Michael began his media career in 1979 with the creation and hosting of the radio feature "Face to Face", an issue-oriented, nationally syndicated radio news program that aired Monday through Friday, on 126 stations in the United States and 697 stations in 41 countries around the world. In 1984, after some 1,400 broadcasts, he left radio to expand his horizons in the fields of television and feature films. Throughout his media career, he has been honored with nineteen also premiered to critical acclaim. He is in production on the history series "An American Moment" and "An American Life" and in pre-production of the full length feature film, "Raven Four-Two" on the true-to-life heroic exploits of the most decorated woman in US Army combat history. He has also directed and co-produced The History Channel's award-winning, two hour television specials, "When Cowboys Were King", "Hollywood's Greatest Villains", "70's Fever" as well as the A&E, special, "Cecil B De Mille" and "The James Woods Biography" among others. In addition to authoring the acclaimed books, "Mastering the Art of Media Messaging" and "The Ten Commandments of Communications", his lifetime speaking and lecturing achievements have earned him an appointment as a "Visiting Faculty Member" at the celebrated, Leadership Institute in Washington, DC and that of a Guest Lecturer at the University of Southern California. In 2017, Michael became a partner in the US and Canadian based MBM3 FILMS. Michael is also a member of The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences and currently heads up his own Production and Media Relations Company, Michael S. Emerson Productions. In addition to his work as an author, producer and director, Michael also has a passion for Public Speaking and lectures extensively on Media and its impact on our lives.
Is a stage actor who makes occasional films.
In 1995, he graduated from the prestigious Professional Actor Training M. F. A. program run jointly by the Alabama Shakespeare Festival and The University of Alabama Department of Theater and Dance. He turned 40 while in the program, which made him about 15 years older than the typical theater graduate student.
Graduate of Drake University, where he earned a degree in Theater Arts.
Worked as a freelance illustrator for publications like The Boston Globe and The New York Times.
On "Lost" , he played Ben Linus, the son of Roger Linus, played by Jon Gries , who is actually 3 years the junior of Emerson. The age difference is explicable because Roger is first seen in flashbacks to Bens birth and childhood. Bens mother was played by Carrie Preston , who in addition to being (like Gries) somewhat younger than Emerson, is also his real-life wife.
Emerson graduated from South Tama County High School in Tama, Iowa.
Michael Emerson met his now-wife, Carrie Preston , during the mid-1990s, when they both appeared in a production of "Hamlet" at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival. Preston played "Ophelia" and Emerson played "Guildenstern" in the production.
Close friends with Terry OQuinn.
Did not have his first starring role in a play until he was 43 years old.
Worked as a freelance illustrator and in retail before his acting career started.
Did not start acting professionally until he was 32 years old.
Worked as a Drama teacher before acting and briefly considered staying with it.
He and the cast were awarded the 1998 Back Stage Garland Award for Ensemble for "Gross Indecency The Trials of Oscar Wilde at the Mark Taper Forum Theatre in Los Angeles, California.
He was awarded the 1998 Back Stage Garland Award for Performance for "Gross Indecency The Trials of Oscar Wilde at the Mark Taper Forum Theatre in Los Angeles, California.
His father was of German, Irish, and English descent. His mothers ancestry is half Norwegian and half Czech.
It worries me a little bit the reach and power of TV. More people saw me,in "The Practice" (1997) than will ever see me in all the stage,plays I ever do. Which is sort of humbling. Or troubling. Or both.
[about doing Unfaithful (2002) ] You work four days, and then one,line is left when you see it. Demoralizing.
