Biography
Recent film credits include lead roles in an RZ-9, Foreclosed, The Father, and Ticket Bigot. Recent TV roles include a role on "Baskets," "NCIS: Los Angeles," and guest starring roles on "Blood Relatives" and "America's Most Wanted." He also played an NSA head security agent on the Fox show "Dollhouse," and CSI agent Peterson on ABC Family’s show “The Middleman.” He was the on-camera host for 5 years on the television show “Snapshot: Long Beach,” and did a five and a half year stint starring as Wild Bill in "Wild Bills Wild West Extravaganza" at Wild Bills 850-seat dinner theatre in Buena Park, California.
Other film and TV credits include working with Ben Kingsley in the HBO feature "Mrs. Harris," a lead role in the independent film "Lay It Down," and featured roles in the feature film "The Beginning of the End" and “Time Changer.” Michael co-starred on "The District" with Craig T. Nelson, "Suddenly Susan" with Brooke Shields, and "Arrest and Trial" hosted by Brian Dennehy and also had a recurring role as Dr. Smith on the CBS soap opera "The Bold and the Beautiful," and a two day guest star appearance on NBC's "Passions."
He was seen worldwide (including MTV here in the states) as an actor and principle dancer in FatBoy Slim's music video "Praise You", directed by Academy Nominated Director Spike Jonze. Because of the video's popularity Michael performed "Praise You" with FatBoy Slim live at the MTV Music Awards in New York on 9/9/99, walking away with three of the four awards the video was nominated for. Then during the 2001 MTV Music Video Awards, “Praise You” was named the number one video of all time by the MTV viewers. In October of 2003, Spike Jonze released a short film entitled "Torrance Rises" starring Michael and the others from the fictional Torrance Community Dance Troupe.
Michael worked in Branson, Missouri, for four years, as a featured soloist at the 2,300 seat Lawrence Welk Champagne Theatre with The Lennon Sisters, Jo Ann Castle, a 20 piece orchestra and many other original Lawrence Welk television stars. In 1994, he moved from Los Angeles to join the musical family as one of their new young stars. He has appeared in three nationally aired Lawrence Welk television specials, “Lawrence Welk - Then and Now” in March of ’95, “A Lawrence Welk Family Christmas” in December of ’95 and “From Lawrence Welk To America With Love” in March of ’97.
While in Branson for the 1996 theatre season, Michael co-hosted a weekly one-hour television talk show called “Your Ticket To Branson” on UPN which aired in Missouri and Arkansas. He had the privilege of interviewing celebrity guests such as, Debbie Reynolds, The Lennon Sisters, Roy Clark, Glen Campbell, Charley Pride, Mel Tillis, Shari Lewis & Lamb Chop and many others. The show also included cooking segments, craft segments and stories out on location.
Michael has also been the on-camera host during many live PBS fundraisers and has hosted a number of industrials and training video's. He's also hosted many live stage events such as the Dolphin Show at Sea World in San Diego, Small Soldiers Behind the Scenes Experience at Universal Studio's Hollywood, beauty pageants and wedding receptions.
Michael released his first album with Lori Kelley called "Forever In Love" in January of ’95, and in ’96 on Labor Day, performed live on the nationally aired Jerry Lewis “Stars Across America” MDA telethon.
A San Diego native growing up in Golden Hills in the ‘70’s, Michael attended Roosevelt Jr. High and San Diego High School. At the age of 14, at the urging of his friends, he transferred from a Spanish class to a drama class. Once he began performing in school shows he found he loved entertaining and thus his entertainment career began. After working extensively in local theatres, Michael moved to Los Angeles to continue his career.
He became an accomplished Equity performer starring in musical productions throughout the United States. He spent a year in Japan starring in an original multi-million dollar musical production and has been a featured guest on television shows in Japan and the United States.
Other television credits include various commercials, "Simon and Simon," "In Living Color," "Days of Our Lives" and "Sunset Beach." His feature film debut was tap dancing with Gregory Hines in the movie "Tap." Other film credits include "Geronimo" starring Gene Hackman and Robert Duvall and "The Theory of Everything."
Michael also has his own cabaret style show which he performs in a variety of venues on land, as well as performing his headlining act for cruise lines on a variety of ships.
Other film and TV credits include working with Ben Kingsley in the HBO feature "Mrs. Harris," a lead role in the independent film "Lay It Down," and featured roles in the feature film "The Beginning of the End" and “Time Changer.” Michael co-starred on "The District" with Craig T. Nelson, "Suddenly Susan" with Brooke Shields, and "Arrest and Trial" hosted by Brian Dennehy and also had a recurring role as Dr. Smith on the CBS soap opera "The Bold and the Beautiful," and a two day guest star appearance on NBC's "Passions."
He was seen worldwide (including MTV here in the states) as an actor and principle dancer in FatBoy Slim's music video "Praise You", directed by Academy Nominated Director Spike Jonze. Because of the video's popularity Michael performed "Praise You" with FatBoy Slim live at the MTV Music Awards in New York on 9/9/99, walking away with three of the four awards the video was nominated for. Then during the 2001 MTV Music Video Awards, “Praise You” was named the number one video of all time by the MTV viewers. In October of 2003, Spike Jonze released a short film entitled "Torrance Rises" starring Michael and the others from the fictional Torrance Community Dance Troupe.
Michael worked in Branson, Missouri, for four years, as a featured soloist at the 2,300 seat Lawrence Welk Champagne Theatre with The Lennon Sisters, Jo Ann Castle, a 20 piece orchestra and many other original Lawrence Welk television stars. In 1994, he moved from Los Angeles to join the musical family as one of their new young stars. He has appeared in three nationally aired Lawrence Welk television specials, “Lawrence Welk - Then and Now” in March of ’95, “A Lawrence Welk Family Christmas” in December of ’95 and “From Lawrence Welk To America With Love” in March of ’97.
While in Branson for the 1996 theatre season, Michael co-hosted a weekly one-hour television talk show called “Your Ticket To Branson” on UPN which aired in Missouri and Arkansas. He had the privilege of interviewing celebrity guests such as, Debbie Reynolds, The Lennon Sisters, Roy Clark, Glen Campbell, Charley Pride, Mel Tillis, Shari Lewis & Lamb Chop and many others. The show also included cooking segments, craft segments and stories out on location.
Michael has also been the on-camera host during many live PBS fundraisers and has hosted a number of industrials and training video's. He's also hosted many live stage events such as the Dolphin Show at Sea World in San Diego, Small Soldiers Behind the Scenes Experience at Universal Studio's Hollywood, beauty pageants and wedding receptions.
Michael released his first album with Lori Kelley called "Forever In Love" in January of ’95, and in ’96 on Labor Day, performed live on the nationally aired Jerry Lewis “Stars Across America” MDA telethon.
A San Diego native growing up in Golden Hills in the ‘70’s, Michael attended Roosevelt Jr. High and San Diego High School. At the age of 14, at the urging of his friends, he transferred from a Spanish class to a drama class. Once he began performing in school shows he found he loved entertaining and thus his entertainment career began. After working extensively in local theatres, Michael moved to Los Angeles to continue his career.
He became an accomplished Equity performer starring in musical productions throughout the United States. He spent a year in Japan starring in an original multi-million dollar musical production and has been a featured guest on television shows in Japan and the United States.
Other television credits include various commercials, "Simon and Simon," "In Living Color," "Days of Our Lives" and "Sunset Beach." His feature film debut was tap dancing with Gregory Hines in the movie "Tap." Other film credits include "Geronimo" starring Gene Hackman and Robert Duvall and "The Theory of Everything."
Michael also has his own cabaret style show which he performs in a variety of venues on land, as well as performing his headlining act for cruise lines on a variety of ships.