Marcus D'Amico
Encyclopedia
Marcus D'Amico is a film, TV and stage actor
best known for his role as Michael "Mouse" Tolliver in the original Tales of the City
miniseries
in 1993. However, he has appeared in theater productions for over 15 years. D'Amico was born in Germany
to an American
father and a British
mother, and was brought up in the United Kingdom
.
The role of Michael Tolliver was recast in 1998 and 2001, with Paul Hopkins (actor)
, for the subsequent Tales of the City miniseries sequel
s, More Tales of the City and Further Tales of the City. According to the series' author, Armistead Maupin
:
Free from the sequels in the US, D'Amico was able to perform in other roles in England.
D'Amico has also appeared in the UK soap opera Family Affairs
, guest-starred in Jeeves & Wooster and guest-starred on the black comedy Murder Most Horrid
. One of his award attributes includes a nomination for the 1992 Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor, for his role in Angels in America
.
Other appearances include UK police-based soap The Bill
, a minor role as Cy Liebermann in the UK series As Time Goes By
, a brief appearance in Stanley Kubrick's Full Metal Jacket
, a production of Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar
at London's Young Vic Theatre, The Boys Next Door
at London's Comedy Theatre, and —one of his first roles— a scene in the 1980 film Superman II
.
as when acting in the 2004 West End Mamma Mia!
or in The Lisbon Traviata at the King's Head Theatre, in London, during November-December 2003. However, he has referred to his past work on the Tales of the City miniseries as, "Exhausting, enlightening and challenging".
D'Amico has been asked about fears of typecast
ing, after appearing in Angels in America
and as Michael 'Mouse' Tolliver in the Tales of the City TV series. He stated during an interview in 2003, "I did get typecast in gay roles but it now no longer worries me." His stage roles have had more variety.
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
best known for his role as Michael "Mouse" Tolliver in the original Tales of the City
Tales of the City (miniseries)
Tales of the City is a 1993 television miniseries based on the first of the Tales of the City series of novels by Armistead Maupin.To date, the first three books in the sequence have been adapted into television miniseries; the first, Tales of the City, was produced by the UK's Channel 4 and was...
miniseries
Miniseries
A miniseries , in a serial storytelling medium, is a television show production which tells a story in a limited number of episodes. The exact number is open to interpretation; however, they are usually limited to fewer than a whole season. The term "miniseries" is generally a North American term...
in 1993. However, he has appeared in theater productions for over 15 years. D'Amico was born in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
to an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
father and a British
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
mother, and was brought up in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
The role of Michael Tolliver was recast in 1998 and 2001, with Paul Hopkins (actor)
Paul Hopkins (actor)
Paul Hopkins is a Canadian television, film and theatre actor known to US audiences for his portrayal of Michael "Mouse" Tolliver in the TV miniseries More Tales of the City and its follow-up Further Tales of the City . These miniseries were sequels to Tales of the City , which starred Marcus...
, for the subsequent Tales of the City miniseries sequel
Sequel
A sequel is a narrative, documental, or other work of literature, film, theatre, or music that continues the story of or expands upon issues presented in some previous work...
s, More Tales of the City and Further Tales of the City. According to the series' author, Armistead Maupin
Armistead Maupin
Armistead Jones Maupin, Jr. is an American writer, best known for his Tales of the City series of novels, based in San Francisco.-Early life:...
:
- "Despite the rumors, it is not true that Marcus D'Amico wasn't invited back because of issues surrounding his sexuality. The production team met with Marcus and he expressed 'ambivalence' about returning to the role of Mouse. The director felt it was important to find someone who would enthusiastically embrace the role."
Free from the sequels in the US, D'Amico was able to perform in other roles in England.
D'Amico has also appeared in the UK soap opera Family Affairs
Family Affairs
Family Affairs was a British soap opera broadcast on Five, from 1997 to 2005. It was the second programme to be broadcast on the channel on 30 March 1997, the channel's launch night...
, guest-starred in Jeeves & Wooster and guest-starred on the black comedy Murder Most Horrid
Murder Most Horrid
Murder Most Horrid is a BBC dark comedy anthology series starring comedian Dawn French. It ran for four series runs, in 1991, 1994, 1996 and 1999....
. One of his award attributes includes a nomination for the 1992 Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor, for his role in Angels in America
Angels in America
Angels in America: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes is the 1993 Pulitzer Prize winning play in two parts by American playwright Tony Kushner. It has been made into both a television miniseries and an opera by Peter Eötvös.-Characters:...
.
Other appearances include UK police-based soap The Bill
The Bill
The Bill is a police procedural television series that ran from October 1984 to August 2010. It focused on the lives and work of one shift of police officers, rather than on any particular aspect of police work...
, a minor role as Cy Liebermann in the UK series As Time Goes By
As Time Goes By (TV series)
As Time Goes By is a British sitcom that aired on BBC One from 1992 to 2005. Starring Judi Dench and Geoffrey Palmer, it follows the relationship between two former lovers who meet unexpectedly after not having been in contact for 38 years....
, a brief appearance in Stanley Kubrick's Full Metal Jacket
Full Metal Jacket
Full Metal Jacket is a 1987 war film produced and directed by Stanley Kubrick. It is an adaptation of the 1979 novel The Short-Timers by Gustav Hasford and stars Matthew Modine, Vincent D'Onofrio, R. Lee Ermey, Arliss Howard and Adam Baldwin. The film follows a platoon of U.S...
, a production of Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar
Julius Caesar (play)
The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, also known simply as Julius Caesar, is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written in 1599. It portrays the 44 BC conspiracy against...
at London's Young Vic Theatre, The Boys Next Door
The Boys Next Door (play)
The Boys Next Door is a play, written by Tom Griffin. It deals with four mentally disabled men who live in a group home. It takes place over roughly a two month period of time and consists of brief vignettes about their lives...
at London's Comedy Theatre, and —one of his first roles— a scene in the 1980 film Superman II
Superman II
Superman II is the 1980 sequel to the 1978 superhero film Superman and stars Gene Hackman, Christopher Reeve, Terence Stamp, Ned Beatty, Sarah Douglas, Margot Kidder, and Jack O'Halloran. It was the only Superman film to be filmed by two directors...
.
Acting style
Despite prior fame in film and TV roles, Marcus D'Amico has stated a preference for stage acting,as when acting in the 2004 West End Mamma Mia!
Mamma Mia!
Mamma Mia! is a stage musical written by British playwright Catherine Johnson, based on the songs of ABBA, composed by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, former members of the band. Although the title of the musical is taken from the group's 1975 chart-topper "Mamma Mia", the plot is fictional, not...
or in The Lisbon Traviata at the King's Head Theatre, in London, during November-December 2003. However, he has referred to his past work on the Tales of the City miniseries as, "Exhausting, enlightening and challenging".
D'Amico has been asked about fears of typecast
Typecasting (acting)
In TV, film, and theatre, typecasting is the process by which a particular actor becomes strongly identified with a specific character; one or more particular roles; or, characters having the same traits or coming from the same social or ethnic groups...
ing, after appearing in Angels in America
Angels in America
Angels in America: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes is the 1993 Pulitzer Prize winning play in two parts by American playwright Tony Kushner. It has been made into both a television miniseries and an opera by Peter Eötvös.-Characters:...
and as Michael 'Mouse' Tolliver in the Tales of the City TV series. He stated during an interview in 2003, "I did get typecast in gay roles but it now no longer worries me." His stage roles have had more variety.