Although best known for his wickedly funny turn as a catty, impeccably clothed-and-coiffed fashion mag underling on the campy dramedy
Ugly Betty, Urie's pre-TV credits are nothing to laugh at. While attending Juilliard's prestigious acting program, he won the 2002 John Houseman Prize for excellence in classical theater, then went on to hone his skills in numerous regional Shakespeare productions. With only one notable screen role on his résumé — as a gay photographer dealing with the aftermath of the September 11 attacks in the New York-set indie
WTC View — Urie landed his breakout
Ugly Betty role as the title character's biggest bully. Off screen, Urie is an aspiring director and producer, working on theatre productions like
The Fantasticks and a documentary short titled
Two Down.
Michael Urie Fast Facts:
- Has said the first evidence he was interested in acting was that, as a child, he would use his G.I. Joe action figures to act out movie scenes.
- Won the 2002 John Houseman Prize at The Juilliard School for excellence in theater.
- Has appeared in numerous Shakespearean productions, including Titus Andronicus, Othello, A Midsummer Night's Dream and Romeo and Juliet.
- Landed his first major television role in 2006, playing Marc St. James on hit ABC dramedy Ugly Betty.
- Originated the role of Rudi Gernreich in the off-Broadway play The Temperamentals in 2009.
- Michael Urie Relationships:
- Ryan Spahn - Significant Other
- Michael Urie Awards:
- 2007 Screen Actors Guild Awards: Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series - Nominee
- 2006 Screen Actors Guild Awards: Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series - Nominee
- College:
- Attended Collin County Community College, Plano, TX; The Juilliard School, New York, NY