Michael McClelland(I)

Born in Niagara Falls, New York, Michael began performing in high school as a bass guitar player in a series of high school garage bands. In his freshman year of high school, Michael also discovered modeling and got a taste for the stage. With a little direction from the local modeling agency, He managed to perform on a somewhat regular basis. This mainly consisted of fashion shows at the local malls with an occasional photo shoot, special event or promotion. While having a lot of fun, this budding young actor found out just how much work a professional production can be. In the town Michael grew up in, Grand Island, New York, the main attraction was an amusement park with a wild west show that everyone in town knew and loved. Every kids dream was, of course, to be the Marshall of Westerntown and beat the bad guys. Right out of High School, that dream came true for Michael. Cast as the Marshall by a production company which was based in Ohio, He got to shoot it out with "Black Bart" four times a day, two summers in a row. Along with that came the stage show in the saloon, also performed four times a day. This was Michaels first real acting job and served to further spark him. That's when the magic bug bit. Literally! Another Production Company that also did amusement park shows signed McClelland, this time as a Magician. Magic had always been an interest, even a hobby. This was a little different from making a quarter disappear though. Michael was on stage performing such classic illusions as the Stackbox, Sawing a woman in half (no amusement park magic show is complete without that one), Dollhouse, and even Houdini's most famous illusion, Metamorphasis. These stage illusions required a bit more acting than the close up tricks. The first stop was Panama City, Fl in an amusement park that was located right on the beach. Michael performed the magic show nightly and couldnt be happier. But alas, Like all things, the season must come to an end.

In a brief respite from the stage, McClelland somehow managed to get a college internship with Walt Disney World in Orlando Florida. He had always been a strong swimmer, even setting a high school record as the butterflyer in the medly relay, and found that he fit right in as a lifeguard in one of Disney's 3 waterparks. Performing is a funny thing though. Just when you think you are out, something happens to pull you back in. The producer of the magic shows somehow found Michael in Florida and offered him a choice of two shows for the upcoming summer. The choice was between shows in Atlantic City, or New York City. Now, what self-respecting actor would pass up a show in New York City? Not this one. McClelland spent the next summer performing just north of Manhattan in the amusement park featured in the film "Big" with Tom Hanks, and the Mariah Carey video "Fantasy". This was his fourth summer performing in amusement park shows. While it was a great time, and a perfect summer job while in college, there comes a time when you must move on.

As they say, it's all history from there. Toward the end of that season at the park, Michael landed his first Soap opera role as an extra on ABC's "Loving". Hitting the New York acting scene, a couple small roles in some films and theater soon followed. Michael has been living in New York ever since, were he could pursue his dream of being on a Soap opera, and play some hockey at the same time.