Introduction
Michael Woods (born July 10, 1957) is an American stage, film, and television actor known for his roles in As the World Turns (1999-2009), Hatfields & McCoys (2012), and You Can't Take My Daughter (2020).
Early life and education
Michael Woods was born on July 10, 1957, in Detroit, Michigan, to Dr. Joseph and Dorothy Woods. He studied theatre and acting at the University of Detroit, Detroit, Michigan, graduating with a BFA degree in drama. While at the university, he won the ACTF Kennedy Center honor for "The Brig," in 1977.
Career
After finishing his education, Woods did regional theatre in such plays as the playwright Mark Medoff's "The Halloween Bandit" and Tennessee Williams' "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof". He received rave reviews opposite Ed Harrisin "Scar" at The Met Theatre.
Woods' screen debut came in 1980 with a minor in Jeannot Szwarc's romantic fantasy drama film from Universal Pictures, Somewhere in Time, starring Christopher Reeve, Jane Seymour, and Christopher Plummer. The following year, he was seen as "Kent Bogard" in 2 episodes of Agnes Nixon's daytime drama All My Children. After that, he starred in five primetime television series, including NightMan (1997), Bare Essence (1983) with Ian McShane, and Our Family Honor (1985) with Eli Wallach (The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly fame), which marked the series debuts of Ray Liotta and Michael Madsen.
In 1982, Woods had the recurring role of "Mark Wheeler" (84 episodes) in Paul Rauch's daytime drama Texas with Carla Borelli, Beverlee McKinsey, and Jerry Lanning. In 1987-1988, he played "Jack Cleary" in 12 episodes of Anthony Yerkovich's TV detective series Private Eye with William Sadler and Josh Brolin.
In 2005, he played FBI agent "Bill Blackburn" in the TV series The Closer with Kyra Sedgwick.
Woods' feature film credits include Lady Beware (1987) opposite Diane Lane, Kevin Connolly's Gotti (2018, starring John Travolta and Spencer Rocco Lofranco), and most recently as "Joe Nelis" in South African film director Michael Oblowitz's biographical drama about Frank Sinatra Frank and Ava with Rico Simonini (as Frank Sinatra) and Jolee Blon (as Ava Gardner).