Dave Foley dropped out of an alternative high school to do stand-up
comedy. He met Kevin McDonald at an improv class and, while employed as movie
ushers, they began working as a comedy team. In 1984 they merged with
another team to form "The Kids in the Hall". Foley made his film debut
at 22 as the lead in the Canadian film High Stakes (1986).
Much of his character on NewsRadio (1995) was based on Foley's own personality. Most notably, his coffee addiction (he reportedly has several pots a day) and his love of the sitcom Green Acres (1965).
Introduction to comedy came when he wrote stand-up comedy material for
a creative writing class.
Met his first wife,Tabatha, in a bar when she was 17 and he was 20. Tabatha was on a date with one of Dave's friends at the time. She and Dave started arguing about whether the lead singer of Psychedelic Furs was a good singer.
Both his sons with former wife Southey have their mother's surname.