Happy Birthday actor Bret McKenzie

Born: June 29, 1976 in New Zealand

Married to:
Hannah Clarke (18 March 2009 – present)

QUOTES:

The ‘Muppets’ were a very big part of my childhood, and ‘Flight of the Conchords’ definitely has elements of the ‘Muppets’ in it, specifically the way we mixed music and comedy.

One of the mistakes I made was thinking chickens and penguins could sing, just like all the other animals in the ‘Muppets.’ But it turns out those animals are not allowed to sing words.

I think the radio is kind of cool, because you’re really free to do whatever you want, because you can go into another world. Whereas in TV, you have to make that world.

My acting’s very understated. I think my sad and happy don’t play that differently onscreen.

Music-wise, I listen to everything. Leonard Cohen, Randy Newman – I guess I like a lot of ’70s music.

It’s easy to struggle in New York. I think New York is a bit expensive.
I grew up watching the ‘Muppets.’ In New Zealand, the ‘Muppets’ were as big as anywhere else I think. It was a pretty global phenomenon.

[on films of the ’30s and ’40s] It was such a golden age for musicals. Those years are so influential on us now with what they did for films with musical numbers. I’m jealous of that time. It seemed like the actors spent most of their time doing dancing and singing lessons, and they’d come on set and know all the moves. And they could all sing as we’ll. Now you’re dealing with actors who can’t sing or dance, but think they can.