The Toronto native began writing comedy in high school, teaming with the incipient "Kids in the Hall" while appearing at the Second City theater group in 1984. Still billed as David Foley, he did his first screen acting starring in a little-seen, low-budget (and reportedly dreadful) comedy-thriller "High Stakes" (1987) that was partially financed by a consortium of five Canadian independent TV outlets. He was more widely seen--though only afforded a single line--in the sleeper comedy "Three Men and a Baby" (1987). American TV viewers may have first spotted Foley in a series on PBS's "American Playhouse" based on Owen Johnson's "The Lawrenceville Stories" about a New Jersey prep school in the 1910s. He was cast as George Baker Smith, aka the Welsh Rabbit, in "The Prodigious Hickey" (1987) and its two sequels "The Return of Hickey" (1988) and "The Beginning of the Firm" (1989).

Foley made his official feature acting debut in "It's Pat" (1994), the film based on Julia Sweeney's androgynous "Saturday Night Live" character which was barely released and subsequently sent to the video store. He was cast in the major supporting role of Chris, Pat's equally androgynous love interest. In 1996's "Kids in the Hall BRAIN CANDY", Foley played only minor roles and was the only member of the troupe who did not get a screenwriting credit. (Fellow Kids later sniped at his non-participation in both the creation and promotion of the film.)

Not surprisingly, the small screen has been kind to this unthreatening, Bob Newhart-like actor. He starred in the NBC sitcom "NewsRadio" (1995-99), heading a talented ensemble as the director of a 24-hour all-news station.