The longest-running "MADtv" cast member to date did not start out with such career aspirations. After graduating from Servite High School (located in his hometown of Fullerton, California), Michael McDonald pursued a business major at the University of Southern California. Once he received his business degree from USC, Michael accepted a job as a loan officer at a Los Angeles Bank. At one point, he even worked as a kindergarten assistant. In an interview that he granted years later, Michael referred to it as the toughest job he has ever had: "By midday, when the kids were taking their naps, I’d put my head on the desk and take one, too. I was exhausted." Michael does note, however, that some of the inspiration for his most famous "MADtv" character, Stuart, comes from those challenging experiences with the youngsters.

Ironically, once Michael gave up on his acting pursuits, the offers started rolling in. He tested for not only "Saturday Night Live" and "MADtv" but also a sitcom, all within the span of a week. In 1998, at the start of the show's fourth season, Michael at last became a "MADtv" cast member. Although he began Season Four of "MADtv" as a featured player, he was quickly bumped up to full cast member status. After eight seasons of performing and writing sketches on "MADtv," Michael finally got the chance to direct again as he stepped behind the camera for a few Season 12 episodes.
Michael also found plenty of outside projects to keep him busy during his "MADtv" tenure. In addition to his guest appearances on shows such as "Seinfeld" and "Ellen," Michael had a recurring role on "Scrubs" and was even granted the opportunity to direct a "Scrubs" episode in 2007 ("My Conventional Wisdom"). Among Michael's film credits are brief appearances in all three Austin Powers movies and a starring role in 2006's Moonpie, which also stars one of his former "MADtv" coworkers, Stephnie Weir. Michael even found time to do a little stage work: once again with Stephnie Weir, he starred in the Cape Playhouse production of A.R. Gurney's The Dining Room.

After the show's thirteenth season, Michael announced that his ten-year stay on "MADtv" had indeed come to a close. Although he did not give a specific reason for his abrupt departure, many fans suspected that the drastically different Season 13 format for the series, as well as the move to the Henry Fonda Theater that year, disheartened the veteran, who, like the other cast members, had a fondness for the show's old studio and its original, time-honored format. Even so, fans can take solace in the fact that this endlessly talented performed is now free to dedicate himself to those other aforementioned entertainment endeavors, which will surely come his way in droves. While fans will always miss the presence of the long-time "MADtv" cast member, who always seemed somehow synonymous with the series, rest assured that the comedy world certainly has not heard the last of Michael McDonald.