Michael Chernus
Born
Michael Louis Chernus[1]

(1977-08-08) August 8, 1977 (age 46)
Rocky River, Ohio, U.S.
EducationJuilliard School (BFA)
OccupationActor
Years active2005–present

Michael Louis Chernus (born August 8, 1977)[2] is an American actor. He has acted on film, television, and the stage. He is perhaps best known for his role as Cal Chapman on the Netflix original comedy-drama series Orange Is the New Black (2013–2019). Chernus played Phineas Mason / Tinkerer in the Marvel Cinematic Universe film Spider-Man: Homecoming, which was released on July 7, 2017.

Life and career

Chernus was born in Rocky River, Ohio. He is a graduate of the Juilliard School's Drama Division.[3] An accomplished stage actor, Michael won a 2011 Obie Award[4] and received a Lucille Lortel Award nomination[5] for his performance in Lisa Kron's In the Wake at The Public Theater in New York City. On stage, he co-starred with David Hyde Pierce in the Manhattan Theater Club production of Close Up Space at New York City Center.[6] Other New York credits include such theaters as Playwrights Horizons, the Roundabout Theatre Company, Primary Stages, New York Theatre Workshop, The Atlantic Theater Company, and many productions at the Rattlestick Playwrights Theater, where he played the lead role of KJ in Annie Baker's play, The Aliens, which Charles Isherwood, of The New York Times, named the best play of 2010.[7]

His most recent role was Second Stage Theatre's production of Lips Together, Teeth Apart, co-starring America Ferrera.[8] Chernus has acted in films such as Men in Black 3, Captain Phillips, The Bourne Legacy, and Jack and Diane. His most notable role to date is Cal Chapman, protagonist Piper Chapman's brother, in the Netflix original comedy-drama series Orange Is the New Black.[9]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2005 Winter Passing Ben
2007 Lovely by Surprise Humpkin
2008 High Street Plumbing Kirby Short film
2009 The Messenger Alan
2009 The Rebound Actor #3
2009 Feed the Fish JP
2010 Nonames Danny
2010 Coach Michael
2010 Love & Other Drugs Jerry
2011 Split Chris Short film
2011 Higher Ground Ned
2011 The Handel-Halvorsen Passacaglia The Man
2012 Jack & Diane Jaimie
2012 Men in Black 3 Jeffrey Price
2012 The Bourne Legacy Arthur Ingram
2013 He's Way More Famous Than You Himself
2013 The Mouseketeer Short film
2013 Mutual Friends Chernus
2013 Captain Phillips Shane Murphy
2014 Goodbye to All That Freddie
2014 Alex of Venice Trofimov
2014 Glass Chin Brian Colby
2014 Mistress America Dylan
2014 The Rub Henry Short film
2015 People Places Things Gary
2015 Aloha Roy
2015 The Family Fang Kenny
2016 Complete Unknown Clyde
2017 The Dinner Dylan Heinz
2017 The Most Hated Woman in America Jon Garth Murray
2017 The Meyerowitz Stories Male Nurse
2017 Spider-Man: Homecoming Phineas Mason / Tinkerer
2018 The Kindergarten Teacher Grant Spinelli
2018 Furlough Bus Driver
2020 Materna David
2021 Werewolves Within Pete
2023 Molli and Max in the Future Turboschmuck
2024 Out of My Mind Mr. Dimming

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2009 Bored to Death Francis Hamm Episode: "Take a Dive"
2009–2010 Mercy Ryan Flanagan Recurring role, 9 episodes
2011 Damages New Jersey Bar Owner 2 episodes
2011 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Jay Delaney Episode: "Educated Guess"
2012 The Big C Pastor Rick 4 episodes
2012 The New Normal Paul Episode: "Nangasm"
2013 Nurse Jackie Louie Episode: "Walk of Shame"
2013–2019 Orange Is the New Black Cal Chapman Recurring role, 17 episodes
2013 Royal Pains Pat McRevis Episode: "Can of Worms"
2013 Nashville Howie V Episode: "They Don't Make 'Em Like My Daddy Anymore"
2014 Elementary Edwin Borstein Episode: "Bella"
2014–2015 Manhattan Louis "Fritz" Fedowitz Main role, 22 episodes
2015 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Tommy Sullivan Episode: "Parole Violations"
2015–2018 Patriot Congressman Edward Tavner Main role, 18 episodes
2015 The Good Wife Spencer Harman Episode: "Discovery"
2016–2019 Easy Kyle 6 episodes
2017 Wormwood Mal 3 episodes
2019–2020 Ramy Michael 3 episodes
2019 Perpetual Grace, LTD Everly Pirdoo 5 episodes
2020 Tommy Ken Rosey Main role, 12 episodes
2020 Monsterland Tommy Episode: "Newark, New Jersey"
2021 Prodigal Son Jerry 2 episodes
2022 Evil Dr. Paul Wimsimer Episode: "The Demon of Cults"
2022 Little America Paul Episode: "Columbus Starlings LLC"
2022–present Severance Dr. Ricken Lazlo Hale Main role
2023 Dead Ringers Tom Miniseries
2023 Carol & The End of The World Eric (voice) 3 episodes

Stage

Year Play Role Theatre Notes
2003 Jump/Cut Dave Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company, Regional
2004 Romeo and Juliet Benvolio[10] Guthrie Theater, Regional
Finer Noble Gases Lynch[11] Rattlestick Playwrights Theater, Off-Broadway
2004–2005 A Number Bernard/Bernard/Michael New York Theatre Workshop, Off-Broadway Understudy
2005 Create Fate Nathan Williamstown Theatre Festival, Regional
2005–2006 Mr. Marmalade George/Cactus/Bob Laura Pels Theatre, Off-Broadway
2006 The Mistakes Madeline Made Wilson Yale Repertory Theatre, Regional
2007 Essential Self-Defense Isaak Glinka Playwrights Horizons, Off-Broadway
American Sligo Kyle[12] Rattlestick Playwrights Theater, Off-Broadway
Rag and Bone George[13] Rattlestick Playwrights Theater, Off-Broadway
2008 Hunting and Gathering Astor 59E59 Theaters, Off-Broadway
2010 The Aliens KJ Rattlestick Playwrights Theater, Off-Broadway
In the Wake Danny The Public Theater, Off-Broadway
2011 Touch(ed) Billy Williamstown Theatre Festival, Regional
2011–2012 Close Up Space Steve Manhattan Theatre Club, Off-Broadway
2014 Lips Together, Teeth Apart Sam Truman Second Stage Theater, Off-Broadway

Awards and nominations

Year Nominated work Award Category Result
2011 In the Wake Lucille Lortel Awards Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play Nominated
Obie Awards Outstanding Performance by a Featured Actor Won
2022 Severance Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series Nominated

References

  1. ^ "Michael Chernus, Actor/Curator for SPACE's Film Initiative/Farm Cat Enthusiast". SPACE on Ryder Farm.
  2. ^ "Personal Details for Michael L Chernus, "United States Public Records, 1970-2009"". FamilySearch. Retrieved June 19, 2015.
  3. ^ Jackson, Susan. "Spotlight on Danielle Brooks | The Juilliard School". Juilliard. Retrieved June 19, 2015.
  4. ^ "Obie Awards Ceremony". NY Theatre Wire. Retrieved June 19, 2015.
  5. ^ "26th Annual Lucille Lortel Awards Recipients Announced" (PDF). Lortel Awards. Retrieved June 19, 2015.
  6. ^ Isherwood, Charles (December 20, 2011). "Close Up Space with David Hyde-Pierce Review". The New York Times. Retrieved June 19, 2015.
  7. ^ Isherwood, Charles (April 22, 2010). "Theater Reviews : Aliens". The New York Times. Retrieved June 19, 2015.
  8. ^ "America Ferrera and Michael Chernus Star in Lips Together, Teeth Apart, Beginning Tonight". Playbill. October 7, 2014. Retrieved June 19, 2015.
  9. ^ Friedlander, Whitney (March 24, 2014). "'Orange Is the New Black's 'Michael Chernus Heads to 'Manhattan'". Variety. Retrieved June 19, 2015.
  10. ^ Gans, Andrew (January 31, 2004). "Complete Cast Announced for Guthrie's Romeo and Juliet; McSweeny to Direct". Playbill.
  11. ^ Hernandez, Ernio (October 12, 2004). "Adam Rapp's Finer Noble Gases Linger Longer as Off-Broadway Show Extends". Playbill.
  12. ^ James, Caryn (September 26, 2007). "Odd Crew Gathers Round at the Twilight of a Wrestler". The New York Times.
  13. ^ "Rag and Bone | TheaterMania". www.theatermania.com.

External links

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