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Michael Wiseman is best recognized for his role as Mafia boss "Johnny Rizzo" on the TV series Vegas (2012). Born on April 12, 1967, he was raised in Lafayette, California, where his mother taught at the local elementary school for 35 years and his grandfather owned a neighborhood restaurant.
From a young age, he aspired to be an actor, stating this ambition in his junior high school yearbook. Shortly after graduating high school, Michael moved south, determined to pursue his dream. He embarked on an intensive arts education in college, studying dance (ballet and jazz), singing, stage design, lighting, and acting. He later attended the Robert F Lyons Acting Academy in Los Angeles, focusing on scene study, cold reading, and extensive improvisation. While continuing his studies under Robert F, he performed at various Los Angeles theaters and participated in his masterclass for five years.
His first job in Los Angeles was with Joel Silver at Silver Pictures on the Warner Bros lot, where he gained valuable industry connections and insights while handling scripts for studios such as Fox, Disney, Sony, and Paramount. Through this role, he met director Stephen Hopkins, who helped him secure a line in the film Predator 2 (1990), earning him his SAG card and launching his acting career.
Following this, Michael’s career began to take shape. His first TV appearance was on Cheers (1982), followed by a role in Judgment Night (1993), and guest spots on Melrose Place (1992), Renegade, and Walker, Texas Ranger (1993).
His breakthrough came with a three-episode arc on NYPD Blue (1993) as Tommy Richardson. He then secured numerous guest and recurring roles on popular series including Diagnosis Murder (1993), Nash Bridges, The Pretender (1996), JAG (1995), Star Trek: Voyager (1995), The X-Files (1993), Judging Amy (1999), CSI: Miami (2002), Cold Case (2003), The Closer (2005), Nip/Tuck (2003), Prison Break (2005), The Mentalist (2008), and Lie to Me (2009). Additionally, he appeared in supporting roles in films like Rancid (2004) and The Wicker Man (2006).
After a brief period of uncertainty about his career path, Wiseman landed the role of the charismatic yet hotheaded Chicago mobster Johnny Rizzo, featured in 10 episodes of Vegas (2012).
Since Vegas, he has continued acting in shows such as NCIS (2003) and Scorpion (2014), and in films including Running Wild (2017), Pray for Rain (2017), and In Search of Fellini (2017).
Outside of acting, he enjoys skiing, golf, spending time with family, and practicing yoga whenever possible. He has been married to actress and Emmy-nominated makeup artist Caroline Keenan-Wiseman since 2001, and they have two children.
