Michael Cerveris | |
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Born | Bethesda, Maryland, U.S. | November 6, 1960
Education | Yale University |
Occupation(s) | Actor, singer, guitarist |
Years active | 1983–present |
Known for | Fun Home |
Website | www |
Michael Cerveris Jr. (born November 6, 1960) is an American actor, singer, and guitarist. He has performed in many stage musicals and plays, including several Stephen Sondheim musicals: Assassins , Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street , Sunday in the Park with George , Road Show , and Passion . In 2004, Cerveris won the Tony Award as Best Featured Actor in a Musical for Assassins as John Wilkes Booth. In 2015, he won his second Tony Award as Best Actor in a Musical for Fun Home as Bruce Bechdel.
He was called, by Playbill , "arguably the most versatile leading man on Broadway", [1] playing roles from "Shakespeare's Romeo to The Who's Tommy , from the German transsexual rock diva Hedwig in Hedwig and the Angry Inch to the homicidal title character of Sondheim's Sweeney Todd." [2]
Cerveris' most visible television role to date has been as the Observer code-named September in the FOX science fiction television series Fringe . His character, a mysterious man seen attending many unusual events, appeared regularly during the series and became one of the main characters to bring the story to its end.
Cerveris was born in Bethesda, Maryland, and raised in Huntington, West Virginia. His mother, Marsha (née Laycock), was a dancer, and his father, Michael Cerveris Sr. was an Italian American professor of music; [3] the two met while students at the Juilliard School. [4] [5] He is a 1979 graduate of Phillips Exeter Academy and a 1983 cum laude graduate of Yale University, where he was a member of Skull and Bones. He majored in theater studies, and also studied voice. [2]
Cerveris had roles in several Off-Broadway productions, starting with Macbeth in 1983 as Malcolm and including Total Eclipse in 1985 as Rimbaud at the Westside Theatre, [6] Abingdon Square in 1987 as Frank at the Women's Project, [7] and Blood Sports in 1987 as Nick at the New York Theatre Workshop. [8]
He made his Broadway debut in The Who's Tommy in 1993 as "18-20 year old Tommy/Narrator", receiving a Tony Award nomination as Best Featured Actor in a Musical, Drama League Award nomination, Theater World Award winner, and Original Cast Grammy winner. [9] He had appeared in Tommy in the La Jolla Playhouse prior to Broadway. [10] He next appeared in the Broadway musical Titanic in 1997 as Thomas Andrews. He played the role of John Wilkes Booth in the Broadway musical Assassins in 2004, and won the Tony Award, Best Featured Actor in a Musical [11] and the Outer Critics Circle Award.
In the 2005 Broadway revival of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Cerveris played the title role, and was nominated for the Tony Award, Drama Desk Award, Outer Critics Circle Award, Drama League Award, and received a Drama Critics Circle citation. In this John Doyle production, the actors also played instruments, with Cerveris playing lyric guitar. [12] [13] In the Broadway musical LoveMusik (2007) he appeared as Kurt Weill, [14] and received Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics, and Drama League Award nominations. In 2007 he played Kent in King Lear at the Off-Broadway Public Theater, [15] receiving a Drama League Award nomination. Cerveris played Posthumus Leonatus in the Broadway revival of Cymbeline from December 2, 2007, to January 6, 2008. [16] He appeared Off-Broadway in the Stephen Sondheim-John Weidman musical Road Show at the Public Theater in 2008 as Wilson Mizner. [17] Cerveris appeared opposite Mary-Louise Parker in the limited Roundabout Theatre Company production of Hedda Gabler from January 2009 to March 2009. [18] He next played Dr. Givings in the Broadway comedy by Sarah Ruhl, In the Next Room (or The Vibrator Play) , starting in October 2009. [19] From March 2012 to January 2013, Cerveris played Perón in the Broadway revival of Evita . [20] Then, from 2015 to 2016, he played the role of Bruce Bechdel in the Broadway musical Fun Home , winning the 2015 Tony Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical. [21]
In 2000 Cerveris played the lead role of Hedwig in Hedwig and the Angry Inch in the West End. He had previously played the role Off-Broadway from July 8, 1998, to August 4, 1998 [22] and again from February 1999. [23] [24] He was a Garland Award winner, and Ovation Award nominee. During 2002, the Kennedy Center presented a "Sondheim Celebration"; Cerveris appeared in Passion as Giorgio. [25] Cerveris has appeared several times at the Ravinia Festival Concerts (Chicago), including: Passion (2003), [26] Sunday in the Park with George (2004), [27] and Anyone Can Whistle in 2005. [28] He performed in the New York City Center Encores! staged concert of The Apple Tree in 2005, with Kristin Chenoweth. [29]
Cerveris's regional credits include playing Romeo in Romeo and Juliet at the Goodman Theatre opposite Phoebe Cates, Eastern Standard at the Seattle Repertory Theatre with Tom Hulce, and Richard II at the Mark Taper Forum. [30] [31] [32]
Cerveris has appeared in films such as Lulu on the Bridge (1998), The Mexican (2001), [33] Brief Interviews With Hideous Men (2009), [34] Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant (2009), Stake Land (2010), [35] Detours (2016), and Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018). His television roles include Ian Ware on Fame , Marvin Frey on Treme , State's Attorney James Castro on The Good Wife , Ramses IV on The Tick , Lazlo Valentin/Professor Pyg on Gotham , and September/The Observer on Fringe . Cerveris also appeared as The Observer at several real-life events covered by FOX as part of a viral marketing campaign for the series. These include appearing in the audience at a taping of American Idol , being shown in the stands at various football and NASCAR events, and a cameo in a commercial for Glee . Cerveris appeared as Ted Gunn, head of the Behavioral Science Unit in the second season of Mindhunter .
Cerveris played guitar as a member of Bob Mould's touring band supporting the album The Last Dog And Pony Show. A performance at The Forum in London was recorded and released as BobMouldBand: LiveDog98 (Granary Music 2002). His debut solo album, Dog Eared (Low Heat Records 2004), was co-produced with Adam Lasus and includes guest appearances from Norman Blake (Teenage Fanclub), Corin Tucker and Janet Weiss (Sleater-Kinney), Ken Stringfellow (The Posies, R.E.M.), Steve Shelley (Sonic Youth), Kevin March (Guided by Voices), Anders Parker (Varnaline), and Laura Cantrell. In 2011, Cerveris founded the Americana-Country band Loose Cattle with longtime collaborator Kimberly Kaye. Cerveris and Kaye share vocals in the style of Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash. Known for tongue-in-cheek mashups, country covers, and Cerveris' original songs and collaborations with Kaye, the group has gone on to appear at Lincoln Center, Joe's Pub, NPR's Mountain Stage, 54 Below, Chickie Wah Wah's, Siberia, Kajun's Pub, The Blue Note Cafe, Louisiana Music Factory, Rock'n'bowl, Rockwoof Music Hall, Webster Hall, New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, French Quarter Festival, AmericanaFest, and many others.
He has also contributed vocals to "My Other Phone Is a Boom Car" as part of a ringtone project by They Might Be Giants for Wired Magazine in March 2007. In They Might Be Giants' 2011 release, Join Us , Cerveris also provided vocals for the track, "Three Might Be Duende."
In 2018 Cerveris was honored by The United States Conference of Mayors and Americans for the Arts with the Citizen Artist Award, presented at the annual Mayors' Conference in Washington DC. [36]
In 2022, he was invited to give the 152nd Commencement Address at Wilson College in Pennsylvania and was presented with an honorary degree, Doctor of Humanities. [37]
Cerveris has performed at many events, to honor or celebrate notable performers and creatives. He performed at The Drama League gala, A Musical Celebration of Broadway on February 7, 2011, which also honored Patti LuPone. [38] In November 2010 he appeared at the Sonnet Repertory Theatre benefit, which honored director Jack O'Brien. [39] On April 27, 2009, he performed at the Signature Theatre gala, a benefit and to celebrate the first annual Sondheim Award. [40]
On December 8, 2010, he took part in the Symphony Space "Selected Shorts and Thalia Book Club" series of readings. [41]
His concert appearances include the Broadway Cabaret Festival, held in October 2010 at The Town Hall (New York). [42]
Cerveris was once in a relationship with Beth Ostrosky, an actress who is now married to Howard Stern. [43]
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1988 | Tokyo Pop | Mike | |
1990 | Strangers | John Reece | |
1991 | Steel and Lace | Daniel Emerson | |
Rock 'n' Roll High School Forever | Eaglebauer | ||
1992 | A Woman, Her Men, and Her Futon | Paul | |
1998 | Lulu on the Bridge | Restaurant Man #3 | |
2001 | The Mexican | Frank | |
Lunchtime Thomas | Thomas | Short film | |
2004 | Temptation | Pablo | |
2009 | Brief Interviews with Hideous Men | Subject #15 | |
Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant | Mr. Tiny | ||
2010 | Meskada | Terrence Lindy | |
Stake Land | Jebedia Loven | ||
2011 | Nine Lives: A Musical Adaptation Live | John / Joann Guidos | |
2014 | Russian Broadway Shut Down | Vladimir Putin | Short film |
Leaving Circadia | Reece | ||
2016 | Detours | Bob O'Connor | |
2018 | Ant-Man and the Wasp | Elihas Starr | |
2024 | Watchmen Chapter I | Doctor Manhattan / Dr. Jon Osterman, Father (voice) | Direct-to-video [49] |
Watchmen Chapter II | Doctor Manhattan / Dr. Jon Osterman, Prison Guard #2 (voices) |
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1985 | Doubletake | Gary Prine | Miniseries |
1986–1987 | Fame | Ian Ware | Main cast (season 6); 24 episodes |
1987 | The Tracey Ullman Show | Episode #1.7 | |
Leg Work | Johnny Dark | Episode: "The Best Couple I Know" | |
1988 | The Equalizer | Frank Fipps | Episode: "Last Call" |
1989 | Nick Kaminsky | Episode: "Race Traitors" | |
1990 | Gabriel's Fire | Culp | Episode: "To Catch a Con: Part 2" |
21 Jump Street | Ray | Episode: "Back to School" | |
1991 | Quantum Leap | Nick | Episode: "Glitter Rock - April 12, 1974" |
1993 | Dream On | Bobby Krull | Episode: "And Bobby Makes Three" |
2001 | CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | Syd Booth Goggle | Episode: "Strip Strangler" |
2002 | The American Embassy | Gary Forbush | Main cast; 6 episodes |
2004 | Dr. Vegas | Nick Crowley | Episode: "Lust for Life" |
2005 | Live from Lincoln Center | Giorgio | Episode: "American Songbook - Passion" |
2007 | Law & Order: Criminal Intent | Greg Stipe | Episode: "Depths" |
2008–2013 | Fringe | The Observer / September / Gemini / Donald | Recurring; 40 episodes |
2011 | Person of Interest | Jarek Koska | Episode: "Judgment" |
2011–2013 | Treme | Marvin Frey | Recurring (season 2–4); 10 episodes |
2014 | The Knick | Dr. William Halsted | Episode: "Get the Rope" |
2014–2015 | The Good Wife | James Castro | Recurring; 10 episodes |
2016–2019 | Madam Secretary | Congressman Jeff Pearson | 2 episodes |
2017 | The Tick | Ramses IV | Recurring; 5 episodes |
Gotham | Lazlo Valentin / Professor Pyg | 5 episodes | |
2018 | Mosaic | Tom Davis | Interactive series; 6 episodes |
Elementary | Councilman Ledesma | Episode: "How to Get a Head" | |
2019 | Mindhunter | Ted Gunn | Main cast (Season 2) |
Prodigal Son [50] | Carter Burkehead | Episode: "Pilot" | |
The Blacklist [51] | Victor Skovic | 3 episodes | |
2020 | The Plot Against America | Mr. Taylor | Episode: "Part 3" |
2020–2021 | Evil | Devil Therapist (voice) | 3 episodes; uncredited |
2021 | Queen of the South | Simon Durant | Episode: "Mas Dinero Mas Problemas" |
Billions | AG Drew Moody | 2 episodes | |
2022–present | The Gilded Age | Watson | Recurring (season 1); main cast (season 2) |
Stephen Joshua Sondheim was an American composer and lyricist. Regarded as one of the most important figures in 20th-century musical theater, he is credited with reinventing the American musical. With his frequent collaborators Harold Prince and James Lapine, Sondheim's Broadway musicals tackled unexpected themes that ranged beyond the genre's traditional subjects, while addressing darker elements of the human experience. His music and lyrics are tinged with complexity, sophistication, and ambivalence about various aspects of life.
Company is a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by George Furth. The original 1970 production was nominated for a record-setting 14 Tony Awards, winning six. Company was among the first book musicals to deal with contemporary dating, marriage, and divorce, and is a notable example of a concept musical lacking a linear plot. In a series of vignettes, Company follows bachelor Bobby interacting with his married friends, who throw a party for his 35th birthday.
Patti Ann LuPone is an American actress and singer best known for her work in musical theater. After starting her professional career with The Acting Company in 1972 she soon gained acclaim for her leading performances on the Broadway and West End stage. Known for playing bold, resilient women on stage, she has won three Tony Awards, two Olivier Awards, two Grammy Awards, was a 2006 inductee to the American Theater Hall of Fame, and has received two Emmy Award nominations.
Jonathan Tunick is an American orchestrator, musical director, and composer. He is best known for orchestrating the works of Stephen Sondheim, their collaboration starting in 1970 with Company and continuing until Sondheim's death in 2021.
James Elliot Lapine is an American stage director, playwright, screenwriter, and librettist. He has won the Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical three times, for Into the Woods, Falsettos, and Passion. He has frequently collaborated with Stephen Sondheim and William Finn.
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Norm Lewis is an American actor and baritone singer. He has appeared on Broadway and in London's West End, film, television, recordings and regional theatre. He is also noted for his wide vocal range. Lewis was the second African-American actor after Robert Guillaume to perform in the title role in Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera and the first one to do so in the Broadway production. In 2023, he reprised the role in the show's sequel, Love Never Dies, in the West End.
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Brooks Ashmanskas is an American actor. He has appeared both on Broadway and Off-Broadway as well as in regional theatres. Ashmanskas has done limited film and television work, most recently appearing in the Netflix series Uncoupled. He was nominated for a 2006 Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical and a Drama Desk Award Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical for playing various characters in Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me, and for a 2019 Tony Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical for his role as Barry Glickman in The Prom.
Lauren Ward is an American singer and actress. She has appeared in Broadway, Off-Broadway and West End musicals and plays. Ward originated the role of Miss Honey in the original Stratford-Upon-Avon, West End, and Broadway productions of the musical Matilda, and was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for her performance.