Biography

Michael Rosenbaum was born in Oceanside, New York on July 11th 1972 and raised in Newburgh, Indiana. He studied at Castle high school and then from Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, Kentucky. At college he was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity and graduated with a degree in theatre arts. After graduation he moved to New York to pursue an acting career where he appeared in several off-Broadway theatre productions and in small independent films as well as becoming a regular on the TV show ‘The Conan O’Brian Show’ in a comedy sketch called ‘The Amsterdam Kids’.

While in New York an MTV networks intern spotted Michael’s 8×10 black and white photo in a batch of other casting submissions for a pilot called ‘Talk Girl’. The pilot was never green-lighted, but Rosenbaum stood out as a newly discovered talent. A new MTV pilot was conceived specifically for Rosenbaum with the working title of “The Michael Rosenbaum Project.” The project later became known as “The Temp” and covered Rosenbaum in a reality television setting as a temp, who would walk into a different job each day. The pilot featured Rosenbaum as a Cat filling in on Broadway’s “Cats” musical, and as a zoo keeper filling in at the zoo, sweeping animal manure. The pilot never took off with MTV Executives, however it was part of the reason why Michael relocated to Los Angeles.

There he won the role he is best known for as Lex Luthor in Smallville in 2001, and he received a Saturn Award for his portrayal of Lex. He had turned down roles in order to work on the popular TV series among which was Eli Roth’s Cabin Fever. In February 2007, Michael confirmed that he would be leaving Smallville after season seven of the show, and he did not appear in Smallville season eight, however, in the season eight episode “Identity” as well as several other episodes, photos and stock-footage of Rosenbaum are seen.

Sport is high up on Michael’s interests away from acting; he is an avid hockey player and golfer and is a dedicated New York Rangers fan. He also has a passion for music and plays both acoustic and electric guitar as well as loving karaoke.