Michael Chiklis Biography

Michael Chiklis photo

Born: August 30, 1963

MICHAEL CHIKLIS

Date of Birth: August 30, 1963

Born in Lowell, Massachusetts, Michael Chiklis displayed an early desire to be a performer when he began doing celebrity imitations at the age of five. He moved on to playing roles in professional theater productions and had an Equity card by the time he was thirteen. After high school, Chiklis earned his B.F.A. at the Boston University School of Performing Arts.

Moving to New York, he endured three lean years before winning his first screen role, playing John Belushi in the controversial film Wired (1989). Guest appearances on TV shows such as Miami Vice, L.A. Law, Murphy Brown and Seinfeld followed. In 1991, Chiklis became a regular on the new ABC TV series The Commish, playing the starring role of Commissioner Tony Scali. The police drama ran for five years. Two subsequent TV shows weren't quite as successful, but in 2002 he hit it big again as Detective Vic Mackey in the crime drama The Shield. For his role in the show, Chiklis has won a Golden Globe, an Emmy, a Television Critics Association Award and a Golden Satellite Award.

In between TV work, Chiklis built up his resumé with roles in movies such as Do Not Disturb (1999) opposite William Hurt and Jennifer Tilly, and starred in the one-man show Defending the Caveman on Broadway. He also played Curly in the ABC movie The Three Stooges, executive produced byMel Gibson.

Back on the big screen, Chiklis nabbed a starring role as Ben Grimm/The Thing in the summer blockbuster Fantastic Four (2005), returning to the role for the sequel, Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007). He has also filmed an independent horror thriller called Rise: Blood Hunter (2007), co-starring Lucy Liu and played the role of a principal in the comedy film High School (2012). He also starred in the action-filled movie Parker, which also includes Jason Statham and Jennifer Lopez.

Chiklis was married in 1992. He and his wife, Michelle, have two daughters together.

Filmography:

Pawn (2013)
Parker (2013)
High School (2012)
The Legend of Secret Pass (2010) (voice)
Eagle Eye (2008)
Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007)
Rise: Blood Hunter (2007)
Fantastic Four (2005)
Miyazaki's Spirited Away (2002) (voice)
Do Not Disturb (1999)
Carlo’s Wake (1999)
Last Request (1999)
The Taxman (1999)
Soldier (1998)
Body and Soul (1998)
Nixon (1995)
The Rain Killer (1990)
Wired (1989)

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