David Michael Koechner
(
KEK
-n?r
;
[2]
born August 24, 1962) is an American actor and comedian. He is best known for playing roles such as Champ Kind in the
Anchorman
films and Todd Packer on
The Office
series.
David Koechner
|
---|
Koechner in 2013
|
Born
| David Michael Koechner
(
1962-08-24
)
August 24, 1962
(age?61)
|
---|
Occupation(s)
| Actor, comedian
|
---|
Years?active
| 1986?present
[1]
|
---|
Spouse
|
Leigh Koechner
?
?
(
m.
?1998;
sep.
?2020)
?
|
---|
Children
| 5
|
---|
Koechner first became involved in performing when he began studying improvisational comedy in
Chicago
at
ImprovOlympic
, before joining the
Second City Northwest
. Koechner relocated to
New York City
in 1995, doing year long stints of
sketch comedy
as a cast member on
Saturday Night Live
(1995?1996) and as a sketch regular on
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
in the mid-1990s. In 1997, Koechner moved to
Los Angeles
and started working regularly in various film and television comedies, making his first film appearances with small roles in the films such as
Wag the Dog
,
Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me
, and
Man on the Moon
.
While filming the country
mockumentary
film
Dill Scallion
in 1998, Koechner befriended actor/comedian
Dave 'Gruber' Allen
, and eventually began performing as the comedy duo,
The Naked Trucker & T-Bones Show
, a live musical comedy act. The act became a hit at Hollywood clubs such as
Largo
, and Allen and Koechner were invited to open for
Tenacious D
. In 2007, Koechner and Allen created and starred together in a
Naked Trucker & T-Bones Show
sketch comedy
series that ran for one season on
Comedy Central
.
After his breakout role as
Champ Kind
in the 2004 comedy
Anchorman
, Koechner began appearing frequently with larger supporting roles in many high-profile comedic films including
Talladega Nights
,
Thank You for Smoking
,
Waiting...
,
Semi-Pro
,
The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard
, and
Extract
. His first leading film role, as Coach Lambeau Fields in sports comedy,
The Comebacks
opened on October 19, 2007. More recently, Koechner reprised his role of
Champ Kind
for
Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues
, co-starred in the horror-comedy
Krampus
, and received praise from critics for his dark turn in the 2014
black comedy
Cheap Thrills
. He co-starred in the sitcoms
Bless This Mess
and
Superior Donuts
and recurred on
Another Period
and on the reboot of
Twin Peaks
. He makes regular appearances on the sitcom
The Goldbergs
and provides the voices of Dick Reynolds on
American Dad!
.
Early career
edit
In 1995, Koechner landed a year-long stint on
Saturday Night Live
, joining the show with
Second City
friends
Nancy Walls
and
Adam McKay
.
[8]
During his time at SNL, he befriended guest-writer
David 'Gruber' Allen
, and castmate
Will Ferrell
. Some of Koechner's recurring skits included
Bill Brasky
, the British Fops (playing Fagan, opposite
Mark McKinney
), Gary Macdonald (the fictional younger brother of Weekend Update anchor/SNL castmember
Norm Macdonald
, based on "Jokey", a character he originated at
Second City
), Will Ferrell's "Get Off the Shed" sketches (playing his neighbor, Tom Taylor), and
Gerald "T-Bones" Tibbons
. Koechner impersonated several celebrities, including
Christian Elliott
,
Mike Ditka
,
Charlie Sheen
,
Robert Shapiro
,
Willard Scott
,
Oliver Stone
,
Phil Gramm
,
David Kaczynski
, and
Pat Buchanan
. After his one-season on SNL, Koechner joined the 1996?97 sketch cast of
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
.
Partnership with David "Gruber" Allen
edit
On the set of the 1999 country music mockumentary,
Dill Scallion
, Koechner struck a partnership with
SNL
colleague
David "Gruber" Allen
, joining Allen's
improvisational comedy
act,
The Naked Trucker Show
.
[9]
Koechner joined the act as Gerald "T-Bones" Tibbons, a character he had been playing on comedy stages for a few years, including a recurring character bit on SNL. Gerald Tibbons dates back to 1995, when he filmed a short television pilot based on the character's misadventures.
[10]
The "Gerald" character, based on a real drifter named Four-Way George, became so popular that Koechner would go to auditions, only to find that directors were always demanding his stage persona.
[11]
[12]
The stage act, a mix of stand-up comedy and off-color country songs, became a hit on the Hollywood improv circuit, ultimately landing television performances on
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
,
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
and
Real Time with Bill Maher
.
The Naked Trucker and T-Bones Show
toured with fellow comedic musical duo,
Tenacious D
.
[13]
2004?2006
edit
In 2004, Koechner landed his largest film role up to that point, as sports reporter Champ Kind in
Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy
. As part of the
Anchorman
ensemble, Koechner shared two
MTV Movie Award
nominations for
Best On-Screen Team
and
Best Musical Performance
. MTV's initial press release accidentally listed
Fred Armisen
instead of David Koechner, but eventually corrected the error on their website, crediting Koechner during the broadcast.
[14]
[15]
Following this role, he landed small and supporting roles in such films such
The 40-Year-Old Virgin
,
Talladega Nights
,
The Dukes of Hazzard
and
Snakes on a Plane
. In 2006, he made his voice acting debut in
Barnyard
as "Dag". That same year, he had a supporting role as a gun lobbyist in the critically acclaimed satire,
Thank You for Smoking
.
Thank You for Smoking
was one of the best-reviewed films of Koechner's career, and he was included in
Fox Searchlight
's
Oscar campaign
, among the film's listings for Best Supporting Actor.
[16]
After co-starring in
Anchorman
and
The 40-Year-Old Virgin
, fellow Second City alum
Steve Carell
personally recommended Koechner for a recurring role on
NBC
's
The Office
, playing
Todd Packer
.
[17]
Koechner's role is the American version of
Chris Finch
from the
original
. Packer is an obnoxious, alcoholic best friend of
Carell's character
. Koechner guest-starred, both in person and voice, on fifteen episodes of the series. His frequent work with actors Ferrell, Carell,
Jack Black
, and
Ben Stiller
have led some critics and journalists to point out his association with the media-dubbed "
Frat Pack
". David had a guest starring role as Uncle Earl in an episode on
Hannah Montana
.
[18]
[19]
[20]
2007?present
edit
In 2007, Koechner was seen in his first leading role in
The Comebacks
(which opened on October 19), the first comedy to be released under
Fox Searchlight
's
Fox Atomic
division.
[21]
He played a college football coach with the worst record in the history of the sport who vows to turn things around with his new team of ragtag recruits. He described this career opportunity as the "first lead for the right-hander."
[9]
Veteran actor
Carl Weathers
played Koechner's rival coach. Though Koechner, who usually writes and improvises his material, had no involvement with the screenplay, he complimented director
Tom Brady
for taking "great care to make it as smart as he could", adding that it is a sports comedy rather than a spoof.
[9]
On January 17, 2007,
Comedy Central
premiered
The Naked Trucker and T-Bones Show
, a sketch comedy series starring Koechner (as T-Bones) and longtime performing partner
Dave "Gruber" Allen
(as The Naked Trucker). The duo performs their unique brand of off-color songs and introduces pre-taped skits. Many of Koechner's past co-stars made
cameos
, including Will Ferrell,
Jack Black
, Steve Carell,
Andy Richter
,
Dax Shepard
, and
Paul Rudd
. The pre-taped skits gave Koechner more screen time than Allen, often letting him showcase his comedic charisma alongside guest stars like Richter and Shepard. Comedy Central ordered eight episodes.
[22]
In the eight years Koechner & Allen have been playing these characters, there have been several attempts to bring the act to television, but they had trouble figuring how to translate it into a series.
[11]
Koechner & Allen's first album,
Naked Trucker and T-Bones Live at the Troubador
, was released March 20, 2007.
[23]
Koechner co-starred with
Luke Wilson
in the 2009 indie-comedy
Tenure
and was a lead in the 2012 horror film
Piranha 3DD
. Koechner returned as
Champ Kind
, in
Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues
(2013).
[
citation needed
]
Following the release of
Live at the Troubador
, Koechner revealed that a T-Bones film is in development with Will Ferrell and
Adam McKay
's
Gary Sanchez Productions
.
[24]
Koechner wrote the script with veteran television writer/producer
Norm Hiscock
, who also wrote for
The Naked Trucker and T-Bones Show
, in addition to past work on
Saturday Night Live
,
The Kids in the Hall
, and
King of the Hill
. He made his first return guest appearance to
Saturday Night Live
on December 7, 2013, with his fellow
Anchorman
co-stars
Will Ferrell
,
Steve Carell
, and the episode's host,
Paul Rudd
. The
Anchorman
stars sang "
Afternoon Delight
" with the episode's musical guest
One Direction
during the opening monologue. Koechner and Ferrell also reprised their
Bill Brasky
sketch in the same episode.
In 2015, Koechner began co-starring as Commodore Bellacourt in the
Comedy Central
series
Another Period
. He also recurs as Bill Lewis on
The Goldbergs
.
In a contrast to his largely comedy-based acting career, Koechner starred in the 2016 drama
Priceless
, a film about
human trafficking
. He said of the role, "My wife and I have five kids ? three of them are daughters. So, just to imagine the horror of any young lady having to go through this. This film is based on true events. It's happening right now. It's happening in Chicago. It's happening here in Los Angeles. It's happening globally. So, to be a participant in a film like this ? to bring awareness to such a horror ? makes me happy."
[25]
Koechner lives in
Los Angeles
and is separated from his wife Leigh. They have five children.
[26]
Koechner has the names of his wife and children tattooed on his right upper-arm.
[27]
In 2020, Koechner filed for divorce.
[28]
Koechner performs regularly in Los Angeles comedy clubs such as Flappers Comedy Club, Improv Olympic, West Theater (in the show
Beer Shark Mice)
, and
Largo
, the nightclub where the Naked Trucker Show plays regularly. Koechner supported the 2004 US presidential campaign of Senator
John Kerry
, performing at a June 6, 2004, Hollywood fundraiser for the senator, where
The Naked Trucker & T-Bones
opened up for
Tenacious D
.
[29]
On December 31, 2021, Koechner was arrested on New Year's Eve for a suspected DUI and hit and run in
Simi Valley, California
. A court date was set for March 30 in
Ventura, California
.
[30]
On March 31, he was charged with a DUI and hit and run and may face up to six months in jail for each misdemeanor charge, probation, and required to take an alcohol education course.
On June 4, 2022, Koechner was arrested for DUI in Ohio, his second DUI arrest in under six months.
[31]
He soon began to speak publicly about his alcoholism and has pursued sobriety.