Wide-shouldered American actor Michael Lerner has become a Rod Steiger for the '90s, specializing in portraying brusque bullies with above-average intelligence. For many years a professor of literature at San Francisco State College, Lerner turned to acting in the late '60s, making his film bow with 1970's Alex in Wonderland. He alternated his movie work with stage appearances at the American Conservatory Theatre. Michael Lerner's more notable film roles include Arnold Rothstein in Eight Men Out (1988) and a Louis Mayer-clone movie producer (for which he was Oscar nominated) in Barton Fink (1991).
Michael Lerner
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- Worked in his family's New York deli through high school and college.
- Received a Fulbright Scholarship to attend the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts.
- Briefly roomed with Yoko Ono before she met John Lennon.
- Joined San Francisco's American Conservatory Theater before making his film debut in 1970's Alex in Wonderland.
- Appeared with Madonna in the play Up for Grabs on London's West End in 2002.
- Is an avid reader and has a collection of valuable, rare books.