Adam McKay is a multitalented and highly-acclaimed Hollywood filmmaker, comedian, and actor. In the late 90s, he had a successful 2-season-stint as the head writer of the hit comedy series, Saturday Night Live, through which he gained national prominence. In the early 2000s, he forged a creative partnership with fellow Hollywood star, Will Ferrell, and together, they have worked on some of the most successful comedy films of the past 2 decades.
Though he recorded significant box-office success, McKay did not earn much critical acclaim for his work until recently. All that changed when he worked on the 2015 comedy biopic, The Big Short, for which he received 2 Oscar nominations, including one win. He received even more recognition when he wrote, directed, and co-produced the 2018 comedy biopic, Vice, for which he received 3 nominations at the 91st Academy Awards among other accolades.
Biography – Who Is Adam McKay?
Adam McKay was born on the 17th of April 1968 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He attended Great Valley High School in Chester County, Pennsylvania. For college, he attended the Pennsylvania State University and later transferred to Temple University. However, he quit college a semester-and-a-half before he could complete his degree. As a budding comedian, he performed and trained with Chicago’s Improv Olympic (iO Theatre) and went on to form the Upright Citizens Brigade improv comedy group with 7 other comedians. McKay equally performed with the Second City improvisational comedy troupe in the very early days of his showbiz career.
Adam McKay got hired as a writer on Saturday Night Live (SNL) in 1995. He also made a number of on-screen appearances during his 6-year tenure on the show and he equally served as head writer for 2 seasons. Upon his departure from SNL, McKay forged a formidable creative partnership with fellow actor, comedian, producer, and writer, Will Ferrell. Together, they founded the production company Gary Sanchez Productions in 2006. They also founded a comedy website “Funny or Die” in April 2007.
McKay’s collaboration with Will Ferrell yielded several successful comedy movies including 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). The talented duo also co-produced the hit horror comedy films Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters (2013), Tammy (2014), Get Hard (2015), and Daddy’s Home (2015). They also worked together on a few TV series and stage shows.
Without collaborating with , Adam McKay worked on the 2015 comedy biopic, The Big Short, doubling as the screenwriter and director. The movie received 5 Oscar nominations, 5 BAFTA nominations, 3 Golden Globe nominations, among several others. McKay’s work in the film earned him both the Academy Award and BAFTA Award for Best Adapted Screenplay. He also rewrote the script for the blockbuster superhero film, Ant-Man (2015).
Adam McKay reached another career milestone for his work in Vice (2018), which was based on the life of former US Vice President, Dick Cheney. He wrote, co-produced, and directed the highly successful movie which received numerous nominations during the 2019 award season. The movie received 6 BAFTA nominations as well as 6 Golden Globe nominations. It also received an astonishing 8 nominations at the 91st Academy Awards; 3 for McKay himself for Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Picture.
His Net Worth
McKay’s showbiz career spans over 2 decades and he has recorded commendable success within this period. Thanks to the multifaceted nature of his talents, he has also remained relevant in the industry and continues to expand his scope of influence as the years roll by. Through this and several other business ventures, the Academy Award-winning filmmaker has built a vast wealth valued at $40 Million.
Wife and Daughters
Adam McKay has been married for over 2 decades to Shira Piven, a movie director, producer, and occasional actress. This couple tied the knot back in 1996 and they have 2 children together. Their first child was born in 2001, a daughter named Lili Rose McKay. The couple welcomed their second child in 2006, a daughter named Pearl. Both of McKay’s daughters have starred in some of his films in the past but only time would tell if they would eventually make a career out of the profession. His older daughter Lili Rose McKay is also a budding musician.
Height – How Tall Is He?
Adam McKay is quite gigantic in stature as he stands at a towering height of 6 feet 5 inches (196 cm). Indeed, this is one of his most distinctive physical features.
