Michael Shannon | |
|---|---|
 Shannon in 2019 | |
| Born | Michael Corbett Shannon (1974-08-07)August 7, 1974 (age 51) Lexington, Kentucky, U.S. |
| Occupations | |
| Years active | 1992–present |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
| Relatives | Raymond Corbett Shannon (paternal grandfather) |
| Awards | Full list |
Michael Corbett Shannon (born August 7, 1974) is an American actor. Shannon twice received nominations forAcademy Award for Best Supporting Actor, forRevolutionary Road (2008) andNocturnal Animals (2016). He receivedScreen Actors Guild andGolden Globe award nominations for his role in99 Homes (2014).
Shannon's film debut was inGroundhog Day (1993). He appeared inJesus' Son (1999),Pearl Harbor (2001),Kangaroo Jack (2003),Before the Devil Knows You're Dead (2007),The Iceman (2012),The Night Before (2015),The Shape of Water (2017),Knives Out (2019), andBullet Train (2022). He is a frequent collaborator with directorJeff Nichols, having appeared in all of Nichols' films to date:Shotgun Stories (2007),Take Shelter (2011),Mud (2012),Midnight Special andLoving (both 2016), andThe Bikeriders (2023). He playedGeneral Zod in theDC Extended Universe filmsMan of Steel (2013) andThe Flash (2023).
Shannon made hisBroadway debut in the 2012 playGrace. He returned to Broadway playing James Tyrone Jr. in the revival ofEugene O'Neill'sLong Day's Journey into Night (2016), earning aTony Award nomination. His television roles include a role asNelson Van Alden in theHBO period drama seriesBoardwalk Empire (2010–2014) for which he won twoScreen Actors Guild Awards. He also starred inHulu'sNine Perfect Strangers (2021), andShowtime'sGeorge & Tammy (2022), the latter of which he received a nomination for aPrimetime Emmy Award.
Shannon was born on August 7, 1974,[1] inLexington, Kentucky, to Donald Sutherlin Shannon, an accounting professor atDePaul University, and Geraldine Hine, a lawyer.[2][3][4] His paternal grandfather wasentomologistRaymond Corbett Shannon.[5]
After Shannon's parents divorced, he alternated time with them, living with his mother in Lexington and inChicago,Illinois, with his father.[6][7] He attendedNew Trier Township High School inWinnetka, Illinois for two years before moving toHenry Clay High School in Lexington, Kentucky, for his junior year. While in Lexington, he participated in the Lexington Children's Theatre summer camp and played bass in his first band, The Jehovah Suspects.[8] He returned to Chicago for his senior year atEvanston Township High School, where he dropped out after a semester.[9]
Shannon's first screen role was the main character in the music video for theEvery Mother's Nightmare song "House of Pain", where he played a troubled teenager who had run away from his abusive home. Shannon performed on stage in Chicago, where he helped foundA Red Orchid Theatre.[5] He worked with theSteppenwolf Theatre Company and Northlight Theatre.[10] Shannon originated the role of Peter Evans inBug in 1996 and starred in the 2006film adaptation. His roles inBug andKiller Joe were written by Steppenwolf ensemble memberTracy Letts.[7]
In 1993, Shannon made his film debut inGroundhog Day as a wedding groom.[11] He had roles inJesus' Son,Pearl Harbor,8 Mile,Vanilla Sky,Kangaroo Jack,Bad Boys II, and a role inGrand Theft Parsons as hippie Larry Oster-Berg.
Shannon appeared inLet's Go to Prison in 2006, where he portrayed Lynard, the leader of a prisonwhite supremacist group. He appeared in a production ofWoyzeck in theWest End inLondon, under the direction of Sarah Kane.[12] In 2008, Shannon was featured in theoff-Broadway production ofStephen Adly Guirgis'sThe Little Flower of East Orange, presented byLAByrinth Theater Company andThe Public Theater, directed byPhilip Seymour Hoffman.[13]
In 2007, Shannon began the first of his many collaborations with directorJeff Nichols, when cast in the movieShotgun Stories. Shannon was singled out for praise for his performance as the elder brother of three in a morality tale on the dangers of unresolved family enmities.
In 2008, he starred in the romantic drama filmRevolutionary Road, alongsideLeonardo DiCaprio andKate Winslet. His performance as the clinically insane son earned him universal acclaim,[14][15][16][17] and he won theSatellite Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture[18] and received anAcademy Award nomination forBest Supporting Actor.[19] In 2010, he portrayed Doc Cross Williams in the film adaptation ofJonah Hex.[20] Shannon played Federal Prohibition agent Nelson Van Alden in theHBO television showBoardwalk Empire, which began in 2010. In November of that year, he began starring in the one man playMistakes Were Made at theBarrow Street Theatre inNew York City, with performances having run through February 27, 2012.[21] Shannon had performed the show in 2009 atA Red Orchid Theatre in Chicago.[22]
In 2011, Shannon starred in the drama filmTake Shelter. He received rave reviews for his performance,[23][24] and aSaturn Award forBest Actor.[25] In 2012, he played a corrupt cop in the filmPremium Rush, written and directed byDavid Koepp,[26] and appeared onBroadway along withPaul Rudd andEd Asner inGrace written byCraig Wright. In 2013, he starred as legendary mob hitmanRichard Kuklinski inThe Iceman, which was distributed in May of that year. Later in 2013, Shannon portrayedGeneral Zod, the main antagonist inZack Snyder's filmMan of Steel.[27]
In 2015, he performed in the biographical dramaFreeheld, and the independent drama99 Homes, as housing agent Rick Carver, a role that earned him nominations for theGolden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture and theScreen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role.[28][29] Shannon played Mr. Green inThe Night Before in 2015.
Shannon starred in the 2016 psychological thriller filmNocturnal Animals, withAmy Adams andJake Gyllenhaal. His performance as a detective investigating a double homicide garnered him critical acclaim and a second nomination for theAcademy Award for Best Supporting Actor.[30][31][32][33] Also in 2016, Shannon portrayed music iconElvis Presley alongsideKevin Spacey as PresidentRichard Nixon inElvis & Nixon.[34]
In 2017, Shannon played Col. Richard Strickland inGuillermo del Toro's romantic fantasy filmThe Shape of Water.[35] The film premiered at the74th Venice International Film Festival, where it won theGolden Lion.[36][37][38]The Shape of Water went on to win the Oscar for Best Picture at theAcademy Awards.[39]
Shannon played the lead role as Gary Noesner, head of theFBI Crisis Negotiation Unit, inWaco onParamount Network in 2018. He appeared inLong Way Back Home, an extended film clip for the song of the same name byMemphiscountry-punkrock band,Lucero, from its albumAmong The Ghosts. Lucero's frontman, Ben Nichols, is the older brother of frequent Shannon collaboratorJeff Nichols.[40] Shannon contributed spoken word vocals to Lucero's "Back To The Night", also fromAmong The Ghosts.[41]
In 2019, Shannon joined an ensemble cast inRian Johnson's mystery filmKnives Out, portraying Walt Thrombey.[42]
In 2021, Shannon played Napoleon Marconi in theHulu miniseriesNine Perfect Strangers, based on the novel of the same name byLiane Moriarty.[43]
Shannon reprised his role as General Zod inThe Flash, released byWarner Bros. in 2023.[44]
In April 2022, a follow-up series toWaco, titledAmerican Tragedies: Waco – The Trials was announced and was set to premiere onParamount+ in 2023. The miniseries centered on the fallout from the Waco siege as well as the emergingpatriot movement. In February 2023, the series was retitledWaco: The Aftermath and would instead premiere onShowtime on April 16, 2023.[45] Shannon reprised his lead role as Gary Noesner and also served as an executive producer for the show.
Shannon also starred asUnited States PresidentJames A. Garfield in the 2025Netflix miniseriesDeath by Lightning,[46] and as judgeRobert H. Jackson in the filmNuremberg.
In 2002, Shannon formed the independent rock band Corporal, with Ray Rizzo and Rob Beitzel, in which he sings and writes lyrics. In 2010, Corporal released its self-titled debut album.[47] The first track, "Glory", was released in 2011 and the second song, "Obama", was released in June 2012 as the band's endorsement ofPresident Obama's run for reelection.[48]
Shannon has performed live withJason Narducy since 2014, playing covers of whole albums by a variety of artists. The duo coveredMurmur byR.E.M. to mark the album's 40th anniversary atMetro Chicago in July 2023. This resulted in a seven-date US tour in 2024.[49] Shannon and Narducy embarked on a US and UK tour in 2025 playingR.E.M.'sFables of the Reconstruction.[50][51]
Shannon married actress Kate Arrington towards the end of 2017.[52] They have two daughters; Sylvia, born in 2008 and Marion in 2014. They live inNew York.[53]
| † | Denotes film or TV productions that have not yet been released |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Overexposed | Young Man | Television film |
| Angel Street | Patrick Mulligan | Television film | |
| 1998, 1999 | Early Edition | Merle / Mr. Andrews | 2 episodes |
| 1999 | Turks | Man #1 | Episode: "Pilot" |
| 2005 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Avery Shaw | Episode: "Quarry" |
| 2009 | Delocated | Mark | Episode: "Sick of It!" |
| 2010–2014 | Boardwalk Empire | Nelson Van Alden/George Mueller | 35 episodes |
| 2017–2020 | At Home with Amy Sedaris | Various | 3 episodes |
| 2018 | Waco | Gary Noesner | 6 episodes; also executive producer[64] |
| The Little Drummer Girl | Martin Kurtz | 6 episodes | |
| Our Cartoon President | Narrator (voice) | Episode: "Election Special 2018" | |
| Room 104 | Nathan | Episode: "Swipe Right" | |
| 2021 | Nine Perfect Strangers | Napoleon Marconi | 8 episodes |
| 2022 | Little Demon | Unshaven Man (voice) | 6 episodes |
| 2022–2023 | George & Tammy | George Jones | 6 episodes |
| 2023 | Waco: The Aftermath | Gary Noesner | 5 episodes; also executive producer[65] |
| 2025 | Death by Lightning | James A. Garfield | 4 episodes |
| Year | Title | Role | Company | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Loving Little Egypt | Humberhill | Griffin Theatre Company | |
| 1992 | Fun and Nobody | Denny | Next Theatre Company | |
| 1993–1994 | Killer Joe | Chris Smith | Next Theatre Company,EFF | |
| 1995 | Victims of Duty | The Detective | A Red Orchid Theatre | |
| 1996 | Bug | Peter Evans | Gate Theatre | |
| 1998 | Killer Joe | Chris Smith | SoHo Playhouse | |
| 1999 | The Killer | Berenger | A Red Orchid Theatre | |
| 1999 | The Idiot | Parfyon Rogozhin | Lookingglass Theatre | |
| 2001 | Bug | Peter Evans | A Red Orchid Theatre | |
| 2002 | Finer Noble Gases | Lynch | Actors Theatre of Louisville | |
| 2004–2005 | Bug | Peter Evans | Barrow Street Theatre | |
| 2005 | Gagarin Way | Eddie | A Red Orchid Theatre | |
| 2006 | The Pillowman | Michal | Steppenwolf Theatre Company | |
| 2006 | Hunger and Thirst | Director | A Red Orchid Theatre | |
| 2006 | Grace | Sam | Northlight Theatre | |
| 2007 | Lady | Kenny | Northlight Theatre | |
| 2008 | The Little Flower of East Orange | Danny | The Public Theater | |
| 2008 | The Metal Children | Tobin Falmouth | Vineyard Theatre | |
| 2008 | Lady | Kenny | Rattlestick Playwrights Theater | |
| 2009 | Mistakes Were Made | Felix Artifex | A Red Orchid Theatre | |
| 2010 | Our Town | Stage Manager | Barrow Street Theatre | |
| 2010–2011 | Mistakes Were Made | Felix Artifex | Barrow Street Theatre | |
| 2012 | Uncle Vanya | Mikhail Lvovich Astrov | Soho Repertory Theatre | |
| 2012–2013 | Grace | Sam | Cort Theatre | |
| 2013 | Simpatico | Lyle Carter | A Red Orchid Theatre | |
| 2014 | The Killer | Berenger | Theatre for a New Audience | |
| 2015 | Pilgrim's Progress | Jim McKee | A Red Orchid Theatre | |
| 2016 | Long Day's Journey into Night | James Tyrone Jr. | American Airlines Theatre | |
| 2017 | Simpatico | Lyle Carter | McCarter Theatre Center | |
| 2018 | Traitor | — | A Red Orchid Theatre | As director[66] |
| 2018 | Victims of Duty | The Detective | A Red Orchid Theatre | |
| 2019 | Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune | Johnny | Broadhurst Theatre | |
| 2022–2023 | Des Moines | Father Michael | Theatre for a New Audience | |
| 2023 | Waiting for Godot | Estragon | Theatre for a New Audience | |
| 2024 | Turret | Green | A Red Orchid Theatre | |
| 2025 | A Moon for the Misbegotten | James Tyrone Jr. | Almeida Theatre |
TheChicago City Council passed a resolution designating August 7, 2023, as "National Michael Shannon Day" in Chicago.[67]
