Release CalendarTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV News
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb SpotlightFamily Entertainment GuideIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsCannes Film FestivalStar WarsAsian Pacific American Heritage MonthSummer Watch GuideSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • Language
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Watchlist
Sign In
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Use app
  • Biography
  • Awards
  • Trivia
  • FAQ
IMDbPro

Christopher McDonald(I)

  • Actor
  • Producer
  • Director
IMDbProStarmeterTop 5,00024
Christopher McDonald
To save his grandson, a retired rodeo star enters a high-stakes bull-riding competition. Along the way, he confronts his past, discovers faith, and proves that true courage lies in family.
Play trailer2:36
The Last Rodeo (2025)
70 Videos
99+ Photos
Christopher McDonald was born and raised in New York City, New York, to Patricia, a real estate agent, and James R. McDonald, an educator. His breakout role was in Ridley Scott's Thelma & Louise (1991), followed shortly by his role as Jack Barry in Robert Redford's Quiz Show (1994). Other notable performances include Into Thin Air: Death on Everest (1997) as Jon Krakauer and Requiem for a Dream (2000) as Tappy Tibbons (opposite Oscar winner Ellen Burstyn). He co-starred in Happy Gilmore (1996), American Pie Presents: The Naked Mile (2006), American Pie Presents: Beta House (2007), Flubber (1997), and Leave It to Beaver (1997). His television credits include Harry's Law (2011), Boardwalk Empire (2010), and Family Law (1999).

Trained by legendary acting teacher Stella Adler and at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, McDonald was singled out by the New York Times as one of the most prolific actors in Hollywood. He has performed in over 100 films over more than four decades. His roughly 40 stage credits include Billy Flynn in the long-running Broadway reboot of Chicago and the 2013 hit Lucky Guy (opposite Oscar winner Tom Hanks).

Since the loss of two siblings and a parent to cancer, he has been an active supporter of the Make a Wish foundation along with charities which help cancer research. He participates in celebrity fund-raising events throughout the world. A graduate of Hobart and William Smith college in 1977, he is the principal donor for the building of the school's new Performing Arts Center.
BornFebruary 15
  • More at IMDbPro
    • Contact info
    • Agent info
    • Resume
BornFebruary 15
IMDbProStarmeterTop 5,00024
  • View contact info at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 Primetime Emmy
      • 1 win & 5 nominations total

    Photos239

    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    + 232
    View Poster

    Known for

    Geena Davis and Susan Sarandon in Thelma & Louise (1991)
    Thelma & Louise
    7.6
    • Darryl
    • 1991
    Ralph Fiennes in Quiz Show (1994)
    Quiz Show
    7.5
    • Jack Barry
    • 1994
    Adam Sandler in Happy Gilmore (1996)
    Happy Gilmore
    7.0
    • Shooter McGavin
    • 1996
    Kathy Bates in Harry's Law (2011)
    Harry's Law
    7.3
    TV Series
    • Tommy Jefferson

    Credits

    Edit
    IMDbPro

    Actor



    • The Gray House
      • Thomas McNiven
      • Released
      • TV Series
      • 2024
    • The Last Rodeo
      • Jimmy Mack
      • Post-production
      • 2025
    • Happy Gilmore 2
      • Shooter McGavin
      • Post-production
      • 2025
    • Brooklyn All American
      • Al Thomas
      • Pre-production



    • Chevy Chase, Christopher McDonald, and Steven Savoca in Medium Olive Ad (2024)
      Medium Olive Ad
      Video
      • Shooter McGavin
      • 2024
    • Young Jedi Adventures (2023)
      Young Jedi Adventures
      5.4
      TV Series
      • Grandpa Roog (voice)
      • 2023–2024
    • Eddie Murphy in Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F (2024)
      Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F
      6.4
      • Golfer
      • 2024
    • The Gray House (2024)
      The Gray House
      8.6
      TV Series
      • Thomas McNiven
      • 2024
    • Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder in Hacks (2021)
      Hacks
      8.2
      TV Series
      • Marty
      • 2021–2024
    • The Reklaws ft. Drake Milligan: Honky Tonkin' About (2023)
      The Reklaws ft. Drake Milligan: Honky Tonkin' About
      5.3
      Music Video
      • Wild Bill
      • 2023
    • Captain Fall (2023)
      Captain Fall
      6.9
      TV Series
      • Blake Fall (voice, as Chris McDonald)
      • 2023
    • Samuel L. Jackson, Don Cheadle, Martin Freeman, Ben Mendelsohn, Cobie Smulders, Olivia Colman, Emilia Clarke, and Kingsley Ben-Adir in Secret Invasion (2023)
      Secret Invasion
      5.8
      TV Mini Series
      • Chris Stearns
      • 2023
    • Robert Englund, Christopher McDonald, Sid Haig, James Marsters, Jordan Peele, and Hana Mae Lee in Abruptio (2023)
      Abruptio
      6.1
      • Police Chief Richter (voice)
      • 2023
    • The Watcher (2022)
      The Watcher
      6.5
      TV Series
      • Detective Rourke Chamberland
      • 2022
    • Kaitlyn Dever, Isabela Merced, and Kyle Allen in Rosaline (2022)
      Rosaline
      6.5
      • Lord Capulet
      • 2022
    • John Oliver in Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (2014)
      Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
      8.8
      TV Series
      • Company CEO
      • 2022
    • Beanie Feldstein in American Crime Story (2016)
      American Crime Story
      8.4
      TV Series
      • Bob Bennett (as Chris McDonald)
      • 2021
    • Land of Dreams (2021)
      Land of Dreams
      4.9
      • Blair
      • Bob
      • 2021
    • Walking with Herb (2021)
      Walking with Herb
      5.1
      • Wiley
      • 2021

    Producer



    • Gentlemen Only Ladies Forbidden: Puddy McFadden License to Golf (2016)
      Gentlemen Only Ladies Forbidden: Puddy McFadden License to Golf
      Short
      • co-producer
      • 2016

    Director



    • Wildwood Inn
      • Director
      • In Production

    • In-development projects at IMDbPro

    Videos70

    Flubber: 15th Anniversary Edition
    Clip 0:57
    Flubber: 15th Anniversary Edition
    Flubber: 15th Anniversary Edition
    Clip 0:58
    Flubber: 15th Anniversary Edition
    Flubber: 15th Anniversary Edition
    Clip 0:58
    Flubber: 15th Anniversary Edition
    Lemonade Mouth: Extended Edition
    Clip 1:12
    Lemonade Mouth: Extended Edition
    Lemonade Mouth: Extended Edition
    Clip 0:54
    Lemonade Mouth: Extended Edition
    Lemonade Mouth: Extended Edition
    Clip 1:11
    Lemonade Mouth: Extended Edition
    Lemonade Mouth: Extended Edition
    Clip 1:18
    Lemonade Mouth: Extended Edition

    Personal details

    Edit
    • Official sites
      • Company Site
      • Instagram
    • Alternative names
      • Christopher MacDonald
    • Height
      • 6′ 3″ (1.91 m)
    • Born
      • February 15
      • New York City, New York, USA
    • Spouse
      • Lupe McDonaldNovember 7, 1992 - present (4 children)
    • Children
        Jackson Riley McDonald
    • Parents
        James R. McDonald
    • Relatives
      • Daniel McDonald(Sibling)
    • Other works
      Music video: Appeared in Peter Gabriel's video "The Barry Williams Show".
    • Publicity listings
      • 1 Pictorial
      • 1 Magazine Cover Photo

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Is an avid pilot.
    • Quotes
      Actors think the grass is always greener. When you do a play, you wish you could be making easy money doing a film, because you work your butt off on the stage. Then you do your television and say, 'God, if I have to do this one more time, I'll just go crazy.' I think any actor would rather do quality work than the episodic TV which pays the rent.
    • Trademarks
        Often plays arrogant villains

    FAQ9

    Powered by Alexa
    • Where was Christopher McDonald born?
    • How tall is Christopher McDonald?
    • What is Christopher McDonald known for?

    Related news

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb app
    Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
    Follow IMDb on social
    Get the IMDb app
    For Android and iOS
    Get the IMDb app
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • License IMDb Data
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2025 by IMDb.com, Inc.