Michael Beck
Michael Beck | |
---|---|
Born | Memphis, Tennessee,U.S. | February 4, 1949
Alma mater | Royal Central School of Speech and Drama |
Occupation | Actor |
Years active | 1971–present |
Michael Beck(born February 4, 1949)[1]is an American actor. He is known for his roles as Swan inThe Warriors(1979) as Sonny Malone inXanadu(1980), and as Koda inTriumphs of a Man Called Horse(1983).
Early life
[edit]Beck was born in Memphis, Tennessee, the third of nine children. He attended Memphis University School and then Millsaps College in Jackson, Mississippi with a football scholarship.[2]While in college, he was a member of the Kappa Alpha fraternity. After graduating with a degree in economics, he was one of 30 (out of 2,500) applicants chosen for London'sCentral School of Speech and Drama.[3]Beck's stage credits, beginning with college, includeCamelot(asKing Arthur),Of Mice and Men(asGeorge Milton),Romeo and Juliet(asTybalt),[2]andCat on a Hot Tin Roof.
Career
[edit]Beck is known predominantly for his roles as Swan for the action movieThe Warriors(1979),[4]Sonny Malone forXanadu(1980),[5]Lieutenant Commander Dallas inMegaforce(1982),[6]and Koda forTriumphs of a Man Called Horse(1983). Both theXanaduandMegaforceroles garnered himRazzienominations, for Worst Actor and Worst Supporting Actor, respectively.[7]Beck has appeared in other movies such asWarlords of the 21st Century(1982),Wes Craven's Chiller(1985),Gone to Texas(1986) asJames Bowie,andForest Warrior(1996).
Beck appeared as Hans Helms in the 1978 television miniseriesHolocaust,and featured withMichael Paréin the CBS police dramaHouston Knights(1987–1988).[8]He appeared in television shows such asJAG,Walker, Texas Ranger,In the Heat of the Night,as the Mars-born terrorist-turned-cyborg assassin Abel Horn inBabylon 5(episode "Spider in the Web"),[2]and as Mr. Jones in the spin-off television seriesCrusade.
Beck has narrated numerous audiobooks ofJohn Grisham's novels.[9]He also narratedConfederates in the AtticbyTony Horwitz,[10]A Darkness More Than LightbyMichael Connelly,[11]State of the UnionbyDavid Callahan,[12]the unabridged version ofBill Clinton'sMy Life.[13],and numerous religious books including the Bible. He also reprised his role as Swan in 2005, lending his voice to the popular video gameadaptation ofThe Warriors.[14]
Personal life
[edit]Beck is a born-again Christian.[3]
Filmography
[edit]Film
[edit]Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1971 | The Hard Ride | Highway Thug | Uncredited |
1978 | Madman | Boris Abramovich | |
1979 | The Warriors | Swan | |
1980 | Xanadu | Sonny Malone | |
1982 | Battletruck | Hunter | akaWarlords of the 21st CenturyandDestroyers |
1982 | Megaforce | Dallas | |
1983 | Triumphs of a Man Called Horse | Koda | |
1983 | The Golden Seal | Crawford | |
1996 | Forest Warrior | Arlen Slaighter | |
1998 | The Jungle Book: Search for the Lost Treasure | Professor Gershwin Donovan | |
2015 | The Grace of Jake | Henry Haynes | |
2015 | The Warriors: Last Subway Ride Home | Swan | Video |
Television
[edit]Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1977 | Ryan's Hope | Unknown | 2 episodes |
1978 | Holocaust | Hans Helm | 3 episodes |
1979 | Mayflower: The Pilgrims' Adventure | John Alden | Television film |
1980 | Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story | Clarence Carnes | Television film |
1981 | Fly Away Home | Mark | Television film |
1983 | The Last Ninja | Kenjiro Sakura | Television film |
1984 | Celebrity | T.J. Luther | 3 episodes |
1984 | The Streets | Sergeant Danny Wreade | Television film |
1984 | Rearview Mirror | Jerry Sam Hopps | Television film |
1985 | Wes Craven's Chiller | Miles Creighton | Television film |
1985 | Blackout | Mike Patterson | Television film |
1986 | Gone to Texas | James Bowie | Television film |
1987–1988 | Houston Knights | Sergeant Levon Lundy | 30 episodes |
1989 | Murder, She Wrote | Danny Schubert | Episode: "The Search for Peter Kerry" |
1990 | Murder, She Wrote | Justin Fields | Episode: "Trials and Tribulations" |
1990 | Only One Survived | Paul Haskel | Television film |
1991 | Deadly Game | Peterson | Television film |
1991 | Stranger at My Door | Jimmy Lee Dancey | Television film |
1991 | Final Judgement | Delaney | Television film |
1993 | Fade to Black | Braith | Television film |
1993 | In the Heat of the Night | Sonny Roper | Episode: "A Deadly Affection" |
1993 | Murder, She Wrote | Brian Bentall | Episode: "The Big Kill" |
1994 | Robin's Hoods | Detective Stephen DeCosta | 3 episodes |
1994 | Babylon 5 | Abel Horn | Episode: "Spider in the Web" |
1995 | McKenna | Jon Doe / Alex | Episode: "Racing in the Streets" |
1996−1998 | Walker, Texas Ranger | Adam McGuire | 2 episodes |
1997 | Diagnosis: Murder | Frank Waldeck | Episode: "Deadly Games" |
1998 | Born Free | Luke | Episode: "The Reunion" |
1999 | Crusade | Mr. Jones | Episode: "The Well of Forever" |
2001 | Nash Bridges | Adult Bobby Bridges | Episode: "Quack Fever" |
2004 | JAG | Senator Carter Innes | Episode: "Whole New Ball Game" |
Video games
[edit]Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2005 | The Warriors | Swan |
Audiobooks
[edit]Year | Title | Author | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2023 | Trust: Knowing When to Give It, When to Withhold It, How to Earn It, and How to Fix It When It Gets Broken | Henry Cloud | Non-fiction |
2022 | The Boys From Biloxi | John Grisham | |
2020 | A Time for Mercy | John Grisham | Third book featuring Jake Brigance |
2020 | Camino Winds | John Grisham | Sequel toCamino Island |
2019 | The Guardians | John Grisham | |
2018 | The Reckoning | John Grisham | |
2013 | Sycamore Row | John Grisham | |
2008 | The Appeal | John Grisham | |
2006 | The Summons | John Grisham | |
2006 | The Brethren | John Grisham | |
2006 | The King of Torts | John Grisham | |
2006 | A Time to Kill | John Grisham | |
2005 | The Broker | John Grisham | |
2004 | My Life | Bill Clinton |
References
[edit]- ^Rose, Mike (February 4, 2023)."Today's famous birthdays list for February 4, 2023 includes celebrities Alice Cooper, Natalie Imbruglia".Cleveland.RetrievedFebruary 4,2023.
- ^abcWeiss, Arlene R. (May 11, 2015)."Michael Beck Reflects on" The Warriors, "" Xanadu "and the Premiere of His New FilmThe Grace of Jake".PopEntertainment.RetrievedMarch 1,2019.
- ^abConnor, Jackson (September 8, 2015)."Remember the Warriors: Behind the Chaotic, Drug-Fueled, and Often Terrifying Making of a Cult Classic".The Village Voice.RetrievedMarch 1,2019.
- ^Maslin, Janet(February 10, 1979)."Movie: 'Warriors' Creates Visual Style That Is Stark:The Cast".The New York Times.RetrievedFebruary 3,2014.
- ^Maslin, Janet (August 9, 1980)."MISS NEWTON-JOHN IN 'XANADU'".The New York Times.RetrievedFebruary 3,2014.
- ^Maslin, Janet (June 27, 1982)."'MEGAFORCE' IS A MIX OF JOVIALITY AND STUNTS ".The New York Times.RetrievedMarch 1,2019.
- ^Tenreyro, Tatiana (February 8, 2019)."13 Razzie-Nominated Movies That Are Way Better Than You Remember".Bustle.RetrievedMarch 1,2019.
- ^Bobbin, Jay; Lawler, Sylvia (August 16, 1987)."HOUSTON KNIGHTS' TRIES AGAIN AT 8 P.M. TUESDAYS".The Morning Call.RetrievedMarch 1,2019.
- ^Rubins, Jennifer (October 18, 2018)."Narrator Q&A: Longtime Grisham narrator Michael Beck returns in THE RECKONING".Books on Tape.RetrievedMarch 1,2019.
- ^Bauers, Sandy (June 3, 1999)."AUTHOR EXPLORES MANY DIFFERENT SHADES OF GRAY".Chicago Tribune.RetrievedMarch 1,2019.
- ^Kingston, Peter (March 2, 2001)."A Darkness More than Night by Michael Connelly, read by Michael Beck".The Guardian.RetrievedMarch 1,2019.
- ^"ATOP THE STAIRMASTERSTATE OF THE UNIONBy David..."Chicago Tribune.August 24, 1997.RetrievedMarch 1,2019.
- ^Newman, Andrew Adam (June 6, 2005)."The Winner Is Bill Clinton, in His Own Voice (Abridged)".The New York Times.RetrievedMarch 1,2019.
- ^Schiesel, Seth (October 16, 2005)."Gangs of New York".The New York Times.RetrievedFebruary 3,2014.