For fans of Laverne & Shirley, the show’s eccentric comedy duo Lenny and Squiggy were as pivotal to the series’ funniest moments as its leading ladies. Michael McKean, who portrayed the indelible Lenny Kosnowski, might be best known for his role on the iconic ’70s and ’80s comedy, but the actor, writer, and former SNL cast member is also an Oscar-nominated songwriter and performer.
A Laverne & Shirley episode wasn’t the same without Lenny and Squiggy’s iconic entrances, their signature catchphrase “Hello!”, and the heart they brought to the show’s funniest moments, creating one of the most iconic television comedy duos of the era. In the more than 40 years since the show’s end, McKean has carved out a successful TV and film career.
Did you know Annette O’Toole & Michael McKean wrote an Oscar Nominated Song? Catch this story and more on our rewind episode of Hot Flashes & Cool Topics Podcast. #annetteotoole #amightywind #christopherguest #michaelmckean #smallville
♬ original sound - Hot Flashes & Cool TopicsOne of his most prolific collaborations has been with filmmaker Christopher Guest, with standout roles in This Is Spinal Tap and Best in Show, among others. In his work with Guest in the 2003 mockumentary A Mighty Wind, Michael McKean was able to showcase his surprising talent as both a performer and a songwriter.
McKean’s unexpected musical ability helped create one of the most memorable moments from the film. Alongside his wife, actress and musician Annette O’Toole, McKean co-wrote the film’s emotional centerpiece “A Kiss at the End of the Rainbow,” a folk ballad that earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song.
For some Laverne & Shirley fans, A Mighty Wind was their first introduction to McKean’s musical talents.
Related: 1970s TV Theme Song From a Monday Night Favorite Became a Generation’s Soundtrack
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Michael McKean and Annette O’Toole on Writing Songs for ‘A Mighty Wind | TCMFF 2023 #MichaelMcKean #AnnetteOToole #AMightyWind #Songwriting #MusicCreators #TCMFF2023 #FilmFestival #MovieMusic #BehindTheScenes #FolkMusic #ComedyFilm #MusicWriting #FilmTalk #SongwritersLife #MovieLegends #CreativeProcess #MusicCollaboration #FilmIndustry #Soundtrack #MusicFans #fyp #foryou
♬ Feline Fantasy - AMIRUL BIN RAHMANFor many fans, Michael McKean will always be Lenny from Laverne & Shirley, the goofy, well-meaning friend who became one of the most recognizable sitcom characters of the late 1970s and early 1980s.
Alongside David Lander’s Squiggy, McKean helped create one of television’s most beloved comedic partnerships. The character’s physical comedy, strange confidence, and unforgettable personality made Lenny a cultural touchstone for a generation of viewers.
But behind the comedic persona was a performer with a lifelong passion for music. Before and during his acting career, McKean developed a reputation as a talented musician, eventually showcasing those abilities in projects that blended comedy, performance, and songwriting.
How A Mighty Wind Showcased Michael McKean’s Musical Talent
Alongside David Lander’s Squiggy, McKean helped create one of television’s most loved comedic partnerships, but behind the funny entrances and spot-on one-liners was McKean’s lifelong passion for music.
In A Mighty Wind, McKean played folk musician David St. Hubbins, one half of the fictional folk duo Mitch & Mickey. The film reunited a group of fictional folk performers for a tribute concert, highlighted by the McKean and O’Toole-penned “A Kiss at the End of the Rainbow.” The song needed to feel authentic enough to belong to the fictional folk era the characters were celebrating, and it delivered that and more.
“A Kiss at the End of the Rainbow” provided one of the film’s most heartfelt moments, helping make Mitch and Mickey’s fictional relationship feel real.
The Academy recognized that achievement, earning McKean and O’Toole an Oscar nomination for Best Original Song.
More than 20 years after A Mighty Wind introduced “A Kiss at the End of the Rainbow” to audiences, Michael McKean remains one of Hollywood’s most versatile performers.
From sitcom comedy to film, theater, music, and acclaimed dramatic roles, McKean has built a career defined by reinvention. Later generations discovered his work through projects like Better Call Saul, introducing him to audiences who may not have known him first as Lenny from Laverne & Shirley.
His journey from a beloved sitcom character to an Oscar-nominated songwriter remains one of the most unexpected and impressive second acts in entertainment. Michael McKean’s career is a reminder that behind some of Hollywood’s most memorable comedic characters are artists whose varied talents are waiting to be discovered.
Related: 1984 No. 1 Hit, With Its Iconic Chorus Written in One Night, Became One of the Greatest Duets of the '80s
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