Biographie
Michael is an ethnically ambiguous leading man and character actor who transitioned to acting after earning top MBA and law degrees, followed by several years in high-level corporate roles on the East Coast, mainly in management consulting and as a start-up executive. After facing various life challenges and gaining new insights, he left the corporate world to pursue full-time theater training in New York, and three years later, relocated to Los Angeles to establish himself as a professional actor.
He began his career in independent films, frequently taking on lead and prominent supporting roles. Early work included starring opposite Adrian Paul in "Lost Colony: The Legend of Roanoke" (SyFy prime-time premiere) and playing the antagonist in the martial arts film "White Wall." He portrayed the heroic Queequeg in "2010: Moby Dick" alongside Renee O'Connor and Barry Bostwick, and the Han Solo-inspired Captain Simms in "Air Collision" with Jordan Ladd and Reginald VelJohnson. His micro-budget feature "The Daughter" earned Best Thriller at WorldFest in 2013. Two of his films, "Flame of the West" and "Check, Please!," were showcased at the Cannes Film Festival.
Michael is perhaps better known for his television work, appearing on shows such as "Sleepy Hollow" (Fox), "Criminal Minds" (CBS), "Castle" (ABC), and in a recurring villain role on "Days of Our Lives" (NBC). He has also secured numerous series regular roles in pilots, including an "Untitled Fantasy Pilot" (Obsidian Entertainment), "The Flip Side" (sketch comedy), "The Other Brother" (a Grazer comedy), "Blend In" (comedy), and "Flashing Lives" (drama). Additionally, he was a series regular on the award-winning drama "Breaking Point" and appeared in recurring webisode roles for "Burn Notice" (USA).
Esteemed instructors such as Larry Moss (with whom Michael has studied for over a decade), Susan Batson (Nicole Kidman's coach), and Austin Pendleton have praised his talent. Notably, Susan Batson once recommended him for a lead role opposite Meryl Streep in "Dark Matter." In the 2005 TNT Dramatic Auditions monologue competition, he was named a Semi-Finalist and Prize Winner among thousands of nationwide contestants. Since moving to Los Angeles, he has trained extensively with Lesly Kahn, Stan Kirsch, John Rosenfeld, Margie Haber, K.C. Clyde, Matt Beisner, Gulu Monteiro, Jean-Louis Rodrigue, Kristof Konrad, and at the Upright Citizens Brigade.
Having traveled to 45 countries and all 45 states, and having lived in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia for many years, Michael is proficient in multiple dialects and can convincingly portray local characters in various countries and cities.
