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20 fascinating facts about Michael Emerson
Michael Emerson has recently emerged as a memorable name over the past decade.
His incredible performances and unbelievable roles have proven his skills as an actor, be it a serial killer or a Broadway musical actor.
Find out where this impressive actor started and how he got the success he is today!
Michael Emerson is 66 years old this year.
However, he was raised in Toledo, Iowa.
Emerson has a relatively average height, only 5’6 feet (173 cm) tall.
He is of German, Irish and English descent on his father's side, and Norwegian and Czech on his mother's side.
Michael Emerson attended Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa.
He graduated from Drake College in 1976 with a Major in Theater and Arts major.
After studying for a semester at the National Academy of Theater, Emerson moved to New York City.
After moving, he couldn't find an acting job so he accepted a retail job.
Michael Emerson moved to Jacksonville, Florida in 1986. While there, he acted in local productions at the Jacksonville Theater.
At Jacksonville, he is also a director and teacher at Flagler College, a four-year liberal arts college.
Emerson eventually earned a Master of Fine Arts degree at the University of Alabama after a few years working, including illustrating and teaching.
Overall, Emerson has worked as a carpenter, landscape painter, illustrator, teacher and director.
It wasn't until the age of 32 that Emerson started to work professionally.
Emerson's breakout role was the role of Zep Hindle in the famous 2004 horror film Saw.
When he was chosen to join the big TV show, Lost, he only planned to participate in three episodes.
Although he has been extremely successful on television since, he said that acting on Broadway in classic plays was one of his greatest dreams.
Michael Emerson won his first Emmy in September 2001 for "Best Guest Actor in a Serial Drama", for playing a serial killer in episodes of The Practice.
Emerson married his wife, Carrie Preston, in 1998. They met while Emerson was working on a Hamlet staging in Alabama.
Interestingly, his wife co-starred with him on several TV shows.
On the days off the show, Emerson's hobbies include reading Shakespeare stories, watching Dodgers baseball games or spending time with his dog Chumley.
