Gary Kroeger
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Gary Kroeger (born April 13, 1957) is an American actor best known for his work on Saturday Night Live from 1982 to 1985.
Born in Cedar Falls, Iowa, Kroeger graduated from Northwestern University in 1981. He joined the cast of Saturday Night Live during Lorne Michaels' hiatus from the show, under the direction of Dick Ebersol. During his tenure, Kroeger, who also wrote for the show, was frequently cast as young teenage kids. Notable impersonations on his part were those of Ed McMahon and Walter Mondale, although he is probably best remembered today for a Christmas sketch in which he and fellow cast member Julia Louis-Dreyfus perform "Blue Christmas" as Donny and Marie Osmond. The sketch culminates with the supposed brother and sister making-out with each other.
Kroeger left the show after the summer of 1985 when Lorne Michaels returned to the show and the entire cast was replaced. In the time since he has kept a fairly low profile, appearing in only a handful of movies, including a role as Reggie Mantle on 1990's Archie: To Riverdale and Back Again. He has enjoyed some success as a host of television game shows, most notably revivals of The Newlywed Game and Beat the Clock. He was also the announcer for the 2001 revival of Card Sharks and the 2002 revival of Press Your Luck called Whammy! The All-New Press Your Luck. In addition, he appeared in the sitcom "Hidden Hills," and was in an episode of HBO's "Curb Your Enthusiasm" as the weatherman. In 1990-91 he was host of Fox's Comic Strip Live. He also made a guest appearance in a Columbo episode (Death Hits the Jackpot-1991). In 2000, he hosted an infomercial for DirecTV, which played in-store at many Best Buy locations.
Kroeger recently gave up ownership of the restaurant Figaro Figaro in Simi Valley, California. He has relocated to his hometown in Iowa and can still be seen in local theater, as well as the occasional infomercial.
He is now associate creative director for Cedar Falls, Iowa-based Mudd Advertising (www.mudd.com).
