Michael Benjamin Washington is an American actor and playwright known for his performance in the plays, The Boys in the Band (2018) and Flies in the Mirror (2019). He has also acted in the popular web series, Ratched (2020), The Boys in the Band (2020), and American Auto (2020).
Wiki/Biography
Michael Benjamin Washington was born on Thursday, June 7, 1979 (age 42 years; as in 2020), in Dallas, Texas. He attained a bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts with a Major in Drama and Minor in Journalism from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts.
Physical Appearance
Height (approx.): 6′ 1″
Hair Color: Black
Eye Color: Black
Family & Ethnicity
He belongs to a Black American family. He has a sister.
Career
In 1998, at the age of 19, he made his New York debut as ‘Ted’ in the play, Saturday Night at Second Stage Theatre. He made his Broadway debut with the play, Mamma Mia! (2001) in the role of ‘Eddie.’
Mamma Mia! (2001)
Washington has acted in many Broadway plays, including The Summer Bride, Funny Girl (2002), La Cage Aux Folles (2004), The Viz (2006), The Boys in the Band (2018), Call Me Madam (2019), Pride Plays (2019), and Flies in the Mirror (2019). He wrote his first play in 2015 titled Freedom: An Ode to Bayard Rustin (2015); he also acted in the play.
Michael Benjamin Washington in a Scene from Blueprints to Freedom An Ode to Bayard Rustin (2015)
He also wrote a Broadway play titled Pride Plays (2019). In 2004, he made his TV debut with the series, The Jury in the role of ‘Myles’ and has acted in many television series, such as Hope & Faith (2005), Law & Order (2009), 10 Things I Hate About You (2010), 30 Rock (2009-10), Wendall and Vinnie (2013), Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (2017), and Ratched (2020).
In 2010, he made his film debut with Love & Other Drugs in the role of ‘Richard.’
Michael has acted in many films including Open Books (2010), Save The Date (2014), Until the Wedding (2019), The Boys in the Band (2020), and American Auto (2020).
Favorite Things
- Playwright: Harvey Fierstein
- Plays: ‘Torch Song Trilogy’ by Harvey Fierstein, ‘Six Degrees of Separation’ by John Guare
- Musical: Pippin by Bob Fosse and Roger O. Hirson
Facts/Trivia
- Michael got his SAG-AFTRA (The Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists) card when he was eleven years old.
- Michael is a presidential scholar in the arts. He serves as a National Reviewer and Masterclass Instructor for National YoungArts Foundation and is also a member of the Broadway Inspirational Voices.
- For his work in the play ‘Blueprints to Freedom: an ode to Bayard Rustin’ (2015), he was awarded San Diego Critics Circle Award for Outstanding New Play, and Outstanding Leading Actor in a Play.
Michael Benjamin Washington with his San Diego Critics Circle Award
- Michael also received the Human Rights Campaign’s Visibility Award at St. Louis Dinner in 2019.
- He also served as the board of directors of Moonshine Project, an off-Broadway company, which is dedicated to developing new works by young artists.