Michael McKean Net Worth

What Is Michael McKean's Net Worth?

Michael McKean is an American actor, writer, comedian, director, producer, and musician who has a net worth of $12 million. Michael McKean is probably best known for starring as Leonard "Lenny" Kosnowski on "Laverne and Shirley" (1976–1983) and Chuck McGill on "Better Call Saul" (2015–2018). Michael was a cast member on "Saturday Night Live" from 1994 to 1995, and he co-wrote and starred in the films "This Is Spinal Tap" (1984) and "The Big Picture" (1989).

McKean has more than 240 acting credits to his name, including the films "Coneheads" (1993), "The Brady Bunch Movie" (1995), "Best in Show" (2000), "A Mighty Wind" (2003), and "For Your Consideration" (2006) and the television series "Grand" (1990), "Dream On" (1991–1996), "Tracey Takes On…" (1996–1999), "The X-Files" (1998–2002), and "Primetime Glick" (2001–2003).

Michael has directed episodes of "Laverne & Shirley," "Dream On," and "Tracey Takes On…," and he wrote and produced "A Spinal Tap Reunion: The 25th Anniversary London Sell-Out" (1992). He has lent his voice to several projects, such as "Small Soldiers" (1998), "Dr. Dolittle 2" (2001), "Batman: The Dark Knight Returns" (2012), "Jungle Cubs" (1996–1998), "101 Dalmatians: The Series" (1997–1998), and "Rugrats" (2021). McKean has also appeared in Broadway productions of "Hairspray" (2004), "The Pajama Game" (2006), "The Homecoming" (2007–2008), "Superior Donuts" (2009–2010), "The Best Man" (2012), "All the Way" (2014), and "The Little Foxes" (2017).

Early Life

Michael McKean was born Michael John McKean on October 17, 1947, in New York City. His mother, Ruth, worked as a librarian, while his father, Gilbert McKean, co-founded Decca Records, one of the most influential record labels of the mid-20th century. Surrounded by books, music, and creative influences, Michael developed a deep appreciation for performance and storytelling at an early age. He grew up on Long Island with an older sister and a younger brother and attended North Shore High School, where he was active in theater and music.

After graduating in 1965, McKean enrolled at Carnegie Mellon University, where he met fellow student David Lander. Together, the two created the comedic characters Lenny and Squiggy, who would later bring them national fame. McKean earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Carnegie Mellon before going on to complete a Master of Fine Arts at New York University.

In the late 1960s, McKean briefly joined the baroque-pop band The Left Banke, known for its hit "Walk Away Renée." He contributed guitar and vocals on the 1967 single "Ivy, Ivy" backed with "And Suddenly," before leaving to pursue acting full-time.

Early Career and "Laverne & Shirley"

McKean's breakthrough came in 1976 when he was cast as Lenny Kosnowski on the ABC sitcom "Laverne & Shirley," opposite David Lander as his sidekick, Squiggy. The duo's infectious chemistry and absurd humor made them fan favorites, and McKean appeared in more than 140 episodes during the show's eight-year run. He also wrote and directed several episodes and released the novelty album *Lenny and the Squigtones* in 1979, parodying 1950s rock and roll.

While working on "Laverne & Shirley," McKean began landing film roles, appearing in Steven Spielberg's "1941" (1979), Robert Zemeckis's "Used Cars" (1980), and the hospital comedy "Young Doctors in Love" (1982). These early performances showcased his ability to move between broad comedy and subtle character work—skills that would define his later career.

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"This Is Spinal Tap" and Film Success

In 1984, McKean co-wrote and starred in Rob Reiner's mockumentary "This Is Spinal Tap," playing lead singer and guitarist David St. Hubbins. Alongside Christopher Guest and Harry Shearer, McKean helped create not only a film but a fully realized fictional band that lived on through albums, tours, and television appearances. The movie became one of the most influential comedies of all time and earned preservation in the Library of Congress' National Film Registry.

Following Spinal Tap, McKean appeared in a string of popular 1980s films, including "Clue" (1985), "Planes, Trains and Automobiles" (1987), "Short Circuit 2" (1988), and "Earth Girls Are Easy" (1989). In 1989, he co-wrote and starred in "The Big Picture," a Hollywood satire directed by Christopher Guest.

1990s Work and "Saturday Night Live"

Throughout the 1990s, McKean remained one of Hollywood's most dependable character actors, appearing in more than two dozen films such as "True Identity" (1991), "Memoirs of an Invisible Man" (1992), "Airheads" (1994), "That Darn Cat" (1997), "Teaching Mrs. Tingle" (1999), and "Mystery, Alaska" (1999).

In 1994, at age 46, he became the oldest person ever to join the cast of "Saturday Night Live" at the time—a record later surpassed by Leslie Jones. Though he spent just one season on the show, McKean brought seasoned comic timing to sketches that often leaned on his musical and improvisational background.

During the same period, he played Gibby Fiske on HBO's "Dream On" (1991–1996) and recurred as the mysterious government agent Morris Fletcher on "The X-Files" (1998–2002), reprising the role on the spin-off "The Lone Gunmen."

Collaboration with Christopher Guest

McKean reunited with Christopher Guest for a celebrated run of mockumentary comedies that showcased his improvisational brilliance. He played dog-show enthusiast Stefan Vanderhoof in "Best in Show" (2000), folk singer Jerry Palter in "A Mighty Wind" (2003), and aging actor Lane Iverson in "For Your Consideration" (2006). These films cemented McKean's reputation as a master of understated, character-driven comedy.

During this period, he also appeared in "Beautiful" (2000), "Little Nicky" (2000), "My First Mister" (2001), "Auto Focus" (2002), and Mel Brooks's remake of "The Producers" (2005). He portrayed silent-film pioneer William Christy Cabanne in HBO's "And Starring Pancho Villa as Himself" (2003) and appeared on Martin Short's "Primetime Glick" as talk-show producer Adrien Van Voorhees.

Later Career and Dramatic Roles

In the 2010s, McKean proved his range extended far beyond comedy. He earned widespread acclaim for his dramatic performance as Chuck McGill, the brilliant but tormented older brother of Jimmy McGill, in AMC's "Better Call Saul." His portrayal became one of the most praised elements of the series, earning multiple award nominations and deepening his legacy as both a comedic and dramatic actor.

He also appeared in "The Words" (2012), "The Meddler" (2015), and "Pink Skies Ahead" (2020), and hosted the Cooking Channel's trivia show "Food: Fact or Fiction?" beginning in 2015. In 2019, he played Witchfinder Sgt. Shadwell in the Amazon Prime/BBC Studios fantasy miniseries "Good Omens," reuniting him with co-star David Tennant.

On television, McKean continued to appear in popular series such as "Grace and Frankie" (2020) and "Breeders" (2020), while maintaining steady work in independent films like "Playing God" (2021).

Music and Stage Work

A lifelong musician, McKean has performed with Spinal Tap on tour and contributed original songs to several of Christopher Guest's films. He has also worked in theater, appearing on Broadway in productions such as "The Homecoming" (2008) and "The Best Man" (2012), and earned a Tony nomination in 2018 for his role in "The Little Foxes."

Spinal Tap Royalties Lawsuit

In 2016, Rob Reiner, Michael McKean, Christopher Guest, and Harry Shearer joined forces in a legal battle against Vivendi, the French media conglomerate that owned the rights to "This Is Spinal Tap" through its subsidiaries StudioCanal and Universal Music Group. The four creators alleged that Vivendi had engaged in fraudulent accounting practices that deprived them of millions in profits from the film's enduring success in home video, music, and merchandising. Despite the film's cult popularity and steady revenue over decades, the creators claimed they had received only $179 in total royalties by 2013. The lawsuit sought up to $400 million in damages and accused Vivendi of deliberately concealing profits through "straight-lining," a process that blended earnings from profitable films with less successful ones to obscure true returns.

Timeline of Key Events:

• 2016: Harry Shearer files the initial suit against Vivendi and StudioCanal.
• 2017: Rob Reiner, Michael McKean, and Christopher Guest join the lawsuit, escalating it into a full-scale fight over creative rights and royalties.
• 2018: A federal judge allows core fraud and contract claims to proceed.
• 2019: The group reaches a settlement with Universal Music Group over soundtrack rights, ensuring the music rights would eventually revert to the creators.
• 2020: The parties reach a broader settlement with Vivendi and StudioCanal, restructuring their relationship and resolving all outstanding claims.
• 2021: The creators establish Authorized Spinal Tap LLC, giving them direct control over the film's trademarks, characters, and future licensing.

The financial terms were never publicly disclosed, but the settlement marked a major victory for the "Spinal Tap" team, restoring creative control and transparency after decades of disputed royalties.

In September 2025, Rob, Michael, Christopher, and Harry reunited for "Spinal Tap II: The End Continues."

Personal Life

Michael married Susan Russell on October 10, 1970, and they welcomed sons Fletcher and Colin before divorcing in 1993. Sadly, Colin passed away in 2012 of a suspected drug overdose. McKean wed actress Annette O'Toole on March 20, 1999, and he is stepfather to  Anna and Nell, O'Toole's daughters from her marriage to Bill Geisslinger. Michael and Annette co-wrote three songs for "A Mighty Wind," and they have appeared together in projects such as "Smallville" (2003; 2010), "Law & Order" (2000), "Boy Meets World" (1999), and "Final Justice" (1998). In May 2012, McKean was hit by a car while walking on a New York City sidewalk. He suffered a broken leg and spent a week at St. Luke's Hospital before being transferred to Roosevelt Hospital for rehabilitation.

Awards and Nominations

In 2004, McKean earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Music, Original Song for "A Kiss at the End of the Rainbow" from "A Mighty Wind" (shared with Annette O'Toole); the song also won a Gold Derby Award and received nominations from the Online Film & Television Association and Satellite Awards. He received a Primetime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series for "Better Call Saul" in 2019, and the series also earned him a Saturn Award (from the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films), Online Film & Television Association Award, and a Satellite Award as well as nominations from the Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards, Critics Choice Television Awards, Gold Derby Awards, and International Online Cinema Awards. Michael, Christopher Guest, and Eugene Levy won a Grammy for Best Song Written for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media for "A Mighty Wind" in 2004, and Spinal Tap received a Best Comedy Album nomination for "Back From the Dead" in 2010. He received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2005 Newport International Film Festival, and "A Mighty Wind" won a Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Song (for the title track), a Seattle Film Critics Award for Best Music, and a Florida Film Critics Circle Award for Best Ensemble Cast.

In 2001, McKean, Christopher Guest, and Harry Shearer won a DVD Exclusive Award for Best DVD Audio Commentary for "This Is Spinal Tap," and in 2007, Michael was nominated for the "Who Knew They Could Sing?" Award at the TV Land Awards. He has earned three CableACE Award nominations for Actor in a Comedy Series, two for "Dream On" (1994 and 1996) and one for "Sessions" (1993). McKean and his "For Your Consideration" castmates received a Gotham Independent Film Award nomination for Best Ensemble Performance in 2006, and "A Mighty Wind" earned a Best Music nomination at the 2004 Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards. Michael has earned Behind the Voice Actors Award nominations for Best Vocal Ensemble in a TV Special/Direct-to-DVD Title or Short for "Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1" (2013) and "Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 2″ (2014) and Best Vocal Ensemble in a Television Series – Action/Drama for Thundercats" (2013).

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