Biography: Michael Jeter

Michael Jeter (August 26, 1952 – March 30, 2003) was an American actor of film, stage, and screen.

Biography

Early life

Jeter was born in Lawrenceburg, Tennessee to Virginia (1929) and William Jeter (1922), a dentist. ^{Jeter was a student at Memphis State University when his interests changed from medicine to acting. He pursued his initial stage career in Baltimore, Maryland, as he had heard it was hard to get work in New York without an equity card.}

Career

His woebegone look, extreme flexibility and high energy led Tommy Tune to cast him in the Off-Broadway Cloud 9 and, on Broadway, in a memorable role in the musical Grand Hotel, for which he won a Tony Award in 1990. Much of his film and television work specialized in playing eccentric, pretentious or wimpy characters like The Fisher King, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas and Drop Zone. Although occasionally, Jeter was able to stay away from these kinds of roles for more appealing characters like Jurassic Park III, Air Bud, The Green Mile and Open Range. He won an Emmy award in 1992 for his role in the television sitcom Evening Shade. He was also a favorite with younger audiences in his role as "Mr. Noodle's brother Mr. Noodle" on Sesame Street from 2000 to 2003. The movies The Polar Express and Open Range are dedicated to his memory.

Personal life

Jeter was open about being gay and troubles with drug and alcohol addiction, and for a short time retired from entertainment. He was diagnosed HIV-positive in 1997, although he died from an epileptic seizure. He was cremated. His ashes were scattered.

Work

Theatre

• Once in a Lifetime
• G. R. Point
• Cloud 9
• Grand Hotel
• Alice in Concert
• Greater Tuna

Television

• Evening Shade (1990-1994, as Herman Stiles)
• Tales of the City (1994 PBS miniseries)
• Gypsy (1993 TV version)
• Sesame Street: as Elmo's friend "Mr. Noodle's Brother, Mr. Noodle"
• Picket Fences
• Hothouse (1988)
• From Here to Eternity
• Taken

Filmography

References

1. "Michael Jeter Biography". filmreference (2008). Retrieved on 2008-07-06.
2. Lawrence Ferber (13 May 2003). "Michael Jeter: though he was small in stature, Michael Jeter is remembered as an acting giant by his costars", The Advocate. Retrieved on 10 July 2008. 
3. The Polar Express film credits.
4. Open Range film credits.