in space
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,500Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Tossin' and Turnin'" — Bobby LewisBest Picture: West Side Story
1966Started school
Star Trek premieres on television
Gas: $0.32/galHome: $14,200Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"The Ballad of the Green Berets" — SSgt Barry SadlerBest Picture: A Man for All Seasons
1974Became a teenager
Nixon resigns the presidency
Gas: $0.53/galHome: $22,600Min wage: $2.00/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"The Way We Were" — Barbra StreisandBest Picture: The Godfather Part II
1977Could drive
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1979Could vote
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
1982Turned 21
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1991Turned 30
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
2001Turned 40
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2011Turned 50
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2021Turned 60
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 65 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Co-created and starred in the influential sketch comedy series 'The Kids in the Hall' from 1988 to 1995.
- Voiced the character Agent Wendy Pleakley in Disney's 'Lilo & Stitch' film and subsequent television franchise.
- Performed regularly with the Kids in the Hall in successful reunion tours and the 2022 revival series on Amazon.
- Played recurring roles on popular TV shows like 'That '70s Show' as Pastor Dave and 'The Newsroom'.
Did You Know?
He and Dave Foley formed the comedy duo 'The Kids in the Hall' before expanding to the five-member troupe.
He is a frequent collaborator and voice actor for animator and writer John Kricfalusi (The Ren & Stimpy Show).
He provided the voice for the Almighty Tallest Purple in the cult cartoon 'Invader Zim'.
McDonald has openly discussed his struggles with depression and how it has influenced his comedy.
“I'm the guy in the group who, if we were the Beatles, would be the one who was shot.”
