John McConnell (actor)

John "Spud" McConnell (born November 13, 1958) is an American actor[1] and television/radio personality based in New Orleans, Louisiana. He is married to actor/producer Maureen Brennan.

John McConnell
McConnell at the "BP Oil Flood" protest in New Orleans
Born (1958-11-13) November 13, 1958 (age 66)
OccupationActor

McConnell is a character actor who has appeared in more than 40 films, ranging from obscure independent films (mostly filmed locally in New Orleans, or elsewhere set in the Gulf Coast region) to major cinematic release movies such as O Brother, Where Art Thou?, Django Unchained, 12 Years a Slave, and Interview with the Vampire. McConnell has also appeared in numerous plays, including an off-Broadway run in the one-man show The Kingfish, wherein he portrays colorful Louisiana Governor Huey P. Long. He is perhaps best known for having portrayed Ignatius J. Reilly from the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel A Confederacy of Dunces, and in that role was the model for a life-sized bronze statue of the fictitious character on historic Canal Street in downtown New Orleans.

On television, McConnell has had recurring roles in several series, among them Underground and Hap & Leonard. He also made several appearances over three seasons of Roseanne, with good friend and colleague John Goodman. McConnell was also featured in a recurring role on the FX series The Riches, and on the HBO series Treme as a (fictional) disc jockey at (real life) radio station WWOZ.

For 11 years McConnell was the #1 afternoon radio personality in the Gulf South, hosting a daily call-in talk show, "The Spud Show", on WWL 870 AM and 105.3 FM.

In early 2019, McConnell began hosting the morning drive show on KKND (FM). Like his earlier show on WWL, it was also called "The Spud Show" but featured music, in the station's classic hits format, and less politics and talk. On September 8, 2020, KKND switched to hot adult contemporary and dropped McConnell's morning show.[2]

Super Saints fan John "Spud" McConnell, just prior to Super Bowl XLIV

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1990 Miller's Crossing Officer Bryan
1991 Firehead Computer Man
1991 Convicts Guard #1
1992 Delta Heat LaSalle
1992 The Lady in Waiting Extra Short film
1993 King of the Hill Patrolman Burns
1994 Mutant Species Redneck
1994 Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles Gambler
1995 Body Count Truck Driver
1995 Born Wild Sheriff
1997 Baby Ghost The Mayor
2000 Tony Bravo in Scenes from a Forgotten Cinema Tony "Two Horns"
2000 O Brother, Where Art Thou? Woolworths Manager
2001 Malpractice Walter
2001 Above & Beyond "Whitey"
2001 Monster's Ball Harvey Shoonmaker
2002 Love Liza High School Principal #1
2002 Hometown Legend Rock Hill Coach
2002 The Scoundrel's Wife Dance Hall Owner
2002 Blood Feast 2: All U Can Eat Detective Loomis
2002 The Badge Ornell
2004 The Ladykillers Deputy Sheriff
2004 Mr. 3000 Hall of Fame President
2005 Because of Winn-Dixie Store Manager
2006 Glory Road Exhibition Game Tournament Director
2006 The Novice Luther
2006 The Last Time Barney
2006 Déjà Vu Sheriff Reed
2007 Flakes Ashton Hale
2007 The Reaping Mayor Brooks
2008 Leatherheads Bullhorn Fireman
2009 Beyond a Reasonable Doubt Vernon Green
2009 Alabama Moon Mr. Mitchell
2010 Jonah Hex Stunk Crick Sheriff
2011 The Mechanic Vaughn
2011 Love, Wedding, Marriage Grateful Husband
2011 Colombiana Smith
2011 Seeking Justice Liquor Store Clerk
2012 Killing Them Softly Bartender #2
2012 Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter Scroll Official
2012 The Baytown Outlaws Representative Hawkins
2012 The Alternatives Detective Starch Short film
2012 Stolen Drunk Businessman
2012 Django Unchained Unknown Role
2013 2 Guns Officer Dave
2013 12 Years a Slave Jonus Ray
2013 Humidity Captain Morgan
2014 Elsa & Fred Main In Window
2014 13 Sins Detective
2014 Cat Run 2 Guy Mancini
2014 Black or White Vertell
2014 Left Behind Big Man
2015 Socialwerk The Bishop Short film
2015 Return to Sender Choking Man Direct-to-video
2016 Abattoir McDermott
2016 The Duel Saul
2016 Nigel and Oscar Vs. The Sasquatch Chuck

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1989 False Witness Police Officer Television movie
1991 This Gun for Hire Lieutenant Leoville Television movie
1991 Doublecrossed Mr. Lambert Television movie
1992 Unsolved Mysteries Huey Long Episode: 5.3
1995 Jake Lassiter: Justice on the Bayou Remmy Television movie
1995 Kingfish: A Story of Huey P. Long Television movie
1996 The Big Easy "Skank" Episode: "Stodermeyer"
1994-1996 Roseanne Bob 11 episodes
1997 Orleans 1st FBI Agent Episode: "Baby-Sitting"
2001 Going to California Homicidal Elvis Episode: "Taking Care of Biscuits"
2004 Miracle Run Unknown Role Television movie
2004 Pop Rocks Cop Television movie
2004 Torn Apart Detective Television movie
2004 Growing Pains: Return of the Seavers Foreman Television movie
2004 The Brooke Ellison Story Mr. Jacobs Television movie
2004 The Madam's Family: The Truth About the Canal Street Brothel The Bartender Television movie
2005 Elvis Disc Jockey 2 episodes
2005 Pizza My Heart Customer #2 Television movie
2006 The Year Without a Santa Claus Dog Catcher Television movie
2007 The Riches Mick O'Malley 2 episodes
2007 Ruffian Tony Pappas Television movie
2009 Midnight Bayou Oscar Television movie
2010 Memphis Beat Karl King 1 episode
2010-2011 Treme DJ Jeffy Jeff 7 episodes
2015 Scream Queens Bailiff 1 episodes
2016 Underground Schafer 2 episodes
2016-2017 Hap and Leonard Judge Beau Otis 6 episodes
2020 Filthy Rich Virgil Love Recurring

Stage

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Opening Date Production Role Theatre Notes
March 15, 1991 The Kingfish Huey P. Long John Houseman Theatre, New York, NY Also credited as: Designer
January 12, 1993 Henry V Pistol Theater at St. Clement's Church, New York, NY
June 24, 1997 Always...Patsy Cline Variety Arts Theatre, New York, NY Production Stage Manager

References

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  1. ^ "John McConnell". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Archived from the original on January 30, 2013.
  2. ^ "New Orleans' '106.7 the Krewe' Moves from Classic Hits to Hot AC". September 9, 2020.
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