Michael J. Burg

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Michael J. Burg
Burg on the rooftop of his NYC home; the HEARST BUILDING is in the background
Born	December 28, 1968 Kansas City, Missouri

Michael James Burg (born December 28, 1968) is an American actor.

Early life

Burg was born on December 28, 1968 in Kansas City, Missouri and grew up in Rock Port, Missouri; the only child of James Kenneth Burg, a wealthy farmer and LaVerta Viola (Lane), a lifelong nurse and the only daughter of successful Missouri farmers, Harry and Viola Lane. His parents divorced when he was a boy. Burg lived in Missouri until the age of 19, working in radio, at stations KTRX 93.5 and KKJO, until moving to New York City to attend the American Academy of Dramatic Arts.^[1]

Career

Burg's first professional job was at the age of 21 for All My Children, playing the small role of "Brian" for two years in Pine Valley, Pennsylvania's High School storyline. During his early twenties he supported himself doing extra work, under-five work and varied principal roles on One Life to Live, Loving, Guiding Light, Another World, As the World Turns, The City and All My Children; becoming a vested member of the AFTRA retirement program by the age of 28.

Burg was invited to become a member of the Actors Studio at the age of 21. He appeared in many productions there; including "The Employment Agency" opposite Sylvia Miles, directed by Frank Corsaro; and an acclaimed 1997 production of The Glass Menagerie, playing what was called at the time, "the definitive Tom Wingfield"; that production was beautifully produced and directed by The Actors Studio's Elizabeth Kemp.

Burg's career finally gained momentum and attention when he was cast as Truman Capote, opposite Jennifer Love-Hewitt, in The Audrey Hepburn Story. Burg is known for playing scene stealing character roles in such films as: Able Danger, Hungry Years from Isaak James and Eva James, Taking Woodstock, Capote, "Anything But Love" and "Noise", opposite Tim Robbins.^[2][3]

In 2010, Burg took on the role of executive producer, with the feature film "TURBINE", his second outing with Isaak James and Eva James and their company Last Ditch Pictures.

Michael J. Burg and Jennifer Love-Hewitt

Truman Capote

A minor footnote to the life of Truman Capote, is that Burg played him three times: The Audrey Hepburn Story, The Hoax, in deleted scenes; and ABC-TV's short-lived "Life on Mars" (2009). Burg also appeared as "Williams" (i.e.: Tennessee Williams) in the film Capote.^[4]

Delmart Vreeland

Burg's ominously fun character "Axel", in the 2008 feature film Able Danger, was inspired by the real life persona of Delmart Vreeland.^[5]

Personal life

Burg declined any discussion of his private life, during numerous interviews for The Audrey Hepburn Story, including one for Entertainment Tonight. He lives alone in Manhattan's Columbus Circle area and apparently is somewhat of an astrologer.^[6] After his father's death, when he was still in high school, he inherited his paternal families 6th generation farmland located in Atchison County, Missouri, which is now doubling as a wind farm.^[7] Burg visits Rock Port, Missouri regularly throughout the year and is a member of The United Methodist Church there.^[8]Burg is active in recovery groups in New York City and subscribes to the Bill W. adage: "When anyone, anywhere, reaches out for help, I want the hand of A.A. always to be there. And for that: I am responsible."

References

External links

• Michael J. Burg at the Internet Movie Database
• http://www.hungryyearsthemovie.com/
• http://www.michaeljburg.com/