Occupation Comedian, actor Name David McPhail | Role Actor Spouse Anne McPhail | |
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Born 11 April 1945 (age 79) ( 1945-04-11 ) New Zealand Movies and TV shows Seven Periods with Mr Gormsby, The Amazing Extraordinary Friends, Waimate Conspiracy Books The Years Before My Death: Memories of a Comic Life, Dictionary of Wimps, The McPhail & Gadsby Book Children Matthew McPhail, Anna McPhail Similar People Jon Gadsby, Peter Rowley, Jason Hoyte, Tandi Wright | ||
David mcphail writer and comedic actor
David Alexander McPhail ONZM QSM (born 11 April 1945) is a New Zealand comedic actor and writer whose television career spans four decades. McPhail first won fame on sketch comedy show A Week of It, partly thanks to his impressions of New Zealand Prime Minister Robert Muldoon. He went on to appear in multiple series of sketch show McPhail and Gadsby, and hit comedy Letter to Blanchy. All three shows featured his longtime friend Jon Gadsby.
Contents
- David mcphail writer and comedic actor
- David McPhail Everything Is Funny
- Career
- Awards
- Theatre
- Filmography
- References
David McPhail - Everything Is Funny
Career
Christchurch-based McPhail had appeared on television as a reporter and occasional actor before winning fame in 1977 with A Week of It. One of the earliest New Zealand comedy shows, both to satirize politicians and win a wide audience, the series mixed sketches lampooning politics, sport, and television. A Week of It ran for three seasons.
McPhail went on to create and appear in at least seven series of skit show McPhail and Gadsby, co-starring his A Week of It colleague Jon Gadsby, and backwoods comedy Letter to Blanchy, which spawned a 2008 play.
McPhail starred in two seasons of series Seven Periods with Mr Gormsby. McPhail plays Gormsby, a dominating, old-fashioned school teacher who ruffles feathers when he begins teaching at a school in a low income area. McPhail went on to play eccentric superhero The Green Termite in The Amazing Extraordinary Friends.
His autobiography The Years Before My Death: Memories of a Comic Life was published by Longacre in 2010.
Awards
McPhail was awarded the Queen's Service Medal for public services in the 1992 New Year Honours. In the 2008 New Year Honours, he was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in recognition of services to television and the theatre.
Theatre
Filmography
Actor
2017
Presentiment (Short) as
Dr. Adam Nicholson
2014
Passion in Paradise (TV Series) as
William Larnach
- It's Complicated (2014) - William Larnach
2007
The Amazing Extraordinary Friends (TV Series) as
Harry / Harry Seaforth / Green Termite / ...
- He Who Laughs Last (2010) - Harry Seaforth
- The Mysterious Dark Matter (2010) - Harry Seaforth
- The Android Army Strikes Back (2008) - Harry / Termite
- Love and Marriage (2008) - Harry / Termite
- Nine Twenty Six (2008) - Harry / Termite
- Night-Mayor (2008) - Harry / Termite
- Night of the Time Vampire (2008) - Harry Seaforth
- Doctor Zeno and His Monster Battle-Bot (2008) - Harry Seaforth
- The Incredible Cosmic Girl (2008) - Harry / Termite
- West Wing Story (2008) - Harry Seaforth
- The Ingenious Zeta Nitro (2008) - Harry Seaforth
- The Tremendous Trio (2008) - Harry / Termite
- Mad Mike Molloy (2008) - Harry / Termite
- It's Ice To Be Back (2008) - Harry / Green Termite
- Joke's on Hugh (2008) - Harry / Termite
- Revenge of the Wraith (2007) - Harry / Green Termite
- Paper Scissors Rock (2007) - Harry / Green Termite
- The Unobtainable Unobtainium (2007) - Harry / Green Termite
- Dutch in Charge (2007) - Harry / Green Termite
- Big Plans of Smally Small (2007) - Harry / Green Termite
- Double the Trouble (2007) - Harry / Green Termite
- Quality Time (2007) - Harry / Green Termite
- Attack of the Atomic Bombshell (2007) - Harry / Green Termite
- Captain X-Posed (2007) - Harry / Termite
- Wired Strikes Back (2007) - Harry / Green Termite
- Enter Nightlite (2007) - Harry / Green Termite
- The Awakening: Part 2 (2007) - Harry Seaforth / The Green Termite
- The Awakening: Part 1 (2007) - Harry Seaforth / The Green Termite
- Wreck the Halls - Harry Seaforth
- Dark Matter Rising pt. 2 - Harry Seaforth
- Dark Matter Rising pt. 1 - Harry Seaforth
- Lock, Stock and Baritony - Harry Seaforth
- Jack O'Lantern - Harry Seaforth
- The Last Wun Ever - Harry Seaforth
- Wormwood - Harry Seaforth
- Deadly Nightshade - Harry Seaforth
- The Awesomely Swift Jimmy Swift - Harry Seaforth
- The Assassin - Harry Seaforth
- So You Think You Can Jest - Harry Seaforth
2009
No Petrol, No Diesel! as
Elvis
2006
The Waimate Conspiracy as
Judge Henry
2005
Seven Periods with Mr Gormsby (TV Series) as
Mr. Gormsby
- For Whom the Bell Tolls (2006) - Mr. Gormsby
- An Inspector Calls (2006) - Mr. Gormsby
- Camp Tepapawai (2006) - Mr. Gormsby
- Dancing with the Staff (2006) - Mr. Gormsby
- The Slave Trade (2006) - Mr. Gormsby
- Crime and Punishment (2006) - Mr. Gormsby
- Heads Will Roll (2006) - Mr. Gormsby
- The ERO Parade (2005) - Mr. Gormsby
- Coon Tunes (2005) - Mr. Gormsby
- The Retarded Boy (2005) - Mr. Gormsby
- Open Day (2005) - Mr. Gormsby
- Human Relationships (2005) - Mr. Gormsby
- Comrade Gormsby (2005) - Mr. Gormsby
- The Appalling Mr Gormsby (2005) - Mr. Gormsby
1997
McPhail Gadsby (TV Series) as
Various Characters
1995
Letter to Blanchy (TV Series) as
Derek
- An Arresting Experience (1997) - Derek
- Moving Right Along (1997) - Derek
- Garage Sale of the Century (1997) - Derek
- Nettleton Blues (1997) - Derek
- The Wailing Wall (1997) - Derek
- A Thing of Beauty (1997) - Derek
- Catch of the Day (1997) - Derek
- Past Imperfect (1997) - Derek
- A Chip Off the Old Block (1997) - Derek
- All That Glitters (1997) - Derek
- Local Body Language (1997) - Derek
- Stocks and Shares (1997) - Derek
- Vow and Declare (1997) - Derek
- China Syndrome (1996) - Derek
- Love Makes the World Go Wrong (1996) - Derek
- Art Attack (1995) - Derek
- Among My Souvenirs (1995) - Derek
- A Bit of Beef (1995) - Derek
- Unofficial Channels (1995) - Derek
- A Dinner Downunder (1995) - Derek
- A Serious Undertaking (1995) - Derek
- The Sweet Smell of Success (1995) - Derek
1995
Fallout (TV Mini Series) as
Roger Douglas
- Part Two (1995) - Roger Douglas
- Part One (1995) - Roger Douglas
1992
More Issues (TV Series) as
Various Characters
1991
Issues (TV Series) as
Various Characters
1990
1990: The Issues (TV Series) as
Various Characters
1982
Loose Enz (TV Series) as
Reading
- Coming and Going (1982) - Reading
1980
McPhail & Gadsby (TV Series) as
Various Characters (1980-1985)
1977
A Week of It (TV Series) as
Various Characters
1976
Something to Look Forward to (TV Series) as
Various Characters
- Episode #1.6 (1976) - Various Characters
- Episode #1.7 (1976) - Various Characters
- Episode #1.5 (1976) - Various Characters
- Episode #1.4 (1976) - Various Characters
- Episode #1.2 (1976) - Various Characters
- Episode #1.3 (1976) - Various Characters
- Episode #1.1 (1976) - Various Characters
1975
Richard Pearse (TV Movie) as
Mad John
Writer
1997
McPhail Gadsby (TV Series) (writer - 15 episodes)
-
Letter to Blanchy (TV Series) (1 episode, 1995) (writer - 25 episodes, 1995 - 1997)
- An Arresting Experience (1997) - (writer)
- Moving Right Along (1997) - (writer)
- Garage Sale of the Century (1997) - (writer)
- Nettleton Blues (1997) - (writer)
- The Wailing Wall (1997) - (writer)
- A Thing of Beauty (1997) - (writer)
- Catch of the Day (1997) - (writer)
- Past Imperfect (1997) - (writer)
- A Chip Off the Old Block (1997) - (writer)
- All That Glitters (1997) - (writer)
- Local Body Language (1997) - (writer)
- Stocks and Shares (1997) - (writer)
- Vow and Declare (1997) - (writer)
- Misery on the Bounty (1996) - (writer)
- Stir Crazy (1996) - (writer)
- Bale Out (1996) - (writer)
- The One That Got Away (1996) - (writer)
- Nuptial Mess (1996) - (writer)
- China Syndrome (1996) - (writer)
- Love Makes the World Go Wrong (1996) - (writer)
- Stag Party (1996) - (writer)
- Razing the Funds (1996) - (writer)
- Cementing a Friendship (1996) - (writer)
- Shield Fever (1996) - (writer)
- Art Attack (1995)
- A Dinner Downunder (1995) - (writer)
1992
More Issues (TV Series)
1991
Issues (TV Series)
1990
1990: The Issues (TV Series) (1 episode)
- Episode #1.1 (1990)
1980
McPhail & Gadsby (TV Series)
1977
A Week of It (TV Series) (writer - 32 episodes)
1976
Something to Look Forward to (TV Series) (written by - 7 episodes)
- Episode #1.6 (1976) - (written by)
- Episode #1.7 (1976) - (written by)
- Episode #1.5 (1976) - (written by)
- Episode #1.4 (1976) - (written by)
- Episode #1.2 (1976) - (written by)
- Episode #1.3 (1976) - (written by)
- Episode #1.1 (1976) - (written by)
Producer
1977
A Week of It (TV Series) (producer - 32 episodes)
Director
2001
The Life & Times of Te Tutu (TV Series) (7 episodes)
- Episode #2.7 (2002)
- Episode #2.6 (2002)
- Episode #2.5 (2001)
- Episode #2.4 (2001)
- Episode #2.3 (2001)
- Episode #2.1 (2001)
- Episode #1.2 (2001)
1992
More Issues (TV Series)
Self
2019
Funny As (TV Series documentary) as
Self
1998
Guess Who's Coming to Dinner? (TV Series) as
Self
- Episode #1.3 (1998) - Self
Archive Footage
2000
Happy Birthday 2 You (TV Special documentary) as
Self
References
David McPhail Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA