Dave Foley
David Foley (born January 4, 1963) is a Canadian actor, comedian, writer, director, and producer best known for co-founding the sketch comedy troupe The Kids in the Hall and for portraying news anchor Dave Nelson on the NBC sitcom NewsRadio.[1][2] Born in Toronto, Ontario, Foley dropped out of an alternative high school to pursue stand-up comedy, where he met future collaborator Kevin McDonald during an improv class; the two, along with other members, formed The Kids in the Hall in 1984, leading to a hit CBC and HBO sketch series that ran from 1989 to 1995 and spawned the 1996 feature film Brain Candy, which Foley co-wrote and starred in.[3][2][4] His television career expanded with the role of Dave Nelson on NewsRadio (1995–1999), a workplace comedy set at a New York radio station, which showcased his dry wit and everyman appeal alongside co-stars like Joe Rogan and Andy Dick.[2][4] Foley also lent his voice to the inventive ant protagonist Flik in Pixar's A Bug's Life (1998), contributing to the film's success as a groundbreaking animated feature.[3][1] Foley's film work includes co-writing, directing, and starring in the black comedy The Wrong Guy (1997), while his guest appearances span shows like It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, How I Met Your Mother, The Middle, and Hot in Cleveland, often playing quirky authority figures or hapless sidekicks.[2] He hosted the Bravo series Celebrity Poker Showdown (2003–2006) and released the stand-up special Relatively Well in 2013, continuing his improvisational roots. Foley has continued acting in recent years, appearing in Night Court (2023), Space Cadet (2024), and with upcoming roles in The Alien Perspective (2025).[2][4][3] In his personal life, Foley has been married twice: first to writer Tabatha Southey from 1991 to 1997, with whom he has two sons, Edmund and Basil; and second to actress and singer Crissy Guerrero from 2002 to 2008, with whom he has a daughter, Alina.[5][6]Early life
Family and upbringing
Dave Foley was born on January 4, 1963, in Etobicoke, a suburb of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.[7] He was the son of Michael Foley, a steamfitter, and Mary Foley, a homemaker originally from Stafford, England.[8] Foley grew up in the Toronto area in a working-class household.[9]Education and comedy beginnings
Foley attended an alternative high school in Toronto during his teenage years, reflecting the city's progressive educational options in the late 1970s.[10] At age 17, he decided to drop out in the early 1980s to pursue a career in comedy full-time, prioritizing his passion over formal education.[10] This choice aligned with the vibrant, countercultural spirit of Toronto's alternative schooling system, which emphasized creativity and self-directed learning.[11] Following his dropout, Foley began performing stand-up comedy at local open mic nights and small venues in Toronto, honing his skills through trial and error over the course of about a year.[12] To support himself during this period, he worked as a movie usher at a local theater, a job that provided financial stability while allowing evenings free for comedy pursuits.[13] These early experiences immersed him in the practical realities of the entertainment industry and built his resilience as a performer. In the early 1980s, Foley enrolled in improv classes at the Second City Theatre in Toronto, where he met fellow comedian Kevin McDonald around 1983 or 1984.[10] The two quickly formed a comedy duo, collaborating on sketches and routines while continuing their usher jobs, which fostered their partnership through shared daily routines and creative brainstorming.[13] This meeting marked a pivotal shift from solo stand-up to collaborative improv, influenced by Second City's renowned training program and the burgeoning Toronto comedy scene of the 1980s, which drew from influences like American sketch traditions while nurturing local talent.[10] The era's lively club circuit and improv workshops provided fertile ground for emerging comedians like Foley to experiment and connect.[12]Career
The Kids in the Hall and early comedy
Dave Foley co-founded the sketch comedy troupe The Kids in the Hall in 1984 alongside Kevin McDonald in Toronto, later merging with Bruce McCulloch and Mark McKinney from Calgary before Scott Thompson joined in early 1985.[14] The group developed a distinctive style blending absurd, surreal humor with character-driven sketches, drawing key influences from the Canadian series SCTV for its satirical edge and from British comedy like Monty Python for its irreverent, boundary-pushing absurdity.[15] This approach set them apart in the Canadian comedy scene, emphasizing quick transitions, recurring characters, and a willingness to explore taboo subjects through drag and dark themes. The troupe honed their material through live performances at Toronto nightspots and Second City venues, with members like Thompson and McDonald participating in Second City tours as early as 1985 to refine their improvisational skills.[14] By 1988, they caught the attention of Saturday Night Live producer Lorne Michaels, leading to a pilot special on HBO that showcased their raw energy.[14] This paved the way for their eponymous television series, which premiered in 1989 on CBC in Canada and HBO in the United States, running for five seasons until 1995 with 102 episodes that captured their evolving sketch format.[16] The HBO version often featured edgier content than the CBC broadcasts, amplifying the troupe's reputation for unfiltered comedy during the 1990s specials and airings.[16] Foley's early comedy phase also included stand-up elements integrated into the troupe's live shows, where he performed solo bits alongside collaborative sketches during their pre-television tours.[13] In 1996, the group appeared in The Kids in the Hall: Laughing Ourselves Sick, a TV special documenting their work and promoting the upcoming film Brain Candy.[17] Following the TV series' end, the group released the feature film Brain Candy in 1996, before reuniting for live tours starting in 2000 that revitalized their collaborative dynamic and drew on fan-favorite sketches.[16] The troupe reunited for a sixth season on Amazon Prime Video in 2022, producing eight new episodes that revisited their sketch format with contemporary themes. The troupe's lasting legacy endures as a cornerstone of Canadian comedy, earning Emmy and Gemini Award nominations during their run and induction into Canada's Walk of Fame in 2008 for pioneering surreal sketch work that influenced subsequent generations of performers.[16] Their emphasis on ensemble creativity and bold humor solidified Foley's foundational role in elevating sketch comedy's artistic potential.[18]Television roles and breakthroughs
Foley's breakthrough in American television came with his lead role as Dave Nelson, the level-headed news director at the fictional New York radio station WNYX, in the NBC sitcom NewsRadio, which ran for five seasons from 1995 to 1999 and spanned 97 episodes.[19] In the series, Nelson served as the beleaguered straight man amid a dysfunctional ensemble of quirky colleagues, including Phil Hartman, Andy Dick, and Maura Tierney, allowing Foley to showcase his dry, everyman wit in a workplace comedy praised for its clever dialogue and satirical take on media dynamics.[20] The show garnered critical acclaim, earning a 95% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on contemporary reviews that highlighted its sharp ensemble interplay and innovative humor.[21] NewsRadio also received multiple Emmy nominations, including for outstanding writing in a comedy series and technical categories, underscoring its influence on 1990s sitcoms despite modest ratings.[22] Following NewsRadio, Foley embraced a mix of guest and recurring roles that reinforced his strength as a comedic foil in ensemble-driven narratives. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, he appeared in episodes of popular series like Will & Grace and Desperate Housewives, often playing affable, slightly bewildered characters who grounded the chaos around them.[23] A notable recurring turn came in Scrubs (2006–2007), where he portrayed Dr. Lester Hedrick, the unflappable grief counselor at Sacred Heart Hospital, appearing in two episodes as a mentor figure whose calm demeanor contrasted the show's frenetic medical antics.[24] These appearances cemented Foley's niche as the reliable everyman whose subtle reactions amplified the humor of larger-than-life casts. Into the 2010s and 2020s, Foley sustained his TV presence with selective roles that highlighted his enduring appeal in comedic ensembles. He took on the central supporting role of Danish Graves, Lorraine Lyon's polished yet morally conflicted in-house counsel, in the fifth season of FX's anthology series Fargo (2023), contributing to the season's blend of dark humor and crime drama across 10 episodes.[25] More recently, he guest-starred as Duncan, a pompous royal valet entangled in a family feud, in the NBC revival of Night Court (episode aired 2024), bringing his signature deadpan style to the courtroom comedy's revival ensemble.[26] Throughout these projects, Foley's portrayals consistently positioned him as the wry observer in group dynamics, evolving from NewsRadio's anchor to a sought-after character actor in diverse comedic landscapes.Film and voice acting
Foley's transition to film began in the mid-1980s with his lead role in the Canadian comedy High Stakes (1986), marking his debut as a young actor navigating absurd situations in a poker-themed plot.[27] This early effort showcased his dry wit, though the film received limited distribution outside Canada. By the 1990s, Foley expanded into more prominent comedic features, often drawing from his sketch comedy roots. He co-wrote and starred as the hapless Nelson Hibbert in The Wrong Guy (1997), a mistaken-identity thriller parody that highlighted his ability to blend physical comedy with deadpan delivery, earning praise for its clever satire of crime films.[28] The film, co-directed with David Steinberg, was well-received at festivals for its tight scripting and Foley's central performance. Another key role came in It's Pat (1994), where he appeared in the adaptation of a Kids in the Hall sketch character, contributing to the film's exploration of gender ambiguity through ensemble humor, though it garnered mixed reviews for its uneven pacing. Foley's supporting turns in Blast from the Past (1999) as the quirky Troy and Dick (1999) as Bob Haldeman further solidified his presence in Hollywood comedies, with critics noting his timing in ensemble casts that amplified the films' satirical edges on American culture and history. Foley's voice acting career took off with his lead role as the inventive ant Flik in Pixar's A Bug's Life (1998), a milestone that introduced his versatile vocal style—earnest yet neurotic—to animated features and contributed to the film's success as Pixar's second feature, grossing over $363 million worldwide. He reprised a Flik-like character in a brief cameo in Toy Story 2 (1999), reinforcing his Pixar connection.[29] Additional voice work included the Flik Car cameo in Cars (2006), blending his signature voice with the franchise's high-speed antics.[30] In Monsters University (2013), Foley voiced the conjoined twin monster Terry, bringing quirky energy to the prequel's college rivalry narrative and earning acclaim for how his performance enhanced the film's themes of teamwork and self-discovery. Foley later reprised his role as Wayne, a world-weary but dedicated elf and Lanny's partner, in the Disney animated holiday special Prep & Landing: The Snowball Protocol (2025), which premiered on Disney Channel on November 27, 2025.[31] These voice roles significantly broadened Foley's range, allowing him to embody imaginative, non-human characters that contrasted with his live-action everyman personas, as he noted in interviews about the freedom animation provided for comedic experimentation.[32] This shift not only sustained his career through the 2000s but also led to later live-action appearances, such as his role as the bumbling NASA administrator Rudolph Bolton in the comedy Space Cadet (2024), where his understated humor supported the film's underdog story.[33]Digital media and other projects
Foley has ventured into digital comedy through various web-based sketches and shorts, particularly with the platform Funny or Die. In 2014, he starred in the sketch "James Joyce's Love Letters," portraying the author in a comedic reading of his explicit correspondence with his wife Nora.[34] That same year, he appeared in "Blackberry Meltdown," a satirical short about technology frustrations, and "The Ramones Are Welcomed to Heaven," where he played an angel greeting the punk band in the afterlife.[35][36] He also featured in the 2014 music video parody "I'm Cured" by Aimee Mann, playing a murdered scientist in a humorous sci-fi narrative.[37] In addition to sketches, Foley has contributed to music videos with a comedic bent. He appeared in Black Robot's 2010 cover of "Cocaine," filmed at a Hollywood burlesque club, adding his deadpan humor to the rock band's performance.[38] He collaborated with punk supergroup OFF! on two videos: the 2012 double-feature "Borrow and Bomb/I Got News For You," styled as a public-access TV skit, and the 2014 "Red White and Black," where he and Brian Posehn portrayed fascist characters disrupted by activists.[39][40] In 2015, Foley directed and starred in sElf's "Looks & Money" video alongside Mary Lynn Rajskub, blending absurdity with the band's indie rock sound.[41] Beyond web content, Foley provided the voice of Flik the ant for the Disney theme park attraction It's Tough to Be a Bug!, which debuted in 1998 at Disney's Animal Kingdom and other parks, immersing audiences in a 3D insect adventure based on A Bug's Life.[42] His voice work extended to video games, including reprising Flik in the 1998 Disney•Pixar A Bug's Life title and voicing the quirky securitron Yes Man in Fallout: New Vegas (2010), a role that highlighted his talent for manic, affable characters.[43][44] In recent years, Foley has embraced digital platforms for ongoing projects. He co-hosts the podcast Really?! with Tom and Dave, discussing topics like UFOs and comedy, which became available post-2020.[45] In 2023, he announced a return to stand-up comedy after a long hiatus, performing live sets that draw on his improvisational roots. As of 2024, he was developing a new television project, signaling continued activity in scripted content. Foley reprised his role as elf Wayne in the 2025 Disney+ animated short Prep & Landing: The Snowball Protocol, a high-stakes holiday special continuing the franchise's elf espionage theme.[31]Personal life
Marriages and family
Foley was married to Canadian writer and humorist Tabatha Southey from December 31, 1991, until their divorce in 1997.[46] The couple has two sons: Edmund "Ned" Southey, born in 1991, and Basil Patrick Southey, born in 1995.[47][48] In 2002, Foley married actress and singer Crissy Guerrero; the pair divorced in 2008 but reconciled and remarried on December 31, 2016.[49][50] They have one daughter together, Alina Chiara Foley, born on April 16, 2003.[51] Prior to relocating in 2022, Foley and Guerrero raised their family in Los Angeles, California, where Foley navigated co-parenting arrangements with Southey amid child support disputes that drew public attention in the early 2010s, which were settled in 2013, allowing Foley to resume work in Canada.[52][53][54] In a 2011 appearance on Marc Maron's WTF podcast, Foley openly discussed the emotional and financial strains of these familial obligations, noting how they impacted his ability to travel and work internationally.[55]Health, sobriety, and later years
Foley struggled with alcoholism for many years, which culminated in a severe incident on December 22, 2014, when he fell backward while intoxicated, suffering a subdural hematoma that required four days in intensive care. The head injury caused internal brain pressure severe enough to produce a black eye from the inside, marking a turning point in his life.[56] Following the accident, Foley achieved sobriety in late 2014, finding that the brain injury unexpectedly eliminated his urge to drink, making the process easier than anticipated.[56] He has publicly discussed his recovery in interviews, including on the Joe Rogan Experience podcast in 2019, where he described quitting alcohol and antidepressants without significant withdrawal, attributing much of it to the physical impact of the injury.[56] Foley has maintained sobriety since, often reflecting on how the event reshaped his emotional and social life. In 2022, Foley relocated from Los Angeles to New York City with his family, seeking a change in environment that aligned with his ongoing recovery and personal stability.[45] As of 2025, he continues to balance long-term sobriety with renewed pursuits in stand-up comedy and personal endeavors, such as hosting a podcast on UFOs, while crediting family support for his sustained well-being.[57]Filmography
Film roles
Dave Foley has appeared in numerous live-action feature films throughout his career, often in comedic supporting or character roles. The following is a chronological list of his credits.[58][23][59][60]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | High Stakes | Bo Baker | Film debut[27] |
| 1987 | Three Men and a Baby | Grocery Store Clerk | |
| 1994 | It's Pat | Chris | |
| 1996 | Kids in the Hall: Brain Candy | Various (e.g., Marv, Psychiatrist, Raymond Hurdicure) | Also writer (as part of The Kids in the Hall troupe) |
| 1997 | The Wrong Guy | Nelson Hibbert | Co-writer[28] |
| 1997 | Hacks | Neal | |
| 1999 | Dick | Bob Haldeman | |
| 1999 | Blast from the Past | Troy | |
| 2000 | On the Line | Higgins | |
| 2001 | Monkeybone | Herb | |
| 2001 | Stark Raving Mad | Roy | |
| 2002 | Run Ronnie Run | Network Executive #1 | |
| 2003 | A Mighty Wind | Mark Shubb | |
| 2003 | Grind | Tour Manager | |
| 2004 | Childstar | Phillip Templeman | |
| 2004 | Intern Academy | Dr. Denton Whiteside | |
| 2004 | Employee of the Month | Eric | |
| 2005 | Sky High | Mr. Boy | |
| 2007 | Postal | Uncle Dave | |
| 2007 | Netherbeast Incorporated | Henry Welby | |
| 2007 | Out of Omaha | Stu Gainor | |
| 2007 | LA Blues | Neil Schwartz | |
| 2008 | Coopers' Camera | Bill Davidson | |
| 2009 | Suck | Jeff | |
| 2009 | The Strip | Glenn | |
| 2010 | Vampires Suck | Principal Smith | |
| 2011 | 6 Month Rule | Charles | |
| 2011 | Monster Brawl | Buzz Chambers | |
| 2011 | Servitude | Godfrey | |
| 2011 | Freeloaders | Bryan | |
| 2012 | Last Call | Mr. Nunley | |
| 2013 | The Immigrant | Political Hack | |
| 2014 | Live Nude Girls | Harry | |
| 2018 | Second Act | Felix Richter | |
| 2024 | The Last Podcast | Dr. Milton P. Masters | |
| 2024 | Space Cadet | Rudolph Bolton | |
| 2025 | The Alien Perspective | TBA | Role not yet specified |
Television appearances
Dave Foley's live-action television career spans sketch comedy, sitcoms, and guest roles across several decades.| Year(s) | Title | Role | Notes/Episodes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1988–1995 | The Kids in the Hall | Various characters | Sketch comedy series; 103 episodes | [61] |
| 1987 | Anne of Green Gables: The Sequel (miniseries) | Lewis Allen | 2 episodes | [62] |
| 1995 | Seinfeld | Mike | Season 7, episode 11: "The Maestro"; 1 episode | |
| 1995–1999 | NewsRadio | Dave Nelson | Sitcom; 81 episodes | |
| 1996 | The Drew Carey Show | Herb | Season 1, episode 20: "No Hope for the Holidays"; 1 episode | |
| 1996 | The John Larroquette Show | Dave | Season 3, episode 23: "Black and White and Dave"; 1 episode | |
| 1996 | Mr. Show with Bob and David | Todd | Season 2, episode 3: "The Return of the Curse of the Creature's Ghost"; 1 episode | |
| 1997 | The Outer Limits | Dr. David Redding | Season 3, episode 11: "New Lease"; 1 episode | |
| 1998 | From the Earth to the Moon | Alan Bean | HBO miniseries; 1 episode ("For Miles and Miles") | |
| 2000 | Will & Grace | Tom | Season 3, episode 12: "Love Stinks"; 1 episode | |
| 2001 | DAG | Agent | Comedy series; 17 episodes | |
| 2005 | Committed | Bob | Sitcom; 13 episodes | |
| 2005 | Las Vegas | Mertens | Season 3, episode 7: "Hedda Hopper"; 1 episode | |
| 2005 | Hot Properties | Jimmy | Season 1, episode 5: "Kissing Book"; 1 episode | |
| 2006 | Desperate Housewives | Marvin | Season 3, episode 1: "Listen to the Rain on the Roof"; 1 episode | |
| 2006 | Scrubs | Dr. Lester | Season 5, episode 9: "My Half-Acre"; 1 episode | |
| 2007 | The New Adventures of Old Christine | Robert | Season 4, episode 9: "So Long and Thanks for All the Fish"; 1 episode | |
| 2008 | Childrens Hospital | Dr. Dave | Season 1, episode 1: "The Boy with the Alligator"; 1 episode | |
| 2009–2015 | The Middle | Dr. Fulton | Recurring; 8 episodes | |
| 2011 | Hot in Cleveland | Chad | Season 2, episode 12: "Bridezilla"; 1 episode | |
| 2011 | How to Be a Gentleman | Russell | Sitcom; 9 episodes | |
| 2011 | The Paul Reiser Show | Steven | Season 1, episode 5: "The Shave"; 1 episode | |
| 2013 | Newsreaders | Skip Reming | Season 1, episode 5: "Pro-Lifer Makes the Ultimate Sacrifice"; 1 episode | |
| 2013 | Call Me Crazy: A Five Film | Danny | TV special; segment "Frankie" | |
| 2014 | The Millers | Don | Season 2, episode 6: "The Twins"; 1 episode | |
| 2015–2017 | Dr. Ken | Pat | Sitcom; 44 episodes | |
| 2016 | The Odd Couple | Jerry | Season 2, episode 9: "Oscar and the Tramp"; 1 episode | |
| 2018 | The Good Place | Todd | Season 2, episode 13: "The Fetish"; 1 episode | |
| 2022 | Reboot | Ed | Season 1, episode 1: "Day One, Reboot"; 1 episode | |
| 2023 | Fargo | Danish Graves | Season 5; 10 episodes | |
| 2023 | Night Court | Duncan | Season 1, episode 5: "The Former Guy"; 1 episode | |
| 2025 | Have I Got News for You | Self | Season 3, episode 1; 1 episode | [63] |
Voice work
Dave Foley's voice acting career prominently features roles in animated films produced by Pixar, where he often portrayed insect characters with a distinctive, earnest delivery, as well as contributions to television specials, video games, and theme park experiences. His work in this medium began in the late 1990s and continued into the 2020s, showcasing his versatility in ensemble casts and lead roles alike.[64] In 1998, Foley provided the voice for Flik, the inventive and optimistic ant protagonist, in Pixar's A Bug's Life, a role that marked his major entry into feature-length animation and earned praise for capturing the character's quirky determination. That same year, he reprised Flik for the theme park attraction It's Tough to Be a Bug!, an interactive 3D short film based on the movie, which ran at Disney parks from 1998 to 2016 and immersed audiences in a bug's perspective through multisensory effects. He also voiced Flik in the accompanying video game Disney•Pixar A Bug's Life (1998), an action-adventure title where players navigated the ant colony's challenges. Foley's Pixar collaborations extended through cameos in subsequent films. In 1999's Toy Story 2, he briefly voiced a toy car version of Flik during a toy repair scene, adding a subtle nod to his earlier work. He returned in 2006's Cars as the Flik Car in an end-credits blooper reel, blending humor with his established character archetype. In 2013, Foley took on the role of Terry Perry, the more subdued half of the conjoined monster brothers Terri and Terry, in Monsters University, bringing a dry wit to the film's college-themed prequel to Monsters, Inc.. This performance carried over to the Disney+ series Monsters at Work (2021–2024), where he voiced Terry across multiple episodes set in the post-Monsters, Inc. world of the Monsters, Inc. factory. Foley's video game credits include the quirky securitron robot Yes Man in Fallout: New Vegas (2010), a role noted for its enthusiastic, unpredictable personality that aligned with his comedic timing. He later voiced Flik again in LEGO The Incredibles (2018), a crossover game featuring Pixar characters in brick-built adventures. On television, Foley starred as the world-weary elf Wayne in Disney's Prep & Landing franchise, beginning with the 2009 ABC special and continuing in Operation: Secret Santa (2010), both of which highlighted holiday-themed espionage among Santa's elves. He reprised the role in the 2025 Disney+ special Prep & Landing: The Snowball Protocol, where Wayne teams up with his eager partner Lanny for a high-stakes Christmas mission gone awry.[65]| Year | Title | Role | Medium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | A Bug's Life | Flik | Film |
| 1998 | It's Tough to Be a Bug! | Flik | Theme Park Attraction |
| 1998 | Disney•Pixar A Bug's Life | Flik | Video Game |
| 1999 | Toy Story 2 | Flik (car version) | Film (cameo) |
| 2006 | Cars | Flik Car | Film (cameo) |
| 2010 | Fallout: New Vegas | Yes Man | Video Game |
| 2013 | Monsters University | Terry Perry | Film |
| 2018 | LEGO The Incredibles | Flik | Video Game |
| 2021–2024 | Monsters at Work | Terry Perry | TV Series |
| 2025 | Prep & Landing: The Snowball Protocol | Wayne | TV Special |