Bruce McCulloch
Bruce McCulloch | |
|---|---|
 McCulloch at the Toronto International Film Festival, September 5, 2008 | |
| Born | Bruce Ian McCulloch May 12, 1961 |
| Other names | Brucio (nickname) Bruce McCullough |
| Occupation(s) | Actor, writer, comedian, film director |
| Spouse(s) | Tracy Ryan (2003-present; 2 children) |
| Website | www |
Bruce Ian McCulloch (born May 12, 1961) is a Canadian actor, writer, comedian, and film director. McCulloch is best known for his work as a member of The Kids in the Hall, a popular Canadian comedy troupe, and as a writer for Saturday Night Live. McCulloch has also appeared on series such as Twitch City and Gilmore Girls. He directed the films Dog Park, Stealing Harvard and Superstar.[1]
He has also written and directed the romantic comedy Comeback Season which toured film festivals before its release on DVD in 2007. He was the writer of ABC's Carpoolers.
Early life
McCulloch was born in Edmonton, Alberta. He attended Strathcona Composite High School in Edmonton and competed in both track-and-field and swimming, winning two individual provincial titles. McCulloch is a graduate of Mount Royal College located in Calgary, Alberta.
Career
The Kids in the Hall
As a member of The Kids in the Hall comedy troupe, McCulloch frequently wrote surreal monologues, films and songs. He also directed several of the filmed sketches. Memorable characters included the Flying Pig, Cabbage Head, talkative schoolchild Gavin, pop starlet Tammy, and grumpy middle-aged man Gordon.
McCulloch appeared in The Kids in the Hall movie Brain Candy, released in 1996. McCulloch drew controversy with his Cancer Boy character, introduced on the series' final episode, in which he plays a dying young cancer patient using wheelchair who relates otherwise depressing news, in monotone, with a cheerful smile, and even releases a hit single entitled "Whistle When You're Low." Paramount Pictures fought to edit out the offending scenes[citation needed], yet they were still kept in. Among other characters, McCulloch also appeared as Grivo, a depressed rock star.
He co-wrote, starred in, and was executive producer of the Kids in the Hall 2010 reunion project Death Comes to Town.[2]
Music
McCulloch has released two albums: 1995’s Shame-Based Man produced by Bob Wiseman, (praised by Allmusic as the "most remarkable of comedy albums: one that bears (frequent) repeated listenings”)[3] and 2002's Drunk Baby Project.
McCulloch also directed the music video for the Tragically Hip's song "My Music at Work," for which he won the award of "Best Director" at the 2000 MuchMusic Video Awards. McCulloch is close friends with Tragically Hip frontman Gord Downie. The video shares much in common with many The Kids in the Hall sketches, including its office setting, camera angles, and some thematic elements. McCulloch also starred in and co-directed the music video for 1997's "Make You Mad" by Canadian band The Odds.
Movies
McCulloch played Fred Wright in the 1987 TV mini-series Anne of Avonlea. He also had a role in the 1999 comedy film Dick.
McCulloch also co-wrote and had a bit part in Superman's 50th Anniversary: A Celebration of the Man of Steel (1988). In the CBS prime-time special, (also featuring Dana Carvey, Al Franken, Jan Hooks, and others) he played a patron of a store that, among other things, sold counterfeit Kryptonite.
Television
He also played the judge in "To Kill a Chupacabraj" in Season 3 of Workaholics, Father Marsala in season 4 of Arrested Development, and Tobin on Gilmore Girls. He created and stars in the sitcom Young Drunk Punk, debuting in 2015.
Discography
- Shame-Based Man (1995)
- Drunk Baby Project (2002)
References
- ^ Gates, Anita (October 8, 1999). "Superstar (1999) FILM REVIEW; The Things She'll Do For Fame and a Date". The New York Times.
- ^ "Nothing is sacred in new Kids in the Hall series". Xtra!, December 28, 2009.
- ^ https://www.allmusic.com/album/r240429/review
External links
- Official Website
- Bruce McCulloch at IMDb
- Kithfan.org
- An Interview with Bruce McCulloch on the history of the troupe, ongoing collaboration with Kevin McDonald, cross-dressing, and the business of comedy in Unlimited magazine
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Artists | |
| Other | |
- 1961 births
- 20th-century Canadian male actors
- 21st-century Canadian male actors
- Canadian film directors
- Canadian male film actors
- Canadian male television actors
- Canadian screenwriters
- Canadian television personalities
- Canadian television writers
- The Kids in the Hall members
- Living people
- Male actors from Edmonton
- Canadian sketch comedians
- Writers from Edmonton