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Michael Leigh Cook

Michael Leigh Cook

Mutterschiff (Main agency)
Mutterschiff Management
+49 172 4135 549
captain@mutterschiff-management.com
open agency on Filmmakers

About me

Michael Leigh Cook is an international actor and screenwriter, known for playing historical characters and villainous roles. Since 2012 he has been primarily working in the United States. From Oct. 2023 - February 2024 he played the role of Herr Fahrenkopf in Tennessee Williams's The Night of the Iguana at the Signature Theatre New York, directed by Tony-Award winner Emily Mann, starring Tim Daly, Lea DeLaria and Daphne Rubin-Vega. 

Recently, Michael portrayed cultural critic Walter Benjamin in a film, that was discussed at the Milan Film Festival and generated great interest. As a co-producer Michael helped realize a stage play and two short films, including: "If The Trees Could Talk", winner of several awards.

Michael studied at HB Studio in New York, where he was coached by Academy Award winner Mercedes Ruehl (Scene Study Masterclass) and BAFTA winner Jonathan Lynn (Shakespeare).

Information

Place of birth
Frankfurt / Main
Height (cm)
180
Weight (in kg)
172
Eye color
green brown
Hair color
brown
Hair length
Short
Place of residence
Berlin (DE), New York (US)
Housing options
München (DE), Frankfurt am Main (DE), Hamburg (DE)
Nationality
German
Languages
German(native)English
Dialects
Berlin German
Accents
American
Sport
BilliardsBasketballFencing (sports)Jiu JitsuSoccer
Dance
Standard
Main profession
Actor
Specializations
Theater
Singing
Musical
Special skills
ImprovisationStoryteller
Pitch
Baritone
Driver's licenses
Car class

Credits

Professional background

2013-2016: HB Studio, New York Mercedes Ruehl (Scene Study) Jonathan Lynn (Shakespeare) Amanda Quaid (Speech, Accents) Christian Kelly-Sordelet (Stage Combat) 2020: Producing with Fran Kirmser @ HB Studio, NYC

Awards

2015
If The Trees Could Talk (Cinema film)
2015
Black Sun (Short film)
2015
If The Trees Could Talk (nominated) (Cinema film)

Film

2025
Parlor Game (Cinema film)
Walter Benjamin (LR) Yunah Hong Producer: James Sharpe, USA Casting Director: Yunah Hong Written by: Yunah Hong
2019
Waking Life (Short film)
Scott (SUP) Valerie Finkel Producer: Shaelyn Koops & Valerie Finkel Casting Director: Valerie Finkel Written by: Shaelyn Koops
2014
If The Trees Could Talk (Cinema film)
SS Officer Friedrich (LR) Michael Weinstein Producer: Blake Brewer & Michael Leigh Cook (Associate Producer) Casting Director: Wayne Chang Written by: Michael Weinstein
2014
Black Sun (Short film)
FBI Agent Langen (LR) Christian Caputo Producer: Caputo Production Written by: Christian Caputo

Television

2024
Brinkmann & König (TV show)
Special Guest Dr. Brinkmann Producer: Dr. Brinkmann Station: TV Berlin Distribution: TV Berlin
2015
Mysteries at the Castle (Documentary series)
Claus Schenk Graf von Stauffenberg (ELR) Jeremiah Crowell Producer: Optomen Productions Station: History Casting Director: Jeremiah Crowell
2015
Mansions & Murders - Iron Maid (Series)
Claus von Bülow (ELR) Christian Faber Producer: Bray Entertainment Station: Investigation Discovery Casting Director: Christian Faber Written by: Lorraine DiRienzo
2015
Fully Engaged - The Party (S.1, Ep.12) (Mini series)
Sergeant Deleon (GR) Rob Margolies Producer: Different Duck Films Station: Seeka TV, Worldwide Casting Director: Rob Margolies Written by: Erika Robel
2013
Inside The American Mob (End Game) (TV series)
FBI Agent DeVecchio (SUP) Ryan Miller Producer: Left/Right Docs (U.S.) Station: National Geographic Casting Director: Linda LaTortue
2012
Deadly Sins - Lethal Entitlement (S1.Ep.6) (Series)
Ernest Scherer III (ELR) Randy Martin Producer: Dick Clark Station: Investigation Discovery Casting Director: Randy Martin
2006
Medicpoter 117-Jedes leben zählt - Flug ins Ungewisse (Series)
Polizist (EFR) Thomas Nikel Producer: MR Film, Wien Station: RTL & ORF Casting Director: MR Film Written by: Jens Jendrich
2004 – 2005
Gute Zeiten Schlechte Zeiten - 5 Episodes (3119 u.a.) (TV series)
Mirko Lubitsch (GR) Tina Kriwitz Producer: Grundy UFA Station: RTL Written by: Reg Watson
2002
Die Wache - Blinder Hass (Series)
Bernd Kesselmann (ELR) Peter Sämann Producer: Endemol Station: RTL Casting Director: Mani Braun Written by: Hans Gerd Müller
1999
City Express - Börsenspiele (TV series)
Konstantin Horatz (ELR) Norbert Skrovanek Producer: Colonia Media Filmprod. Station: MDR & WDR Written by: Martina Borger
1999
Die Männer vom K3 - Tod eines Festmachers (Series)
Mark Behle (ELR) Andreas Thiel Producer: Studio Hamburg Station: NDR Casting Director: Esther Klostermann
1998
Die Wache - Letzter Wille (Series)
Dr. Martin Schwarz (ELR) Daniel Anderson Producer: Endemol Station: RTL Casting Director: Mani Braun
1996 – 1997
Park Hotel Stern - Talk am Kamin, Zweite Chance, Diamantenjagd, u.a. (TV series)
Peter (Recurring: 24 Episodes) (SUP) John Delbridge, Bob Bladgen, u.a. Producer: Rhinestone TV Station: SAT 1 Distribution: SAT 1 Casting Director: Dana Cebulla
1997
Derrick (Series)
Bruno Brrandecker (EFR) Helmut Ashley Producer: Telenova Station: ZDF Casting Director: Helmut Ringelmann Written by: Herbert Reinecker

Theater

2023 – 2024
The Night of the Iguana (Drama)
Herr Fahrenkopf (SUP) Emily Mann Producer: La Femme Theatre Productions Theater: Signature Theater, New York Casting Director: Stephanie Klapper Written by: Tennessee Williams
2017
Terezin
Karl Rahm (LR) Nick Tolkien Producer: Steinberg Theatre Group Theater: Playwrights Horizons, New York Casting Director: Nick Tolkien & Michael Leigh Cook Written by: Nick Tolkien
2015
The Diary of Anne Frank (Drama)
Mr. Kraler (GR) Joe Discher Producer: Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey Theater: Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey Casting Director: Stephen Brown-Fried Written by: Frances Goodrich & Albert Hackett
1994
Drei Männer im Schnee (Other)
Dr. Scheinpflug (LR) Joachim Mock Producer: Hansa Theater Berlin Theater: Hansa Theater Berlin Casting Director: Joachim Mock Written by: Erich Kästner
1993 – 1994
Der Herr Ornifle (Drama)
Fabrice De Simieuse (SUP) Heinz Drache Producer: Euro-Studio Theater: Theater im Rathaus Written by: Jean Anouilh

Other

Literary Colloquium Berlin (Drama)
Written by: Michael Leigh Cook