Michael Worth Explained

Michael Troy Worth (born January 13, 1965) is an American actor, martial artist, screenwriter, and director.

Early life

Born in Philadelphia in 1965, Worth is from German and Delaware Indian Native American heritage. As a child, he grew up near the Chesapeake Bay before moving to Northern California with his parents. At the age of 11, he directed his first film titled The Tire with a super 8mm camera he had spent his allowance on. He continued making short films and experimental video projects during his youth including The Toad Warriors and The Berkeley Junk Food Massacre.[1] [2]

Career

Sometime later, he moved to Los Angeles, and earned a handful of bit parts in film and television including Pacific Blue and Alien Nation. He lived with his dog in his truck for six months in Venice, California while trying to save money. Surviving on odd jobs and construction work, Worth accepted small parts and worked as a martial arts trainer for George Lazenby.

His first leading role was in the independent action film Final Impact. Variety magazine labeled him a "promising newcomer". Signed to several films with PM Entertainment, he worked through a series of low-budget films before landing the role of "Tommy" on the TV series Acapulco H.E.A.T..[3] He was also one of the front-runners for the role of Robin in Batman Forever, although the role ultimately went to Chris O'Donnell. Worth ended up having a cameo alongside O'Donnell in one of the film's fight scenes. He also appeared in "The Storytellers" alongside Tippi Hedren.[4]

In 2004, he wrote and directed a micro-budget experimental film, titled Killing Cupid. It earned him a Best Director nomination at the Action On Film Film Festival in 2005 as well as "Best Fiction Film" at the "Hollywood Documentary and Fiction Film Festival" in 2006. He continued to act in a variety of small independent films while honing his skills as a filmmaker, ghostwriting for film and television, as well as directing second unit. Worth wrote the screenplays for and starred in the psychological thriller/western film Dual (2005) and the sci-fi/horror film Devil On The Mountain (2006). He also appeared in an episode of the CBS sitcom The King of Queens in 2005.

Filmography

Film

!Year!Title!Role!Notes
1985The Legend of Billie JeanSurferUncredited
1987Teen Wolf TooTeen in crowd
1992Final ImpactDanny Davis
1992Street CrimesTony
1993To Be the BestEric Kulhane
1995Fists of IronDale Hartwell
1997SueMan in Gallery
1999The StorytellersKristopher Krengle
1999The ContractDetective McGuiness
2001Lt. Casey Sheppard
2002Essence of EchoesFBI Agent Kyle McShinsky
2003Ghost RockJohn SlaughterAlso writer
2005LethalEugeneUncredited
2005Killing CupidCupid / MarionAlso writer and director
2005The Nowhere ManSuicidal PilotAlso producer
2005Demon HunterCop
2006Sasquatch MountainVin StewartAlso writer
2006Left in DarknessCelia's Father
2008God's EarsNoah ConnelyAlso writer and director
2008DualLuke TwainAlso writer
2010Bring Me the Head of Lance HenriksenMichaelAlso writer and director
2011Fort McCoyDrunk SoldierAlso co-director
2011Girls! GirlsGirls!Ben
2012ComplacentEugene York
2012West of ThunderKippy
2012Rise of the DinosaursProfessor Roxton
2014Flim: The MovieHimself
2015Seeking Dolly PartonJoshAlso writer and director
2016Catfish BluesDylan's dadAlso writer
2017Broken MemoriesBuckAlso writer and director
2017Their Killer AffairTheir Killer Affair
2018LafayetteJack
2019Apple SeedPrinceAlso writer and director
2020Gunfight at Silver CreekCarl Macgregor
2022The Butterfly GuardTyler BowieAlso director

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1993–1995Acapulco H.E.A.T.Tommy22 episodes
1995The John Larroquette ShowUriEpisode: "Wrestling Matches"
1995MarkerClintEpisode: "From Russia Without Love"
1995Pvt. HansenEpisode: "All American Murder"
1997Suddenly SusanUnderwear ModelEpisode: "I Didn't Write This"
1997, 1998Buffy the Vampire SlayerVampire2 episodes
1998Conan the AdventurerDrakkEpisode: "Homecoming"
1998Pacific BlueMike ThackerEpisode: "Overkill"
1999Sergeant SchillingEpisode: "Don't Follow the Leader"
2005The King of QueensOwenEpisode: "Ice Cubed"
2005The CloserJason MurphyEpisode: "You Are Here"
2006Twenty Good YearsFrankEpisode: "Jeffrey's Choice"
2006The UnitSecond ManEpisode: "Silver Star"
2009War WolvesJake GabrielTelevision film; also writer/director
2009Desperate HousewivesSelf Defense InstructorEpisode: "What Would I Think of Suicide?"
2011Lucius WoodsEpisode: "Life Sentence"
2011JabberwockAlecTelevision film

References

  1. Web site: August 31, 2009 . Interview with Michael Worth . April 7, 2022 . en-US.
  2. Web site: Profile: Michael Worth . April 7, 2022 . en-US.
  3. Book: Cornfield, Jim . Environmental Portraiture: A Complete Guide to the Portrait Photographer's Most Powerful Imaging Tool . November 11, 2019 . Routledge . 978-1-317-38647-6 . en.
  4. Book: Pitts, Michael R. . Western Movies: A Guide to 5,105 Feature Films, 2d ed. . December 13, 2012 . McFarland . 978-1-4766-0090-1 . en.