Choke on that, baby! Shooter McGavin fancies a stay at The White Lotus
Not a day goes by when someone doesn’t walk up to Christopher McDonald and ask him, quite sincerely, if he eats pieces of shit for breakfast. “I’ll be walking through an airport or sitting in a restaurant and someone will scream it out to me,” explains McDonald during a recent trip to Australia.
The iconic line is a throwback to McDonald’s role as Shooter McGavin from Adam Sandler’s classic 1996 golf movie, Happy Gilmore and has since become a catchphrase for McGavin fans worldwide.
Playing Shooter McGavin in Happy Gilmore made Christopher McDonald a household name.Credit:
“About 90 per cent of the time, I love it and will scream it right back, sometimes it’s awkward if I am sitting with my family, or I’m about to put food in my mouth,” McDonald says, laughing. “But really, that role is a gift.”
It’s about to be a gift that keeps on giving, with the long-awaited sequel, Happy Gilmore 2, set to premiere on Netflix on July 25, nearly 30 years after the first film. Adam Sandler returns as Happy, in addition to familiar faces, including McDonald, Julie Bowen and Ben Stiller.
“I’ve always been an ambassador for a sequel, but then five years went by, 10 years went by, 20 years, and I thought maybe the window had closed,” McDonald says.
“Then Sandler got together with Tim Herlihy, his co-writer, and it turned out to be a beautiful script that I think people will love.”
Christopher McDonald, Julie Bower and Adam Sandler in the 1996 film Happy Gilmore.Credit:
To a generation of fans, McDonald will always be inseparable from McGavin, but the veteran actor has remained busy, most notably starring in the award-winning comedy Hacks as Marty Ghilain, chief executive of the fictional Palmetto casino in Las Vegas and one-time love interest of Deborah (Jean Smart).
The role earned McDonald a Primetime Emmy Award for outstanding guest actor in a comedy series in 2022, and has introduced the 70-year-old to a new legion of comedy lovers.
“Hacks has got such a brilliant following, and the actors I work with are just geniuses,” he says. “My biggest regret is that I am not in the fourth season [now airing on Stan] much because I was shooting Happy Gilmore 2, but I am grateful they kept me around, it’s up there with the best writing on TV.”
McDonald channeling his Happy Gilmore character a bit for season three as his character Marty hits the golf course alongside Deborah Vance (Jean Smart) in Hacks.Credit: Stan
When pushed to reveal which other shows he loves, McDonald doesn’t hesitate. “I was obsessed with The White Lotus – talk about a dream job.”
It’s no secret that The White Lotus is among the hottest contested roles in TV. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Carrie Coon – who played Laurie in season three – opened up about the competitive nature of the show. “These roles are highly coveted by all of our friends,” she explained. “Everyone auditions for The White Lotus.”
According to reports, season three hopefuls included Woody Harrelson, Lily Allen and Evan Peters. And while McDonald might be part of a long list, in Hollywood, it’s all about who you know.
“I actually did a show with Mike White back in the day called Cracking Up, it was a short-lived sitcom on Fox,” McDonald reveals.
The 2004 series, created by White, was cancelled after just six episodes, but even then, McDonald could sense he was in the presence of greatness. “He’s got a real talent for human observation, I used to watch him on the set and be fascinated because we’d be taping something, and he’d rush off to the side, find a place that was quiet and then make these freehand changes to the script,” he says. “There’s a level of genius to Mike White that I’d love to be involved with.”
Chris McDonald as Ted, Jake Sandvig as Preston, David Walton as Liam, and (bottom row from left) Bret Loehr as Tanner, Molly Shannon as Lesley, Jason Schwartzman as Ben and Caitlin Wachs as Chloe in Mike White’s shortlived sitcom Cracking Up.Credit:
The idea of Shooter McGavin checking into The White Lotus might seem far-fetched, but it’s precisely the kind of inspired casting the show has become known for. Failing that, McDonald seems content with his lot in life. The enduring legacy of Happy Gilmore has turned him into a cult figure.
During our interview, three people stopped to say hello or quote lines from the film – little wonder he is such a hit on Cameo, the website where people order personalised videos from celebrities.
While also giving him a level of commercial appeal that makes him an attractive ambassador for companies such as Uber. The company tapped the actor to travel to Australia and promote its subscription service Uber One and its partnership with fast food giant McDonald’s.
“I’ve always joked that Ronald is my long-lost brother, so I was the perfect pick for this,” laughs McDonald.
The campaign features McDonald recreating scenes from Happy Gilmore, a savvy marketing move ahead of the film’s sequel. “Like I said earlier, Shooter is the gift that keeps on giving,” says McDonald, flashing a grin. Hard to argue with that.
Find more of the author’s work here. Email him at thomas.mitchell@smh.com.au or follow him on Instagram at @thomasalexandermitchell and on Twitter @_thmitchell.