MacInnes was born in Windsor, Ontario, Canada on October 27, 1947.
In 1977 MacInnes appeared Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope, as the Y-wing pilot Gold Leader. Although the character is only identified by his call sign and the nickname "Dutch" in the film, he was later given a full name, Jon Vander.
Archive footage of MacInnes was used in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, again showing him as Gold Leader. MacInnes also recorded additional lines for the film, including the line "Keep it tight and watch out for those towers."