Michael Moriarty facts for kids

Michael Moriarty, born on April 5, 1941, is a talented actor from both America and Canada. He has won many important awards for his acting. These include an Emmy Award and a Golden Globe Award for his role as an officer in the 1978 TV show Holocaust. He also won a Tony Award in 1974 for his work in the play Find Your Way Home.

Many people know Michael Moriarty from the popular TV show Law & Order. He played the character of Benjamin Stone, a lawyer, for the first four seasons (1990–1994). He has also appeared in many movies, such as Bang the Drum Slowly, Pale Rider, and Courage Under Fire.

Early Life and Education

Michael Moriarty was born in Detroit, Michigan, on April 5, 1941. His father, George Moriarty, was a surgeon. His grandfather, also named George Moriarty, was a famous baseball player, umpire, and manager for almost 40 years.

Michael went to Cranbrook School for middle school. Later, he moved to the University of Detroit Jesuit High School, where he graduated in 1959. He then studied theater at Dartmouth College, finishing in 1963. After college, he moved to London, England. There, he attended the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA) with a special scholarship called a Fulbright Scholarship.

Michael Moriarty's Acting Career

Before becoming famous in movies, Michael Moriarty worked as an actor at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis for several years.

Early Roles and Awards

In 1973, Moriarty played a baseball player named Henry Wiggen in the movie Bang the Drum Slowly. He acted alongside Robert De Niro in this film. That same year, he starred in a TV movie called The Glass Menagerie with Katharine Hepburn. He won an Emmy Award for his supporting role in this movie.

In 1974, Moriarty won a Tony Award for his performance in the play Find Your Way Home. His theater career was very successful, and he slowly started to gain fame in films. He played the main character in Report to the Commissioner and had a big role in Who'll Stop the Rain.

Famous TV Roles

Michael Moriarty played Erik Dorf, a German officer, in the TV show Holocaust. This role earned him another Emmy Award. Throughout the 1980s, he starred in several movies directed by Larry Cohen, including Q and The Stuff. In 1986, he played Harry Potter, Sr. in the fantasy movie Troll. This character is not related to the famous book series.

In 1989, Moriarty starred in an HBO movie called Tailspin: Behind the Korean Airliner Tragedy. This film told the story of a plane that was shot down in 1983. He played a U.S. Air Force Major named Hank Daniels.

Law & Order and Beyond

From 1990 to 1994, Moriarty was a main actor on the TV show Law & Order. He played Benjamin Stone, a lawyer. He left the show in 1994 after some disagreements with the show's producers and network leaders. He felt they were giving in to demands to change TV shows. In the story of Law & Order, his character, Ben Stone, resigned from his job.

After leaving Law & Order, Moriarty continued acting. He appeared in movies like Courage Under Fire and Along Came a Spider. He also won his third Emmy Award for his role in the 2001 TV movie James Dean. In 2007, he wrote and starred in his first feature film, Hitler Meets Christ.

Other Interests and Activities

Besides acting, Michael Moriarty is also a talented jazz pianist and singer. He is also a classical composer. He has recorded three jazz albums and often performs live with his jazz band. A reviewer from The New York Times once called him "a jazz pianist of considerable skill."

Moriarty is also interested in politics. He describes himself as a "centrist," which means he holds moderate political views. He has written many political articles for an online journal.

Personal Life

After leaving Law & Order, Michael Moriarty moved to Canada. He lived in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and later in Toronto before settling in Vancouver. He became a Canadian citizen.

Filmography

Film Roles

Television Roles

See also

In Spanish: Michael Moriarty para niños