Danny McBride

Daniel Richard McBride (born December 29, 1976) is an American actor, comedian, and writer. He starred in the HBO television series Eastbound & Down, Vice Principals, and The Righteous Gemstones, the first two which he co-created with frequent collaborator Jody Hill. He has also starred in films, such as The Foot Fist Way (2006), Pineapple Express (2008), Tropic Thunder (2008), Up in the Air (2009), Your Highness (2011), This Is the End (2013), and Alien: Covenant (2017). He has done voice acting for Despicable Me (2010), Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011), The Angry Birds Movie (2016) and The Angry Birds Movie 2 (2019).

Early life
McBride was born in Statesboro, Georgia. His mother, Kathy Rudy, and his stepfather both work at the US marine's base, Quantico, VA, as civilian support. McBride has English, Jewish, Scottish and Irish heritage. He was raised Baptist. His mother performed sermons in church using puppets, and McBride stated that his "interest in telling stories comes from her". He was raised in Spotsylvania County, Virginia, where he graduated from Courtland High School and attended University of North Carolina School of the Arts in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and became one of the "Three Flavas" along with well known director Jody Hill and Kris Baucom.

Career
In 2006, McBride played Fred Simmons in the low-budget comedy film The Foot Fist Way, which he co-wrote with collaborators Jody Hill and Ben Best. He appeared in character as Simmons to promote the film on Late Night with Conan O'Brien on February 26, 2008. He wrote and starred in the HBO original comedy series Eastbound & Down (also a collaboration with Hill and Best), as Kenny Powers, a washed up former major league baseball pitcher with anger management issues. The series was produced by Gary Sanchez Productions, and the pilot episode premiered on February 15, 2009, featuring Will Ferrell and Craig Robinson.

On April 8, 2009, HBO announced it had renewed the series for a second season. On July 2, 2012, HBO renewed the series for a fourth season. The series ended on November 17, 2013. In March 2009, because of his role as Powers, he received an offer to play professional baseball for the Pensacola Pelicans, a minor league team in the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball.

In 2010, he signed an endorsement deal with K-Swiss shoes and played the eponymous roadie in the Tenacious D music video for "Roadie" in 2012. McBride starred in the HBO comedy series Vice Principals from 2016 to 2017.

In January 2018, two trailers were released online for what was supposedly a Crocodile Dundee sequel, titled Dundee: The Son of a Legend Returns Home. The film was said to star McBride as Brian Dundee, the son of the original Crocodile Dundee. The trailers also feature cameo appearances by Australian actors Chris Hemsworth, Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, Margot Robbie, and Ruby Rose. From the beginning, various aspects of the campaign made some publications believe that film was an elaborate hoax. It was later reported that these ads were actually part of a lead up to a Super Bowl commercial for Tourism Australia.

McBride and David Gordon Green co-wrote the script for Halloween, the 2018 sequel to Halloween (1978). The film was directed by Green, executive produced by series creator John Carpenter, and produced by Jason Blum.

In late 2018, HBO ordered The Righteous Gemstones, a new show from McBride and his Rough House Pictures label, straight to series. The show, a comedy, is centered on a world-famous televangelist family with a long tradition of deviance, greed and charitable work.

Personal life
McBride has been married to art director Gia Ruiz since October 15, 2010. They have a son and a daughter. He currently lives with his family in Charleston, South Carolina.