Mike Colter

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Birthday:

26 August 1976, Columbia, South Carolina, USA

Birth Name:

Mike Randal Colter

Height:

191 cm

Mike was born to Mr. & Mrs. Eddie Lee Colter Sr. At just 8 years of age he knew that acting would be his life long ambition when he saw the film "A Soldiers Story" in 1984. He began by starting a drama club in high school and becoming the president of the club. After putting on several plays and getting a taste for performing in front of an audience he attended Benedict College where he was mentored and groomed his drama professor Scott Blanks. After transferring to the University of South Carolina where he attain a B.A. degree in theater, Mike went on to study at Mason Gross School of the Arts under renowned acting teachers William Esper and Maggie Flanigan. Upon receiving his MFA degree, Mike moved to L.A. where parts did not come easy, but after a few months he was able to grab a co-star on Spin City with Charlie Sheen followed by guest stars on E.R. and The Parkers with Mo'Nique. Mike then moved back to NYC to allow for the possibility of working in the theater as well, but as luck would have it Hollywood came calling again. He landed a role in 2005 Best Picture winner Million Dollar Baby opposite Clint Eastwood, Hillary Swank and Morgan Freeman. He got the role without ever meeting Clint in person prior to the first day of shooting. The following year he received exceptional reviews for his turn as CJ Memphis a guitar-playing blues singer in The 2005 revival of the Pulitzer prize winning "A Soldier's Play." The play had been a big off-Broadway success and was made into a movie starring Denzel Washington and many of Hollywood's up-and-coming African-American actors in 1984. Mike kept his nose to the grindstone with a role in Adam Bock's new play "Drunken City" that world premiered at Playwrights Horizon in 2008. Mike splits his time between New York and L.A. working in film and television. Show less «

As an actor, you're trying to capture the nuances of real life, but voice work is almost over-acting.

As an actor, you just want to continue to work on things that you like. You can be in this business a long time and consistently working and...Show more »

As an actor, you just want to continue to work on things that you like. You can be in this business a long time and consistently working and just be totally artistically unfulfilled. Show less «

As artists, we are so not in control most of the time of the content or the narrative of our characters, and sometimes writing takes a turn ...Show more »

As artists, we are so not in control most of the time of the content or the narrative of our characters, and sometimes writing takes a turn and it's not something we necessarily have control over. It's just a lot of random dumb luck, so when things click, you've just got to enjoy it. Show less «

Ridley Scott was part of the production team on 'The Good Wife.' I auditioned on my iPhone, and it moved very quickly after that, as they th...Show more »

Ridley Scott was part of the production team on 'The Good Wife.' I auditioned on my iPhone, and it moved very quickly after that, as they thought I was right for the role, and pretty soon I was filming in Iceland for two months. Show less «

I'm always game for creating a new character, and I liked the idea of putting something new into the 'Halo' universe.

The big budget films have money to do things that are not necessarily essential but sure are comforting. The catering is usually much better...Show more »

The big budget films have money to do things that are not necessarily essential but sure are comforting. The catering is usually much better. And you have way more of anything you could possibly need. You definitely get a trailer. My shirt and suit for 'Million Dollar Baby' were tailor made. Show less «

I've always wanted to be on a show that's well respected and had critical acclaim and that people like to watch, and at the same time find s...Show more »

I've always wanted to be on a show that's well respected and had critical acclaim and that people like to watch, and at the same time find something that, for me, as an actor, is interesting and challenging. Show less «

Marvel does a fantastic job about bringing human stories - because you're telling big stories with a heart at the center of it - and that's ...Show more »

Marvel does a fantastic job about bringing human stories - because you're telling big stories with a heart at the center of it - and that's what connects all of the characters to our audience members. Show less «

When you're acting, it's all about you and the person in front of you, and I think in life we forget to apply the same technique, and we get...Show more »

When you're acting, it's all about you and the person in front of you, and I think in life we forget to apply the same technique, and we get caught up in the panic of what we're trying to do - how overwhelmingly daunting the task of trying to become an actor is. Show less «

Having worked on 'Halo: Nightfall' and gotten a taste for what 'Halo' has to offer, it definitely has me interested in picking up the games ...Show more »

Having worked on 'Halo: Nightfall' and gotten a taste for what 'Halo' has to offer, it definitely has me interested in picking up the games and getting familiarized more with the 'Halo' universe. Show less «

I'm one of those people who is color blind to a certain degree. And that doesn't mean I'm not acutely aware of race in our country and abroa...Show more »

I'm one of those people who is color blind to a certain degree. And that doesn't mean I'm not acutely aware of race in our country and abroad and in the world. I know what's going on, and I'm very aware of it. Show less «

As for facial hair, I think I decided it was a good look after graduate school. I always shave it myself and trim my own beard. I change the...Show more »

As for facial hair, I think I decided it was a good look after graduate school. I always shave it myself and trim my own beard. I change the look depending on the role. For 'Million Dollar Baby,' I had no facial hair. For 'Men in Black 3,' I had no facial hair but did wear a wig. Show less «

I hate the gym, so I try to diversify my workouts with swimming and basketball. Indoors, it's less boring than running. I do find that diet ...Show more »

I hate the gym, so I try to diversify my workouts with swimming and basketball. Indoors, it's less boring than running. I do find that diet is key. I eat lots of lean protein, no soda, no fast food or fried foods, and a lot of water. But I love food and often cook. Show less «

I have a wonderful wife I met at Rutgers while we were both there. She was in the Ph.D. program. She is not an actress. She definitely bring...Show more »

I have a wonderful wife I met at Rutgers while we were both there. She was in the Ph.D. program. She is not an actress. She definitely brings balance to my life. We actors can tend to bore anyone with shop talk. Show less «