Michael Murphy (actor)

For other people named Michael Murphy, see Michael Murphy (disambiguation).

Michael Murphy
Murphy at the 2006 Toronto International Film Festival
Born	Michael George Murphy (1938-05-05) May 5, 1938 Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1963–present
Spouse	Wendy Crewson ​ ​ (m. 1988; div. 2009)​
Children	2

Michael George Murphy (born May 5, 1938) is an American film, television and stage actor. He often plays unethical or morally ambiguous characters in positions of authority, including politicians, executives, administrators, clerics, doctors, law enforcement agents, and lawyers. He is also known for his frequent collaborations with director Robert Altman, having appeared in twelve films, TV series and miniseries directed by Altman from 1963 to 2004, including the title role in the acclaimed, Emmy Award-winning HBO miniseries Tanner '88. He had roles in the films M*A*S*H (1970), Brewster McCloud (1970), What's Up, Doc? (1972), Phase IV (1974), Nashville (1975), The Front (1976), An Unmarried Woman (1978), The Class of Miss MacMichael (1978), Manhattan (1979), Strange Behavior (1981), The Year of Living Dangerously (1983), Cloak & Dagger (1984), Salvador (1986), Shocker (1989), Batman Returns (1992), Magnolia (1999), X-Men: The Last Stand (2006), Away from Her (2007), and Fall (2014), among others.

Early life

Murphy was born in Los Angeles, California, the son of Georgia Arlyn (née Money), a teacher, and Bearl Branton Murphy, a salesman. After serving in the U.S. Marine Corps near the end of the Korean War, Murphy attended the University of Arizona and the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA).

He taught English and drama at University High School (Los Angeles) before pursuing an acting career.

Career

Murphy is best known for his performances as Jill Clayburgh's adulterous husband Martin in Paul Mazursky's An Unmarried Woman (1978), as Woody Allen's morally ambiguous best friend Yale in Manhattan (1979), as The Mayor of Gotham City in Batman Returns (1992), as ethically enigmatic lawyer Alan Kligman, Esq. in Magnolia (1999), as the "mutant" Angel's human father (and crusading cure-developer) Warren Worthington II in X-Men: The Last Stand (2006), and as the star of Garry Trudeau and Robert Altman's groundbreaking 1988 miniseries Tanner '88.

Murphy worked frequently with Altman, including as Captain Ezekiel Bradbury "Me Lay" Marston V, in M*A*S*H (1970), as Det. Lt. Frank Shaft in Brewster McCloud (1970), as John Triplette in Nashville (1975), and as the eponymous, fictitious former U.S. Congressman and presidential aspirant, Jack Tanner, in Tanner '88, a role he later reprised in the 2004 follow-up miniseries Tanner on Tanner. Other Altman films and television series in which Murphy appeared include the World War II TV series Combat! (in which Murphy appeared, twice, in 1963, on the show's second of five seasons), Countdown (1968), That Cold Day in the Park (1969), McCabe & Mrs. Miller (1971), The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial (1988) and Kansas City (1996).

Other notable film roles include Count Yorga, Vampire (1970), What's Up, Doc? (1972), The Thief Who Came to Dinner (1973), The Front (1976), The Great Bank Hoax (1977), The Class of Miss MacMichael (1978), The Year of Living Dangerously (1983), Cloak & Dagger (1984), My Letter to George (1986), Salvador (1986), Private Parts (1997), Silver City (2004), According to Greta (2009), White House Down (2013) and They Came Together (2014).

Though usually cast in supporting roles and character parts, Murphy has not been relegated solely to such work. He has also had leading turns in a variety of theatrical films including Phase IV (1974), Strange Behavior (1981), Hot Money (1983), Shocker (1989), The Island (1998) and the 2014 film Fall--in an acclaimed performance that garnered him a Canadian Screen Award nomination for Best Lead Performance in a Drama Film in 2015--as well as starring turns in television films like Bell, Book and Candle (1976), 3 by Cheever: O Youth and Beauty! (1979), Countdown to Looking Glass (1984), Tailspin: Behind the Korean Airliner Tragedy (1989), The Ultimate Lie (1996), Breaking the Surface: The Greg Louganis Story (1996) and In the Dark (2003), in addition to others.

In addition to his starring turns in the HBO Films original productions Tanner '88, Tailspin: Behind the Korean Airliner Tragedy, and Countdown to Looking Glass, Murphy has also frequently appeared in other films for the cable giant, including the historical biopics Dead Ahead: The Exxon Valdez Disaster (1992), Truman (1995) and Live from Baghdad (2002).

Murphy has been cast in leading roles in network television series, such as Dr. Art Armstrong on the ABC family drama Two Marriages (1983-1984), and as jaded veteran reporter Andy Omart on the short-lived CBS newspaper drama Hard Copy (1987).

He has also been a regular supporting cast member on a number of other television series. He has appeared extensively in Canadian film and television, including the legal dramady series This Is Wonderland, co-starring as longtime judicial veteran Judge Maxwell Fraser. For his work on the show, Murphy would go on to be nominated for three Gemini Awards, winning twice, successively, in 2004 and 2005, and nominated for a third in 2006. He was cast as monolithic casino executive Jimmy Malloy on the American ESPN competitive poker drama Tilt (2005), as veteran law enforcement superior Ed Wycoff on the Canadian CTV police drama The Bridge (2010), and as George Kelly, the father of ex-soldier-turned-thief Ethan Kelly (played by Cole Hauser) in the third season of the Canadian-British-American DirecTV police drama Rogue in 2015.

His guest-starring turns on television span more than half of a century, including guest appearances on such series as Bonanza, Ben Casey, Hogan's Heroes, The Sixth Sense, Premiere, Baretta, Law & Order, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Judging Amy, The Man from U.N.C.L.E., Family Law, 12 O'Clock High, Lifestories, Here Comes the Brides, LAX, Person of Interest and L.A. Law.

He has appeared in numerous Canadian television films and miniseries, such as Sleeping Dogs Lie (1998), The Life and Crimes of William Palmer (1998), H₂O (2004), Playing House (2006) and The Quality of Life (2008), as well as a number of theatrically-released features including Folks! (1992), Tart (2001), Childstar (2004), Away from Her (2006), The Trotsky (2008) and Indian Horse (2017). Murphy's guest-starring turns on Canadian television series include E.N.G., Living in Your Car, Bury the Lead and Michael: Every Day.

Murphy has also enjoyed a hugely prolific career as a narrator of documentary films, including several dozen episodes of the popular, landmark PBS historical documentary series The American Experience, as well as the public television travel series Weekends with Yankee.

Personal life

Murphy was married to Canadian actress Wendy Crewson from 1988 until their divorce in January 2009. They have two children, Maggie (b. 1989) and John (b. 1992).

Murphy currently resides in Cape Elizabeth, Maine.

Filmography

• Double Trouble (1967) as Morley
• Countdown (1968) as Rick
• The Legend of Lylah Clare (1968) as Mark Peter Sheehan
• That Cold Day in the Park (1969) as The Rounder
• The Arrangement (1969) as Father Draddy
• The Lawyer (1970) as Intern in Legal Office (uncredited)
• Count Yorga, Vampire (1970) as Paul
• M*A*S*H (1970) as Capt. Ezekiel Bradbury "Me Lay" Marston V
• Brewster McCloud (1970) as Det. Lt. Frank Shaft
• McCabe & Mrs. Miller (1971) as Sears
• The Crooked Hearts (1972 TV movie) as Officer Frank Adamic
• Screwball Comedies... Remember Them? (1972) as Self
• What's Up, Doc? (1972) as Mr. Smith
• The Thief Who Came to Dinner (1973) as Ted
• The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman (1974 TV movie) as Quentin Lerner
• I Love You...Good-bye (1974 TV movie) as Alec Shield
• Phase IV (1974) as Dr. James R. Lesko
• Nashville (1975) as John Triplette
• The Making of "The Front" (1976 TV movie) as Self
• The Front (1976) as Alfred Miller
• Bell, Book and Candle (1976 TV movie) as Alex Brandt
• The Great Bank Hoax (1977) as Reverend Manigma
• An Unmarried Woman (1978) as Martin Benton
• The Class of Miss MacMichael (1978) as Martin Best
• 3 by Cheever: O Youth and Beauty! (1979 TV movie) as Cash Bentley
• Manhattan (1979) as Yale
• Strange Behavior (1981) as John Brady
• The Rules of Marriage (1982 TV movie) as Alan Murray
• The Year of Living Dangerously (1982) as Pete Curtis
• Hot Money (1983) as Burt / Tom
• Talk to Me (1984) as Ross
• Countdown to Looking Glass (1984 TV movie) as Bob Calhoun
• Cloak & Dagger (1984) as Rice
• My Letter to George (1986) as Reverend Wilson
• Salvador (1986) as U.S. Ambassador Thomas Kelly
• The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial (1988 TV movie) as Captain Blakely
• Tanner '88 (1988 TV miniseries) as Fmr. U.S. Congressman Jack Tanner
• Shocker (1989) as Det. Lt. Don Parker
• The Making of "Shocker" (1989) as Self
• Tailspin: Behind the Korean Airliner Tragedy (1989 TV movie) as Assistant U.S. Secretary of State Richard Burt
• Folks! (1992) as Ed
• Batman Returns (1992) as The Mayor
• Dead Ahead: The Exxon Valdez Disaster (1992 TV movie ) as U.S. EPA Administrator William K. Reilly
• Clean Slate (1994) as Dr. Doover
• Bad Company (1995) as William V. 'Smitty' Smithfield (uncredited)
• The First 100 Years: A Celebration of American Movies (1995 TV movie) as John Triplette / Yale (uncredited - archive footage from Nashville and Manhattan)
• Truman (1995 TV movie) as Dinner Speaker (uncredited)
• Kansas City (1996) as Henry Stilton
• Special Report: Journey to Mars (1996 TV movie) as Dean Rumplemeyer
• The Ultimate Lie (1996 TV movie) as Malcolm McGrath
• Robert Altman: Giggle and Give In (1996 TV movie) as Self
• Private Parts (1997) as Roger Erlick
• Breaking the Surface: The Greg Louganis Story (1997 TV movie) as Pete Louganis
• The Irish in America: Long Journey Home (1998 TV miniseries) as Narrator
• The Island (1998) as President John F. Kennedy
• The Life and Crimes of William Palmer (1998 TV miniseries) as Smith
• Indiscretion of an American Wife (1998 TV movie) as Russell Burton
• Sleeping Dogs Lie (1998 TV movie) as Edgar Tratt
• Magnolia (1999) as Alan Kligman, Esq.
• The Art of War (2000) as Politician (uncredited)
• The Only Living Boy in New York (2000 TV movie) as Rudy
• Altman on His Own Terms (2000 TV movie) as Self
• Enlisted: The Story of "M*A*S*H" (2000) as Self
• Twentieth Century Fox: The Blockbuster Years (2000 TV movie) as Martin Benton (archive footage from An Unmarried Woman)
• Tart (2001) as Mike Storm
• The Day Reagan Was Shot (2001 TV movie) as White House Deputy Chief of Staff Michael Deaver
• American Experience – Mount Rushmore (2002 TV movie) as Narrator
• Woody Allen: A Life in Film (2002 TV movie) as Yale (uncredited - archive footage from Manhattan)
• Live from Baghdad (2002 TV movie) as Tom Johnson
• American Experience – Transcontinental Railroad (2003 TV movie) as Narrator
• Footsteps (2003 TV movie) as Robbie
• In the Dark (2003 TV movie) as George Speller
• A Decade Under the Influence (2003) as Martin Benton (uncredited - archive footage from An Unmarried Woman)
• Tricks (2004) as Arthur
• Childstar (2004) as Reed Harrison
• American Masters – Julia! America's Favorite Chef (2004 TV movie) as Narrator
• Silver City (2004) as U.S. Senator Judson Pilager
• Behind the Scenes: Tanner on Tanner (2004 TV movie) as Self
• Tanner on Tanner (2004 TV miniseries) as Fmr. U.S. Congressman Jack Tanner
• The Path to 9/11 (2004 TV miniseries) as U.S. Secretary of Defense William Cohen
• H₂O (2004 TV miniseries) as U.S. Ambassador Conrad
• Heights (2005) as Jesse
• Mayday (2005 TV movie) as Captain Randall Williams
• American Experience – Las Vegas: An Unconventional History, Part I (2005 TV movie) as Narrator
• American Experience – Las Vegas: An Unconventional History, Part II (2005 TV movie) as Narrator
• X-Men: The Last Stand (2006) as Warren Worthington II
• Away From Her (2006) as Aubrey
• Playing House (2006 TV movie) as Hubbard
• The Wind in the Willows (2006 TV movie) as Judge
• American Experience – Jesse James (2006 TV movie) as Narrator
• American Experience – The Gold Rush (2006 TV movie) as Narrator
• Caring for Your Parents (2008 TV movie) as Narrator
• Depression: Out of the Shadows (2008 TV movie) as Narrator
• The Quality of Life (2008 TV movie) as Charles Greenborne
• American Experience – Kit Carson (2008 TV movie) as Narrator
• A War in Hollywood (2008) as Alfred Miller (uncredited - archive footage from The Front)
• Not Quite Hollywood: Deleted Scenes (2008) as Self (archive footage)
• The Trotsky (2009) as Frank McGovern
• According to Greta (2009) as Joseph
• China Rises (2009 TV movie) as Narrator
• American Experience – Wyatt Earp (2010 TV movie) as Narrator
• Mulroney: The Opera (2011) as Col. Robert R. McCormick
• India Reborn (2011 TV movie) as Narrator
• Angle of Attack: How Naval Aviation Changed the Face of War (2011 TV movie) as Narrator
• American Experience – Robert E. Lee (2011 TV movie) as Narrator
• American Experience – Dinosaur Wars (2011 TV movie) as Narrator
• American Experience – Panama Canal: Gateway to the New Century (2011 TV movie) as Narrator
• American Experience – The Greely Expedition (2011 TV movie) as Narrator
• American Experience – Triangle Fire (2011 TV movie) as Narrator
• American Experience – Billy the Kid (2012 TV movie) as Narrator
• American Experience – Custer's Last Stand (2012 TV movie) as Narrator
• American Experience – Grand Coulee Dam (2012 TV movie) as Narrator
• Great Scot Beer (2012 TV movie) as Randy
• White House Down (2013) as Vice President Alvin Hammond
• The Making of "Nashville" (2013) as Self
• American Experience – Silicon Valley (2014 TV movie) as Narrator
• American Experience – Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (2014 TV movie) as Narrator
• American Experience – The Rise and Fall of Penn Station (2014 TV movie) as Narrator
• Altman (2014) as Self
• Fall (2014) as Father Sam Ryan
• They Came Together (2014) as Roger
• American Experience – Edison (2015 TV movie) as Narrator
• American Experience – The Forgotten Plague (2015 TV movie) as Narrator
• American Experience – Last Days in Vietnam (2015 TV movie) as Narrator
• American Experience – Bonnie & Clyde (2016 TV movie) as Narrator
• American Experience – Mine Wars (2016 TV movie) as Narrator
• American Experience – Murder of a President (2016 TV movie) as Narrator
• American Experience – Space Men (2016 TV movie) as Narrator
• American Experience – Tesla (2016 TV movie) as Narrator
• American Experience – The Battle of Chosin (2016 TV movie) as Narrator
• Close Encounters with Vilmos Zsigmond (2016) as Self
• McCabe & Mrs. Miller: Way Out on a Limb (2016) as Self
• American Experience – The Race Underground (2017 TV movie) as Narrator
• American Experience – Ruby Ridge (2017 TV movie) as Narrator
• Indian Horse (2017) as Father Quinney
• Two Plains & a Fancy (2018) as Rancher
• American Experience – The Circus: Part 1 (2018 TV movie) as Narrator
• American Experience – The Circus: Part 2 (2018 TV movie) as Narrator
• American Experience – Sealab (2019 TV movie) as Narrator
• American Experience – The Feud (2019 TV movie) as Narrator
• Rolling Thunder Revue: A Bob Dylan Story by Martin Scorsese (2019) as The Politician, Fmr. U.S. Congressman Jack Tanner
• American Experience – The Man Who Tried to Feed the World (2020 TV movie) as Narrator
• A Vampire in L.A. (2022) as Paul (archive footage from Count Yorga, Vampire)
• Film Essay - Robert Altman's "Brewster McCloud" (2023) as Det. Lt. Frank Shaft (archive footage from Brewster McCloud)
• Evolutions: The Making of "Phase IV" (2024) as Self
• Robert Altman: America's Rebel Director (2024) as John Triplette (uncredited - archive footage from Nashville)
• Cruel, Usual, Necessary: The Passion of Silvio Narizzano (2024) as Self

Television series

• Combat! (1963) as 1st Tanker / Soldier in Hospital – 2 episodes
• Ben Casey (1964-1965) as Dr. J. Wells Savage / Dr. Paul Galloway / Andy Andrews – 3 episodes
• Here Come the Brides (1968) as Ethan – 1 episode
• The Sixth Sense (1972) as David Ford – 1 episode
• The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (1965) as Intern – 1 episode
• Hogan's Heroes (1965) as Corporal Walter Comminsky (uncredited) – 1 episode
• 12 O'Clock High (1966) as Sergeant Marven – 1 episode
• Bonanza (1968) as Will Holt – 1 episode
• Premiere (1968) as William Smith – 1 episode
• Salty (1975) as Stock – 1 episode
• Baretta (1975) as Mike Parsons – 1 episode
• Midday with Bill Boggs (1978) as Self/Guest – 1 episode
• Tomorrow Coast to Coast (1981) as Self/Guest – 1 episode
• Two Marriages (1983-1984) as Dr. Art Armstrong – 10 episodes
• Hard Copy (1987) as Andy Omart – 6 episodes
• Lifestories (1990) as Frank Brody – 1 episode
• E.N.G. (1990) as Steve Kurtz – 1 episode
• Screen One (1992) as Bill Rally – 1 episode
• L.A. Law (1993) as Bobby Lewis – 1 episode
• Judging Amy (2000) as Judge Alistair McNeil – 1 episode
• Family Law (2000) as Ian Lumberg – 1 episode
• Law and Order (2001) as Nolan Tinsdale – 1 episode
• Law and Order: Criminal Intent (2002) as Judge Peter Blakemore – 1 episode
• The American Experience (2002-2020) as Narrator – 34 episodes
• Bury the Lead (2003) – 1 episode
• LAX (2004) as Emmet – 1 episode
• This is Wonderland (2004-2006) as Judge Maxwell Fraser – 39 episodes
• Tilt (2005) as Jimmy Malloy – 9 episodes
• Living in Your Car (2010) as Frank – 1 episode
• The Bridge (2010) as Ed Wycoff – 12 episodes
• Michael: Every Day (2011) as Stanley Dyer – 1 episode
• Person of Interest as U.S. Congressman Jim Hallen (2011) – 1 episode
• Pop Culture Beast's Halloween Horror Picks (2014) as John Brady (uncredited - archive footage from Strange Behavior) – 1 episode
• Rogue (2015) as George Kelly – 10 episodes
• Weekends with Yankee (2018-2019) as Narrator – 26 episodes

Theatre

• Take Her, She's Mine, Valley Music Theatre, Los Angeles, 1964 (stage acting debut)
• Our Town, Huntington Hartford Theatre, Los Angeles, 1970
• Rat's Nest, Vandam Theatre (then known as Grove Street Theatre), New York City, NY, 1978 (stage directorial debut)
• The Hotel Play, La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club, New York City, 1981
• Playing in Local Bands, Yale Repertory Theatre, New Haven, CT, 1983
• Curse of the Starving Class, Portland Stage Company, Portland, ME, 1985
• Goodbye Freddy, Manhattan Punch Line Theatre, INTAR Theatre, New York City, NY, 1985
• Near the End of the Century, George Street Playhouse, New Brunswick, NJ, 1992

Accolades

• Mid-Lifetime Achievement Award — Winner — Maine International Film Festival (2015)

• Fall — Nominee — Canadian Screen Award for Best Lead Performance in a Drama Film (2015)

• This is Wonderland — Nominee — Gemini Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Supporting Role in a Dramatic Series (2006)

• This is Wonderland — Winner — Gemini Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Supporting Role in a Dramatic Series (2005)

• This is Wonderland — Winner — Gemini Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Supporting Role in a Dramatic Series (2004)

• Magnolia — Winner — Florida Film Critics Circle Award for Best Ensemble (2000)

• Magnolia — Winner — Golden Satellite Award Special Achievement Award for Outstanding Motion Picture Ensemble (2000)

• Magnolia — Winner — Online Film & Television Association Award for Best Ensemble (2000)

• Magnolia — Nominee — Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Ensemble (2000)

• Magnolia — Winner — Awards Circuit Community Award for Best Cast Ensemble (1999)

• Magnolia — Winner — National Board of Review Award for Best Acting by an Ensemble (1999)

External links

• Michael Murphy at IMDb