Anthony Michael Hall

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Birthday:

14 April 1968, West Roxbury, Massachusetts, USA

Birth Name:

Michael Anthony Thomas Charles Hall

Height:

188 cm

Anthony Michael Hall was born in West Roxbury, Massachusetts. His parents are Mercedes Hall, an actress-blues and jazz singer, and Larry Hall, who owned an auto body shop. His stepfather is a show-business manager. His sister, Mary Christian, is also a performer. He has Irish and Italian ancestry. Hall's given name was Michael Anthony Thomas Charles Hall, but he adopted the Anthony Michael moniker upon finding that another Michael Hall was already a member of the Screen Actors' Guild.Hall began acting in commercials at the age of seven, and his breakthrough role was as Rusty Griswold in National Lampoon's Vacation (1983) alongside Chevy Chase and Beverly D'Angelo. Following the success of National Lampoon's Vacation (1983), Hall entered the defining period of his career, starring in three John Hughes classics: Sixteen Candles (1984), The Breakfast Club (1985) and Weird Science (1985). Wanting to avoid being typecast, Hall turned down roles in two subsequent 1986 Hughes films, Pretty in Pink (1986) and Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986). His early television credits include the Emmy Award-winning "The Gold Bug", in which he played the young Edgar Allan Poe, as well as the TV movie Rascals and Robbers: The Secret Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn (1982), and specials "The Body Human" and "Orphans, Waifs and Wards". On stage, he appeared in the Lincoln Center Festival's production of "St. Joan of the Microphone".Following a one-year stint on Saturday Night Live (1975), excessive drinking and partying threatened to sidetrack Hall's career. However, he was able to regain control and has been sober since 1990, the year he played the role of Jim in Edward Scissorhands (1990). After a series of minor roles in the 1990s, he starred as Microsoft chairman Bill Gates in the television movie Pirates of Silicon Valley (1999). Since that time, Hall has focused on television work, including an 81-episode run on Stephen King's The Dead Zone (2002), but has managed to take on film projects as well, including the role of Mike Engel in The Dark Knight (2008).In addition to acting, Hall has also pursued his musical talents, as songwriter and lead singer of his band, Hall of Mirrors, which was formed in 1998. Hall helps at-risk youth via the Anthony Michael Hall Literacy Club and lives in Los Angeles, Caifornia. Show less «

[on what he would do if he had to spend a million dollars on someone other than himself] Donate a portion to reputable children's and animal...Show more »

[on what he would do if he had to spend a million dollars on someone other than himself] Donate a portion to reputable children's and animal charities, donate a portion to churches and homeless organizations. Show less «

[on why he never went to college] I've been a working actor since age eight. It became my craft and career by high school. I did not go to c...Show more »

[on why he never went to college] I've been a working actor since age eight. It became my craft and career by high school. I did not go to college, but I'm an avid reader in the ongoing process of educating myself. Show less «

[on working in all three mediums] Movies and television are both incredibly gratifying. I treat the work the same. Music, specifically songw...Show more »

[on working in all three mediums] Movies and television are both incredibly gratifying. I treat the work the same. Music, specifically songwriting and music production, are very gratifying as well. Show less «

[on why he chose the character Johnny Smith on The Dead Zone (2002)] Playing a character that develops from within was very attractive to me...Show more »

[on why he chose the character Johnny Smith on The Dead Zone (2002)] Playing a character that develops from within was very attractive to me. In playing this part, it is challenging to find the mind, body, and spirit for the role of John Smith. I do watch Star Trek (1966) episodes a lot more closely now! Show less «

Everyone deserves the opportunity to succeed.

[on Tom Green's directorial style with Freddy Got Fingered (2001)] Off-camera, he's very quiet. He'd often be walking around quietly, twirli...Show more »

[on Tom Green's directorial style with Freddy Got Fingered (2001)] Off-camera, he's very quiet. He'd often be walking around quietly, twirling his hair while thinking about his next shot. I think the guy's a genius. I think the guy's a social hypnotist. I think he's incredible. He's on to something big-time and it's not just stand-up comedy. If this doesn't make $100 million, something's wrong. I smell a sequel. In reality, the film's budget was $14 million and it grossed $14.25 million. Show less «

I don't want to go away as an actor.

I grew up in the public eye. I can't hide from that. I always embrace the work I've done before. I wouldn't be where I am now if it wasn't f...Show more »

I grew up in the public eye. I can't hide from that. I always embrace the work I've done before. I wouldn't be where I am now if it wasn't for those movies. I'm always baffled by actors who are like "I'm not going to talk about the '80s." What? You're just forgetting that whole experience? I feel very fortunate to have been able to do those films. It gave me the tools I needed to be where I am. Show less «

[2003] I don't really do the Hollywood party thing. Some people party every night, but years ago I figured out that people who are getting a...Show more »

[2003] I don't really do the Hollywood party thing. Some people party every night, but years ago I figured out that people who are getting ahead are getting it done before 6 p.m. Show less «