Michael was born April 20, 1953 in Whittier, California. He attended the Saint Mary's Catholic School in "uptown" Whittier for 1st through 7th grades. In June of 1966 his family moved to the city of Placentia in Orange County, California, where Michael attended El Dorado. At the time, the school was still under construction and offered only the 7th through 10th grades... making it more than a middle school but less than a high school. At the end of each of the following two years, the school added an upper level class and dropped a lower level. Michael has the unusual honor to have graduated from El Dorado twice... once as an 8th grader in June of 1967, and again 4 years later in June of 1971 as a senior. Michael then attended the California State University at Fullerton, California (then only a State College}. In the late 90s, as the result of a lost bet, Michael began modeling for a local art class. The wager caused him to model one time at Fullerton Community College, but his natural nude ability impressed instructors so that they passed his name along to other teachers. By the end of 1999 Michael was on the model roster at all colleges, universities and art workshops in Southern California. In early 2000 he was contacted by an art director associated with Sony Pictures Imageworks Studios in Culver City, California, and based upon his robust stature and his superior reputation as an art-model, Michael was brought in to work with their CG animators to create the character of The Mountain Troll for the first of the Harry Potter films. This led to Michael's growing body of work as an actor. It was easy for Michael to make the jump to film and television where his enthusiasm, openness and creativity continue to entertain and amuse. Just as his work as a fine arts nude model taught him to share completely for artists, his ability to be totally open for strangers gave him the confidence to be in front of a camera with an ease respected by others. Michael's natural talent for comedy and drama has served him well in his projects. Michael is the "go-to" guy for any project needing a totally unabashed male. He has proudly shared his skin for many films and popular television programs.
Not surprisingly, and due to several very outrageous live performances in Los Angeles and Las Vegas, Michael is now known as one of, if not THE, biggest male strippers in the world.
Has been a fine arts nude model since 1996.
Both his girth and his experience as a fine arts nude model made him the perfect choice as reference model for The Mountain Troll in Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone .
Has co-starred in more films with actress and friend Robyn Jean Springer than with any other actor.
Is "Computer Guru" for actor Jeff Conaway.
Michael was the first on-screen actor to actually co-star along with Lucas Cruikshank in any "Fred" project.
When Michael created the character of "Mort The Landlord" for the film Naked Shadows , there was so much additional comedy footage of his antics that production released a second film, Misadventures of Mort the Landlord made entirely of footage unused in the first film.
Michael as "Gluttony - The Insatiable" was used as part of Robby Starbuck s Escape the Fate "Seven Deadly Sins" promotion campaign.
Only after Michaels image as Gluttony was "unearthed" on the Internet, was the complete Escape the Fate film Gorgeous Nightmare finally released.
Michaels image as Gluttony was "hidden" at the DreadCentral.com website as part of the Escape the Fate "Seven Deadly Sins" promotion campaign.
(September 2008) Orange County, Southern California
(February 2013) Carson, California
I love being able to offer a director more than they thought they could,get. . . more than they might have hoped for. . . scenes and variations,that give them more options in post. Far better to have something they,may not use, than to be in edit and wish they had shot something they,did not. Since my participation in a project makes me a partner in its,success, I vote for never holding back.
