[3][4] It was while working on The Aunty Jack Show in 1973, that McDonald first performed the character for which he became best-known, the gauche and inept TV personality Norman Gunston.
Gunston's trademark look included a comb over, makeup to make his face deathbed white, and bits of tissue drying on shaving nicks.
[6] The series, which satirised many aspects of Australian culture and show business, was a mixture of live and pre-recorded interviews, 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").
[5] 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, Muhammad Ali, Keith Moon, Leif Garrett, Sally Struthers and Elton John.
[5] He also appeared onstage with Frank Zappa & The Mothers of Invention at the Hordern Pavilion in Sydney on 20 January 1976, playing harmonica on "The Torture Never Stops" - this performance was later released on the 2002 live album FZ:OZ.
[7] McDonald played Arthur Beare in the television series Mother and Son, starring alongside Ruth Cracknell[8] over six seasons from 1984 until 1994.
[15] McDonald's condition first came to the public's attention when he reached a crisis point after a short-lived attempt to revive the Gunston character in 1993.
[17] In 2003, McDonald was appointed an officer of the Order of Australia for service to the community by raising awareness of mental health issues and the effects of anxiety disorders and depression on sufferers and carers, and to the arts as an entertainer.