Gary McDonald's illustrious career began at the esteemed Royal Court Theatre, where he progressed to perform in numerous productions, including "Hardtime Pressure", "Hero's Welcome", Gregory Motton's "Downfall", "Some Singing Blood", and the critically acclaimed "Been So Long". This vast theatre background enabled him to be at the forefront of the black theatre explosion in the 80's, collaborating with prominent companies such as BTC and Talawa in productions like "A Raisin in the Sun" and "The Importance of Being Earnest".
Gary's television debut as Ethnic in Jack Rosenthal's Bafta award-winning "London's Burning" pilot garnered critical acclaim, with his performance being described as "moving and sensitive". This led to his casting as Darren Roberts, the flashy and brash character, in the popular soap opera "EastEnders". However, after a year, he left the show to return to theatre, performing in productions at the National Theatre with directors Peter Gill and John Burgess in "Macbeth" and "Black Poppies" respectively.
Gary's versatility in film and television led to him securing lead roles in "Valentine Falls" alongside Michelle Fairley and Ian McElhinney, and "Shooting Stars" by Barry Hines, directed by Chris Bernard. On prime-time television, he became a regular on hit shows like "Thief Takers", "Brothers and Sisters", and Sky One's flagship "Dreamteam". As a stalwart of the Mike Leigh process, Gary worked with his mentor on productions like "Secrets and Lies", "All or Nothing", and the sell-out play "It's a Great Big Shame".
Gary's impressive theatre credits continued with his performance at the acting powerhouse Donmar Warehouse in "Lobby Hero", which later transferred to the West End. He returned to the National Theatre to play Leonardo in "Blood Wedding" and the Trader in "Market Boy". Gary has also ventured into American productions, appearing in "Numb3rs" and several independent films, including "Until Death", "The Shepherd" with Jean-Claude Van Damme, "Mob Rules" for Lionsgate, and "MOW 'Airforce One is Down'". In the UK, he starred in "Outpost 2: Black Sun" and is set to appear in the soon-to-be-released "Lapse of Honor".
