Matt Walsh (comedian)
A versatile American comedian and Upright Citizens Brigade founder who stole scenes as the perpetually harassed press secretary Mike McLintock on HBO's *Veep*.
Born 1964 (age 62)·American comedian and actor·Birthday: October 13·Baby Boomers
Biography
Matt Walsh represents a certain breed of Chicago-bred comic: improvisationally sharp, character-driven, and foundational to a scene. His move to New York in the 1990s placed him at the genesis of the Upright Citizens Brigade, the sketch troupe that would become an institution, shaping American comedy through its theater and a generation of performers. While the UCB's TV show cultivated a cult following, Walsh built a steady career as a master of the supporting role, his everyman exasperation perfect for films like *Road Trip* and *Old School*. His defining moment came with HBO's *Veep*, where for seven seasons he played Mike McLintock, the White House (and later private sector) press secretary whose deadpan despair and moral queasiness in the face of political absurdity provided the show's brittle spine. The role earned him two Emmy nominations and showcased his ability to find the tragic, human core of a joke. Beyond acting, he has directed films and continues to be a stalwart presence in the improv world he helped build.
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.
Matt was born in 1964, 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 Matt Was Born
The biggest hits of 1964
#1 Movie
Mary Poppins
Best Picture
My Fair Lady
#1 TV Show
Bonanza
Matt's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1964Born
Civil Rights Act signed; Beatles arrive in America
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $13,450Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"I Want to Hold Your Hand" — The BeatlesBest Picture: My Fair Lady
1969Started school
Apollo 11: humans walk on the Moon; Woodstock festival
Gas: $0.35/galHome: $15,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Sugar, Sugar" — The ArchiesBest Picture: Midnight Cowboy
1977Became a teenager
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
1980Could drive
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
1982Could vote
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1985Turned 21
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1994Turned 30
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
2004Turned 40
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2014Turned 50
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2024Turned 60
AI reshapes industries; Paris Olympics
Gas: $3.31/galHome: $372,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Espresso" — Sabrina CarpenterBest Picture: Anora
2026Age 62 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Received two Primetime Emmy Award nominations for his performance as Mike McLintock on the HBO series *Veep*.
- Was a founding member of the influential Upright Citizens Brigade comedy troupe and performed in their original TV series.
- Co-created and starred in the Comedy Central series *Dog Bites Man*, a pioneering satire of local TV news reporting.
- Directed the feature film *A Better You* and the comedy special *The Gorgeous Ladies of Comedy*.
Did You Know?
He and his *Veep* co-star Timothy Simons (Jonah Ryan) are both alumni of the College of the Holy Cross.
He performed with the Second City touring company before co-founding the Upright Citizens Brigade.
He voiced the character of 'The Dog' in the popular children's animated series *Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood*.
He made a cameo appearance in the music video for the Barenaked Ladies song 'Pinch Me'.
“The best comedy comes from a real place, even if it's a weird one.”
