Michael Rosenbaum

Michael Rosenbaum Headshot

Actor • Director • Producer • Singer • Podcaster • Comedian

Birth Name: Michael Owen Rosenbaum

Birth Date: July 11, 1972

Age: 52 years old

Birth Place: Oceanside, New York

With a seven-year run on the superhero drama "Smallville" (The WB, 2001-06; CW, 2006-11) and a long resume of voice-over gigs as various superheroes, Michael Rosenbaum became one of Hollywood's go-to actors for comic book fare. Prior to his star-making turn as the bald arch-villain Lex Luthor on "Smallville," Rosenbaum found some success performing in teen horror films and sitcoms during the late 1990s, including "Urban Legend" (1998).

Though he made strides in the sitcom world as a series regular on "The Tom Show" (The WB, 1997-98) and "Zoe, Duncan, Jack & Jane" (The WB, 1999-2000), Rosenbaum found his niche in 2001 as the complicated and devious Luthor. His natural affinity for comic book subject matter also led to a series of voice-over roles in animated shows like "Teen Titans" (Cartoon Network, 2005-06) and "Justice League" (Cartoon Network, 2001-06).

Though Rosenbaum left "Smallville" in 2008 to pursue other interests, he continued to satisfy fans by not abandoning the comic book world that helped make him a star.

Born on July 11, 1972 in Oceanside, NY, Rosenbaum was raised in Newburgh, IN by his father, Mark, who worked in pharmaceuticals, and his mother, Julie, a writer. After graduating from Castle High School where he first discovered his passion for acting, Rosenbaum earned his bachelor's in theater arts from Western Kentucky University.

Immediately following his graduation, Rosenbaum moved to New York City to pursue an acting career and spent several years attempting to develop a reality show with MTV called "The Temp," which was shot, but never aired. He also appeared in several off-Broadway plays and independent movies, while becoming a regular face on "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" (NBC, 1993-2009) in a skit called "The Amsterdam Kids."

In 1997, Rosenbaum moved to Los Angeles, where he began to land small but significant roles in notable films like Clint Eastwood's "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil" (1997) and the popular horror flick, "Urban Legend" (1998).

On the small screen, Rosenbaum was a series regular on the short-lived sitcom, "The Tom Show" (The WB, 1997-98), starring Tom Arnold as a down-and-out divorcé who returns to his Minnesota roots with his two daughters to piece his life back together. He had a major breakthrough in 1999 when he landed a regular role on "Zoe, Duncan, Jack & Jane" (The WB, 1999-2000), a teen-centric sitcom that focused on four high school friends.

Rosenbaum was the selfish and egotistical Jack, who had a cynical and sarcastic twin sister, Jane (Azura Skye). Lasting only two seasons, the show was seriously revamped after its first, even to the point of renaming it "Zoe," to which Rosenbaum expressed his disappointment. Nonetheless, he impressed the network enough for them to bring him onto another new series, which soon proved to be more of a career-maker.

As the future arch villain Lex Luthor on "Smallville," Rosenbaum finally had his first major onscreen success. The show focused on a young Clark Kent (Tom Welling), as he discovers his alter-ego as Superboy while struggling to exist as a regular high school student. Rosenbaum's role as Clark's friend, rival and future enemy was multi-layered and complex.

Fans and critics stood up and took notice, with Rosenbaum winning the prestigious Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor in a TV Series in 2002. The affable, telegenic Rosenbaum was also nominated for a Teen Choice Award no less than four times between 2002-08.

During his run on "Smallville," the ever-busy Rosenbaum continued to take on film roles - from indie dramas like "Poolhall Junkies" (2002) to gross-out comedies like "Sorority Boys" (2002). Following a small role in the hit comedy, "Bringing Down the House" (2003), starring Steve Martin and Queen Latifah, he voiced Ruffshodd in the live action/CGI combo, "Racing Stripes" (2005), and had a small part in the horror thriller, "Cursed" (2005).

His biggest success outside of "Smallville," however, came in the form of voiceover work for cartoons. Besides shorter runs on "Jackie Chan Adventures" (Cartoon Network, 2000-05) and "Teen Titans" (Cartoon Network/Boomerang, 2003-08), Rosenbaum was the voice of The Flash for 56 episodes of "Justice League" (The WB, 2001-08), a critical and commercial hit series that garnered several Emmy nominations.

After stepping into the director's chair for a few episodes of "Smallville," Rosenbaum decided that his time on the show was through and left in 2008 to pursue other roles. The following year, he voiced a character in the long-delayed sequel, "Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore" (2009).

Credits

The Neighbor

Actor
Scott
Movie
2017

ImpastorStream

Actor
Buddy Dobbs
Series
2015
33%

ImpastorStream

Executive Producer
Series
2015
33%

Hollywood Today Live

Guest
Show
2014

Back in the Day

Actor
Jim Owens
Movie
2014

Back in the Day

Director
Movie
2014

Back in the Day

Executive Producer
Movie
2014

Back in the Day

Screenwriter
Movie
2014

Justice League: Doom

Voice
The Flash
Movie
2012

Hit & RunStream

Actor
Gil
Movie
2012
48%

Breaking InStream

Guest Star
Dutch
Series
2011
56%

Two-Legged Rat Bastards

Actor
Show
2011

Catch .44Stream

Actor
Brandon
Movie
2011

Two-Legged Rat Bastards

Actor
Young Eddie
Movie
2011

Brother's Justice

Actor
Dwayne Sage
Movie
2010

Fudgy Wudgy Fudge Face

Actor
Carly Carl
Movie
2009

Dragonlance: Dragons of Autumn Twilight

Voice
Tanthalas "Tanis" Half-Elven
Movie
2008

Kickin' It Old Skool

Actor
Kip Unger
Movie
2007

Cursed

Actor
Kyle
Movie
2005

Racing Stripes

Voice
Ruffshodd
Movie
2005

Bringing Down the HouseStream

Actor
Todd Gendler
Movie
2003
34%

Last Call With Carson Daly

Guest
Talk
2002

Sorority Boys

Actor
Adam
Movie
2002

Poolhall JunkiesStream

Actor
Danny Doyle
Movie
2002
33%

Justice LeagueStream

Actor
Series
2001

SmallvilleStream

Actor
Lex Luthor
Series
2001
78%

SmallvilleStream

Director
Series
2001
78%

SmallvilleStream

Guest Star
Lex Luthor
Series
2001
78%

The Zeta Project

Voice
Show
2001

Rave Macbeth

Actor
Movie
2001

Sweet November

Actor
Brandon / Brandy
Movie
2001

Jackie Chan Adventures

Guest Voice
Drago
Show
2000

Eyeball Eddie

Actor
Skelley
Movie
2000

Batman Beyond: Return of the JokerStream

Voice
Stewart Carter Winthrop III/Ghoul
Movie
2000
100%

Zoe ...

Actor
Show
1999

The Wild ThornberrysStream

Guest Voice
Series
1998

Urban LegendStream

Actor
Parker Riley
Movie
1998
27%

The Tom Show

Actor
Show
1997

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