Philip Charles MacKenzie

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Birthday: May 7, 1946

Birthplace: Brooklyn, New York, USA

Philip Charles MacKenzie spent the first half of his career as a supporting actor in dozens of television shows, and the second half as a television director. His film debut was a bit role in "Dog Day Afternoon" (1975), and he spent the better part of the next decade bouncing between TV guest appearances until landing on "Brothers" in 1984. A sitcom on United States premium channel Showtime about the lives of three Philadelphia siblings, "Brothers" broke ground with the gay-themed storyline centering around the youngest, just "out" brother, Cliff (Paul Regina) and his flamboyantly gay friend Donald, played by MacKenzie. His work as Donald won MacKenzie a CableACE award for Best Actor in a Comedy, and also introduced him to his true calling behind the camera, as MacKenzie would eventually direct 10 "Brothers" episodes. Though continuing to act, particularly in short-lived "Duet" spinoff "Open House" with spouse Alison LaPlaca, by the early 1990s MacKenzie transitioned to a full-time directorial career focused on sitcoms, helming multiple episodes of 1990s staples "Roseanne," "Frasier," and "Suddenly Susan," among others. In the 2000s, he directed 36 episodes of long-lived Jim Belushi comedy "According to Jim," as well as establishing himself as an instructor for aspiring film and television actors.