Mike Hodge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mike Hodge
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|---|---|
| Born |
Michael Hodge
February 24, 1947 |
| Died | September 9, 2017 (aged 70) |
| Education | West Virginia University |
| Occupation | Actor, labor union executive |
| Years active | 19??–2017 |
Michael Hodge (born February 24, 1947 – died September 9, 2017) was an American actor. He was well-known for playing judges and detectives on popular TV shows. These included Law & Order and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.
Mike Hodge was also a dedicated leader in actors' unions. He served on the board for the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) and later for SAG-AFTRA. He was a union leader for over 16 years. In 2010, he became the President of SAG's New York City chapter. SAG later joined with another union, AFTRA, to form SAG-AFTRA in 2012. Mike Hodge was re-elected as the President of SAG-AFTRA New York in August 2017. He held this important role until he passed away a month later. He was the first SAG-AFTRA New York Local president to die while in office.
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About Mike Hodge's Life
Mike Hodge was born on February 24, 1947, in McComas, West Virginia. He went to West Virginia University. There, he earned a degree in arts and also studied theater.
After college, he worked for The Washington Post. He then continued his theater studies at the DC Black Repertory Theater. While working in Washington D.C., he joined several actors' unions. These included the Actors' Equity Association, the Screen Actors Guild (SAG), and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA). Later, he moved to New York City to pursue his acting career.
Mike Hodge's Acting Career
In New York, Mike Hodge performed in four different shows on Broadway. These famous plays included Fences and A Few Good Men.
He became very recognized for his role as Judge Delano Burns. He played this character on the TV show Law & Order for many years. He also appeared in other TV series like Ed, Fringe, and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. His movie roles included Striking Distance (1993) and To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar (1995).
Besides acting, Mike Hodge also narrated audiobooks. He read books by authors like Mitch Albom and Steve Harvey. He also narrated documentaries, such as Aftershock: Beyond the Civil War (2006).
His Work with Actors' Unions
Mike Hodge became involved in actors' unions after a big strike in 2000. This strike involved actors from SAG and AFTRA. In 2001, he was chosen to be on the national board of directors for SAG.
He later became the President of SAG's New York City chapter in 2010. Mike Hodge also helped create the agreement to merge SAG and AFTRA in 2012. This merger formed the new union, SAG-AFTRA.
He also served on important councils for workers' rights. These included the New York State AFL–CIO Executive Council. He also worked as a trustee for the Industry Advancement Cooperative Fund.
In August 2017, just one month before he passed away, Mike Hodge was re-elected. He won the election to be the President of the SAG-AFTRA New York local. He had also just finished filming a movie called Humor Me.
Mike Hodge's Passing
Mike Hodge passed away unexpectedly on September 9, 2017. He was 70 years old. He was survived by his mother, Roberta Hodge Johnson, and his three siblings.
After his death, Gabrielle Carteris, the President of SAG-AFTRA, shared a tribute. She said that Mike was an amazing supporter of SAG-AFTRA members. She remembered his humor, kindness, and smart ideas. She also mentioned his deep love for acting.
