John McConnell

John "Spud" McConnell (born November 13, 1958) is an American actor and television/radio personality based in New Orleans, Louisiana. He is married to actor/producer Maureen Brennan.

McConnell is a character actor who has appeared in more than 40 films, ranging from obscure independent films (mostly filmed locally in New Orleans, or elsewhere set in the Gulf Coast region) to major cinematic release movies such as O Brother, Where Art Thou?, Django Unchained, 12 Years a Slave, and Interview with the Vampire. McConnell has also appeared in numerous plays, including an off-Broadway run in the one-man show The Kingfish, wherein he portrays colorful Louisiana Governor Huey P. Long. He is perhaps best known for having portrayed Ignatius J. Reilly from the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel A Confederacy of Dunces, and in that role was the model for a life-sized bronze statue of the fictitious character on historic Canal Street in downtown New Orleans.

On television, McConnell has had recurring roles in several series, among them Underground and Hap & Leonard. He also made several appearances over three seasons of Roseanne, with good friend and colleague John Goodman. McConnell was also featured in a recurring role on the FX series The Riches, and on the HBO series Treme as a (fictional) disc jockey at (real life) radio station WWOZ.

For 11 years McConnell was the #1 afternoon radio personality in the Gulf South, hosting a daily call-in talk show, "The Spud Show", on WWL 870 AM and 105.3 FM.

In early 2019, McConnell began hosting the morning drive show on KKND (FM). Like his earlier show on WWL, it was also called "The Spud Show" but featured music, in the station's classic hits format, and less politics and talk. On September 8, 2020, KKND switched to hot adult contemporary and dropped McConnell's morning show.

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Notes 1990 Miller's Crossing Officer Bryan 1991 Firehead Computer Man 1991 Convicts Guard #1 1992 Delta Heat LaSalle 1992 The Lady in Waiting Extra Short film 1993 King of the Hill Patrolman Burns 1994 Mutant Species Redneck 1994 Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles Gambler 1995 Body Count Truck Driver 1995 Born Wild Sheriff 1997 Baby Ghost The Mayor 2000 Tony Bravo in Scenes from a Forgotten Cinema Tony "Two Horns" 2000 O Brother, Where Art Thou? Woolworths Manager 2001 Malpractice Walter 2001 Above & Beyond "Whitey" 2001 Monster's Ball Harvey Shoonmaker 2002 Love Liza High School Principal #1 2002 Hometown Legend Rock Hill Coach 2002 The Scoundrel's Wife Dance Hall Owner 2002 Blood Feast 2: All U Can Eat Detective Loomis 2002 The Badge Ornell 2004 The Ladykillers Deputy Sheriff 2004 Mr. 3000 Hall of Fame President 2005 Because of Winn-Dixie Store Manager 2006 Glory Road Exhibition Game Tournament Director 2006 The Novice Luther 2006 The Last Time Barney 2006 Déjà Vu Sheriff Reed 2007 Flakes Ashton Hale 2007 The Reaping Mayor Brooks 2008 Leatherheads Bullhorn Fireman 2009 Beyond a Reasonable Doubt Vernon Green 2009 Alabama Moon Mr. Mitchell 2010 Jonah Hex Stunk Crick Sheriff 2011 The Mechanic Vaughn 2011 Love, Wedding, Marriage Grateful Husband 2011 Colombiana Smith 2011 Seeking Justice Liquor Store Clerk 2012 Killing Them Softly Bartender #2 2012 Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter Scroll Official 2012 The Baytown Outlaws Representative Hawkins 2012 The Alternatives Detective Starch Short film 2012 Stolen Drunk Businessman 2012 Django Unchained Unknown Role 2013 2 Guns Officer Dave 2013 12 Years a Slave Jonus Ray 2013 Humidity Captain Morgan 2014 Elsa & Fred Main In Window 2014 13 Sins Detective 2014 Cat Run 2 Guy Mancini 2014 Black or White Vertell 2014 Left Behind Big Man 2015 Socialwerk The Bishop Short film 2015 Return to Sender Choking Man Direct-to-video 2016 Abattoir McDermott 2016 The Duel Saul 2016 Nigel and Oscar Vs. The Sasquatch Chuck

Television Year Title Role Notes 1989 False Witness Police Officer Television movie 1991 This Gun for Hire Lieutenant Leoville Television movie 1991 Doublecrossed Mr. Lambert Television movie 1992 Unsolved Mysteries Huey Long Episode: 5.3 1995 Jake Lassiter: Justice on the Bayou Remmy Television movie 1995 Kingfish: A Story of Huey P. Long Television movie 1996 The Big Easy "Skank" Episode: "Stodermeyer" 1994-1996 Roseanne Bob 11 episodes 1997 Orleans 1st FBI Agent Episode: "Baby-Sitting" 2001 Going to California Homicidal Elvis Episode: "Taking Care of Biscuits" 2004 Miracle Run Unknown Role Television movie 2004 Pop Rocks Cop Television movie 2004 Torn Apart Detective Television movie 2004 Growing Pains: Return of the Seavers Foreman Television movie 2004 The Brooke Ellison Story Mr. Jacobs Television movie 2004 The Madam's Family: The Truth About the Canal Street Brothel The Bartender Television movie 2005 Elvis Disc Jockey 2 episodes 2005 Pizza My Heart Customer #2 Television movie 2006 The Year Without a Santa Claus Dog Catcher Television movie 2007 The Riches Mick O'Malley 2 episodes 2007 Ruffian Tony Pappas Television movie 2009 Midnight Bayou Oscar Television movie 2010 Memphis Beat Karl King 1 episode 2010-2011 Treme DJ Jeffy Jeff 7 episodes 2015 Scream Queens Bailiff 1 episodes 2016 Underground Schafer 2 episodes 2016-2017 Hap and Leonard Judge Beau Otis 6 episodes 2020 Filthy Rich Virgil Love Recurring

Stage Opening Date Production Role Theatre Notes March 15, 1991 The Kingfish Huey P. Long John Houseman Theatre, New York, NY Also credited as: Designer January 12, 1993 Henry V Pistol Theater at St. Clement's Church, New York, NY June 24, 1997 Always...Patsy Cline Variety Arts Theatre, New York, NY Production Stage Manager