McDonald was born in Bondi, Sydney and was educated at Cranbrook School. During his time at Cranbrook, McDonald developed an interest in acting and despite family objections, went on to study at the National Institute of Dramatic Art. Early in his career, he met his wife, the actress Diane Craig, during a production of Let’s Get A Divorce. They have two grown children, and live in Berry on the NSW south coast.
It was while working on The Aunty Jack show in 1973, that McDonald first performed the character for which he would become best-known, the gauche and inept local regional TV personality, Norman Gunston. Gunston’s first appearance was in a series of brief sketches which saw him reporting uncomfortably on a “sex-scandal drought” in his hometown, the New South Wales city of Wollongong; a drought he eventually breaks by appearing nude on camera.
In 1975 McDonald revived the Gunston character for a TV series. Gunston’s trademark outfit consisted of an iridescent-blue tuxedo jacket, black stovepipe trousers, and sneakers with white socks. McDonald used makeup to make his face deathbed white and had bits of tissue drying on shaving nicks. The series, which satirised many aspects of Australian culture and show business, was a mixture of live and pre-recorded interviews, and awkward musical segments – excruciatingly sung by Gunston himself in the broadest ‘strine’ accent – and continuing comedy sketches such as “Norman’s Dreamtime” (in which Norman read stories to a group of children, such as “Why Underpants Ride Up”).
Using Gunston’s gormless personality as a cover to break down the defences of his “victims”, McDonald pioneered the satirically provocative “ambush interview” technique which was used to great effect in interviews with Paul McCartney, Muhammed Ali, Keith Moon, and Elton John. When Gunston interviewed Elton, who was in Australia to promote Tommy, Gunston began by asking “Are you going to premiere in Wollongong?” “No, but I’ve played tennis with her,” John responded. “You’re thinking of Evonne Wollongong,” Gunston said, “I’m talking about the city.
Gary McDonald also played Arthur Beare in the successful television series Mother and Son, starring alongside Ruth Cracknell.
Gary McDonald has for many years suffered from both depression and anxiety. McDonald’s condition first came to the public’s attention when he reached crisis point after an abortive attempt to revive the Gunston character in 1993. He suffered a further severe episode during the launch of a new TV series, and another attack in 2003 caused him to withdraw from a production. He now talks openly about his condition:
“You get an incredible feeling in your stomach, you become quite frightened, you can’t put two words together … it’s an absolutely awful feeling,” he said about his experience with anxiety disorder.
The award-winning actor has found help through cognitive behaviour therapy, which has shown him how to challenge negative thinking and recognise early symptoms of anxiety that could lead to a panic attack.
“It’s important to seek help early,” he says.
Garry McDonald has been a member of the Board of beyondblue, an Australian initiative which raises awareness about depression. He is also patron of the NSW branch of the Anxiety Disorders Foundation of Australia.
In 2003, McDonald was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia, for his work in the area of mental illness, in addition to his services in the entertainment industry.
