Patrick McKenna - Early Life

Early Life

It was from the help of a high school teacher that he became interested in Second City, something that would change his life forever.

His teacher took him to a show at Second City Toronto, McKenna knew right then what he wanted to do with his life. Because McKenna had undiagnosed ADD/ADHD, he had a difficult time in school. He was not a problematic child, he just could not control his actions, therefore affecting his success in school. After graduating from high school, Patrick did attend and graduate from Sheridan College with a business degree in 1982.

To help with tuition for college, McKenna worked at Second City, not on the main stage, but eventually working his way to being the night manager. It was during this time that Patrick was studying how the game of "Improv" worked. Finally, in 1983 he auditioned to be up on the main stage and got the job.

During the 1980s McKenna tried his hand at stand-up comedy. He traveled Canada and the US for five years performing his act.

During the late 1980s one night at Second City, when McKenna received an acting job offer that would change his life for the next 15 years. Steve Smith, creator of "The Red Green Show," was recruiting a cast and also sidekick for his new show. Smith had heard of Patrick, but didn't necessarily come to Second City that night for him, he was scoping out the entire troupe. It was when Patrick did his twitchy nerd character, that Smith knew he had his sidekick. He approached McKenna after the show and he accepted the part. This twitchy nerd character would be seen on television screens throughout Canada and the US, for the next 15 years, as the loveable nephew Harold Green on "The Red Green Show."