Matinee Classics - Michael Moriarty Biography & Filmography

Michael Moriarty ACTOR

PHOTOS

MICHAEL MORIARTY BIOGRAPHY & FILMOGRAPHY:

Michael Moriarty was born on April 5th, 1941 in Detroit, Michigan to Elinor and George Moriarty. After receiving his early years education at Cranbrook School, he went on to earn his high school diploma from the University of Detroit Jesuit High and then in 1983 enrolled at Dartmouth College where he studied theater. He later chose to relocate to London, England and continue his studies on a scholarship at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.

He is most well known for his role on the television series, "Law & Order", portraying Benjamin Stone for four seasons. His career in acting began as a film actor appearing in 1973 in, "Bang the Drum Slowly" followed by a role in the television movie, "The Glass Menageries" (1973), a role that won him his first Emmy Award for Best Supporting Actor.

Although he was working on films his television acting career was progressing faster making appearances on, "Holocaust" and the television movies, "The Winds of Kitty Hawk" (1978) and "Too Far to Go" (1979).

Earlier film roles he added to his credits were on such features as, "Blood Link" (1982), "Odd Birds" (1985), "Pale Rider" (1985) starring Clint Eastwood, "Troll" (1986), "A Return to Salem's Lot" (1987) and "The Secret of the Ice Cave" (1989).

In the early 90's he was cast in his most well known role on, "Law & Order" which he left after four seasons due to a threatened law suit with the U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno and a disagreement with her over the content of the show.

More recently, he has appeared on a number of television movies such as "Children of the Dust" (1995), "Calm at Sunset" (1996), "Major Crime" (1997), "Galileo: On the Shoulders of Giants" (1998) and "The Art of Murder" (1999).

Along with his many television movie roles he has also appeared on the television series, 'The Secret Adventures of Jules Verne", "The Outer Limits", "Taken", "Just Cause", "The 4400" and "Masters of Horror".

Other film credits he has added over he course of his career are in, "The Art of Murder" (1999), "Woman Wanted" (2000), "Out of Line" (2001), "Mind Storm" (2001), "Fugitives Run" (2005), "Hitler Meets Christ" (2007), "The Yellow Wallpaper" (2011) and soon to release, "The Sons of Summer" which is still in pre-production.

Not only has he had a successful career as an actor he has also had the opportunity to share his musical talents as a jazz pianist and vocalist. He has recorded three jazz albums and has performed live concerts numerous times.

Michael Moriarty currently resides in Maple Ridge, British Columbia and is still involved in the industry as an actor, writer and musician. He has married four times throughout his lifetime, first to Francoise Martinet from 1966 through 1978 and they had one child together. He then married Anne Hamilton Martin in 1978 and they were together until 1997. His third wife was Suzana Cabrita whom he was briefly married to from 1998 through 1999.