Michael Shannon

Michael Corbett Shannon (born August 7, 1974) is an American actor and musician. He was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in Revolutionary Road. He was a regular on the HBO series Boardwalk Empire. His performance in the 2011 film Take Shelter led to further critical acclaim, gaining him the Saturn Award for Best Actor. He also played Richard Kuklinski in The Iceman, and General Zod in the 2013 film Man of Steel.

Early life

Shannon was born in Lexington, Kentucky, and is a grandson of entomologist Raymond Corbett Shannon. His mother, Geraldine Hine, is a lawyer, and his father, Donald Sutherlin Shannon, was an accounting professor at DePaul University. He was raised by his divorced parents in both Kentucky and Chicago, Illinois. He attended New Trier High School in Winnetka, Illinois.

Acting career

Shannon's first film role was as the main character in the music video for the Every Mother's Nightmare song "House of Pain", in which he played a troubled teenager who was running away from his abusive lifestyle. He later became a stage actor in Chicago. He helped found A Red Orchid Theatre, where he still regularly performs. He has since worked with the Steppenwolf Theatre Company, Northlight Theatre, and other acting companies. Shannon originated the role of Peter Evans in Bug in 1996 and also starred in the 2006 film adaptation with Ashley Judd and Harry Connick, Jr., directed by William Friedkin. His roles in Bug and Man From Nebraska were written by Steppenwolf ensemble member Tracy Letts.

Shannon made his film debut with a small role in Groundhog Day in 1993 as a wedding groom. Later, he had roles in Jesus' Son, Pearl Harbor, 8 Mile and Vanilla Sky. He played the villain in Kangaroo Jack. After a role in Bad Boys II, he had a major role in Grand Theft Parsons as the hippie, Larry Oster-Berg. In 2006, he played the leader of a prison white supremacist group, Lynard, in Let's Go to Prison. Shannon has appeared in several shows in the West End in London, including a production of Woyzeck directed by Sarah Kane. In 2008, Shannon was featured in the off-Broadway production of Stephen Adly Guirgis's The Little Flower of East Orange, presented by LAByrinth Theater Company and The Public Theater, directed by Philip Seymour Hoffman and also featuring Ellen Burstyn.

Shannon's role in Revolutionary Road, also starring Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio, earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. He portrayed Doc Cross Williams in the film adaptation of Jonah Hex. Shannon appeared in the 2011 film Take Shelter and received rave reviews for his performance, as well as a Saturn Award for Best Actor. In the 2010 HBO television show Boardwalk Empire, Shannon plays the role of Federal Prohibition agent Nelson Van Alden. In November 2010, he began starring in the one man play, Mistakes Were Made at the Barrow Street Theatre in New York City, with performances having run through February 27, 2012. Shannon had previously performed the show in 2009 at A Red Orchid Theatre in Chicago.

Shannon played a corrupt cop in the film Premium Rush (2012), written and directed by David Koepp. In 2012, Shannon appeared on the Broadway Stage in "Grace" along with actors Paul Rudd and Ed Asner. In 2013, he starred as legendary mob hitman Richard Kuklinski in The Iceman, which was distributed in May 2013. His performance received much acclaim from critics. Also that year, Shannon portrayed General Zod, the main antagonist in Zack Snyder's film Man of Steel.

Music career

In 2002, Shannon formed the band Corporal, along with Ray Rizzo and Rob Beitzel. Shannon sings and writes lyrics for the band. In 2010, Corporal released their self-titled debut album.