Biographical information

David McKail was born in Glasgow, Scotland on 13 March 1938, a Sunday (at 10 o'clock in the morning for the benefit of astrologers).  He was educated at John Street Elementary School and John Street Senior Secondary School for a term before attending Allan Glen's School (which also produced the the actors Dirk Bogarde and Duncan Macrae) whence he graduated in 1955 with a Scottish Higher Leaving Certificate showing passes in English (Language & Literature), History (British & European) and Science (Physics & Chemistry).  He played rugby and rowed, being stroke of the boat which won the Glasgow Schools' Championship in 1955.  Prior to National Service in the Royal Army Service Corps he was a trainee sub-editor with the Scottish Daily Record a national tabloid which was the Scottish Daily Mirror in all but name, and was indeed taken over by the Daily Mirror during his time there.  During his national service he was attached to the Army Catering Corps in both HQ ACC Training Centres where he edited "The St Omer News and Sentinel" and Training Battalion ACC Training Centres where he became the Medical Officer's clerk.

In 1951 he had joined the Junior Course at the the College of Drama, Royal Scottish Academy of Music (now the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama) for three hours a week being taught mime and movement, voice production and, by the practical means of appearing in productions, acting.  As a result of these classes he was regularly employed by BBC Scotland as a radio actor in Children's Hour from 1951 to 1954 and from then until 1956, when he began his national service commitment, in general radio drama in Scotland.

On demobilisation from the Army in 1958 he became a full time student at the College of Drama where he won the  Fencing Competition and was awarded the Prize for Mime in his second year.  On graduating in 1961 he was awarded the James Bridie Gold Medal and a James Bridie Memorial contract for a season with the Glasgow Citizens' Theatre  He has been a professional actor every since.

While he has played leading roles, over the years he has become what is generally known as a "character actor", playing mostly middle-class authority figures such as doctors, veterinary surgeons, civil servants, solicitors, barristers, judges, architects, military men and academics.

He has been a member of the Incorporation of Cordiners of Glasgow and a Burgess and Freeman of the City since 1946.

He is married and lives with his wife in greater London.