Michael Rosenbaum
{{short description|American actor and podcaster (born 1972)}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Michael Rosenbaum
| image = Michael Rosenbaum Photo Op GalaxyCon Columbus 2022.jpg
| caption = Rosenbaum at the 2022 GalaxyCon
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1972|7|11}}
| birth_place = Oceanside, New York, U.S.
| occupation = {{hlist|Actor|director|writer|podcaster|musician}}
| years_active = 1997–present
}}
Michael Rosenbaum (born July 11, 1972){{cite web |title=Birthdays for the week of July 11–17 |url=https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/2021/07/05/celebrity-birthdays-for-the-week-of-july-11-17.html |website=Toronto Star |date=5 July 2021 |access-date=February 2, 2023}}{{cite book |last1=Hall |first1=Richard A. |title=Robots in Popular Culture: Androids and Cyborgs in the American Imagination |date=2021 |page=93 |publisher=Abc-Clio |isbn=9781440873850 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aBc6EAAAQBAJ}} is an American actor and podcaster. He is known for portraying Lex Luthor on the television series Smallville, a role that TV Guide included in their 2013 list of "The 60 Nastiest Villains of All Time".Bretts, Bruce; Roush, Matt; (March 25, 2013). "Baddies to the Bone: The 60 nastiest villains of all time". TV Guide. pp. 14-15.
Rosenbaum is also known for portraying Martinex in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, Parker in Urban Legend, Adam/Adina in Sorority Boys and Dutch Nilbog on Fox's Breaking In. He also has an extensive voiceover career in animation, such as his role of Wally West / The Flash in the DC Animated Universe series Justice League (2001–2004) and its sequel Justice League Unlimited (2004–2006). Between 2015 and 2016, he played the lead role in the TV Land comedy series Impastor.
He is also the lead singer of the band Sun Spin with his friend Rob Danson. The band's first album, Best Days was released on February 9, 2021.{{cite web|url=http://www.nerdsandbeyond.com/2021/02/09/sun-spins-first-album-is-now-available/|title=Sun Spin's First Album Is Now Available|website=nerdsandbeyond.com|date=9 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210301234223/http://www.nerdsandbeyond.com/2021/02/09/sun-spins-first-album-is-now-available/|access-date=2021-03-01|archive-date=2021-03-01}}
Early life
Rosenbaum was born in Oceanside, New York and raised in Newburgh, Indiana.{{cite web|url=http://www.filmreference.com/film/86/Michael-Rosenbaum.html|title=Michael Rosenbaum biodata|website=Filmreference.com|access-date=2017-01-15}} His mother, Julie (née Eckstein), is a writer and his father, Mark Rosenbaum, worked in pharmaceuticals.{{cite web|url=https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/person/523348%7C0/Michael-Rosenbaum|title=Michael Rosenbaum biography|website=Turner Classic Movies|access-date=February 21, 2017}} He is one of six children with two brothers, Eric and Adam, and a sister, Laurie. After his parents' divorce, his mother remarried sports reporter Gordon Engelhardt, and his father remarried Alexis Pelegrino, with whom he had two daughters, Rosenbaum's half-sisters. His uncle is pet behaviorist Warren Eckstein.{{cite web|url=http://www.warreneckstein.com/b/Derek-now-lives-in-the-Hollywood-Hills/-50897426434694357.html|website=warreneckstein.com|title=Derek now lives in the Hollywood Hills|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201232610/http://www.warreneckstein.com/b/Derek-now-lives-in-the-Hollywood-Hills/-50897426434694357.html|archive-date=February 1, 2014}} Rosenbaum is Jewish, and says he was "closer to religion" in New York than in Indiana.{{cite web|url=http://www.michaelrosenbaum.com/maariv.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120710233907/http://www.michaelrosenbaum.com/maariv.html|title=Smallville Interview|website=michaelrosenbaum.com|first=Haggay|last=Kraus|date=April 2002|archive-date=July 10, 2012}}
Rosenbaum graduated from Castle High School in Newburgh, Indiana and from Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, Kentucky with a degree in theatre arts. Immediately after, he moved to New York City to pursue an acting career.{{Cite web|url=https://www.wku.edu/next/michael-rosenbaum/index.php|title=Michael's Story|website=www.wku.edu|access-date=2019-12-13}}
Career
File:Michael Rosenbaum by Gage Skidmore 2.jpg
In 2001, Rosenbaum received a Saturn Award for his portrayal of Lex Luthor on Smallville.{{cite web|url= https://movieweb.com/the-2001-saturn-awards/|title= The 2001 Saturn Awards|date= 13 June 2002|publisher=MovieWeb.com|access-date=April 27, 2023}} Continuing in the superhero genre, he played Wally West (a.k.a. the Flash) in the DC Comics animated series Justice League, Static Shock, and Justice League Unlimited, as well as portraying a younger version of Wally West as Kid Flash in Teen Titans. In the third season Justice League Unlimited episode "The Great Brain Robbery", Rosenbaum reprised his role as Lex Luthor when Wally and Lex Luthor temporarily switched bodies. In February 2008, Rosenbaum confirmed that he would be leaving Smallville after the seventh season. After many months of speculation and him first turning down the contract to return, it was announced on February 11, 2011 that Rosenbaum would return to Smallville for the two-hour series finale, which aired on May 13, 2011,{{cite magazine|first1=Lynette|last1=Rice|first2=James|last2=Hibberd|title='Smallville' scoop: Michael Rosenbaum will return for series finale|url=https://ew.com/article/2011/02/11/smallville-michael-rosenbaum-final/|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|date=February 11, 2011|access-date=March 10, 2011}} with Rosenbaum reprising his role as Lex Luthor.{{cite web|url= https://www.tvguide.com/News/Michael-Rosenbaum-Smallville-1029232.aspx|title= Michael Rosenbaum Returning to Smallville For Series Finale|publisher=TVGuide.com|access-date=February 16, 2011}}
In 2012, Rosenbaum appeared in Hit and Run, which starred Dax Shepard and Kristen Bell.{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/hit-run-tom-arnold-dax-shepard-kristen-bell-364849/|last=Schillaci|first=Sophie|title='Hit & Run's' Tom Arnold Reveals How Dax Shepard Helped Him Get His 'Man Card' Back (Video)|accessdate=August 13, 2021|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=August 22, 2012}} Rosenbaum portrayed the character Gil, a jealous ex-boyfriend from Annie's (Bell's character) past.{{cite web|url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/hit-and-run-2012|title=Hit and Run|author=Roger Ebert|website=RogerEbert.com|date=August 22, 2012|accessdate=August 13, 2021}}
Rosenbaum provided the voice work for Ghoul in the animated DCAU film Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker. Rosenbaum filmed the original SyFy comedy series Saved By Zeroes; yet was never picked up.{{cite web|url=http://www.fusedfilm.com/2010/03/tv-news-michael-rosenbaum-and-syfy-team-up-for-comedy-series-saved-by-zeroes|title=TV News: Michael Rosenbaum and Syfy Team Up for Comedy Series Saved by Zeroes|author=Kevin Coll|publisher=FusedFilm|access-date=February 21, 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120331120026/http://www.fusedfilm.com/2010/03/tv-news-michael-rosenbaum-and-syfy-team-up-for-comedy-series-saved-by-zeroes/|archive-date=March 31, 2012}}{{cite web|url=http://www.tvovermind.com/smallville/smallvilles-michael-rosenbaum-returning-to-tv/20812|title=Smallville's Michael Rosenbaum Returning to TV|author=Jon Lachonis|publisher=TV Overmind|access-date=2010-05-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170116174517/http://www.tvovermind.com/smallville/smallvilles-michael-rosenbaum-returning-to-tv/20812|archive-date=2017-01-16|url-status=dead}} He recurred in Fox's original sitcom Breaking In; the show was cancelled initially after the first season but got a second chance, and Rosenbaum was promoted to series regular. The series was cancelled again after a few episodes of the second season.{{cite news|url=http://www.tvline.com/2011/01/breaking-news-fox-show-has-plans-for-smallville-vet-michael-rosenbaum|title=Breaking News: Fox Comedy Has Big Plans For Smallville Vet Michael Rosenbaum|work=TVLine|access-date=February 21, 2017}}{{cite web|url=http://www.tv.com/news/fox-pulls-breaking-in-from-its-schedule-cancellation-is-imminent-for-real-this-time-28374|title=Fox Pulls Breaking In From Its Schedule, Cancellation Is Imminent for Real This Time|website=TV.com|date=2012-04-12|access-date=2017-01-15}}
In 2014, Rosenbaum made his feature-film directorial and writing debut with the comedy Back in the Day, starring as an actor who returns to his hometown in Indiana for a class reunion. The film was filmed in Newburgh and Evansville, Indiana.{{cite news|last1=Yamato|first1=Jen|title=Screen Media Goes 'Back In The Day' With Michael Rosenbaum|url=https://deadline.com/2013/10/screen-media-back-in-the-day-michael-rosenbaum-602787/|access-date=July 10, 2016|work=Deadline Hollywood|date=October 3, 2013}}{{cite news|last1=Genzlinger|first1=Neil|author-link1=Neil Genzlinger|title=The 20th High School Reunion Rears Its Head|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/17/movies/back-in-the-day-involves-grown-up-epiphanies.html|access-date=July 10, 2016|work=The New York Times|date=January 16, 2014}} Prior to the production of Back in the Day, Rosenbaum planned to direct another comedy film, titled Sorry is For Sissies. The film had a cast including Jon Heder, Colin Hanks and Jennifer Love Hewitt; however, at least half of the film's budget was lost, and the film was scrapped.Inside of You podcast, Episode 13, 5:00 (July 3, 2018)
On June 17, 2014, Rosenbaum was cast as the lead in the TV Land original sitcom Impastor. The plot has been summarised as a "low-life who hides out in a small town by conning the residents into thinking he is their newly hired gay pastor".{{cite news|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/smallvilles-michael-rosenbaum-star-tv-712649|work=The Hollywood Reporter|title=Smallville's' Michael Rosenbaum to Star in TV Land Comedy 'Impastor|date=June 17, 2014}}
In 2017, Rosenbaum served as narrator for the reality television show Hunted which pitted investigators against teams of ordinary citizens trying to evade capture as fugitives.{{cite web|url=http://www.realitytvworld.com/news/new-hunted-reality-series-premiere-on-cbs-in-january-21004.php|title=New 'Hunted' reality series to premiere on CBS in January|website=realitytvworld.com}} Rosenbaum also starred in the Indie thriller The Neighbor opposite William Fichtner.{{Cite web|last1=August 19|first1=matthew|last2=Reply|first2=2016 at 12:11 AM ·|date=2016-08-18|title=LAST DAYS OF SUMMER, PRISON DOGS, TWO WORLDS Win Top Awards at FLICKERS: Rhode Island International Film Festival|url=https://www.vimooz.com/2016/08/18/2016-flickers-rhode-island-international-film-festival-awards/|access-date=2020-09-09|website=VIMOOZ|language=en-US|archive-date=2020-08-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200808153556/https://www.vimooz.com/2016/08/18/2016-flickers-rhode-island-international-film-festival-awards/|url-status=live}}
In 2018, Rosenbaum debuted his casual celebrity interview-based podcast called Inside of You.{{cite web|url=https://www.dailynews.com/2023/10/06/michael-rosenbaums-inside-of-you-podcast-goes-live-in-l-a-with-zachary-levi/|title=Michael Rosenbaum's 'Inside of You' podcast goes live in L.A. with Zachary Levi|newspaper=Los Angeles Daily News|author=Fadroski, Kelli Skye|language=en-US|url-status=live|date=October 6, 2023|access-date=February 2, 2024|archive-date=February 2, 2024|archive-url=https://archive.today/20240202091117/https://www.dailynews.com/2023/10/06/michael-rosenbaums-inside-of-you-podcast-goes-live-in-l-a-with-zachary-levi/}} His first guest was his Smallville co-star Tom Welling.{{cite web|url= https://insideofyoupodcast.com/|title=Inside of You podcast|website=insideofyoupodcast.com/}} The two subsequently launched the podcast Talkville in July 2022, where they re-watch every episode of Smallville.{{cite web |last1=Spangler |first1=Todd |title='Smallville' Rewatch Podcast With Show Stars Tom Welling, Michael Rosenbaum Gets Premiere Date (Podcast News Roundup) |url=https://variety.com/2022/digital/news/smallville-rewatch-podcast-tom-welling-michael-rosenbaum-1235310172/ |website=Variety |access-date=July 6, 2022 |date=July 6, 2022}}{{Cite web |title=Talkville on Apple Podcasts |url=https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/talkville/id1628160941 |access-date=2022-06-30 |website=Apple Podcasts}}
Rosenbaum reprised the role of Martinex in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, which premiered in May 2023.{{Cite web |last=Miller |first=Leon |date=August 5, 2022 |title=Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2's Michael Rosenbaum Confirms Martinex Will Be in Vol. 3 |url=https://www.cbr.com/gotg-vol-3-michael-rosenbaum-ravager-martinex-return/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220806185416/https://www.cbr.com/gotg-vol-3-michael-rosenbaum-ravager-martinex-return/ |archive-date=August 6, 2022 |access-date=August 15, 2022 |website=Comic Book Resources}}
On January 6, 2023, Rosenbaum's band Sun Spin released their second album, Never Is What it Is.
In October 2023, Los Angeles Daily News reported that Rosenbaum and his longtime friend Jon Heder would star in the horror-themed reality television series Scared with Michael Rosenbaum and Jon Heder. Rosenbaum said of the project, "I wanted to do a reality show because we love horror movies. We'll go to the scariest places on Earth."
In 2024, Rosenbaum was the lead actor in the audio series TRUE NOIR: The Assassination of Anton Cermak. The series was penned by Road to Perdition's, Max Allan Collins.{{cn|date=March 2025}}
Filmography
=Film=
=Television=
=Video games=
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
{{commons|Michael Rosenbaum}}
- {{IMDb name|0742146}}
{{Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor on Television}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rosenbaum, Michael}}
Category:Actors from Evansville, Indiana
Category:American male film actors
Category:American male television actors
Category:American male video game actors
Category:American male voice actors
Category:American interview podcasters
Category:Jewish American male actors
Category:Male actors from Indiana
Category:People from Newburgh, Indiana
Category:Sigma Alpha Epsilon members
Category:Western Kentucky University alumni
Category:Writers from Evansville, Indiana
Category:20th-century American male actors