Daniel McDonald (actor)


Daniel McDonald was an American actor who guest-starred in many TV shows including , Law & Order, Murder, She Wrote and Sex and the City. He was also involved in Broadway, performing in Mamma Mia!.

Personal life

McDonald was born the youngest of seven children in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and raised in Romulus, New York. He graduated from Ithaca College.
McDonald's older brother, Christopher McDonald, is also an actor who is seen in many films and television shows.
He dated Jennifer Aniston and was reportedly the love of her life.
He met Mujah Maraini-Melehi during the rehearsals for Steel Pier. The couple were married in 1999 and had two children.

Career

He was a life member of the Actors Studio. He also studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, with Paul Curtis of the American Mime Theatre, and with Sanford Meisner on the island of Bequia in the British West Indies where he met long-time friend and photographer Michael Sanville.
McDonald received a 1997 Tony Award nomination for his lead role in Steel Pier, which co-starred Karen Ziemba and Gregory Harrison.
In 2002, Daniel McDonald replaced Alan Campbell as lead in the national tour of Contact.
The Gift: Life Unwrapped, McDonald's last film, was released posthumously in May 2007.
He recorded an album True Love.

Death

Daniel McDonald died on February 15, 2007, at his home in New York. He was 46. The cause was brain cancer, said Jason Brantley, a spokesman for Mr. McDonald's family. His survivors include his wife, Mujah Maraini-Melehi, and two children, Fosco and Ondina. Funeral services were held February 24, 2007 at the Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine in New York City.

Filmography

Movies

YearTitleRoleNotes
1984Where the Boys Are '84Camden Roxbury
1985The Falcon and the SnowmanClayCredited as Dan McDonald
1987Million Dollar MysteryCrush
1993Blood In Blood OutGallery Assistant
1993What's Love Got to Do with ItLondon Announcer
1994At RiskSteven
1995Let It Be MeFred
1997The Ice StormWeatherman
1998JadedBart
2007The Gift: Life UnwrappedStephenArchive Footage

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1985The Fall GuyBrian Carlin1 Episode: Her Bodyguard
1985Call to GloryNick Oliver2 Episodes: JFK: Part 1 & 2
1985Shadow ChasersHall1 Episode: Spirit of St. Louis
1985-88Cagney & LaceyFrank Myerling2 Episodes: Lost and Found, Yup
1986Thompson's Last RunCasinoTV Movie
1986A Year in the LifeEric Castle2 Episodes: Springtime/Autumn, Christmas '86
1987The Betty Ford StoryMike FordTV Movie
1987Mr. PresidentFred1 Episode: Pilot
1987Home FiresTV Movie
1988Freddy's NightmaresMark1 Episode: Freddy's Tricks and Treats
1989Murder, She WroteBobby Shipton2 Episodes: Mirror, Mirror, on the Wall: Part 1 & 2
1990The Baby-Sitters ClubPhotographer1 Episode: Stacey's Big Break
1992ColumboStrassa1 Episode: No Time to Die
1994Herman's HeadRoy1 Episode: Sweet Obsessions
1995As Good as DeadThomas A. RutherfordTV Movie
1995New York News1 Episode: Cost of Living
1995New York UndercoverMilton Allen1 Episode: Color Lines
1996All My ChildrenDr. Brad Phillips2 Episodes: #1.6768, #1.6969
1998Law & OrderBernard Dressler1 Episode: Under the Influence
1999Sex and the CityRoger Cobb1 Episode: Shortcomings
2000D.C.Dryder3 Episodes: Blame, Party, Guns and Roses
2000Dov'è mio figlioMcCarthyTV Movie
2000Madigan MenSerge1 Episode: Love's Labor Lost
2001'Dr. Byron Marks1 Episode: Secrets
2004'Gary Nielson1 Episode: The Oath
2004Tempting AdamMilesTV Movie