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Michael Emerson: Biography, Facts and Career

Who is Michael Emerson? An evergreen, sourced profile: biography, key facts and career.

By the Pop Culture Files editorial team4 min read✓ Fact-checked
Michael Emerson
Thibault from Paris, France via Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0

Michael Emerson (born September 7, 1954) is an American actor. He is best known for his roles as Benjamin Linus on Lost (2006–2010) and as Harold Finch in the CBS series Person of Interest (2011–2016). Other prominent roles include Zep Hindle in the horror film Saw (2004) and as Dr. Leland Townsend in the Paramount+ thriller series Evil (2019–2024). He has won two Primetime Emmy Awards, one Guest Actor in a Drama Series award for portraying William Hinks on The Practice (2000–2001), and the second a Supporting Actor in a Drama Series award for his role in Lost, for which he also received three other Primetime Emmy nominations. Emerson has also worked extensively in theatre, notably originating the role of Oscar Wilde in Gross Indecency: The Three Trials of Oscar Wilde from 1997 to 1998, portraying Willie Oban in the 1999 Broadway revival of The Iceman Cometh, and playing Guy in the debut production of Will Eno's Wakey, Wakey in 2017.

Quick facts about Michael Emerson

  • Full name: Michael Emerson
  • Born: 1954-09-07
  • Nationality: United States
  • Known as: Actor
  • Wikidata ID: Q276302

Profile compiled from public Wikipedia and Wikidata data. Details can change over time.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Michael Emerson?

Michael Emerson (born September 7, 1954) is an American actor.

What nationality is Michael Emerson?

Michael Emerson is United States.

When was Michael Emerson born?

Michael Emerson was born on 1954-09-07.

Sources

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