Michelle Clunie's childhood was marked by her passion for performing, as she spent much of her time acting, dancing, and playing the violin in plays, operas, and recitals. She was awarded a scholarship to The Academy of Professional Ballet, where she studied and apprenticed throughout her teenage years. At the age of 19, she made the bold decision to sell her violin for $200 and move to Los Angeles to pursue her acting career.
Clunie's breakout role came when she was cast as Melanie Marcus, a smart, determined, and activist-minded lesbian attorney, in the critically acclaimed series Queer as Folk. She also played Ellen Beals on ABC Family's Make it or Break It, and had guest roles on MTV's Teen Wolf as Mrs. Finch.
In addition to her television work, Clunie has appeared in several films, including The Usual Suspects and Lost & Found, starring David Spade and Martin Sheen. She became a series regular on The Jeff Foxworthy Show and had guest roles on ER, The Tony Danza Show, and NCIS, among others.
At the age of 23, Clunie made her Los Angeles stage debut, earning a Dramalogue Award for Best Actress for her performance in Dean Orion's Confessions of a Raging Male Heterosexual at the Skylight Theatre.
Some of Clunie's notable stage highlights include her portrayal of Abby in Neil LaBute's West Coast premiere of The Mercy Seat at the Ford Theatre, for which she won the Backstage Readers Best Performance Award, and the world premiere and Off-Broadway production of US, a 21st century love story set against the backdrop of the 2008 Presidential election.
Clunie has always been an advocate for social justice, using her platform to speak out for human rights and full equality. During her time on Queer as Folk, she became a vocal advocate for human rights, and has since dedicated much of her time to fighting for full equality. She has hosted several fundraising events, including the first fund-raiser for the 2009 National Equality March on Washington, and has organized Get Out the Vote campaigns for key Democrats.
Today, Clunie splits her time between Los Angeles and New York City, where she lives with her son and French Bulldog, Jimi. She is also creating a space for writers, directors, and actors to develop and workshop original works.
