Michael Chiklis facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Michael Chiklis
Chiklis in 2019
Born	Michael Charles Chiklis (1963-08-30) August 30, 1963 (age 61) Lowell, Massachusetts, U.S.
Education	Boston University (BFA)
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1989–present
Spouse(s)	Michelle Moran ​ (m. 1992)​
Children	2, including Autumn

Michael Charles Chiklis (born August 30, 1963) is an American actor. He is famous for playing tough Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) Detective Vic Mackey in the TV show The Shield. This role won him a Primetime Emmy Award in 2002.

Many people also know him as the superhero Ben Grimm / The Thing in the movies Fantastic Four (2005) and Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007). Some of his other well-known roles include Commissioner Tony Scali on The Commish, Dell Toledo in American Horror Story: Freak Show, and Captain Nathaniel Barnes in Gotham.

Early Life and First Steps in Acting

Michael Chiklis was born in Lowell, Massachusetts. His mother, Katherine, worked at a hospital, and his father, Charles, owned a hair salon. Chiklis has said he got his acting talent from his mother.

He grew up in Andover, Massachusetts, and started acting at a young age. When he was only five, he would entertain his family by doing impressions of famous people. He joined the Actors' Equity Association, a group for professional actors, when he was just 13. He later went to Boston University and earned a degree in Fine Arts.

Career

Chiklis (right) with Ioan Gruffudd in 2005

After college, Chiklis moved to New York. His first major movie role was playing comedian John Belushi in the 1989 film Wired. While the movie itself was not a big hit, critics praised Chiklis for his great performance. He also appeared in popular TV shows like Miami Vice, L.A. Law, and Seinfeld.

Breakthrough with The Commish

Chiklis's first big success was the TV show The Commish, which was on from 1991 to 1996. He played Tony Scali, a friendly and smart police commissioner in a small town. This role made him a familiar face to many TV viewers.

Becoming Vic Mackey in The Shield

After playing a friendly character in The Commish and Curly Howard in a TV movie about The Three Stooges, Chiklis wanted a change. He worked out for six months and shaved his head to create a new, tougher look.

He then auditioned for the police drama The Shield. The show's creator, Shawn Ryan, was so impressed that he gave Chiklis the lead role of Vic Mackey. Mackey was an anti-hero, a main character who often broke the rules. For this role, Chiklis won an Emmy Award and a Golden Globe Award in 2002.

Playing a Superhero in Fantastic Four

Chiklis in 2010

In 2005, Chiklis got to play one of his childhood heroes. He was cast as Ben Grimm / The Thing in the movie Fantastic Four. He played the character again in the 2007 sequel, Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer. As a big fan of the comic books, this was a dream role for him. Many people enjoyed his performance as the strong, rocky superhero.

Other Roles on TV and in Movies

Chiklis has had many other interesting roles. He has done voice acting, including the voice of Chihiro's father in the English version of the famous animated movie Spirited Away.

He starred in the TV show No Ordinary Family as a dad who gets superpowers. He also played a key character in the crime drama Vegas. From 2015 to 2017, he played Captain Nathaniel Barnes in the superhero show Gotham. He has also appeared in movies like Eagle Eye (2008), Hubie Halloween (2020), and Don't Look Up (2021).

Personal Life

Chiklis in 2014

Chiklis married Michelle Moran in 1992. They have two daughters, Autumn and Odessa. His daughter Autumn even acted alongside him on The Shield, where she played his character's daughter.

Chiklis is a huge comic book fan and loves the Boston Red Sox and Boston Bruins sports teams. He is also a talented musician who plays the drums, guitar, and bass, and sings in a band. In 2016, he released his own solo album called INFLUENCE.

He also enjoys helping others. He has worked with many charities, including the Alzheimer's Association and Autism Speaks.

Selected Filmography

Film

Television

Awards and Nominations

See also

In Spanish: Michael Chiklis para niños