Michael Mercurio
Encyclopedia
Michael Mercurio is an American actor who has appeared in film, theatre, and television, often portraying psychologically disturbed characters.
Mercurio was born in Columbus, Ohio
. His family moved to Brooklyn, New York when he was 5 years old. When he was a teenager, they relocated to Ridgewood, New Jersey
, where Mercurio attended Ridgewood High School
from 1986 until 1988. During that period, his primary interest was art, but that changed in his early 20s, when he moved to Chicago
to study acting. He completed an acting conservatory and was offered a scholarship with the Chicago Actor's Studio.
While living in Chicago, Mercurio made his off-Broadway theatre debut with StageLeft Theatre in Jorge Aviles' Nicas, playing the lead role as a gay man who returns to Nicaragua to confront his past. Mercurio received excellent reviews, and shortly thereafter was offered his first film role in the low-budget Angel in Chains (2004), in which he portrayed an outlaw biker.
In 2004, he moved to Los Angeles
, where he accepted roles in a string of independent and short films, to broaden his acting range in an effort to avoid being typecast. He played a compulsive gambler, in the independent movie Fixing Rhonda (2008). Other movie projects followed, including God Complex (2009), in which he played a computer programmer who questions his ethical obligations, and other films such as Psycho Killer Reflections on God, Adoration, Jarhead and Brainstorm.
In 2010, Mercurio played a disenchanted former soldier who has been recruited to build a bomb for a domestic terrorist, in the independent suspense-thriller Elevator, written and produced by Marc Rosenberg
(Dingo, December Boys
) and directed by Stig Svendsen (The Radio Pirates
). Elevator is expected to be released in 2011.
In addition to his screen work, Mercurio remains active in the theatre, most notably as a member of The Actors' Gang
theatre in Los Angeles, which was founded by acclaimed actor Tim Robbins
. He is also an artist known for his unusual blend of sculpture and canvas, utilizing surrealistic dark themes.
Mercurio’s biological father, Rick Frank, died in 1998. Frank was best-known as co-founder and drummer of the band Elephant's Memory
, which performed with various artists, including John Lennon
and Yoko Ono
under the name Plastic Ono Elephant's Memory Band. Mercurio’s mother, Kathy Wollard, is the author of the popular How Come? syndicated newspaper column and Web site. His stepfather, Evan Morris, is an author and syndicated newspaper columnist, best-known for the column The Word Detective.
Mercurio was born in Columbus, Ohio
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
. His family moved to Brooklyn, New York when he was 5 years old. When he was a teenager, they relocated to Ridgewood, New Jersey
Ridgewood, New Jersey
Ridgewood is a village in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the village population was 24,958. Ridgewood is an affluent suburban bedroom community of New York City, located approximately northwest of Midtown Manhattan.The Village of Ridgewood was...
, where Mercurio attended Ridgewood High School
Ridgewood High School (New Jersey)
Ridgewood High School is a four-year comprehensive public high school serving students from Ridgewood, in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States, operating as part of the Ridgewood Public Schools....
from 1986 until 1988. During that period, his primary interest was art, but that changed in his early 20s, when he moved to Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
to study acting. He completed an acting conservatory and was offered a scholarship with the Chicago Actor's Studio.
While living in Chicago, Mercurio made his off-Broadway theatre debut with StageLeft Theatre in Jorge Aviles' Nicas, playing the lead role as a gay man who returns to Nicaragua to confront his past. Mercurio received excellent reviews, and shortly thereafter was offered his first film role in the low-budget Angel in Chains (2004), in which he portrayed an outlaw biker.
In 2004, he moved to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, where he accepted roles in a string of independent and short films, to broaden his acting range in an effort to avoid being typecast. He played a compulsive gambler, in the independent movie Fixing Rhonda (2008). Other movie projects followed, including God Complex (2009), in which he played a computer programmer who questions his ethical obligations, and other films such as Psycho Killer Reflections on God, Adoration, Jarhead and Brainstorm.
In 2010, Mercurio played a disenchanted former soldier who has been recruited to build a bomb for a domestic terrorist, in the independent suspense-thriller Elevator, written and produced by Marc Rosenberg
Marc Rosenberg (screenwriter)
Marc Rosenberg is an American screenwriter and producer, with professional roots in Australia. He was born and raised in Houston, Texas, and graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a degree in Government. Following graduation, he hitchhiked through Europe and Asia, settling for a...
(Dingo, December Boys
December Boys
December Boys is a 2007 Australian film directed by Rod Hardy and written by Marc Rosenberg and adapted from the 1963 novel of the same name by Michael Noonan. It was released on 14 September 2007 in the UK and US and 20 September 2007 in Australia...
) and directed by Stig Svendsen (The Radio Pirates
The Radio Pirates
The Radio Pirates is a Norwegian family film released in 2007, directed by first-time director Stig Svendsen and is based on a radio play by Gunnar Germundson. It stars Gard B. Eidsvold, Per Christian Ellefsen, Henrik Mestad and Ane Dahl Torp.-Plot:...
). Elevator is expected to be released in 2011.
In addition to his screen work, Mercurio remains active in the theatre, most notably as a member of The Actors' Gang
The Actors' Gang
The Actors' Gang is an experimental theatre group based in Los Angeles, California. It was founded in 1981 by a group of actors, including Tim Robbins, now a member of the board and Artistic Director of the troupe. The group states its mission is "to create bold, original works for the stage and...
theatre in Los Angeles, which was founded by acclaimed actor Tim Robbins
Tim Robbins
Timothy Francis "Tim" Robbins is an American actor, screenwriter, director, producer, activist and musician. He is the former longtime partner of actress Susan Sarandon...
. He is also an artist known for his unusual blend of sculpture and canvas, utilizing surrealistic dark themes.
Mercurio’s biological father, Rick Frank, died in 1998. Frank was best-known as co-founder and drummer of the band Elephant's Memory
Elephant's Memory
Elephant's Memory was a New York band, most notable for backing John Lennon and Yoko Ono during 1972 on a pair of albums, and a handful of TV and live appearances, including the John Lennon "One To One Concert", with two performances the 30th of August 1972 to benefit the Willowbrook School for...
, which performed with various artists, including John Lennon
John Lennon
John Winston Lennon, MBE was an English musician and singer-songwriter who rose to worldwide fame as one of the founding members of The Beatles, one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music...
and Yoko Ono
Yoko Ono
is a Japanese artist, musician, author and peace activist, known for her work in avant-garde art, music and filmmaking as well as her marriage to John Lennon...
under the name Plastic Ono Elephant's Memory Band. Mercurio’s mother, Kathy Wollard, is the author of the popular How Come? syndicated newspaper column and Web site. His stepfather, Evan Morris, is an author and syndicated newspaper columnist, best-known for the column The Word Detective.
Filmography
| Year | Film | Role | Other notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Summer of Sam Summer of Sam Summer of Sam is a 1999 crime-drama based around the Son of Sam serial murders. It was directed and produced by Spike Lee.-Plot:Summer of Sam is the story of a group of people in New York City in the summer of 1977, a time when the headlines were dominated by the Son of Sam serial killer... |
Protester | |
| 2003 | Tio's Game | Anthony | |
| Crack Kildare | CIA Agent | ||
| The Gathering | Cal | ||
| 2004 | Angel in Chains | Pete | |
| 2005 | Jarhead Jarhead (film) Jarhead is a 2005 biographical drama war film based on U.S. Marine Anthony Swofford's 1991 Gulf War memoir of the same name, directed by Sam Mendes, starring Jake Gyllenhaal as Swofford with co-stars Jamie Foxx, Peter Sarsgaard, and Chris Cooper. The title comes from the slang term used to refer to... |
Marine | |
| 2008 | Fixing Rhonda | Greaser | |
| My Happiness | Tony Davies | ||
| 2009 | God Complex God complex A god complex is an unshakable belief characterized by consistently inflated feelings of personal ability, privilege, or infallibility. A person with a god complex may refuse to admit the possibility of error or failure, even in the face of complex or intractable problems or difficult or impossible... |
Linden | |
| Brainstorm (TV series) | Ryan | ||
| 2010 | Adoration Adoration Adoration is love given with deep affection. The term comes from the Latin adōrātiō, meaning "to give homage or worship to someone or something."-Ancient Middle East:... |
Nicholas | |
| Anti-Samaritan Hotline | John Curtis | ||
| 2011 (ant.) | Elevator | Bombmaker | |