Biografia
Michael Cavanaugh, an excellent, prolific, and versatile character actor, was born on November 21, 1942, in New York. As the eldest of nine siblings, he joined the Navy after graduating high school and served three years in Hawaii. After completing his service, Cavanaugh developed a passion for acting, starting his career in children's theater with a lead role in a production of "Winnie the Pooh." His stage work also includes performances in "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest," "Merchant of Venice," and "Are You Now or Have You Ever Been?" A skilled tenor vocalist, he has appeared in musicals such as "Oh Calcutta!," "Carousel," and "110 in the Shade." Since the mid-1970s, Cavanaugh has built an extensive resume in film and television, frequently portraying police officers, government agents, strict military personnel, lawyers, judges, and slick businessmen. He featured in three Clint Eastwood films: The Enforcer (1976), The Gauntlet (1977), and Any Which Way You Can (1980). Notably, he played the chief antagonist in the action film Forced Vengeance (1982) alongside Chuck Norris. Cavanaugh delivered a memorable performance as the obsessive, xenophobic chief federal security agent George Fox in the thoughtful science fiction TV series Starman (1986). He also had a recurring role in the early 1990s revival of the horror soap opera Dark Shadows (1991). His guest appearances span numerous TV shows, including Monk (2002), Shark (2006), Bones (2005), The Young and the Restless (1973), The West Wing (1999), The Practice (1997), NYPD Blue (1993), Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman (1993), Matlock (1986), Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987), ER (1994), The X-Files (1993), L.A. Law (1986), Our House (1986), Amazing Stories (1985), MacGyver (1985), Airwolf (1984), Dallas (1978), The A-Team (1983), Cagney & Lacey (1981), Hunter (1984), T.J. Hooker (1982), Vega$ (1978), CHiPs (1977), and Kojak (1973).
