Michael J. Anderson

Acting

Michael J. Anderson

Born
(age 72)
Birthplace
Denver, Colorado, USA
Credits
44 titles

Biography

Michael John Anderson was born in Denver, Colorado, at 10:30 P.M., on Halloween night. Subject to a genetic anomaly known as Osteogenesis Imperfecta, he grew up in a wheelchair. After graduating high school, he traveled America, singing for tips and living in his car. For six years, he attended the University of Colorado where he majored in numerous subjects ranging from philosophy to microbiology. After college, he began working for Martin Marietta, trouble-shooting the N.A.S.A. computers in the ground-support system of the space shuttle. During this time, he made the documentary "Little Mike," which won a silver medal in the International Film and Television Awards. Soon thereafter, he moved to New York City, where his film and television career began. For many years, Anderson was most well-known among fans of director David Lynch for his work as a backwards-talking dream figure on the cult favorite T.V. series Twin Peaks (1990). Anderson also worked with Lynch for the experimental performance piece Industrial Symphony No. 1: The Dream of the Brokenhearted (1990) and the T.V.-pilot-turned-feature film Mulholland Drive (2001). Anderson gained further recognition and success in recent years for his work on the H.B.O. series Carnivàle (2003). He retired from acting in 2014. His last role was in Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated (2010–13).

Signature work

Known For

Acting credits 43

YearTitleRole
2014 Twin Peaks: The Missing Pieces Film Man From Another Place
2010 Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated TV Professor Horatio Kharon (voice) (2 ep)
2003 Carnivàle TV Samson (24 ep)
2003 Making 'Carnivàle': The Show Behind the Show Film Self
2003 Specter's Rock Film The Interrogator
2002 Tiptoes Film Bruno
2001 An Introduction to David Lynch Film Self
2001 Learning to Speak in the Red Room Film Self
2001 Postcards From The Cast Film Self
2001 Snow White Film Sunday
2001 Reflections on the Phenomenon of Twin Peaks Film Self
2001 Mulholland Drive Film Mr. Roque
2000 This Is How the World Ends TV Noise Robber (1 ep)
1999 The Phantom Eye Film Carl
1999 Minimum Wage Film Zeke Bleak
1998 Club Vampire Film Kiddo
1998 Charmed TV Leprechaun, O'Brien (1 ep)
1998 Ava's Magical Adventure Film Stretch
1997 Welcome to Twin Peaks Film Self - The Man From Another Place (archive footage) (uncredited)
1997 Port Charles TV (1624 ep)
1997 Warriors of Virtue Film Mudlap
1997 Screwed Film himself
1995 Caged Hearts Film John
1994 First You Live Then You Die Film
1993 The X-Files TV Mr. Nutt (1 ep)
1993 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine TV Rumpelstiltskin (1 ep)
1992 In the Soup Film Little Man
1992 Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me Film Man From Another Place
1992 Fool's Fire Film Hopfrog
1991 Mannequin Two: On the Move Film Jewel Box Bearer
1990 Industrial Symphony No. 1: The Dream of the Brokenhearted Film Woodsman (Twin A)
1990 Twin Peaks TV The Arm, Man From Another Place (2 ep)
1990 Whatever Happened to Mason Reese Film Sushi Chef
1989 Suffering Bastards Film Little Elvis
1989 Twin Peaks Film The Man From Another Place
1989 No Such Thing as Gravity Film The Botanist
1988 Monsters TV Holly, Household God (1 ep)
1988 Silent But Deadly Film Dr. Bunson
1987 Salvation! Film The Devil
1987 Little Mike: A Videoportrait of Michael Anderson Film Himself
1987 The Great Land of Small Film Fritz / The King
1982 American Playhouse TV Hopfrog (1 ep)
1975 Saturday Night Live TV New Years Baby 1953 (uncredited), Ed McMahon's little helper (uncredited) (1 ep)

Crew credits 1

YearTitleJob
2025 Clutch Film Co-Executive Producer
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