Michael Cavanaugh, a multifaceted and accomplished character actor, was born on November 21, 1942, in New York, as the eldest of nine children. Following his high school graduation, he joined the Navy, serving in Hawaii for three years. After his tour of duty, Cavanaugh developed a passion for acting, which led him to pursue a career in children's theater. He made his stage debut in the iconic role of Winnie the Pooh, and went on to perform in notable productions such as One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, The Merchant of Venice, and Are You Now or Have You Ever Been?. As a talented vocalist, Cavanaugh showcased his tenor voice in various musicals, including Oh Calcutta!, Carousel, and 110 in the Shade.
With an extensive list of film and television credits since the mid-1970s, Cavanaugh has consistently portrayed a wide range of characters, including police officers, government agents, stern military types, lawyers, judges, and slick businessmen. He has appeared in three Clint Eastwood films: The Enforcer, The Gauntlet, and Any Which Way You Can. Cavanaugh's notable roles include his portrayal of the head bad guy in the action-packed Forced Vengeance, and his memorable performance as obsessive and xenophobic chief federal security agent "George Fox" on the science fiction TV series Starman.
In addition to his film and television work, Cavanaugh has made guest appearances on numerous TV shows, including Monk, Shark, Bones, The Young and the Restless, The West Wing, The Practice, NYPD Blue, Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman, Matlock, Star Trek: The Next Generation, ER, The X-Files, L.A. Law, Our House, Amazing Stories, MacGyver, Airwolf, Dallas, The A-Team, Cagney & Lacey, Hunter, T.J. Hooker, Vega$, CHiPs, and Kojak.
