Sean Cameron Michael
Michael in 2017
Born (1969-12-24) 24 December 1969
EducationRita Maas-Phillips (RADA)
OccupationActor
Years active1993–present
Awards2022 SAFTA South African Film and Television Awards

Sean Cameron Michael (born 24 December 1969) is a South African actor, writer and singer. A native English speaker, he is also fluent in Afrikaans.

Early life

Michael was born in Cape Town, South Africa. He became interested in acting at the age of twelve, after appearing in several stage musicals.[1]

While in school, he studied drama with Rita Maas-Phillips (RADA). After completing high school, Michael did his two years compulsory National Service as an infantryman in the South African Defence Force in Potchefstroom. After a number of part-time jobs (including being a waiter and a chef) he decided to become a full-time actor and singer.

Acting career

Over the past three decades, Michael has performed in more than 100 international television series, shorts and feature films and recently received a 2022 SAFTA South African Film and Television Awards nomination as Best Supporting Actor in a Feature Film for his role as Ronald in Ryan Kruger's cult-hit Fried Barry. The SAFTAS is the South African equivalent of the American Oscars or British BAFTAS.[2]

The character actor began his career in 1993, playing the role of Thomas in an adaptation of The Gospel According to Matthew. In 1996, he also had a recurring role on Egoli: Place of Gold, a long-running South African soap opera.[3]

Michael's first significant American television role was in 2005 when he landed the support lead in Dean Devlin's mini-series The Triangle. Also, in 2008 he joined the cast of 24 playing French UN worker, Charles Solenz, in 24: Redemption. The New York Post singled out Michael's performance saying that his character "might be the most spineless, loathsome character ever created for this show."[4]

In 2011, Michael portrayed the role of Thomas Edison in History Channel's series America: The Story of Us, scoring the highest viewership ratings in network history.[5]

The following year, he played the lead in Animal Planet's TV special Mermaids: The Body Found, which scored the highest viewership ratings for the channel since 2003.[6] He appeared in HBO's film The Girl and the Strike Back series. He also worked opposite Denzel Washington and Ryan Reynolds in Universal's Safe House. In 2013, he starred opposite the late Oscar winner William Hurt in BBC Films' Royal Television Society's film, The Challenger, about the space shuttle disaster. He then started work on season 1 of Black Sails. The show received several Emmy Awards. The second season premiered on January 24, 2015. Michael was considered for Emmy and SAG awards for his work on season one and two as series regular Richard Guthrie.[7]

In 2015, he played the supporting role of Lester in the film The Salvation, for director Kristian Levring, and starring Mads Mikkelsen, Eva Green and Jonathan Pryce. The Danish western premiered at Cannes to a ten-minute standing ovation.[8]

In 2016, Michael guest starred in a number of US television shows, including Of Kings and Prophets (ABC), Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders (CBS) and Scorpion (CBS) [9] in which he played the lead baddie, Shane Copley and once again was considered for an Emmy.

In 2017, he recurred as Russian diplomat Grigory Krukov in USA's hit conspiracy drama Shooter and as Old Man Heart in Syfy's Blood Drive

Michael also plays the lead role in the sci-fi short film "Tears in the Rain" which screened at the Boston SciFi Film Festival [10] and won him the Jury and Audience Best Actor Award at the SciFi Underground Film Festival in Munich, Germany.[11][12][13]

The actor was next seen as the main protagonist, Sam in director Christopher-Lee Dos Santos' indie feature "Last Broken Darkness".[14] Michael won Best Performance by an Actor in a Feature Film for this role at the Boston SciFi Film Festival (2017).[15]

In 2018, he guest starred as The Ghost (Connor) on CBS' MacGyver (2016 TV series) and was considered for an Emmy nomination for his portrayal.[16]

Michael's next project was the political thriller The Last Victims (2019 film) for director Maynard Kraak. Its Hollywood premiere was at the Pan African Film Festival in February 2019, and then opened the Rapid Lion (South African International Film Festival) on 1 March 2019, where Michael was nominated for Best Actor in a Leading Role.[17] Michael then went on to win Best Lead Actor in a Feature Film at the South Film and Arts Academy Festival in Chile.[18]

In 2019 the busy actor recurred on Deep State (TV series) on Fox and Epix as Colonel John Russell, as well as "The Devil Speaks" and "Die Spreeus" for Kyknet, while in 2020 he starred in the multi award-winning cult indie film Fried Barry, "Triggered" (Samuel Goldwyn Films), The Last Days of American Crime (Netflix), "A Boere-Krismis" (Mnet), as well as "Vagrant Queen" (SyFy), "MariTeam" for Germany and "The Cars that made the World" (History).

In 2021 Michael was seen in the Netflix original feature "Angeliena" and guest starred in "Die Boekklub". He also starred in short films "Stay Safe" and "A Moment".

In 2022 he was seen opposite David Tennant in "Around the World in 80 Days" for the BBC and as a series regular in "Die Byl" for Kyknet (South Africa) and "Ludik" for Netflix.[19]

This year Michael can be seen recurring on "Catch Me a Killer" on streamer Showmax as legendary FBI profiler Robert Ressler. He recently wrapped as a lead on two feature films including "Masinga - The Calling".

Michael is also attached as a lead in "Broken Brothers" and the "A.S.T." film franchise in which he will play Gideon, the powerful leader of a black bag operation for the CIA.[20] Michael also serves as co-writer and executive producer in the Netflix Original feature "Collision".[21]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1993 The Gospel According to Matthew Thomas
1994 Woman of Desire Waiter Uncredited Role
1996 The Making of the Mahatma Warder
1998 Ernest in the Army Soldier #3
1999 Pirates of the Plain Shopping Network Announcer
2000 Shark Attack 2 News Anchor Man Video
2004 Cape of Good Hope Father Who Doesn't
2004 Blast Chopper Pilot
2005 Mama Jack Medic
2006 Faith like Potatoes Fergus Buchan
2007 Confessions of a Gambler Black Suit
2008 Allan Quatermain and the Temple of Skulls Allan Quatermain Video
2008 The Making of 24: Redemption Charles Solenz Video Short
2009 Invictus Springbok Equipment Manager Uncredited Role
2009 Albert Schweitzer Sinclair
2010 Themba Dr. Max Taylor
2010 Lost Boys: The Thirst Ira Pinkus Video
2011 Heart & Soul Chris Bernard Short
2011 Chiaroscuro Doctor Short
2011 There Are No Heroes Agent HK Short
2012 Safe House Landlord Uncredited Role
2012 Heartbeat Dr. Roberts Short
2013 Death Race: Inferno New Doctor Video
2013 A Shot at the Big Time Van Staden Short
2013 Ross Jack: TV's in the Swimming Pool Gangster Short
2013 Jimmy in Pienk Buk's Father
2013 The Time Travelers Ronald Short
2013 Magic Bullet Don Short
2013 LCNVL: Dreamcatcher Dreamcatcher Short
2014 The Salvation Lester
2014 Prime Circle: Doors Government Official Short
2016 Sinner The Intruder Short
2016 The Weight of Wind Nico Short
2016 Lea to the Rescue Ricardo Carvalho
2016 Dis Koue Kos, Skat Kobus
2017 Tears in the Rain John Kampff Short
2017 Broken Darkness Sam
2017 The Mummy Archaeologist
2017 It's Complicated Fairy Godmother Short
2019 The Last Victims Dawid
2020 Fried Barry Ronald
2020 The Last Days of American Crime Pete Slatery
2020 Triggered Mr. Peterson
2021 Angeliena (Netflix) Actor
2021 Stay Safe Therapist Short
2021 A Moment Lead Short
2022 Collision (Netflix) Co-Writer / Executive Producer
2023 AST 1, 2 and 3 Gideon Pre-Prod
2023 Masinga Lead Post-Prod
2023 Boogieheads Lead Short

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1993 Death in the Family Warder Guest Role: 1 episode
1993 Egoli: Place of Gold Menasse's Disciple Guest Role: 1 episode
1996 Egoli: Place of Gold Brett Guest Role: 7 episodes
1996 Rhodes Messenger Guest Role – 1 Episode
1997 The Adventures of Sinbad Young Timur Guest Role: 1 Episode
1999 CI5: The New Professionals Male Officer Guest Role: 1 Episode
1999 Fallen Angel Doctor Antoine TV movie
2002 Madam & Eve Steven Guest Role: 1 Episode
2002 Home Alone 4 Cop TV movie
2002 The Red Phone: Manhunt Kathy's Father TV movie
2002 Pavement Uniform Cop 3 TV movie
2004 This Life Miles Stewart Main role: 39 episodes (1 Season)
2005 Charlie Jade Barry Guest Role: 1 Episode
2005 Supernova Customer #1 TV movie
2005 Sci-Fi Inside: 'The Triangle' Don Beatty TV movie
2005 The Triangle Don Beatty Main role: 3 episodes (Mini Series)
2006 Operation Rainbow Warrior New Zealand Journalist TV movie
2007 To Be First Orthopedic Surgeon TV movie
2008 Ella Blue Muller South African Mini Series
2008 Shooting Stars Jean-Pierre South African Mini Series
2008 Crusoe Nolan Moore Guest Role: 1 Episode
2008 Special Forces Heroes Ulrich Wegener Documentary Series: 1 Episode
2008 24 Charles Solenz TV movie
2009 Natalee Holloway Paul Van Der Sloot TV movie
2010 The Secret of the Whales Journalist TV movie
2010 America: The Story of Us Thomas Edison Documentary Series: 1 Episode
2011 Get Out Alive Clifford Draper Guest Role: 1 Episode
2011 Outcasts Clark Johnson Guest Role: 1 Episode
2011 Mermaids: The Body Found McCormick TV movie
2011 Beaver Falls Uma's Dad Guest Role: 1 Episode
2012 Infested! Jeff Menning Documentary Series: 1 Episode
2012 The Great British Story: A People's History William Levett Documentary Series: 1 Episode
2012 Strike Back Dr. Vasiliev Guest Role: 2 episodes
2012 The Girl Robert Burks TV movie: Uncredited Role
2012 Mankind: the Story of All of Us Benjamin Latrobe Jr. Documentary Series: 1 Episode
2013 The Challenger Disaster Judson Lovingood TV movie
2013 Banged Up Abroad Detective Swainson Documentary Series: 1 Episode
2014 When We Were Black Unknown Main role: 6 episodes (season 2)
2014–2015 Black Sails Richard Guthrie Main role: 10 episodes (Seasons 1–2)
2016 Scorpion (TV series) Shane Copley Guest Role: 1 Episode
2016 Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders Noah Coetzee Guest Role: 1 Episode
2016 Of Kings and Prophets Nabal Guest Role: 2 episodes
2017 Blood Drive Old Man Heart Recurring Role: 8 episodes
2016–2017 Shooter Grigory Krukov Recurring Role: 4 episodes
2017 Origins: The Journey of Humankind William Tyndale Documentary Series: 1 Episode
2018 MacGyver The Ghost Guest Role: 1 Episode
2019 Die Spreeus (Kyknet) Jeremy Guest Role: 1 Episode
2019 Deep State (TV series) (Epix / Fox) Colonel John Russell Recurring Role: 3 episodes
2020 Vagrant Queen (SyFy) Duke Guest Role: 1 Episode
2020 MariTeam (ARD / W&B Television, Germany) Milesh Guest Role: 1 Episode
2021 The Cars that made the World General Palmer Guest Role: 2 episodes
2021 Die Boekklub South African TV series Guest Role: 1 Episode
2021 Die Byl South African TV series Guest Role: 1 Episode
2022 Die Byl South African TV series Series Regular: 10 episodes
2022 Ludik (Netflix) Arend Brown Series Regular: 6 episodes
2023 Catch me a Killer (Showmax) Robert Ressler Guest Role: 2 episodes
2023 FDR (History) Cordell Hull Guest Role: 1 episode

References

  1. "Sean Cameron Michael – Biography". IMDb.com. Retrieved 22 March 2015.
  2. "From The Wife to Tali's Baby Diary all the 2022 SAFTAS nominations". 14 July 2022.
  3. "One on one with Sean Cameron Michael". 6 November 2017.
  4. Smith, Austin (3 November 2008). "Jumpin' Jack". New York Post. Retrieved 22 March 2015.
  5. Jason J. Hughes (29 April 2010). "America: The Story Of Us Breaks Ratings Records". Television Blend. Retrieved 28 May 2011.
  6. "Animal Planet Slays With Best-Ever May in Network History". Animal Planet Press Release. Retrieved 31 May 2012.
  7. "On Deck for Black Sails".
  8. "Cannes critics simply crave Danes in westerns". The Copenhagen Post. 20 May 2014. Retrieved 22 March 2015.
  9. http://www.tvequals.com/2016/03/22/scorpion-djibouti-call-review-season-2-episode-20/ Trammell, Mark (22 March 2016). "Scorpion “Djibouti Call” Review (season 2 Episode 20)". TV Equals. Retrieved 22 March 2016.
  10. http://bostonscifi.com/store/films/shorts-9-cold-cool/
  11. "WATCH: Award-winning local sci-fi short film, Tears in the Rain". Retrieved 24 May 2018.
  12. "Local short-film Tears in the Rain wins big international award". Critical Hit. 23 February 2017. Retrieved 24 May 2018.
  13. "SA SciFi wins award in Munich – Transafricaradio". Transafricaradio. 23 February 2017. Retrieved 24 May 2018.
  14. "Last Broken Darkness Crashes Down on the Boston Sci-fi Film Festival this February 18th!". www.28dayslateranalysis.com. Retrieved 24 May 2018.
  15. "2017 Boston SciFi Film Festival Awards & Commendations | Boston SciFi". bostonscifi.com. Archived from the original on 1 March 2017.
  16. "Watch SA actor Sean Cameron Michael in the hot new remake of MacGyver".
  17. "Mystery Thriller to be filmed in KZN". Retrieved 8 October 2017 via PressReader.
  18. "Winners".
  19. "Netflix announces its first Afrikaans title series starring acting icon Arnold Vosloo". 20 July 2022.
  20. "AST". WeekendSpecial. 20 June 2017. Retrieved 24 May 2018.
  21. "A Cinematic collision of Storytelling and Action". 21 July 2022.
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