Michael Chernus | |
|---|---|
 Chernus in 2024 | |
| Born | Michael Louis Chernus[1] (1977-08-08)August 8, 1977 (age 48) Rocky River, Ohio, U.S. |
| Education | Juilliard School(BFA) |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 2003–present |
| Children | 1[2] |
Michael Louis Chernus (born August 8, 1977)[3] is an American actor who has acted on film, television, and the stage. He is best known for his role as Cal Chapman on theNetflix original comedy-drama seriesOrange Is the New Black (2013–2019), and has had roles in the superhero filmSpider-Man: Homecoming (2017) and theApple TV+ seriesSeverance (2022–present). Chernus starred in the 2023 thriller miniseriesDead Ringers, which won aPeabody Award.[4]
Chernus was born inRocky River, Ohio. He is a graduate of theJuilliard School's Drama Division.[5] An accomplished stage actor, Chernus won a 2011Obie Award[6] and received aLucille Lortel Award nomination[7] for his performance inLisa Kron'sIn the Wake atThe Public Theater inNew York City. On stage, he co-starred withDavid Hyde Pierce in the Manhattan Theater Club production ofClose Up Space atNew York City Center.[8] Other New York credits include such theaters asPlaywrights Horizons, theRoundabout Theatre Company,Primary Stages,New York Theatre Workshop,Atlantic Theater Company, and many productions at theRattlestick Playwrights Theater, where he played the lead role of KJ in Annie Baker's playThe Aliens, which Charles Isherwood ofThe New York Times named the best play of 2010.[9]
He appeared inSecond Stage Theatre's 2014 production ofLips Together, Teeth Apart, co-starringAmerica Ferrera.[10] Chernus has acted in films such asMen in Black 3,Captain Phillips,The Bourne Legacy, andJack and Diane. His most notable role to date is Cal Chapman, protagonistPiper Chapman's brother, in theNetflix original comedy-drama seriesOrange Is the New Black.[11] Chernus starred as Tom in thePeabody Award winning miniseriesDead Ringers, which premiered on Amazon Prime Video in 2023.[12]
He was cast asJohn Wayne Gacy in the Peacock seriesDevil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy. The series debuted in October 2025.[13]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Bored to Death | Francis Hamm | Episode: "Take a Dive" | |
| 2009–2010 | Mercy | Ryan Flanagan | Recurring role, 9 episodes | |
| 2011 | Damages | New Jersey Bar Owner | 2 episodes | |
| 2011 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Jay Delaney | Episode: "Educated Guess" | |
| 2012 | The Big C | Pastor Rick | 4 episodes | |
| 2012 | The New Normal | Paul | Episode: "Nangasm" | |
| 2013 | Nurse Jackie | Louie | Episode: "Walk of Shame" | |
| 2013–2019 | Orange Is the New Black | Cal Chapman | Recurring role, 17 episodes | |
| 2013 | Royal Pains | Pat McRevis | Episode: "Can of Worms" | |
| 2013 | Nashville | Howie V | Episode: "They Don't Make 'Em Like My Daddy Anymore" | |
| 2014 | Elementary | Edwin Borstein | Episode: "Bella" | |
| 2014–2015 | Manhattan | Louis "Fritz" Fedowitz | Main role, 22 episodes | |
| 2015 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Tommy Sullivan | Episode: "Parole Violations" | |
| 2015–2018 | Patriot | Congressman Edward Tavner | Main role, 18 episodes | |
| 2015 | The Good Wife | Spencer Harman | Episode: "Discovery" | |
| 2016–2019 | Easy | Kyle | 6 episodes | |
| 2017 | Wormwood | Mal | 3 episodes | |
| 2019–2020 | Ramy | Michael | 3 episodes | |
| 2019 | Perpetual Grace, LTD | Everly Pirdoo | 5 episodes | |
| 2020 | Tommy | Ken Rosey | Main role, 12 episodes | |
| 2020 | Monsterland | Tommy | Episode: "Newark, New Jersey" | |
| 2021 | Prodigal Son | Jerry | 2 episodes | |
| 2021 | Cinema Toast | Man (voice) | Episode: "Attack of the Karens" | |
| 2022 | Evil | Dr. Paul Wimsimer | Episode: "The Demon of Cults" | |
| 2022 | Little America | Paul | Episode: "Columbus Starlings LLC" | |
| 2022–present | Severance | Dr. Ricken Lazlo Hale | Main role | |
| 2023 | Dead Ringers | Tom | Miniseries | |
| 2023 | Carol & the End of The World | Eric (voice) | 3 episodes | |
| 2025 | Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy | John Wayne Gacy | Main role, 8 episodes |
| Year | Play | Role | Theatre | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Jump/Cut | Dave | Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company, Regional | ||
| 2004 | Romeo and Juliet | Benvolio[15] | Guthrie Theater, Regional | ||
| Finer Noble Gases | Lynch[16] | Rattlestick Playwrights Theater, Off-Broadway | |||
| 2004–2005 | A Number | Bernard/Bernard/Michael | New York Theatre Workshop, Off-Broadway | Understudy | |
| 2005 | Create Fate | Nathan | Williamstown Theatre Festival, Regional | ||
| 2005–2006 | Mr. Marmalade | George/Cactus/Bob | Laura Pels Theatre, Off-Broadway | ||
| 2006 | The Mistakes Madeline Made | Wilson | Yale Repertory Theatre, Regional | ||
| 2007 | Essential Self-Defense | Isaak Glinka | Playwrights Horizons, Off-Broadway | ||
| American Sligo | Kyle[17] | Rattlestick Playwrights Theater, Off-Broadway | |||
| Rag and Bone | George[18] | Rattlestick Playwrights Theater, Off-Broadway | |||
| 2008 | Hunting and Gathering | Astor | 59E59 Theaters, Off-Broadway | ||
| 2010 | The Aliens | KJ | Rattlestick Playwrights Theater, Off-Broadway | ||
| In the Wake | Danny | The Public Theater, Off-Broadway | |||
| 2011 | Touch(ed) | Billy | Williamstown Theatre Festival, Regional | ||
| 2011–2012 | Close Up Space | Steve | Manhattan Theatre Club, Off-Broadway | ||
| 2014 | Lips Together, Teeth Apart | Sam Truman | Second Stage Theater, Off-Broadway | ||
| 2025 | Well, I'll Let You Go | Bubba Weiler | Irondale Center, Off-Broadway |
| Year | Award | Category | Nominated work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Lucille Lortel Awards | Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play | In the Wake | Nominated | |
| Obie Awards | Outstanding Performance by a Featured Actor | Won | |||
| 2022 | Actor Awards | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series | Severance | Nominated | |
| 2023 | Peabody Awards | Entertainment | Dead Ringers | Won | |
| 2026 | Critics' Choice Television Awards | Best Actor in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television | Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy | Nominated | |
| Actor Awards | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series | Severance | Pending |
| International | |
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| National | |
| People | |
| Other | |
