Biography

Michael Francis is best known for his work on 51 consecutive Academy Awards (1976-2026), as well as 27 Primetime Emmy Awards (1976-2015). He is known for the software he designed to manage talent info and movements on the shows.

Michael came to Hollywood as a musician, in 1969. While studying with composer Ted Nichols, then head of music with Hanna-Barbera Cartoons, Michael was a regular on scoring sessions, as a woodwind player, for 6 different series, including "Dastardly and Mutley", "The Perils Of Penelope Pitstop", "The Harlem Globe Trotters", "Josie And The Pussycats", "Help, It's The Hair Bear Bunch", and the original "Scooby Doo, Where Are You".

In 1974 Michael began working for ABC Television, not in music, but with the Guest Services Department, under Joseph DiSante. One of his first assignments was on the Merv Griffin Show, where he knew many of the musicians in the band from his recording days. This led to his writing cues for the Merv Griffin Show in 1974 and 1975. Michael would continue to arrange and produce independent recording sessions through 1982.

The work at ABC Television led Michael to work with audiences on varying episodes of most of the best known shows of the era, including "Happy Days", "Laverne & Shirley", "Welcome Back Kotter", "Barney Miller", "Benson", "Fish" and "Taxi". He also worked on many top game shows, including "Let's Make A Deal", "Password", Split Second" and the original "Family Feud". And of course, ABC's award shows.

In 1997, after Disney/ABC dissolved the Guest Services Department, Michael was ask by producer Michael B. Seligman to keep his staff together to continue working on the Oscars and Emmys. And upon Michael B. Seligman's retirement in 2016, Michael and his team have continued the tradition with producer Rob Paine, of House of Paine Productions.

Michael takes pride that through the Page Staff that he has managed for the Oscars and Emmys, many people their got first jobs in Hollywood. Some who have worked for Michael and gone on to Hollywood careers include Talicia Raggs, producer of "The Equalizer" and "NCIS: New Orleans"; Sarah J. Donohue, producer of the series "The Exorcist", "Wedding Season" and the upcoming "Chief Of War", starring Jason Mamoa; multiple Emmy Award winning producer Barry Hennessey, known for "The Amazing Race" and "Born This Way"; the special effects makeup artist, and co-owner of Immortal Masks, George Frangadakis; top commercial producer Sean Barney (Mercedes Benz, Infiniti, General Mills, Coke Zero, PetSmart, Mattel and Celine Dion's music Video for "Deadpool 2"); Cameron Jewell, Director of Original Documentary Series at Netflix; and actress VyVy Nguyen, who has starred in the 2023 release "Shakey Shivers" and the current Robert Downey, Jr. HBO mini-series, "The Sympathizer".
- IMDb mini biography by: Michael Francis