Michael W. Gaines
- Actor
- Producer
Michael obtained an MFA in Acting from Brooklyn College.
Some of his credits include TV: The Gilded Age (HBO); The Chair Company (HBO pilot/season 1; and recently announced...season 2); Law & Order: SVU (NBC); The Crowded Room (Apple TV); One Life To Live (ABC)
FILM: Wonderstruck starring Julianne Moore, and Michelle Williams, directed by Todd Haynes; Don't Forget to Pray (Michael was a lead actor, and producer on this film which has been accepted as an official selection into 12 festivals thus far. It has garnered a number of nominations/wins including a Best Actor win that Michael received from The Ridgewood Guild International Film Festival, and a Best Male Performance nomination from Queens City Film Festival (NJ) 2025; The Invite (accepted as an official selection into 5 festivals thus far. The film has garnered 1 win for Indie Soul Best Audience Award at the Boston International Film Festival, and 1 nomination for Best Short at the Charlotte Black Film Festival 2025); Stella With The World On Her Shoulders (TV Pilot); Game Night (actor/producer).
REGIONAL THEATRE: Water By The Spoonful (Eagle Theatre) Michael was a Barrymore Nominee for Outstanding Supporting Performance in a Play for his role as Chutes & Ladders NYC THEATRE: Crescent City Rebirth (Theater for the New City) actor/producer; The Dream Chest (Urban Stages/Negro Ensemble Company); Sweat (Don Buchwald Theater); When We Wake Up Dead (New Workshop Theater). Michael is proud to have been listed as originating the role of Uncle Cecil in the Samuel French publication of this play; Leave Me Green (The Gym at Judson); Clybourne Park (Whitman Theater) He continues to take part in readings to help support new play development.
Some of his credits include TV: The Gilded Age (HBO); The Chair Company (HBO pilot/season 1; and recently announced...season 2); Law & Order: SVU (NBC); The Crowded Room (Apple TV); One Life To Live (ABC)
FILM: Wonderstruck starring Julianne Moore, and Michelle Williams, directed by Todd Haynes; Don't Forget to Pray (Michael was a lead actor, and producer on this film which has been accepted as an official selection into 12 festivals thus far. It has garnered a number of nominations/wins including a Best Actor win that Michael received from The Ridgewood Guild International Film Festival, and a Best Male Performance nomination from Queens City Film Festival (NJ) 2025; The Invite (accepted as an official selection into 5 festivals thus far. The film has garnered 1 win for Indie Soul Best Audience Award at the Boston International Film Festival, and 1 nomination for Best Short at the Charlotte Black Film Festival 2025); Stella With The World On Her Shoulders (TV Pilot); Game Night (actor/producer).
REGIONAL THEATRE: Water By The Spoonful (Eagle Theatre) Michael was a Barrymore Nominee for Outstanding Supporting Performance in a Play for his role as Chutes & Ladders NYC THEATRE: Crescent City Rebirth (Theater for the New City) actor/producer; The Dream Chest (Urban Stages/Negro Ensemble Company); Sweat (Don Buchwald Theater); When We Wake Up Dead (New Workshop Theater). Michael is proud to have been listed as originating the role of Uncle Cecil in the Samuel French publication of this play; Leave Me Green (The Gym at Judson); Clybourne Park (Whitman Theater) He continues to take part in readings to help support new play development.
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