How Danny McBride Went from Film School Dropout to Hollywood Star

 

Who is Danny McBride?

American actor and comedian Daniel Richard ‘Danny’ McBride was born in Statesboro, Georgia USA, on 29 December 1976, meaning that Capricorn’s his zodiac sign. He’s appeared in over 50 TV series and movies, but is perhaps still known best for portraying Red in the 2008 action crime comedy movie “Pineapple Express”, directed by David Gordon Green, and which starred Seth Rogen, James Franco and Gary Cole. It follows a man and his marijuana dealer as they’re running away from hitmen; the movie won two of its 17 award nominations.

Early life and education

Danny was raised in Spotsylvania County, Virginia by his stepfather and mother Kathy Rudy, both of whom worked at US Marine Corps Base Quantico as civilian support. His family’s deeply religious – Danny was raised Baptist, and often went to church with his mother.

Danny’s interest in telling stories came from his mother, as she often gave sermons at church using puppets. He studied at Courtland High School and was into several activities while there, including appearing in school plays and playing soccer.

Danny matriculated in 1995 and then enrolled at the University of North Carolina’s School of the Arts, from which he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1999; unlike what many people believe to be true, Danny didn’t drop out of school.

Roles in movies

Danny’s debut film role was portraying Bust-Ass in the popular 2003 romantic drama “All the Real Girls”, written and directed by David Gordon Green, and which starred Zooey Deschanel, Paul Schneider and Patricia Clarkson. It follows a young womanizer who’s fallen in love with his best friend’s sister – the film won four of its 15 award nominations.

Some of Danny’s following roles were in the 2006 comedy “The Foot Fist Way”, the sports comedy “Hot Rod”, and the comedy “Superbad” both in 2007.

He portrayed Cody in the hit 2008 action war comedy “Tropic Thunder”, which Ben Stiller wrote, directed as well as starred in alongside Robert Downey Jr. and Jack Black. It follows a group of actors who are playing soldiers in a movie, but must now become the soldiers they’re playing to escape an enemy-infested forest; the movie won 10 of its 57 award nominations, including an Oscar nomination for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role (Robert Downey Jr).

#HappyBirthday to Danny McBride (42)
his top 10 movies are:

10. Sausage Party
9. The Foot Fist Way
8. Pineapple Express
7. Alien: Covenant
6. The Disaster Artist
5. Despicable Me
4. Tropic Thunder
3. Up in the Air
2. This is the End
1. Superbad#KennyPowers #JimMiller pic.twitter.com/J1Ul7zl4o5

— Stephen Gibbons (@Gibboanxious) December 30, 2018

Danny was then cast to play and voice characters in several hit movies, such as the 2009 romantic comedy “Up in the Air”, the 2010 animated adventure comedy “Despicable Me” (voice role) and the 2010 comedy “Due Date”.

The year 2013 saw him play Frank in the comedy “Clear History”, directed by Greg Mottola, and which starred Larry David, Bill Hader and Philip Baker Hall. It follows a businessman who’s plotting against his former boss, as the man’s made billions from an electric car company which they had founded together; the movie was nominated for two awards.

Danny’s also popular for portraying himself in the 2017 biographical comedy “The Disaster Artist”, directed by James Franco, who also starred in it alongside his brother Dave Franco and Ari Graynor. The movie covers the shooting of the film “The Room” and the life of its director and lead actor Tommy Wiseau – it won 32 of its 118 award nominations, including an Oscar nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay.

Danny’s three most recent film roles have been in 2019 in the animated action adventure “The Angry Birds Movie 2” (voice role) and the mystery comedy “Zeroville”, and the 2021 animated adventure comedy “The Mitchells vs the Machines” (voice role).

Roles in TV series

Danny’s had roles in only a couple of TV series, as he’s been focused on appearing in movies since the launch of his career.

He made his debut TV series appearance in the 2008 episode “Drunk History Vol. 3: Featuring Danny McBride” of the short historical comedy “Drunk History”, and the year 2011 heard him voice Ms. Teets in 12 episodes of the animated comedy “Good Vibes”, created by David Gordon Green, and which starred Adam Brody, Jake Busey and Josh Gad – it follows Mondo and his best friend Woodie as they’re trying to surf the biggest waves, crash parties and chase the prettiest girls on the beach.

From 2009 through 2013, Danny starred as Kenny Powers in all the 29 episodes of the sports comedy “Eastbound & Down”, created by Ben Best and Jody Hill, and which also starred Steve Little and Katy Mixon. It follows a former professional baseball player who’s returned to his hometown and has begun teaching physical education at his former middle school; the series was nominated for seven awards.

Danny’s three most recent TV series roles have been in 2017 playing the lead character Neal Gamby in all the 18 episodes of the comedy “Vice Principals” and voicing a supporting character in two episodes of the animated comedy “Tarantula”, and portraying Jesse Gemstone in 16 episodes of the comedy ‘The Righteous Gemstones” from 2019 through 2022.

Other credits

Danny received special thanks for the 2008 short comedy film “Tropic Thunder: Rain of Madness” and the 2017 short movie “How to Live Forever”.

He has 11 writing and 24 producing credits, while some of his most recent writing work has been the critically acclaimed 2018 crime horror thriller movie “Halloween”, which won four of its 31 award nominations, its sequel “Halloween Kills” in 2021 and “Halloween Ends” in 2022.

Some of Danny’s recent talk-show appearances have been in “Hollywood on Set”, “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” and “Hollywood Insider”.

Awards and nominations

Danny’s won two of his 28 award nominations: a 2008 Austin Film Critics Association Award for Breakthrough Artist, for his performance in both “Pineapple Express” and “Tropic Thunder”, and a 2016 SXSW Film Festival Audience Award for Episodic, for “Vice Principals”.

Some of his nominations include two MTV Movie + TV Awards in 2009 and 2014 for “Pineapple Express” and “This Is the End”, respectively, two Hollywood Critics Association Television Awards in 2022, both for “The Righteous Gemstones”, and a 2023 Satellite Award for Best Actor in a Series, Comedy or Musical, also for “The Righteous Gemstones”.

Love life and wife

Danny prefers to keep the details about his love life to himself, and not a lot has been shared about his wife and children. It’s known that he and American art director Gia Ruiz exchanged vows on 9 October 2010 (some sources state on 15 October), in a private ceremony attended by only their closest friends and family members; the two had previously been together for nine years. Gia’s probably known best for working in the art department of the 2006 comedy movie “The Foot Fist Way”, as well as on 13 episodes of the series “Eastbound & Down” in 2009 and 2010.

Gia gave birth to their son Declan George McBride on 26 September 2011, and their daughter Ava followed in 2015.

Danny’s yet to speak of the women whom he’d dated prior to meeting Gia, to whom he’s married as of April 2023, and they have two children together, today living in Charleston, South Carolina.

Interesting facts and hobbies

He spent some time working as a substitute teacher in the 2000s.

Danny’s of British ancestry, as his father was from England, while his mother was of Russian-Jewish descent.

He loves to travel, and has been to many countries around the world; Danny and his wife Gia honeymooned in Bora Bora, an island in French Polynesia.

He’s related to American actor and stuntman Jamie McBride, who’s appeared in 20 movies and TV Series.

Danny’s favorite actor is Al Pacino, while some of his favorite movies include “Any Given Sunday”, “House of Gucci” and “Jack and Jill”.

Height, eyes and wealth

Danny’s age is 46. He has blue eyes and brown hair, is 5ft 10ins (1.78m) tall and weighs around 175lbs (80kgs).

Danny’s net worth’s been estimated at over $25 million, as of April 2023.