David Michael Koechner is a famed American actor and comedian who began his career in improv in 1987. He is best known for his distinct roles as Champ Kind in the Anchorman films and Todd Packer on NBC’s renowned American sitcom The Office.

DAVID KOECHNER BIOGRAPHY: AGE, EARLY LIFE, FAMILY, EDUCATION

David Koechner was born on August 24, 1962 (David Koechner age: 60) in Tipton, Missouri, to Margaret Ann and Cecil Stephen Koechner. He has three sisters, Mary-Rose, Cecilia and Joan, as well as two brothers, Joe and Mark.

Koechner was raised Catholic and is of German, Irish and English descent. He studied political science at Benedictine College and at the University of Missouri, before eventually deciding to relocate to Chicago in order to try and pursue a career in improvisational comedy. After attending Chicago’s ImprovOlympic and studying under renowned improvisation instructor Del Close, Koechner joined The Second City comedy troupe in Chicago, graduating in 1994.

DAVID KOECHNER BIOGRAPHY: CAREER, ‘SNL’

In 1995, Koechner successfully landed a year-long stint on Saturday Night Live, joining the popular television show with Second City friends like Nancy Walls, who is married to legendary actor Steve Carell, with whom Koechner later wound up acting with in The Office. During his time at SNL, Koechner befriended guest writer David ‘Gruber’ Allen and fellow castmate Will Ferrell.

In an exclusive interview with uInterview, Koechner spoke about how he got into comedy and acting, as well as his first experience with SNL.

“I’m the third of six kids, so it may have come out of necessity because I think, the way I look at it, I was attention-seeking at school,” Koechner reflected. “I distinctly remember in third grade, probably being a particular problem to my teachers, beginning about then. But by problem I mean, you know, you’re making your classmates laugh. So, I’m from a very small town in Missouri and I’d never met an actor, this is pre-internet obviously. I didn’t know anybody in the arts. My mother’s side of the family, the closest thing to the arts were, I had two priests and two nuns as aunts and uncles, along with eight more aunts and uncles on my mom’s side. And my uncle used to play guitar, one of the priests, so that was fun. He’s kind of an entertainer in that regard. So, that was my only exposure, and so when I was 13 I was really into comedy and watching everything I could, and this is only with three channels. This is not with cable, and so I was 13 when SNL came on the air and I said to myself, ‘I’m going to be on that show,’ and the rest is history.”

Koechner also went on to recall specific memories he had while filming Dotty & Soul and what it was like working alongside some of his fellow crew members.

“The specific memory I’m sure everyone is echoing is that we shot this over three decades,” Koechner stated. “We started in March or April of 2019 and then we got halted by Covid, and then we had another quick start, I think. And then many, many dates were put on hold, like, ‘We’re gonna go, we’re gonna go.’ Then, we finished it. So, you know to say what’s most memorable is that we filmed it in that particular time, that years from now grandchildren, will whisper to each other, ‘Don’t ask Grandma or Grandpa about 2022 or about 2020 (or 2021).'”

When speaking about fellow castmate Leslie Uggams, here is what Koechner had to say:

“It’s a privilege to work with her. My favorite memories were talking to her about her early days in show business and hearing about her family, where she grew up, where she came from and then her early days getting jobs. Just to have the privilege to share some time with a person like that, it gives you a sense of peace.”

Koechner also went on to reveal what he felt was the funniest moment while filming Anchorman 2.

“Funniest moment,” Koechner pondered. “Well, there was a funny moment every day. So, it’s hard to choose one. Though the lighthouse scene was very hard to hold it together. That was a very arduous day because it was so ridiculous and we were all cracking up to tears, honestly, to tears.”

DAVID KOECHNER BIOGRAPHY: PERSONAL LIFE

Koechner currently resides in Los Angeles, California.

He got married to Leigh Koechner in June 1998 and was married for over 20 years before filing for divorce in 2020. They have five children together, and Koechner even has the names of his wife and all his children permanently inked onto his upper right arm.

Koechner performs regularly in a variety of comedy clubs in Los Angeles, and he even has a website that provides information regarding his upcoming tours and events.

Koechner is very active on social media platforms, such as Instagram and Twitter, where he has garnered thousands of followers. He has also opened a self-titled YouTube channel onto which he posts his comedy videos regularly.

 

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