The last living member of the show’s original cast, Michael McKean brought a special sparkle to the eye of the dimwitted but sweet-natured Lenny Kosnowski. A character he created with co-star and longtime friend David L. Lander in college, Lenny is kind and soft compared to Squiggy’s tougher, harder edginess. But together, their bite isn’t nearly as bad as their bark.
A savvy musician before he ended up on “Laverne & Shirley,” McKean launched a film career during the dying days of the sitcom. “This is Spinal Tap” became a cult classic that has passed firmly into legend over the decades. The actor has since made a name for himself as a character performer in movies like “Clue,” “Earth Girls Are Easy,” and Christopher Guest’s mockumentary films. He’s also popped up in shows such as “The Diplomat” and “Better Call Saul,” for which he received an Emmy nomination.
At 76, he holds frequent court on his X, formerly known as Twitter, account — and shows no sign of slowing down as an actor. He’s currently in the middle of filming a sequel to “This is Spinal Tap,” tentatively titled “Spinal Tap II.”