Michael Lerner

MICHAEL LERNER is best known for his memorable supporting turns in such films as Barton Fink (for which he received an Oscar nomination) Eight Men Out and Elf. He's been seen on the small screen in episodes of hit series including "The Good Wife," "Entourage" and "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" and "Entourage." Lerner guest starred on "Suburgatory" and played Wesley Mouch in the feature Atlas Shrugged: Part I.

Lerner graduated from Brooklyn College and the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. He began his acting career in the late 1960s at the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco. At the age of 24, Lerner gave a bravura performance as Hieronymous the Miser in a KPFA radio production of Michel de Ghelderode's burlesque play "Red Magic."

Lerner appeared as Pierre Salinger, press secretary to John F. Kennedy, in the classic teleplay "The Missiles of October." His early guest appearances on television include "The Brady Bunch," "The Odd Couple" and "M*A*S*H."

The actor made his film debut in the Donald Sutherland picture Alex in Wonderland. He then went on to appear in supporting roles in various Hollywood movies such as Robert Redford's The Candidate, Charles Bronson's St. Ives and Jack Nicholson's The Postman Always Rings Twice. Lerner co-starred with Eddie Murphy in the comedy Harlem Nights. For his role as film producer Jack Lipnick in the Coen brothers' Barton Fink, Lerner received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor.

On stage, Lerner appeared in the West End production of "Up for Grabs" with Madonna. He also appeared on Radio Four in David Quantick's series, "One."

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