Christopher McDonald is an American actor. He is known for his roles as Darryl Dickinson in Thelma & Louise (1991), Shooter McGavin in Happy Gilmore (1996), Ward Cleaver in the film adaptation of Leave It to Beaver (1997), Kent Mansley in The Iron Giant (1999), Tappy Tibbons in Requiem for a Dream (2000), and Mel Allen in the HBO film 61* (2001).McDonald was born in New York City, the son of Patricia, a nursing professor and real estate agent, and James R. McDonald, an educator and high school principal. He is of Irish descent. He was raised in Romulus, New York, and is a graduate of Hobart College in Geneva, New York where he played football and soccer. His younger brother, actor Daniel McDonald, died of brain cancer in February 2007. Wikipedia