Adam McKay
{{short description|American filmmaker (born 1968)}}
{{Use American English|date=July 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2019}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Adam McKay
| image = Adam McKay-7784 (cropped).jpg
| caption = McKay in 2019
| alt =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1968|4|17}}
| birth_place = Denver, Colorado, U.S.
| education = Penn State University
Temple University
| occupation = {{hlist|Screenwriter|director|producer}}
| years_active = 1986–present
| organization = Hyperobject Industries
| spouse = {{marriage|Shira Piven|1999}}
| awards = List of awards and nominations
| children = 2
| relatives = Jeremy Piven (brother-in-law)
}}
Adam McKay (born April 17, 1968) is an American screenwriter, producer, and director. McKay began his career as a head writer for the NBC sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live (SNL) from 1995 to 2001. After leaving SNL, McKay co-wrote with comedian Will Ferrell on his comedy films Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004), Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby (2006), and The Other Guys (2010). Ferrell and McKay later co-wrote and co-produced many television series and films, with McKay himself co-producing their website Funny or Die through their company, Gary Sanchez Productions.
McKay began venturing into more dramatic territory in the 2010s. He wrote and directed the satirical films The Big Short (2015), Vice (2018), and Don't Look Up (2021). McKay won an Academy Award, a BAFTA, and a Critics' Choice Award for adapting the screenplay of The Big Short.{{Cite web|title=WGA Awards: Adam McKay to Receive Paul Selvin Award|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/adam-mckay-be-honored-by-wgaw-paul-selvin-award-1181715|access-date=2020-08-02|website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=January 31, 2019|language=en}}{{Cite web|last=McNary|first=Dave|date=2016-02-29|title=Oscars: 'The Big Short's' Adam McKay Blasts Candidates Taking Money From Banks|url=https://variety.com/2016/film/awards/the-big-short-oscars-2016-adapted-screenplay-adam-mckay-1201717504/|access-date=2020-08-02|website=Variety|language=en}}{{Cite web|date=2016-01-06|title=Adapted Screenplay - The Big Short|url=http://www.bafta.org/film/adapted-screenplay|access-date=2020-08-02|website=bafta.org|language=en}} In 2019, McKay founded the production company Hyperobject Industries.
Early life and education
McKay was born in Denver, Colorado, and raised in Worcester, Massachusetts{{cite web |last1=Semon |first1=Craig |title=Welcome home: Adam McKay, director of Netflix's 'Don't Look Up,' grew up in Worcester |url=https://www.telegram.com/story/news/good-news/2020/12/02/adam-mckay-director-netflixs-dont-look-up-grew-up-worcester/3793288001 |website=Worcester Telegram |access-date=October 6, 2021 |language=english |date=December 2, 2020}} and later Malvern, Pennsylvania{{cite web |last1=Santoliquito |first1=Joseph |title=How Adam McKay went from Temple dropout to Oscar nominee |url=https://www.phillyvoice.com/adam-mckay-the-big-short-went-from-temple-dropout-to-oscar-nominee |website=PhillyVoice |access-date=September 17, 2021 |language=english |date=February 26, 2016}} by his mother, Sarah, a waitress, and his father, a musician.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/01/movies/01mckay.html|title=Men in Blue, Under Arrested Adolescence|date=August 1, 2010|work=The New York Times|access-date=September 14, 2016}}{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/article/2010/12/13/the-other-guys-mothers-mom-entry/|title='The Other Guys' mothers take over in special Mom-entary|magazine=Entertainment Weekly}} When McKay was seven his parents divorced. He attended Great Valley High School in Malvern, where he graduated in 1986. He then attended Penn State University for a year prior to transferring to Temple University, where he majored in English. McKay dropped out of Temple a semester-and-a-half before he was set to earn his bachelor's degree. He described it as "settling with an imaginary degree".{{cite news|last=Maehrer|first=Avery|title=Anchorman director Adam McKay reflects on Philly past|url=http://temple-news.com/arts/anchorman-director-adam-mckay-reflects-philly-past/|access-date=March 18, 2014|newspaper=The Temple News|date=December 12, 2013}}
Career
McKay studied under Del Close at The Second City and then joined The Second City Touring Company. He performed in one revue as a member of the Second City e.t.c. company and filled in on the Mainstage in the 79th Review before moving fully to the Mainstage for Second City’s 80th revue, Piñata Full of Bees. The landmark show also featured Jon Glaser, Rachel Dratch, and Scott Adsit.{{cite web | url=https://www.secondcity.com/people/adam-mckay | title=Adam McKay - the Second City }}
McKay is one of the founding members of the Upright Citizens Brigade improv comedy group and a former performer at Chicago's ImprovOlympic, where he was a member of the improv group, The Family, whose members included Matt Besser, Ian Roberts, Neil Flynn, Miles Stroth, and Ali Farahnakian, as well as Child's Play Touring Theatre.
=''Saturday Night Live''=
File:Adam McKay (cropped).jpg in June 2015]]
McKay originally auditioned for Saturday Night Live to be an onscreen performer, but did not make the cut. However, the scripts he submitted earned him a job as a writer in 1995. Within a year, McKay became head writer at age 28, a position he held until 1999.{{cite news |last1=Weiner |first1=Jonah |title=Why the Director of 'Anchorman' Decided to Take On Dick Cheney |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/29/magazine/adam-mckay-dick-cheney-vice.html |access-date=4 May 2020 |work=The New York Times |date=29 November 2018}} He also directed a number of short films for the show, including the original SNL Digital Shorts.{{cite book |last1=Hutton |first1=Ryan |title=Will Ferrell - Staying Classy: The Biography |date=24 April 2015 |publisher=Kings Road Publishing |chapter=Chapter 9: I'm Kinda a Big Deal |isbn=978-1-78418-036-2}} McKay encouraged his Second City friend Tina Fey to submit some of her scripts to Saturday Night Live, and she later succeeded him as head writer.{{cite book |last1=Schofner |first1=Melissa Rae |last2=Friedman |first2=Lauri S. |title=Tina Fey: Queen of Comedy |date=2016 |publisher=Greenhaven Publishing, LLC |isbn=978-1-5345-6034-5 |page=26}} Though McKay was never an actual SNL cast member, he did make several on-camera appearances over the years and had a recurring role as an obnoxious audience member "Keith" who would often shout insults at the celebrity hosts during their opening monologue.{{cite web |title=Adam McKay |url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0570912/ |publisher=IMDb |access-date=5 May 2020}} Despite no longer being head writer, McKay would remain at SNL as a regular writer until 2001, where he would depart from the series, after six years. In his final two years of tenure at SNL, he requested and earned a credit as “Coordinator of Falconry”, an honorific credit.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhoxTpf8uPU&feature=youtu.be |title=Adam McKay Got Lorne Michaels to Make Him SNL's Falcon Coordinator |date=2021-04-23 |last=Late Night with Seth Meyers |access-date=2025-04-05 |via=YouTube}}
Shortly after leaving SNL, McKay teamed up with comedian Will Ferrell to form production company Gary Sanchez Productions and write the comedy films Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004), Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby (2006), Step Brothers (2008), and The Other Guys (2010), all of which he also directed, produced and made cameo appearances in as an actor. Ferrell and McKay co-produced the HBO series Eastbound & Down.{{cite web|last=Hotz |first=Amy |url=http://www.starnewsonline.com/article/20081021/ARTICLES/810210253 |title=StarNewsOnline.com |publisher=StarNewsOnline.com |date=October 21, 2008 |access-date=May 16, 2013}}
McKay was one of the writers for the film The Campaign (2012), and produced the film Daddy's Home (2015), the latter of which reunited The Other Guys stars Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg, and was directed by Sean Anders. McKay also rewrote the script for the Marvel Studios feature film Ant-Man, directed by Peyton Reed; McKay had initially been in talks to direct the film following Edgar Wright's departure, but opted not to out of respect for Wright.{{cite news |last1=Gajewski |first1=Ryan |title=Adam McKay Reveals the Changes He Made to 'Ant-Man' Script |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/adam-mckay-reveals-changes-he-741980 |access-date=5 May 2020 |work=The Hollywood Reporter |date=19 October 2014}}{{Cite web|last=Oldham|first=Stuart|date=May 31, 2014|url=https://variety.com/2014/film/news/adam-mckay-to-replace-edgar-wright-as-ant-man-director-1201199467/|title='Ant-Man': Adam McKay No Longer In Talks To Replace Director Edgar Wright|access-date=May 4, 2023|magazine=Variety|publisher=Penske Media Corporation}} McKay also worked with Reed, Paul Rudd, Gabriel Ferrari & Andrew Barrer on Ant-Man and the Wasp to flesh out the story.{{cite web|last=Perry|first=Spencer|url=https://www.comingsoon.net/movies/news/675955-peyton-reed-ant-man-and-the-wasp-will-feature-things-never-seen-in-a-movie-before#/slide/1|title=Peyton Reed: Ant-Man and the Wasp Will Feature Things 'Never Seen in a Movie Before'|date=April 12, 2016|work=ComingSoon|access-date=October 16, 2018}} He has also expressed interest in helming a Silver Surfer movie for Marvel Studios.{{cite web|last=Davids|first=Brian|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/silver-surfer-movie-adam-mckay-wants-direct-1171299|title='Vice' Director Adam McKay Is Interested in a 'Silver Surfer' Movie|website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=20 December 2018}}
Films and television
He produced the films Land of the Lost (2009), The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard (2009), The Virginity Hit (2010), Casa de Mi Padre (2012), Bachelorette (2012), Tim and Eric's Billion Dollar Movie (2012), The Campaign (2012), Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters (2013), Tammy (2014), Welcome to Me (2014), Get Hard (2015), Sleeping with Other People (2015), Daddy's Home (2015), and The Boss (2016).
In addition to Eastbound & Down, McKay has produced the television series Big Lake and Succession, whose pilot he directed, and the miniseries The Spoils of Babylon, and The Chris Gethard Show.
In April 2019, McKay and Ferrell announced that they were separating as producing partners but would continue producing all projects currently in development or in production at Gary Sanchez Productions.{{cite news |last1=McNary |first1=Dave |title=Will Ferrell, Adam McKay to End Production Partnership |url=https://variety.com/2019/film/news/will-ferrell-adam-mckay-cease-production-partnership-1203182411/ |access-date=5 May 2020 |work=Variety |date=6 April 2019}} It was later revealed the reason for the split was because McKay cast John C. Reilly as Jerry Buss on the show Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty, a role that Ferrell had coveted, without informing him.{{cite web|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2021/11/who-the-fuck-cares-about-adam-mckay|url-access=limited|title='Who the Fuck Cares About Adam McKay?' (We Do, and With Good Reason)|date=November 29, 2021|first=Joe|last=Hagan|website=Vanity Fair|access-date=March 14, 2022|archive-date=November 29, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221129184004/https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2021/11/who-the-fuck-cares-about-adam-mckay|url-status=live}}
=Hyperobject Industries=
In 2019, McKay launched a new production company, Hyperobject Industries, which has a first look overall television deal with HBO and had a first-look feature deal at Paramount Pictures. Hyperobject Industries' first television project was an HBO pilot based on Jeff Pearlman's non-fiction book Showtime: Magic, Kareem, Riley and the Los Angeles Lakers Dynasty of the 1980s. McKay directed the pilot.{{cite news |last1=Petski |first1=Denise |title=Adam McKay's L.A. Lakers Project Gets Series Order At HBO |url=https://deadline.com/2019/12/adam-mckay-la-lakers-project-series-order-hbo-max-borenstein-1202802586/ |access-date=8 May 2020 |publisher=Deadline |date=6 December 2019}}{{cite news |last1=Welk |first1=Brian |title=Adam McKay and Hyperobject Industries Sign First Look Deal With Paramount |url=https://www.thewrap.com/adam-mckay-and-hyperobject-industries-sign-first-look-deal-with-paramount/ |access-date=8 May 2020 |publisher=The Wrap |date=8 November 2019}} More recently, McKay's Hyperobject Industries has a first look deal with Apple.{{Cite web|last=Fleming|first=Mike Jr.|date=2021-07-15|title=Apple Sets Adam McKay's Hyperobject Industries In Multi-Year First Look Movie Deal|url=https://deadline.com/2021/07/adam-mckay-apple-hyperobject-industries-multi-year-first-look-movie-deal-1234793647/|access-date=2021-07-18|website=Deadline|language=en-US}}
=Directing=
File:Adam McKay (11024254826).jpg in November 2013]]
McKay has directed, and co-written with Will Ferrell, the films Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004), Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby (2006), Step Brothers (2008), The Other Guys (2010), and Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues (2013). He has directed an "alternate film" about Ron Burgundy that is considered a companion to Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004) entitled Wake Up, Ron Burgundy: The Lost Movie (2004), which is made up mostly of alternative takes, deleted scenes, and scrapped sub-plots from the original film strung together with a narrative.
McKay directed and co-wrote with Ferrell the George W. Bush Broadway show You're Welcome America. He produced the horror-action film Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters.[https://www.bloody-disgusting.com/news/20058 "'Twilight' Stars Offered Roles in 'Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters'], Bloody-Disgusting.com
McKay directed the TV movie documentary Lifecasters (2013). He has directed a number of short films, including digital shorts for Saturday Night Live, and the short video "Good Cop, Baby Cop" for Funny or Die that stars his daughter Pearl. Among the other short films he has directed include The Procedure (2007) starring Will Ferrell, Willem Dafoe, and Andy Richter, Green Team (2008) starring Ferrell, John C. Reilly, and himself, and the K-Swiss commercial, Kenny Powers: The K-Swiss MFCEO (2011), starring Danny McBride as Kenny Powers from Eastbound & Down, which he co-produces with Ferrell and has also directed an episode of.
He directed and wrote the film adaptation of the Michael Lewis non-fiction book The Big Short, about the 2008 financial crisis,{{cite news |last1=Lam |first1=Bourree |last2=White |first2=Gillian B. |title=Learning Finance via The Big Short |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2015/12/finance-big-short/420903/ |access-date=5 May 2020 |work=The Atlantic |date=17 December 2015}} and the build-up of the financial and credit bubble. The film opened in limited release on December 11, 2015, expanded to wide release on December 23, 2015; the film starred Brad Pitt, Christian Bale, Ryan Gosling, and Steve Carell. He received a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Director and the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for his work in the film, winning his first Academy Award in the latter category. In 2016, he and co-writer Charles Randolph received the USC Scripter Award for their screenplay.
In 2016, he became attached to the superhero film Irredeemable based on the comic of the same name by Mark Waid.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2016/05/irredeemable-movie-adam-mckay-tommy-wirkola-boom-studios-fox-1201749508/|title=20th Century Fox Taps BOOM! Superhero Tale 'Irredeemable'; Adam McKay Helms, Tommy Wirkola Scripting|last=Fleming| first=Mike Jr. |date=May 5, 2016|access-date=September 14, 2016}}
In November 2016, McKay began development of the biographical black comedy Backseat, about former U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney and his rise to power, though the title was eventually changed to Vice.{{cite news |first=Mike Jr.|last=Fleming|url=https://deadline.com/2016/11/adam-mckay-dick-cheney-movie-vice-president-george-w-bush-the-big-short-paramount-pictures-1201858665|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161122213513/http://deadline.com/2016/11/adam-mckay-dick-cheney-movie-vice-president-george-w-bush-the-big-short-paramount-pictures-1201858665/|archive-date=November 22, 2016|title=Adam McKay To Direct Dick Cheney Movie At Paramount|website=Deadline Hollywood |location=Los Angeles, California|date=November 22, 2016|access-date=November 23, 2016}}{{cite web|first=Anthony|last=D'Alessandro |url=https://deadline.com/2018/09/adam-mckays-dick-cheney-project-now-titled-vice-1202473025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180928204454/https://deadline.com/2018/09/adam-mckays-dick-cheney-project-now-titled-vice-1202473025/|archive-date=September 28, 2018|title=Adam McKay's Dick Cheney Project Now Titled 'Vice'; Will Go Wide On Christmas Day|website=Deadline Hollywood|location=Los Angeles, California|date=September 28, 2018|access-date=September 28, 2018}} Starring Christian Bale as Cheney, the film was released in the United States on December 25, 2018, by Annapurna Pictures. Despite polarized reviews,{{cite web|first=Nate|last=Nickolai|date=December 17, 2018|title='Vice' Reviews: What the Critics Are Saying|url=https://variety.com/2018/film/news/vice-reviews-critics-christian-bale-adam-mckay-1203091272|magazine=Variety|location=New York City|access-date=December 17, 2018}} Vice received eight nominations at the 91st Academy Awards, including the Best Picture and McKay's second nomination for Best Director, and won for Best Make-Up and Hairstyling.{{cite web|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2019/01/22/entertainment/oscar-nominations-2019/index.html|title=Oscars 2019: See who's nominated|date=January 22, 2019|access-date=January 22, 2019|publisher=CNN|first=Lisa Respers|last=France}}
In 2020, McKay began working on the satirical black comedy Don't Look Up, about two low level scientists trying to convince the world that a catastrophic comet is coming. McKay wrote the script and produced the film for Netflix. Jennifer Lawrence, Leonardo DiCaprio, Jonah Hill, Rob Morgan, Tyler Perry, Meryl Streep, and Cate Blanchett star in the film.{{Cite web|title=Jennifer Lawrence to Star in Adam McKay Comedy 'Don't Look Up'|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/jennifer-lawrence-star-adam-mckay-comedy-dont-look-up-1279841|website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=February 19, 2020|language=en|access-date=2020-05-19}}{{Cite web|title=Cate Blanchett Joins James Gray, Adam McKay's Next Films (EXCLUSIVE)|url=https://variety.com/2020/film/news/cate-blanchett-james-gray-adam-mckay-1234603499/|website=Variety|date=May 11, 2020|language=en|access-date=May 11, 2020}}{{cite web|last=Kroll|first=Justin|url=https://deadline.com/2020/10/netflix-adam-mckay-jennifer-lawrence-dont-look-up-leonardo-dicaprio-meryl-streep-jonah-hill-timothee-chalamet-ariana-grande-among-others-to-join-ensemble-1234596652/|title=Leonardo DiCaprio, Meryl Streep, Jonah Hill, Timothée Chalamet, Ariana Grande, Cate Blanchett, Others Join Jennifer Lawrence In Netflix's 'Don't Look Up' For Adam McKay|access-date=December 7, 2021|date=October 14, 2020|work=Deadline Hollywood|archive-date=October 14, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201014200533/https://deadline.com/2020/10/netflix-adam-mckay-jennifer-lawrence-dont-look-up-leonardo-dicaprio-meryl-streep-jonah-hill-timothee-chalamet-ariana-grande-among-others-to-join-ensemble-1234596652/|url-status=live}} It received a limited theatrical release in December 2021, before streaming on Netflix later in the month.{{cite web|title=Netflix Reveals Premiere Dates for Adam McKay's 'Don't Look Up,' Sandra Bullock Starrer 'The Unforgivable,' More Fall Movies|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/netflix-movie-premiere-dates-fall-winter-2021-1235001704/|magazine=The Hollywood Reporter|first=Ariana|last=Brockington|date=August 23, 2021|access-date=December 7, 2021|archive-date=August 23, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210823210252/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/netflix-movie-premiere-dates-fall-winter-2021-1235001704/|url-status=live}} The film received four nominations at the 94th Academy Awards, including Best Picture.
McKay was set to work with Jennifer Lawrence for the biographical film Bad Blood, about entrepreneur Elizabeth Holmes, and based on the book Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup.{{cite news|first1=Ali|last1=Jaafar|first2=Mike Jr.|last2=Fleming|title='Bad Blood' Bids Mobilize for Jennifer Lawrence-Adam McKay Package: 9 Offers|url=https://deadline.com/2016/06/adam-mckay-jennifer-lawrence-theranos-movie-bad-blood-1201775531/|access-date=June 25, 2016|work=Deadline|date=June 21, 2016}} Originally set to be produced by Legendary Pictures and released by Universal Pictures, in December 2021, the project was picked up by Apple Studios.Multiple sources:
- {{cite news|first1=Ali|last1=Jaafar|first2=Mike Jr.|last2=Fleming|title=Legendary Wins Jennifer Lawrence-Adam McKay 'Bad Blood' Auction|url=https://deadline.com/2016/06/jennifer-lawrence-adam-mckay-theranos-legendary-pictures-1201777992/|access-date=June 25, 2016|work=Deadline|date=June 23, 2016}}
- {{cite news|last=Fleming|first=Mike Jr.|date=December 7, 2021|title=Apple Confirms Long In Works 'Bad Blood' Transfusion; 'Don't Look Up's Adam McKay Directs & Jennifer Lawrence Plays Theranos Founder Elizabeth Holmes|url=https://deadline.com/2021/12/theranos-movie-jennifer-lawrence-adam-mckay-elizabeth-holmes-apple-dont-look-up-reteam-1234886185/|website=Deadline Hollywood|access-date=December 7, 2021}} In November 2022, however, Lawrence left the project due to not wanting to copy Amanda Seyfried's performance in The Dropout. The current status of the project is unknown.{{cite web|last=White|first=Abbey|date=November 2, 2022|title=Jennifer Lawrence Says She Has Departed Adam McKay's 'Bad Blood' |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/jennifer-lawrence-exits-adam-mckay-bad-blood-1235254119/|website=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=March 24, 2023}}
In March 2023, it was revealed that McKay's next project would be titled Average Height, Average Build, a political satire focused on a serial killer. The film was set to star Robert Pattinson, Amy Adams, Robert Downey Jr., Forest Whitaker, and Danielle Deadwyler.{{cite web|last=Kroll|first=Justin|date=March 24, 2023|title=Hot Package: Adam McKay Lines Up Robert Pattinson, Amy Adams, Robert Downey Jr, Forest Whitaker & Danielle Deadwyler For Serial Killer Comedy 'Average Height, Average Build'|url=https://deadline.com/2023/03/amy-adams-robert-pattinson-adam-mckay-average-height-average-build-1235309191/|website=Deadline Hollywood|access-date=March 24, 2023}} On April 30, 2023, it was announced the project had been acquired by Netflix.{{Cite web|last=Kroll|first=Justin|url=https://deadline.com/2023/04/netflix-adam-mckays-average-height-average-build-1235351284/|title=Netflix Lands Adam McKay's New Comedy 'Average Height, Average Build'|date=April 30, 2023|access-date=April 30, 2023|website=Deadline Hollywood}} On December 4, 2023, it was announced that McKay had left the project to pursue a film on climate change, and the project was subsequently scrapped.{{Cite web |last=Peralta |first=Diego |date=2023-12-04 |title=Adam McKay's 'Average Height, Average Build' Scrapped at Netflix |url=https://collider.com/adam-mckay-netflix-movie-canceled-average-height-average-build/ |access-date=2023-12-04 |website=Collider |language=en}}
= Funny or Die =
{{Main|Funny or Die}}
In 2007, McKay and Ferrell launched the user-submitted comedy video site Funny or Die. A video on the site, titled The Landlord,{{cite web|title=Will Ferrell and Pearl in The Landlord|url=http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/74|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070810040931/http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/74/|archive-date=August 10, 2007|access-date=August 10, 2007}} features both him and his young daughter, Pearl, whom Ferrell and his wife bait to say curse words. Pearl also starred in a second video titled Good Cop, Baby Cop.
=Podcasting=
From November 2015 until October 2016, McKay hosted the science/comedy podcast Surprisingly Awesome with Adam Davidson, produced by Gimlet Media.{{cite web|title=New Podcast: Surprisingly Awesome|url=https://gimletmedia.com/2015/11/new-podcast-surprisingly-awesome/|website=Gimlet Media|access-date=November 3, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151119110321/https://gimletmedia.com/2015/11/new-podcast-surprisingly-awesome/|archive-date=November 19, 2015}} McKay additionally produced Broken: Jeffrey Epstein and Broken: Seeking Justice, a podcast series that explored the Jeffrey Epstein case. His next podcast project, Death at the Wing, investigated a series of deaths among high-profile young basketball players in the 1980s and 1990s. In February 2022, he appeared as a guest on Smartless, a comedic podcast hosted by Jason Bateman, Will Arnett and Sean Hayes. In 2023, he hosted Death on the Lot about celebrity deaths in Hollywood in the 1950s.{{cite news |last1=Sisario |first1=Ben |title=A Podcast From Adam McKay Examines Jeffrey Epstein and His World |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/04/business/media/broken-jeffrey-epstein-podcast.html |access-date=11 November 2020 |work=The New York Times |date=4 September 2019}}{{cite news |last1=Holmes |first1=Dave |title=What We're Going Through Is Incomprehensible. That's Never Stopped Adam McKay. |url=https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/movies/a34032653/adam-mckay-interview-jeffrey-epstein-broken-seeking-justice/ |access-date=11 November 2020 |publisher=Esquire |date=16 September 2020}}{{cite web |last=Fleming|first=Mike Jr.|url=https://deadline.com/2021/03/adam-mckay-podcast-series-death-at-the-wing-deaths-of-rising-hoop-stars-and-reagan-era-policies-1234725127/|title=Adam McKay Hosts Docu Podcast Series 'Death At The Wing,' On Deaths Of Rising Hoop Stars Intertwined With Reagan Era Policies|date=31 March 2021}}{{cite news |last1=Bergeson |first1=Samantha |title=Adam McKay Launches 'Death on the Lot' Podcast Exploring 1950s Dead Celebrities |url=https://www.indiewire.com/news/breaking-news/adam-mckay-death-on-the-lot-podcast-1234865000/ |access-date=18 October 2023 |work=indiewire.com |date=18 May 2023}}
Personal life
In 1999, he married Shira Piven, a film and television director.{{cite encyclopedia|title=Adam McKay |url=https://www.britannica.com/facts/Adam-McKay |encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica |access-date=11 May 2020}} They have two daughters. His brother-in-law is actor Jeremy Piven.
= Political views =
McKay supports gun control{{Cite web |date=2022-06-13 |title=Hollywood stars signs pledge to control on-screen gun violence |url=https://nypost.com/2022/06/13/hollywood-stars-signs-pledge-to-control-on-screen-gun-violence/ |access-date=2023-02-06 |language=en-US}} and abortion rights.{{Cite web |last=Dellatto |first=Marisa |title=Over 400 TV Writers And Showrunners Demand Abortion Protections From Major Studios, Report Says |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/marisadellatto/2022/07/28/over-400-tv-writers-and-showrunners-demand-abortion-protections-from-major-studios-report-says/ |access-date=2023-02-06 |website=Forbes |language=en}}
He has been critical of former President Bill Clinton. "I legitimately think Bill Clinton is one of the worst presidents in the modern age". McKay criticized Clinton for deregulating banks and for his personal life in light of the MeToo movement.{{Cite web |last=Birnbaum |first=Emily |date=2018-11-19 |title='Vice' director Adam McKay torches Bill Clinton, would choose Trump over Bush |url=https://thehill.com/blogs/in-the-know/in-the-know/417438-vice-director-adam-mckay-torches-bill-clinton-would-choose-trump-over-bush/ |access-date=2023-02-06 |website=The Hill |language=en-US}}
McKay serves on the Creative Council of RepresentUs, a nonpartisan anti-corruption organization.{{cite web|url=https://represent.us/about/|title=About {{!}} Represent. Us|language=en-US|access-date=July 8, 2016}} He was a supporter of the Democratic Party and endorsed Bernie Sanders for President of the United States in 2016 and again in 2020.{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2015/biz/news/will-ferrell-bernie-sanders-celebrity-supporters-1201597124/|title=Will Ferrell Among Bernie Sanders Celeb Supporters|last=Johnson|first=Ted|date=September 18, 2015|website=Variety|access-date=March 24, 2016}}{{cite web |url=https://berniesanders.com/artists/ |title=Artists for Bernie – Bernie Sanders |work=Bernie Sanders |access-date=March 24, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160104201830/http://berniesanders.com/artists/ |archive-date=January 4, 2016 |df=mdy-all }}{{cite tweet|last=McKay|first=Adam|user=GhostPanther|number=1098008710532739072|date=February 19, 2019|title=Join me in volunteering to help @BernieSanders secure the democratic nomination & become president. You don't have to give $, sweat is worth more. You'll have fun winning #MedicareForAll & stopping capitalist wars. Sign up|access-date=February 21, 2019}} He identifies as a democratic socialist and joined the Democratic Socialists of America in 2019.{{cite web |last1=McKay |first1=Adam |title=I consider myself a Democratic socialist. Always have. |url=https://twitter.com/ghostpanther/status/926497501435150336 |website=@ghostpanther |language=en |date=November 3, 2017}}{{Primary source inline|date=April 2022}}{{Cite web |title=Adam McKay Is Mad as Hell |url=https://jacobinmag.com/2019/11/adam-mckay-is-mad-as-hell/ |access-date=2022-05-07 |website=jacobinmag.com |language=en-US}}
McKay was criticized for going soft on Democrats for their role in the Iraq War in his film Vice, which he later said was a mistake. "I regret not giving more blame to the Democrats, who went along with the war in Iraq...I made mistakes, read the reviews and went, 'Yes, fair,'" he told Variety in March 2022.{{Cite web |last=Sharf |first=Zack |date=2022-03-27 |title=Adam McKay Shares 'Vice' Regret: 'I F—ed Up' by Not Blaming Democrats for Going Along With Iraq War |url=https://variety.com/2022/film/news/adam-mckay-regrets-vice-democrats-iraq-war-1235215974/ |access-date=2023-06-15 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}
In October 2023, McKay signed the Artists4Ceasefire open letter to US president Joe Biden, calling for a ceasefire of the Israeli bombardment of Gaza.{{Cite web |title=Artists4Ceasefire |url=https://www.artists4ceasefire.org/ |access-date=2023-12-11 |website=Artists4Ceasefire |language=en-US}}
On November 6, 2024, after Donald Trump won the 2024 presidential election, McKay announced that he would be leaving the Democratic Party, writing on X: "It is time to abandon the Dem Party. I'm registering Green Party or Working Families. But am open to ideas."{{Cite news |last=Shafer |first=Ellise |date=6 November 2024 |title=Adam McKay Says 'It Is Time to Abandon' the Democratic Party as Trump Declares Victory: 'I Thought Liberals' Whole Thing Is Being Smart? It's Not' |url=https://variety.com/2024/film/news/adam-mckay-time-to-abandon-democratic-party-trump-victory-1236202362/ |access-date=7 November 2024 |work=Variety}}
= Activism =
McKay is a prominent voice for climate action. In 2022, he donated $4 million to the Climate Emergency Fund and joined its board of directors.[https://www.npr.org/2022/10/15/1129322429/just-stop-oil-climate-activists-protest-van-gogh Who is Just Stop Oil, the group that threw soup on Van Gogh's painting?], NPR, October 15, 2022, [https://web.archive.org/web/20230110113838/https://www.npr.org/2022/10/15/1129322429/just-stop-oil-climate-activists-protest-van-gogh Archive] He has also donated to Just Stop Oil.{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/jun/02/dont-look-up-director-adam-mckay-to-triple-donations-to-just-stop-oil |title= Don't Look Up director Adam McKay to triple donations to Just Stop Oil |website= The Guardian|date= 3 June 2023}}
In 2023, McKay founded Yellow Dot Studios to raise awareness and mobilize action on the climate emergency.{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2023/digital/features/yellow-dot-studios-staci-roberts-steele-comedy-climate-change-1235618265/ |title= Yellow Dot Studios' Staci Roberts-Steele believes comedy can save our planet |website= www.variety.com|publisher= Variety |date= 19 May 2023}}{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/mar/09/adam-mckay-climate-change-commercial-videos |title= Film studio from Oscar-winning director aims to stir up 'populist anger' over climate crisis |website= The Guardian|date= 9 March 2024}}{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2023/05/adam-mckay-yellow-dot-commercial-for-big-money-1235360798/ |title= Adam McKay launches nonprofit climate content studio Yellow Dot with debut video 'Commercial for Big Money' - Watch |website= Deadline Hollywood|publisher= Deadline |date= 9 May 2023}} The non-profit company produces videos and campaigns to tackle the misinformation promoted by the oil industry.{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/adam-mckay-yellow-dot-studios-climate-campaign-video-game-of-thrones-rainn-wilson-1235889032/ |title= Adam McKay and Rainn Wilson release 'Game of Thrones' parody video for #ImWithScienceCampaign |website= www.variety.com|publisher= Variety|date= 26 January 2024}}{{cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/digital/adam-mckay-climate-content-studio-yellow-dot-1235483357/ |title= Adam McKay launches climate content studio Yellow Dot |website= www.hollywoodreporter.com|publisher= The Hollywood Reporter |date= 9 March 2023}}{{cite web |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/climate-change/news/dont-look-up-adam-mckay-memes-b2350722.html|title= 'Don't Look Up' director Adam McKay wants to win the climate information war – with memes |work=The Independent |date= 6 June 2023|access-date=24 July 2024}}{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2022/digital/news/adam-mckay-fake-chevron-ad-viral-1235389355/|title= Adam McKay's scathing fake Chevron ad blasting its role in climate change goes viral|work= Variety|first=Todd|last=Spangler |date= 30 September 2022|access-date=24 July 2024}}
He has spoken prominently about his experience with climate anxiety and the importance of comedy and humor as tools in addressing the climate crisis, while he has also spoken in support of disruptive climate activism.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/adam-mckay-climate-crisis-disruptive-activism-1234986024/ |title= Adam McKay explains his made-you-look take on climate activism |magazine=Rolling Stone |date= 16 March 2024}}{{cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/adam-mckay-imax-climate-crisis-doc-stormbound-1235785822/ |title= Adam McKay to produce IMAX Climate Crisis doc 'Stormbound' |work=The Hollywood Reporter|first=Etan|last=Vlessing |date= 11 January 2024|access-date=24 July 2024}}{{cite web |url=https://news.sky.com/story/dont-look-up-director-adam-mckay-on-choosing-humour-to-tackle-leaders-climate-inaction-12548797|title= Don't Look Up director Adam McKay on choosing humour to tackle leaders' climate inaction |website= www.skynews.com|publisher= Sky News |date= 22 February 2022}}{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/jan/13/director-dont-look-up-climate-crisis-ending |title= Why our secret weapon against the climate crisis could be humour |website= www.theguardian.co.uk|publisher= The Guardian |date= 13 June 2022}}{{cite web |url=https://www.space.com/dont-look-up-adam-mckay-comet-climate-change|title= 'Don't Look Up' director Adam McKay talks comets, climate change and total disaster |website= www.space.com|publisher= Space.com |date= 4 December 2021}}{{cite web |url=https://www.channel4.com/news/at-a-certain-point-i-got-very-frightened-by-climate-adam-mckay|title= Adam McKay: 'Climate…scares me to my core |website= Channel4.com | publisher= Channel 4 |date= 4 March 2022}}{{cite web |url=https://www.levernews.com/adam-mckay-1-5c-is-terrifying-but-there-is-something-we-havent-tried/|title= Adam McKay: 1.5C is terrifying but there is something we haven't tried |website= levernews.com | publisher= The Lever |date= 30 May 2023}}
= Health =
At age 26, McKay first noticed shaking in his hands while performing with Second City. Around 2000, he was diagnosed with essential tremor.{{Cite web|date=September 2016|title=Telling the Storyteller's Tale|url=https://www.essentialtremor.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/TremorTalkSept2016FINAL.pdf|website=Tremor Talk Magazine}} The condition causes his body and voice to quiver. He conducts print interviews lying down and televised ones in a special high backed chair to accommodate his disability.{{Cite web|last=Hagan|first=Joe|date=2021-11-29|title="Who the Fuck Cares About Adam McKay?" (We Do, and With Good Reason)|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2021/11/who-the-fuck-cares-about-adam-mckay|access-date=2022-02-17|website=Vanity Fair|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|last=Kilpatrick|first=Connor|date=2019-11-26|title=Adam McKay Is Mad as Hell|url=https://jacobinmag.com/2019/11/adam-mckay-is-mad-as-hell/|access-date=2022-02-17|website=jacobinmag.com|language=en-US}}
In 2018, McKay had a heart attack while filming Vice, starring Christian Bale, whose character Dick Cheney has multiple heart attacks in the film. McKay credits his awareness of the issue from researching the film with his quick response that got him to the hospital before he incurred any permanent damage.{{Cite web|last=Sharf|first=Zack|date=2018-11-29|title=Adam McKay Had a Heart Attack and His 'Vice' Star Christian Bale Saved His Life|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2018/11/adam-mckay-heart-attack-vice-christian-bale-saved-his-life-1202023962/|access-date=2022-02-17|website=IndieWire|language=en}} During an interview on the 347th episode of The Empire Film Podcast, McKay said: "Either Christian Bale or Dick Cheney just saved my life."{{Cite web |date=19 Jan 2019 |title=#347 - Adam McKay |url=https://open.spotify.com/episode/3tKeZVYUKQBhXwIKSCKNji |website=Spotify - The Empire Film Podcast}}
Filmography
= Film =
| class="wikitable" |
| Year
! Title ! width="65"| Director ! width="65"| Writer ! width="65"| Producer ! Other |
|---|
| rowspan="2"| 2004
| Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{no}} | Also executive soundtrack producer |
| Wake Up, Ron Burgundy: The Lost Movie
| {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{no}} | |
| 2006
| Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{partial|Executive}} | Also songwriter |
| 2008
| {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{partial|Executive}} | Also songwriter |
| 2010
| {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | Also songwriter |
| 2012
| {{no}} | {{Partial|Story}} | {{yes}} | |
| 2013
| Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | Also executive soundtrack producer and songwriter |
| rowspan="3"| 2015
| Get Hard | {{no}} | {{Partial|Story}} | {{yes}} | |
| Ant-Man
| {{no}} | {{yes}} | {{no}} | |
| The Big Short
| {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{no}} | |
| rowspan="2"| 2018
| {{no}} | {{partial|Uncredited}} | {{no}} | |
| Vice
| {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | |
| 2021
| {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | |
;Acting roles
| class="wikitable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role |
|---|
| 2002
| Uncle Gabby |
| rowspan="2"| 2003
| Pushing Tom | The Boss |
| Felicia and the Great Quebec
| Big Dick Cash |
| rowspan="2"| 2004
| Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy |rowspan=2| Custodian |
| Wake Up, Ron Burgundy: The Lost Movie |
| 2006
| Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby | Terry Cheveaux |
| 2008
| Man without Glasses |
| 2010
| Dirty Mike |
= Television =
| class="wikitable" |
| Year
! Title ! width="65"| Director ! width="65"| Executive ! width="65"| Writer ! Notes |
|---|
| 1995–2001
| {{yes}} | {{no}} | {{yes}} | Also credited as "Coordinator of Falconry"{{cite web |last1=Hirschberg |first1=Lynn |title=Adam McKay: Funny, with a Chance of Politics |url=https://www.wmagazine.com/story/adam-mckay-the-big-short |website=W Magazine |date=January 6, 2016 |access-date=9 November 2021}} |
| 2009–2013
| {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{no}} | Directed episode: "Chapter 5" |
| 2010–2011
| {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | |
| 2013
| Lifecasters | {{yes}} | {{no}} | {{no}} | Documentary film |
| 2018–2023
| {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{no}} | Directed episode: "Celebration" |
| 2022–2023
| Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{no}} | Directed episode: "The Swan" |
Executive producer only
| class="wikitable" |
| Year
! Title ! Notes |
|---|
| 2010
| Big Lake | |
| 2013–2019
| |
| 2014
| |
| 2014–2015
| |
| rowspan="2"|2015
| |
| A Deadly Adoption
| Television film |
| 2015–2017
| |
| 2017–2018
| I Love You, America with Sarah Silverman | |
| 2017–2019
| |
| 2017–2021
| |
| 2018
| |
| 2019
| Live in Front of a Studio Audience | Television specials |
| 2019–2022
| |
| 2020
| Robbie | |
| 2020–2022
| |
| 2021
| Television documentary |
| 2022
| The Invisible Pilot | Television documentary |
Acting roles
| class="wikitable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! Notes |
|---|
| 1995–2001
| Various | 15 episodes (uncredited) |
| 2007
| Alan Harkett (voice) | Episode "24 Hour Marathon" |
= Web =
| class="wikitable" |
| Year
! Title ! width="65"| Director ! width="65"| Producer ! width="65"| Writer ! width="65"| Actor ! Notes |
|---|
| rowspan="3"| 2007
| The Procedure | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{no}} | |
| The Landlord
| {{no}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | Role: Friend |
| Good Cop, Baby Cop
| {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | Role: Policeman |
| rowspan="3"| 2008
| Green Team | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | Role: Erin Gossamer |
| Paris Hilton Responds to McCain Ad
| {{no}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{no}} | |
| Ron Howard's Call to Action
| {{no}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{no}} | |
| 2008–2016
| Between Two Ferns with Zach Galifianakis | {{no}} | {{no}} | {{yes}} | {{no}} | |
| rowspan="2"| 2010
| Presidential Reunion | {{no}} | {{no}} | {{yes}} | {{no}} | |
| Will Ferrell's NYPD Recruitment Video
| {{no}} | {{no}} | {{yes}} | {{no}} | |
| 2011
| A Public Statement from Anthony Weiner's Penis | {{no}} | {{no}} | {{yes}} | {{no}} | |
| 2014
| COPS: Ferguson | {{no}} | {{no}} | {{yes}} | {{no}} | |
| 2015
| Mexican Donald Trump | {{no}} | {{no}} | {{yes}} | {{no}} | |
| 2017
| The President's Sun | {{no}} | {{no}} | {{yes}} | {{no}} | |
Awards and nominations
{{Main|List of awards and nominations received by Adam McKay}}
| class="wikitable"
|+ Awards and nominations received for films directed by McKay |
| rowspan="2" | Year
! rowspan="2" | Title ! colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" width=160| Academy Awards ! colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" width=160| BAFTA Awards ! colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" width=160| Golden Globe Awards |
|---|
| Nominations
! Wins ! Nominations ! Wins ! Nominations ! Wins |
| 2015
|align=center|5 |align=center|1 |align=center|4 |align=center|1 |align=center|4 | |
| 2018
| Vice |align=center|8 |align=center|1 |align=center|6 |align=center|1 |align=center|6 |align=center|1 |
| 2021
|align=center|4 | |align=center|4 | |align=center|4 | |
| colspan="2"|Total
!align=center|17 !align=center|2 !align=center|14 !align=center|2 !align=center|14 !align=center|1 |
Directed Academy Award performances
Under McKay's direction, these actors have received Academy Award nominations for their performances in their respective roles.
| class="wikitable" |
| style="text-align:center;"
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Year ! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Performer ! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Film ! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Result |
| colspan="4" |Academy Award for Best Actor |
|---|
| 2019
| Vice | {{nom}} |
| colspan="4" |Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor |
| 2016
| Christian Bale | {{nom}} |
| 2019
| Vice | {{nom}} |
| colspan="4" |Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress |
| 2019
| Vice | {{nom}} |
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|570912}}
{{Adam McKay}}
{{Navboxes
|title = Awards for Adam McKay
|list =
{{Academy Award Best Adapted Screenplay}}
{{BAFTA Award for Best Adapted Screenplay}}
{{Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Adapted Screenplay}}
{{Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Screenplay}}
{{Detroit Film Critics Society Award for Best Director}}
{{Detroit Film Critics Society Award for Best Screenplay}}
{{DirectorsGuildofAmericaOutstandingDirectingDramaSeries}}
{{Florida Film Critics Circle Award for Best Screenplay}}
{{Paul Selvin Award}}
{{St. Louis Film Critics Association Award for Best Original Screenplay}}
{{TFCA Award for Best Screenplay}}
{{USC Scripter Awards — Film}}
{{Vancouver Film Critics Circle Award for Best Screenplay}}
{{Writers Guild of America Award for Best Original Screenplay}}
{{Writers Guild of America Award for Best Adapted Screenplay}}}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:McKay, Adam}}
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