Rising Stars: Meet Michael Pierce of Hollywood

Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael Pierce.

Hi Michael, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I started in the entertainment industry in my youth working for a professional Puppeteer troupe as well as working as a magician and also acting and transitioned into theater in my teens and television as a young adult.

My first break came as a disco dancer on the television Soap Opera General Hospital in the early 1980’s. I’ve told this story before, but I was so naïve. I didn’t know you couldn’t do this. I was a Disco Dancer and I watched the show General Hospital religiously and knew they had a storyline on the show that included a disco and cast disco dancers. I didn’t have a headshot. I sent my High School Senior portrait photo along with a very crude typed resume to the casting director of General Hospital at the time, Marvin Paige, with a letter, explaining that I was a Disco Dancer and wanted to be cast in the Disco. I also called the studio every week the summer of 1980. I would call the Sunset & Gower Studios Main Line and ask to speak to Marvin Paige. Initially they asked who I was and why I was calling and when I said I sent my Headshot and resume and was checking to see if he had received it, they put me on hold (they were probably laughing) and came back and said they would give him the message. I did this week after week for nearly the entire summer, never giving up. Finally one day when I called and they put me on hold, I was transferred to a gentleman name Skitch Hendricks, who cast the dancers and background. He said I understand you are a dancer and I am looking for dancers to work the show tomorrow, are you available? When I said yes, I was transferred again to someone who gave me all the details, such as the time to arrive, wardrobe etc. I worked the next day and the day after and I ended up working nearly every week on the show until the storyline fizzled out but for almost a year. You could never do that today but in1980 it worked and that is how I got my start. I also got my first Under 5 on the show because of Stuart Damon. He was so kind. I used to chat with him and Rick Springfield and Doug Sheehan on some of the days I worked on the Disco set so when I did background in the main hospital scenes there was one day I was talking with Stuart in between takes and he said to Gloria Monty, let’s give him a line. I heard her booming voice echo down from the control room and she said for me to say, “Here’s your folder Dr. Quartermaine.” And that was my first Under 5 on Television.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has not been a smooth road. I left the industry to attend college. I attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in Los Angeles, at the time the campus was in Pasadena. At the time I attended you were required to sign a contract stating you wouldn’t work in the industry while attending. My agent at the time told me it was a bad decision (it wasn’t, I loved AADA.) But it wasn’t easy after college. It was as if I was starting all over again. I had to get an new agent and I moved back home to San Diego because I couldn’t afford to live in Los Angeles any longer and I ended up working non entertainment industry jobs and it wasn’t quite what I had anticipated.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a bald character actor. I used to describe myself as a big bald character actor. I was generally cast as nefarious characters. I used to be a big boy, weight wise. Over the past few years I made a decision to get healthy after having a knee replacement and lost about 90 lbs, so know I am just a bald character actor. Recently I was General Mills in the Netflix film “Unfrosted” directed by Jerry Seinfeld. I am proud of that, but I have to say I am very proud of a new film that just released. It is called “A Lions Game” and it is streaming on Apple TV and Amazon Prime. I love everything about this film. I love the story and all the twists and suspense. I love the cast, the director, the writers and the crew. And I just love how it turned out after editing and the amazing score. I am really proud to have been part of this film.

We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
I think some of my friends might know this slightly, but not to the degree that it is almost obsessive but I am slightly obsessed with Nike Tennis Shoes and Volcom Baseball Caps. Some people have coin collections. I like to collect Nike Tennis Shoes and Volcom Baseball Caps. I don’t keep them in their packaging either, I like to wear them, I have favorites and some that I only wear on certain occasions.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://michaeljosephpierce.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaelpiercesd/
• Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3019537/

Image Credits
Headshots – Chris Jon Photography