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Early Life

Dave Foley was born on January 4, 1963, in the Toronto district of Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada. Raised in and around Toronto, he gravitated toward comedy and performance as a young adult, finding an outlet in the city's vibrant improv and sketch scene. Toronto's comedy institutions offered a path for ambitious performers, and Foley's early focus on writing, character work, and ensemble play would become the hallmarks of his career.

Forming The Kids in the Hall

Foley's career changed course when he crossed paths with Kevin McDonald at workshops associated with Toronto's Second City community. The two began collaborating and, as their circle expanded, they connected with Bruce McCulloch and Mark McKinney, who had been developing their own material, and later with Scott Thompson. The five formed The Kids in the Hall, a troupe that fused sharp writing with bold character-based sketches. Their live shows drew attention from influential figures, including producer Lorne Michaels, who helped develop their television series. The Kids in the Hall aired from 1989 to 1995 on CBC in Canada and HBO (and later CBS) in the United States, showcasing Foley in a range of roles that highlighted his understated timing and precise character work. The troupe followed the series with the feature film Kids in the Hall: Brain Candy (1996), directed by Kelly Makin, which cemented their reputation for fearless, offbeat humor.

Breakthrough on American Television

Foley became widely known to U.S. audiences with NewsRadio, NBC's ensemble workplace comedy created by Paul Simms. From 1995 to 1999 he played Dave Nelson, the pragmatic station manager navigating the eccentric staff of WNYX. The cast featured Stephen Root, Maura Tierney, Vicki Lewis, Andy Dick, Joe Rogan, and Phil Hartman, whose performance was central to the show's identity. The series earned a loyal following for its fast rhythms and witty scripts, and the cast's chemistry, anchored by Foley's steady presence, remains a reference point for ensemble sitcoms. The production and fans were deeply affected by the tragic death of Phil Hartman in 1998, and the show closed its run the following season.

Film and Voice Acting

Parallel to television, Foley built a varied film career. He co-wrote and starred in The Wrong Guy (1997), a cult comedy directed by David Steinberg that showcased his affinity for playing earnestly bewildered everymen. He worked steadily in features and television movies, and in 2005 he appeared as a deadpan faculty member in the family film Sky High. Foley also found a durable niche in animation. In 1998 he voiced Flik, the inventive ant at the center of Pixar's A Bug's Life, directed by John Lasseter and Andrew Stanton. Years later he returned to Pixar as one of the two-headed monster Terry (opposite Sean Hayes's Terri) in Monsters University. His voice work extended to television specials as Wayne, the veteran elf in Disney's Prep & Landing franchise, pairing him with performers like Derek Richardson and Sarah Chalke.

Hosting, Panels, and Variety Work

Beyond scripted roles, Foley stayed visible as a quick-witted host and panelist. He anchored multiple seasons of Bravo's Celebrity Poker Showdown, trading commentary with poker analyst Phil Gordon and interacting with guests from film and television. The format played to his improvisational instincts and dry humor, and it kept him a familiar presence to audiences between acting projects.

Reunions and Continuing Collaborations

Foley and his fellow Kids in the Hall members maintained their creative partnership with periodic reunion tours and specials, revisiting classic characters while developing new material. Their enduring rapport culminated in a full-scale revival of The Kids in the Hall released in 2022, produced by Lorne Michaels and Broadway Video for a new streaming audience. Companion projects, including the documentary Kids in the Hall: Comedy Punks, highlighted the troupe's history and the way Foley's sensibility meshed with Kevin McDonald, Bruce McCulloch, Mark McKinney, and Scott Thompson to produce enduring sketch comedy.

Personal Life

Foley has longstanding personal and professional ties within Canadian and American entertainment. He was married to writer Tabitha Southey, with whom he has children, and later to actor and producer Crissy Guerrero, with whom he also has a child. His friendships and collaborations with fellow troupe members and colleagues like Lorne Michaels, Paul Simms, and performers from NewsRadio reflect a career shaped by ensemble work, mutual trust, and a shared commitment to craft.

Approach and Legacy

Across sketch, sitcoms, and voice roles, Foley's hallmark is an unshowy precision: an ability to hold a scene together, react with exact timing, and make eccentric premises feel grounded. As part of The Kids in the Hall, he helped redefine modern sketch comedy by blending character-based absurdity with sharp social observation, and on NewsRadio he demonstrated how a calm center can amplify an ensemble's energy. His work in A Bug's Life introduced him to a global audience, while later voice performances reminded viewers of his versatility. Through decades of stage tours, television writing rooms, and recording booths, Dave Foley's career has been built in partnership with collaborators who value intelligence, generosity, and discipline, qualities that have made him a durable figure in North American comedy.