Michael McKean, Ed Begley Jr. to Join Christopher Guest's HBO Comedy

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Fred Willard, Michael McKean and Ed Begley Jr. have joined The Cast of Christopher Guest's new HBO docu-style comedy FAMILY TREE in recurring roles. Don Lake will also guest on the series. 

The project will follow a "30-year-old Tom Chadwick (Chris O'Dowd) who, after losing his job and his girlfriend, begins exploring his family heritage after inheriting a mysterious box from a great aunt he never met. Unsure of his identity, he uncovers a world of unusual stories and characters - as well as a growing sense of who he and his real family are."

Begley will portray Tom's Uncle Andy, Willard will take on the role of Andy's neighbor, Mike; and McKean is set to play Tom's father, Keith. Lake will play a friend of Tom's cousin. Begley, Willard and McKean have appeared in many of Guest's mockumentary style feature films including For Your Consideration, A Mighty Wind, Best in Show and This Is Spinal Tap.

HBO announced last month that it had picked up Family Tree and ordered eight episodes of the single-camera half hour comedy straight to series. The project is being produced by NBC Universal International TV's Lucky Giant Productions' Guest, Piddock and Karen Murphy.

McKean was starring in the recent revival of Gore Vidal's THE BEST MAN on Broadway before he suffered injuries after being struck by a car in New York City in May. He has also appeared in Broadway's Superior Donuts, The Homecoming, The Pajama Game, Hair, Hairspray and Accomplice. Off-Broadway, McKean has starred in King Lear, Our Town, A Second Hand Memory and more. McKean is well known for playing Lenny on "Laverne & Shirley" and David St. Hubbins in "This Is Spinal Tap."

Photo credit: Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.

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