Michael Beck

Last updated
Michael Beck
Born (1949-02-04) February 4, 1949 (age 75)
Alma mater Royal Central School of Speech and Drama
OccupationActor
Years active1971–present

Michael Beck (born February 4, 1949) [1] is an American actor. He is known for his roles as Swan in The Warriors (1979) and Sonny Malone in Xanadu (1980).

Contents

Early life

Beck was born in Memphis, Tennessee, the third of nine children. He attended Memphis University School and then Millsaps College in Jackson, Mississippi on a football scholarship. [2] While in college, he was a member of the Kappa Alpha fraternity. After graduating with a degree in economics, he was one of 30 (out of 2,500) applicants chosen for London's Central School of Speech and Drama. [3] Beck's stage credits, beginning with college, include Camelot (as King Arthur), Of Mice and Men (as George Milton), Romeo and Juliet (as Tybalt), [2] and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.

Career

Beck is known predominantly for his roles as Swan in the action film The Warriors (1979), [4] Sonny Malone in Xanadu (1980), [5] Lieutenant Commander Dallas in Megaforce (1982), [6] and Koda in Triumphs of a Man Called Horse (1983). Both the Xanadu and Megaforce roles garnered him Razzie nominations, for Worst Actor and Worst Supporting Actor, respectively. [7] Beck has appeared in other movies such as Warlords of the 21st Century (1982), Wes Craven's Chiller (1985), Gone to Texas (1986) as James Bowie, and Forest Warrior (1996).

Beck appeared as Hans Helms in the 1978 TV miniseries Holocaust , and starred with Michael Paré in the CBS police drama Houston Knights (1987–1988). [8] He appeared in television shows such as JAG , Walker, Texas Ranger , In the Heat of the Night , as the Mars-born terrorist-turned-cyborg assassin Abel Horn in Babylon 5 (episode "Spider in the Web"), [2] and as Mr. Jones in the spin-off series Crusade .

Beck has narrated numerous audiobooks of John Grisham's novels. [9] He also narrated Confederates in the Attic by Tony Horwitz, [10] A Darkness More Than Light by Michael Connelly, [11] State of the Union by David Callahan, [12] and the unabridged version of Bill Clinton's My Life. [13] He also reprised his role as Swan in 2005, lending his voice to the popular video game adaptation of The Warriors. [14]

Personal life

Beck is a born-again Christian. [3]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1971 The Hard Ride Highway ThugUncredited
1978MadmanBoris Abramovich
1979 The Warriors Swan
1980 Xanadu Sonny Malone
1982 Battletruck Hunteraka Warlords of the 21st Century and Destroyers
1982 Megaforce Dallas
1983 Triumphs of a Man Called Horse Koda
1983 The Golden Seal Crawford
1996 Forest Warrior Arlen Slaighter
1998The Jungle Book: Search for the Lost TreasureProfessor Gershwin Donovan
2015The Grace of JakeHenry Haynes
2015The Warriors: Last Subway Ride HomeSwanVideo

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1977 Ryan's Hope Unknown2 episodes
1978 Holocaust Hans Helm3 episodes
1979 Mayflower: The Pilgrims' Adventure John Alden Television film
1980 Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story Clarence CarnesTelevision film
1981Fly Away HomeMarkTelevision film
1983The Last NinjaKenjiro SakuraTelevision film
1984 Celebrity T.J. Luther3 episodes
1984The StreetsSergeant Danny WreadeTelevision film
1984Rearview MirrorJerry Sam HoppsTelevision film
1985 Wes Craven's Chiller Miles CreightonTelevision film
1985 Blackout Mike PattersonTelevision film
1986 Gone to Texas James Bowie Television film
1987–1988 Houston Knights Sergeant Levon Lundy30 episodes
1989 Murder, She Wrote Danny SchubertEpisode: "The Search for Peter Kerry"
1990 Murder, She Wrote Justin FieldsEpisode: "Trials and Tribulations"
1990Only One SurvivedPaul HaskelTelevision film
1991Deadly GamePetersonTelevision film
1991 Stranger at My Door Jimmy Lee DanceyTelevision film
1991Final JudgementDelaneyTelevision film
1993Fade to BlackBraithTelevision film
1993 In the Heat of the Night Sonny RoperEpisode: "A Deadly Affection"
1993 Murder, She Wrote Brian BentallEpisode: "The Big Kill"
1994 Robin's Hoods Detective Stephen DeCosta3 episodes
1994 Babylon 5 Abel HornEpisode: "Spider in the Web"
1995 McKenna Jon Doe / AlexEpisode: "Racing in the Streets"
1996−1998 Walker, Texas Ranger Adam McGuire2 episodes
1997 Diagnosis: Murder Frank WaldeckEpisode: "Deadly Games"
1998 Born Free LukeEpisode: "The Reunion"
1999 Crusade Mr. JonesEpisode: "The Well of Forever"
2001 Nash Bridges Adult Bobby BridgesEpisode: "Quack Fever"
2004 JAG Senator Carter InnesEpisode: "Whole New Ball Game"

Video games

YearTitleRoleNotes
2005 The Warriors Swan

Audiobooks

YearTitleAuthorNotes
2023Trust: Knowing When to Give It, When to Withhold It, How to Earn It, and How to Fix It When It Gets Broken Henry Cloud Non-fiction
2022The Boys from Biloxi John Grisham
2020A Time for MercyJohn GrishamThird book featuring Jake Brigance
2020Camino WindsJohn GrishamSequel to Camino Island
2019The GuardiansJohn Grisham
2018The ReckoningJohn Grisham
2013Sycamore RowJohn Grisham
2008The AppealJohn Grisham
2006The SummonsJohn Grisham
2006The BrethrenJohn Grisham
2006The King of TortsJohn Grisham
2006A Time to KillJohn Grisham
2005The BrokerJohn Grisham

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References

  1. Rose, Mike (February 4, 2023). "Today's famous birthdays list for February 4, 2023 includes celebrities Alice Cooper, Natalie Imbruglia". Cleveland.com . Retrieved February 4, 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 Weiss, Arlene R. (May 11, 2015). "Michael Beck Reflects on "The Warriors," "Xanadu" and the Premiere of His New Film The Grace of Jake". PopEntertainment.com. Retrieved March 1, 2019.
  3. 1 2 Connor, Jackson (September 8, 2015). "Remember the Warriors: Behind the Chaotic, Drug-Fueled, and Often Terrifying Making of a Cult Classic". The Village Voice . Retrieved March 1, 2019.
  4. Maslin, Janet (February 10, 1979). "Movie: 'Warriors' Creates Visual Style That Is Stark:The Cast". The New York Times . Retrieved February 3, 2014.
  5. Maslin, Janet (August 9, 1980). "MISS NEWTON-JOHN IN 'XANADU'". The New York Times. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
  6. Maslin, Janet (June 27, 1982). "'MEGAFORCE' IS A MIX OF JOVIALITY AND STUNTS". The New York Times. Retrieved March 1, 2019.
  7. Tenreyro, Tatiana (February 8, 2019). "13 Razzie-Nominated Movies That Are Way Better Than You Remember". Bustle . Retrieved March 1, 2019.
  8. Bobbin, Jay; Lawler, Sylvia (August 16, 1987). "HOUSTON KNIGHTS' TRIES AGAIN AT 8 P.M. TUESDAYS". The Morning Call . Retrieved March 1, 2019.
  9. Rubins, Jennifer (October 18, 2018). "Narrator Q&A: Longtime Grisham narrator Michael Beck returns in THE RECKONING". Books on Tape . Retrieved March 1, 2019.
  10. Bauers, Sandy (June 3, 1999). "AUTHOR EXPLORES MANY DIFFERENT SHADES OF GRAY". Chicago Tribune . Retrieved March 1, 2019.
  11. Kingston, Peter (March 2, 2001). "A Darkness More than Night by Michael Connelly, read by Michael Beck". The Guardian . Retrieved March 1, 2019.
  12. "ATOP THE STAIRMASTERSTATE OF THE UNIONBy David..." Chicago Tribune. August 24, 1997. Retrieved March 1, 2019.
  13. Newman, Andrew Adam (June 6, 2005). "The Winner Is Bill Clinton, in His Own Voice (Abridged)". The New York Times. Retrieved March 1, 2019.
  14. Schiesel, Seth (October 16, 2005). "Gangs of New York". The New York Times. Retrieved February 3, 2014.