Michael DeBartolo's journey began at Michigan State University and UCLA, where he earned a Bachelor and Master of Science degrees in Engineering. However, his passion for acting led him to study under renowned actors and directors such as Ivan Curry, Jerome Guardino, Art Friedman, and George Peppard.
While working as an engineer at Boeing in El Segundo, California, Michael pursued his acting career, starring in numerous plays and musicals across Los Angeles, including Hollywood. He also secured featured roles in film and television, appearing in movies like The Blues Brothers, The Patricia Neal Story, Moving Violations, Hail Caesar!, How to be a Latin Lover, City of Lies, and Ford V. Ferrari.
Michael's television credits include Taxi, The Bernie Mac Show, CSI: New York, Sons and Daughters, Make It or Break It, Vegas, 90201, Dads, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Mad Men, State of Affairs, Jane the Virgin, Bosch, Idiotsitter, Heartbeat, People Magazine Investigates, Shameless, and Corporate.
As his career progressed, Michael landed more prominent and starring roles in film and television. Notable performances include his portrayal of the Uncle of Frankie Valli in Jersey Boys, Ron DeFeo Sr. in The Conjuring 2: The Enfield Poltergeist, and the St. Valentine's Day Massacre Undercover Officer/Hitman for Al Capone in Gangster Land.
In television series, Michael has played Arman, the Tailor of Peter Schaefer in Windfall, Bill Morrisey, the Unusual Suspect in Unusual Suspects, Keith Dahl, the Victim in It Takes a Killer, the Theme Park Dad in If Theme Parks Were Honest - Honest Ads, the Italian Dad from Jersey Shores in Laff Mobb's Laff Tracks, Howard Beaird, the Haunted Father in The Holzer Files, Steve Smith, the Father of the Vanished Son in People Magazine Investigates, and Mr. Ghonim, the Jordanian Father in A Wedding and a Murder.
Michael has also ventured into writing, producing, and starring in his own projects. He wrote, produced, and starred as Mr. Dean, the Science Teacher in Adventures with Baaco, which aired on PBS stations across the United States and is now available on YouTube. This show won the Worldfest Houston Bronze Award and was endorsed by Kids First! Coalition for Quality Children's Media.
In addition to his film and television work, Michael has appeared in commercials and music videos. He played the Flower Shop Owner for Papas Sabritas featuring Enrique Iglesias, the Baseball Dad for Loan Depot, the Surgeon for Keck Medicine of USC, and the Basketball Dad for Ring Home Security. In music videos, Michael has appeared as the Wedding Minister in Wale's The Matrimony featuring Usher, a Bird Box Drifter in Hopsin's You Should've Known featuring DAX, and an Angry Executive in Machine Gun Kelly's Downfalls High.
