Michael Charles Chiklis is an Emmy and Golden Globe-winning actor, television director, producer and musician. Born in Lowell, Massachusetts, Michael started stage acting in high school and went on to attend Boston University where he received a Bachelor’s in Fine Arts degree.
Upon graduation, Michael moved to New York to pursue his acting career and was cast in the lead role in Wired, a film about the troubled life of comedic legend John Belushi. This success led to roles on several popular television shows including Miami Vice, B.L. Stryker, Wiseguy, LA Law, Murphy Brown and Seinfeld. Michael’s breakthrough role came when he was tapped to play police commissioner Tony Scali in the popular ABC series The Commish.
Michael’s prolific acting career took off and included diverse roles on both small and big screens. Series credits include The Three Stooges, Gotham, No Ordinary Family, American Horror Story: Freak Show, Coyote, Vegas and Winning Time. In 2002, Michael earned the Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series followed in 2003 by a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Drama Series for his depiction of the complicated life of LAPD Detective Vic Mackey in The Shield. Michael has also appeared in thirty-plus films, including an acclaimed performance as The Thing in Marvel’s Fantastic Four series.
Michael’s artistic talents are not confined only to film, as evidenced by his Broadway performance in Defending the Caveman and his accomplished musical resume. A vocalist who also plays drums, guitar and bass, Michael has released several albums and has staged live performances to raise research dollars for Alzheimer’s Disease in memory of his late mother Katie.
Michael is currently working on several projects through his Extravaganza Production Company and Studio. This past June, Michael and his wife Michelle celebrated thirty years of marriage. The couple’s two daughters, Autumn and Odessa, are both actresses and performers.
Michael Chiklis is a 2022 National Hellenic Society Arete Award of Excellence winner.
