- published: 28 Jun 2012
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Michael John McKean (born October 17, 1947) is an American actor, comedian, writer, composer and musician well known for his portrayal of Squiggy's friend, Leonard "Lenny" Kosnowski, on the sitcom Laverne & Shirley; and for his work in the Christopher Guest ensemble films, particularly as David St. Hubbins, the lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist of the fictional rock band Spinal Tap from the film This Is Spinal Tap. He co-wrote A Mighty Wind, which won the Grammy for "Best Song Written for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media", as well as A Kiss at the End of the Rainbow which was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Song.
McKean was born October 17, 1947, in New York City, the son of Ruth, a librarian, and Gilbert McKean, one of the founders of Decca Records, and was raised in Sea Cliff, New York, on Long Island.
McKean began his career (as well as the characters of Lenny and Squiggy) in Pittsburgh while a student at Carnegie Tech; David Lander was a fellow student at CMU. Their partnership grew after graduation as part of the comedy group The Credibility Gap with Harry Shearer in Los Angeles, but McKean's breakthrough came in 1976 when he and Lander joined the cast of Laverne & Shirley portraying Lenny and Squiggy. McKean directed one episode, and the characters became something of a phenomenon, even releasing an album as Lenny and the Squigtones in 1979, which featured a young Christopher Guest on guitar (credited as Nigel Tufnel; the name Guest would use a few years later as part of the spoof rock band, Spinal Tap). "Foreign Legion of Love" was a big hit for the Squigtones, with frequent play on the Dr. Demento Show. McKean also played his character in an episode of Happy Days. After leaving Laverne & Shirley in 1982, McKean played David St. Hubbins in the comedy This is Spinal Tap with both Guest and Shearer, and appeared in the soap opera spoof Young Doctors in Love.
Actors: Paul Carpenter (actor), Patrick Holt (actor), Russell Napier (actor), Paulette Goddard (actress), Michael Carreras (producer), Michael Carreras (writer), George Sanders (writer), Terence Fisher (director), Renée Glynne (miscellaneous crew), Bill Lenny (editor), Patricia Owens (actress), Jack Taylor (actor), William Sylvester (actor), Kay Callard (actress), Jeremy Hawk (actor),
Plot: Philip Vickers mysteriously reappears to his wife and friends during a party at her upscale country estate after an absence of four years. He had been presumed dead after he disappeared on a fishing trip in Portugal with three friends. He was knocked unconscious and pushed overboard by an unknown assailant. In the interim, he had suffered from amnesia but now has regained his faculties. All the potential suspects, including his wife, are at the party. When one of them is killed, the police are called in, and suspicion for the crime falls on the vengeful Vickers.
Keywords: accidental-killing, accountant, amnesia, automobile, bad-dream, based-on-novel, blackmail, bleeding-mouth, blood-on-handkerchief, blood-on-shoeIn a bar Johnny drinks
Johnny drinks Johnnie Walker
Runs up a bill he can't pay
He's drinking to the memory
Of a prince in a paupers grave
And it's go Johnny go
Where the bruises don't show
In the church yard
Where the nervous get wrecked
And turn off your wireless
For two minutes silence
Cough up and pay your respects
And go to the park
Where vicars and tarts
Prey for their tormented souls
By the American graffiti
From Elephant and Castle
In Ford Capri Orange
Volkswagen yellow and gold
Johnny drinks, Johnny drinks
Johnny drinks Johnnie Walker
Runs up a bill that the pope couldn't pay
He's drinking to the memory
Of a prince in a paupers grave
Johnny drinks, Johnny drinks
Johnny drinks Johnnie Walker
Cockles his muscles alive alive, 'o
Smashes his bottles of unholy water
And it's go, Johnny go, Johnny go, go
Back to the churchyard
Where day out and day in
Those original sinners
Are religiously praying
And where there was muck
There's a brass band that's playing
Playing to the memory
Of a prince in a paupers grave