| Michael Anthony | |
| Birth Name: | Michael Gould, Jr. |
| Birth Place: | Akron, Ohio |
| Nationality: | American |
Michael Anthony, (born Michael Gould, Jr.) also known by the stage name Mike Bless,[1] is an American actor, singer-songwriter, and former serviceman in the United States Air Force.[2] He is known for appearing in TV series such as Raising Dion,[2] Chicago Med,[2] Big 50 – The Delronda Hood Story, and Ready to Love.[3]
Anthony was born in Akron, Ohio and was raised in Akron and Buffalo, New York.[4] He eventually joined the military,[5] achieving a rank of E-4/SRA in the U.S. Air Force.[2] He was in U.S. Air Force Security Forces during Operation Enduring Freedom.[2]
In 2008, Anthony entered Slip-n-Slide Records' "The Next Big Superstar" competition. He won the competition and was signed to a record deal under the stage name Mike Bless.[6] [7] As Mike Bless, he released the singles "Do It Like This" in 2009[8] and "Gone" in 2011.[9] He also released a mixtape titled Mr. Make It Happen in 2009.
Anthony began acting after doing production work on a film soundtrack. After meeting him, the film's director suggested him to audition for a role in the movie, which he was then cast in.[2]
Anthony was one of the contestants in the first season of OWN's reality television series Ready to Love, which premiered in 2018.[10] [11] [12]
In 2020, Anthony guest-starred in the Netflix series Kings of Jo'burg, which was created and produced by Shona Ferguson.[13] [14] Anthony was also cast in a lead role in the short film She Had to Ask, which premiered on Allblk in the same year.[15]
Anthony was cast as Ricky in the BET+ original film Big 50 – The Delronda Hood Story, which premiered in 2021.[16] [17] [18] [19] Anthony was also cast in a recurring role as Gary Stafford in Raising Dion.[20] [21]
Other television series that Anthony has appeared in include Chicago Med, Greenleaf, Dynasty, MacGyver, Black Lightning, and The Outsider.[2] [22]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Trunk | Mr. Bleep | Short |
| 2019 | Cold Feet at Christmas | 1st Wedding Hall Guest | TV movie |
| Dear Santa, I Need a Date | Fred | TV movie | |
| 2020 | False Advertisement | Mike | |
| She Had to Ask | Graham | Short | |
| 2021 | Lust: A Seven Deadly Sins Story | Magic | TV movie |
| Big 50 – The Delronda Hood Story | Ricky | ||
| Dating Hell | Josh | ||
| 2022 | MAMILs | Gerald | Short |
| Secret Headquarters | Wisconsin | [23] | |
| End of the Road | Jake | ||
| The Sound of Christmas | Rio | ||
| Strange Love | Chip | ||
| Grief | - | Short |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight | Robin Wood (voice) | Episode: "No Future for You: Part 1" |
| 2019 | Greenleaf | Prison Guard | Episode: "Did I Lose You?" |
| Bluff City Law | FCI Guard | Episode: "Pilot" | |
| Black Lightning | Stone Killer | Episode: "The Book of Occupation: Chapter Two: Maryam's Tasbih" | |
| Tell Me a Story | Malcolm | Episode: "Number One Fan" | |
| 2020 | The Outsider | Inmate | Episode: "Fish in a Barrel" |
| Dynasty | Duane | Episode: "Battle Lines" | |
| MacGyver | Suit #1 | Episode: "Father + Son + Father + Matriarch" | |
| American Soul | Carl | Episode: "Lovely Day" & "So Long, Sucker" | |
| Chicago Med | Officer Simmons | Episode: "Those Things Hidden in Plain Sight" | |
| Kings of Jo'burg | Magic | Episode: "We Are Brothers" & "The Sacrifice" | |
| 2021 | Covenant | Malcolm Fuller | Episode: "The Promise - Part 1 & 2" |
| 2021-22 | The Game | DeMarco Brown | Recurring cast: season 1 |
| 2022 | Raising Dion | Gary Stafford | Recurring cast: season 2 |
| Tank | Episode: "King of the Goddamn Hill" | ||
| Saints & Sinners | Ray Ray | Recurring cast: season 6 | |
| 2023 | Tomorrow's Monsters | Army Medic | Episode: "Introducing: Bridgewater Season 2" |
| Luther | Guest role: season 1 |
| Title | Year | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Do It Like This" | 2009 | Non-album single | |
| "Gone" | 2011 | Non-album single |