Mike MacDonald

Mike MacDonald was a Canadian stand-up comedian and actor.

MacDonald spent several years in various jobs including drive-in restaurant employee, ballroom dance instructor, and teacher's aide for mentally challenged children. Finally, in 1978 at the age of 24, MacDonald began to frequent clubs where he could try his own kind of stand-up comedy.

As his reputation grew, job offers did as well. He began to perform throughout Canada and made frequent forays into the United States.

MacDonald appeared in successful and well received live performances all over North America and appeared on numerous television shows, including Late Night with David Letterman, The Arsenio Hall Show, Just for Laughs, Showtime's Comedy Club All-Star Show, A&E's An Evening at the Improv, and Comedy Central's The A List.

He hosted both the Gemini Awards and the Just For Laughs 10th Anniversary special for the CBC. MacDonald also held the distinction of being the only comedian to perform at each and every Just for Laughs gala show.

MacDonald starred in three well received specials for the CBC in Canada and for Showtime in the United States. His first special, Mike MacDonald: On Target, was the very first one-hour prime time special by a stand-up comic in the history of the CBC.

MacDonald died March 17, 2018, in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. He was 62.