Derek McGrath
By Jay Cooper Contributor, Graphic Designer, & Musican
Actor, voiceover, HELL OF A NICE GUY!
You have seen Derek on television and in the movies. Some of his televison work includes Cheers (Andy Andy), Doc (with Billy Ray Cyrus), Little Mosque on the Prairie, Newhart, Mary, Police Academy 4, Dallas, Kim’s Convenience, Golden Girls, Good Witch, Suits, plus more. Upcoming movies include Camilla: A Fable, The Marajuana Conspiracy.
ATOTK (Jay Cooper): I’m honoured to be talk-
ing to you today. DM(Derek McGrath): Oh for God’s sake, that’s very nice, thank you. I’m totally up for the chat. Somedays I’d rather not be alive but today is not like that at all. (laughs) ATOTK: So you like the magazine or we wouldn’t be talking today (laughs) DM: Yes, of course I am and the funniest thing is I have this little place, a favourite little dinner I go to called St Dave’s Dinner just south of Lindsay and there was the December issue right there on the counter. ATOTK: Linda Kash says hello and says your a doll. DM: Linda’s wonderful and she played my wife on the show Doc and she turned me onto the Kawartha area back in 2002. ATOTK: You have over 100 acting credits and counting. That’s crazy to me! And nominated for a Gemini and Canadian Screen Award. Now, SCTV and Red Green are favourites of mine but you were also on Growing Pains, Newhart, Dallas, Who’s the Boss, Cheers, Golden Girls, Little Mosque on the Prairie, Ellen and, our Editor’s favourite, The Good Witch to name a few. And now on Kim’s Convience. DM: Yes, The Good Witch. And I just did a movie last year with the director of that show, Craig Pryce, called “The Marijuana Conspiracy”.
Derek (Andy Andy) and Shelley Long (Diane Chambers) on Cheers
Derek and his beautiful dog Gracie Photo by Kristine Hannah
ATOTK: You were born in Northern Ontario? DM: Yes, I was born in South Porcupine. It is so small that there is no North Porcupine (laughs). I grew up in Timmins, described as the biggest little town in Northern Ontario, which is mostly bars and churches (laughs). Page 18
