Actor / Director Profile

Mike grew up in the small town of St. Matthew S.C.. Early in life he knew that acting would be his life long ambition when he saw the film " A Soldiers Story" in 1984. He began by starting a drama club in high school and becoming the president of the club. After putting on several plays and getting a taste for performing in front of audience he moved on to Benedict College where he was mentored and groomed by faculty to transfer to the University of South Carolina, a school that gave him an opportunity to attain a B.A. degree in theater. Mike went on to study at Mason Gross School of the Arts under the renowned acting teacher, Bill Esper. Upon receiving his MFA degree, Mike moved to L.A. where parts did not come easy, but after a few months he was grabbed a co-star on Spin City with Charlie Sheen followed by guest stars on E.R. and The Parkers with Mo'Nique. Mike then moved back to NYC from L.A. to allow for the possibility of working in New York theater as well, but as luck would have it Hollywood came calling again. He landed a role in 2005 Best Picture winner Million Dollar Baby opposite Clint Eastwood, Hillary Swank and Morgan Freeman. He got the role without ever meeting Clint in person prior to the first day of shooting. The following year he received exceptional reviews for his turn as CJ Memphis a guitar-playing blues singer in The 2005 revival of the Pulitzer prize winning " A Soldier's Play." The play that had been made into a movie starring Denzel Washington and many of Hollywood's up-and-coming African-American stars in 1984. Denzel came to see the production of" A Soldier's Play," which gave Mike the opportunity to meet his childhood inspiration. Mike continues to keep his nose to grindstone with a role in Adam Bock's new play "Drunken City that world premiered at Playwrights Horizon and playing guest roles in Law and Order: CI, Law and Order: Trial by Jury. He also had feature roles in" Brooklyn Lobster "with Danny Aiello and "And then Came Love" with Vanessa Williams. With a feature role a HBO's Sundance Grand Jury Prize nominee starring Kevin Bacon, Mike seems to have his eyes firmly fixed on his goals as an actor to be reckoned with in Hollywood.