Michael Cerveris | |
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 | |
| Born | (1960-11-06)November 6, 1960 (age 65) Bethesda, Maryland, U.S. |
| Education | Yale University |
| Occupations | Actor, Singer, Songwriter, Guitarist |
| Years active | 1983–present |
| Known for | Fun Home |
| Website | www |
Michael Cerveris Jr. (born November 6, 1960) is an American actor, singer, songwriter, and guitarist. He has performed in many stage musicals and plays, including severalStephen Sondheim musicals:Assassins,Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street,Sunday in the Park with George,Road Show, andPassion. In 2004, Cerveris won theTony Award forBest Featured Actor in a Musical forAssassins asJohn Wilkes Booth. In 2015, he won his second Tony Award forBest Actor in a Musical forFun Home as Bruce Bechdel.
He was called, byPlaybill, "arguably the most versatile leading man on Broadway",[1] playing roles from "Shakespeare'sRomeo toThe Who's Tommy, from the Germantranssexual rock diva Hedwig inHedwig and the Angry Inch to the homicidal title character of Sondheim'sSweeney Todd."[2]
Cerveris' most visible television roles to date have included Deputy Director Ted Gunn inDavid Fincher'sMindhunter for Netflix, Watson, valet to George Russell, inJulian Fellowes'The Gilded Age for HBO, and theObserver code-namedSeptember in the FOX science fiction television seriesFringe. 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 inBethesda, Maryland, and raised inHuntington, 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 theJuilliard School.[4][5] He is a 1979 graduate ofPhillips Exeter Academy and a 1983 cum laude graduate ofYale University, where he was a member ofSkull and Bones. He majored in theater studies, and also studied voice.[2]
Cerveris had roles in severalOff-Broadway productions, starting withMacbeth in 1983 as Malcolm and includingTotal Eclipse in 1985 as Rimbaud at the Westside Theatre,[6]Abingdon Square in 1987 as Frank at the Women's Project,[7] andBlood Sports in 1987 as Nick at theNew York Theatre Workshop.[8]
He made hisBroadway debut inThe 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 inTommy in theLa Jolla Playhouse prior to Broadway.[10] He next appeared in the Broadway musicalTitanic in 1997 asThomas Andrews. He played the role of John Wilkes Booth in the Broadway musicalAssassins in 2004, and won the Tony Award, Best Featured Actor in a Musical[11] and theOuter Critics Circle Award.
In the 2005 Broadway revival ofSweeney 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 aDrama Critics Circle citation. In thisJohn Doyle production, the actors also played instruments, with Cerveris playing lyric guitar.[12][13] In the Broadway musicalLoveMusik (2007) he appeared as Kurt Weill,[14] and received Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics, and Drama League Award nominations. In 2007 he played Kent inKing Lear at the Off-Broadway Public Theater,[15] receiving a Drama League Award nomination. Cerveris played Posthumus Leonatus in the Broadway revival ofCymbeline from December 2, 2007, to January 6, 2008.[16] He appeared Off-Broadway in theStephen Sondheim-John Weidman musicalRoad Show at thePublic Theater in 2008 as Wilson Mizner.[17] Cerveris appeared oppositeMary-Louise Parker in the limitedRoundabout Theatre Company production ofHedda Gabler from January 2009 to March 2009.[18] He next played Dr. Givings in the Broadway comedy bySarah 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 ofEvita.[20] Then, from 2015 to 2016, he played the role of Bruce Bechdel in the Broadway musicalFun 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 inHedwig and the Angry Inch in theWest 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, theKennedy Center presented a "Sondheim Celebration"; Cerveris appeared inPassion as Giorgio.[25] Cerveris has appeared several times at theRavinia Festival Concerts (Chicago), including:Passion (2003),[26]Sunday in the Park with George (2004),[27] andAnyone Can Whistle in 2005.[28] He performed in theNew York City CenterEncores! staged concert ofThe Apple Tree in 2005, withKristin Chenoweth.[29]
Cerveris's regional credits include playing Romeo inRomeo and Juliet at theGoodman Theatre oppositePhoebe Cates,Eastern Standard at theSeattle Repertory Theatre withTom Hulce, andRichard II at theMark Taper Forum.[30][31][32]
Cerveris has appeared in films such asLulu 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), andAnt-Man and the Wasp (2018). His television roles include Ian Ware onFame, Marvin Frey onTreme, State's Attorney James Castro onThe Good Wife, Ramses IV onThe Tick,Lazlo Valentin/Professor Pyg onGotham, and September/The Observer onFringe. Cerveris also appeared as The Observer at several real-life events covered by FOX as part of aviral marketing campaign for the series. These include appearing in the audience at a taping ofAmerican Idol, being shown in the stands at various football and NASCAR events, and a cameo in a commercial forGlee. Cerveris appeared as Ted Gunn, head of the Behavioral Science Unit in the second season ofMindhunter.
Cerveris played guitar as a member ofBob Mould's touring band supporting the albumThe Last Dog And Pony Show. A performance atThe Forum in London was recorded and released asBobMouldBand: LiveDog98 (Granary Music 2002). His debut solo album,Dog Eared (Low Heat Records 2004), was co-produced withAdam Lasus and includes guest appearances fromNorman 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), andLaura 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, Rockwood 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 aringtone project byThey Might Be Giants forWired Magazine in March 2007. In They Might Be Giants' 2011 release,Join Us, Cerveris also provided vocals for the track, "Three Might BeDuende."
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 honoredPatti 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 theSignature 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 atThe Town Hall (New York).[42]
Cerveris was once in a relationship withBeth Ostrosky, an actress who is now married toHoward 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 | |
| 2022–2023 | The Gilded Age | Watson | Recurring (season 1); main cast (season 2) |
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