Michael Greer
Biography
Michael Greer was an American actor, comedian and cabaret entertainer who was born on April 20, 1938, in Galesburg, Illinois, and died in 2002. He started out singing during intermissions at a local movie theater, then served in the U.S. Air Force, where he formed a pop vocal group. After moving to Los Angeles in the mid-1960s, he formed the comedy troupe Jack and the Giants, which Judy Garland helped popularize. His cabaret act blended music, comedy and female impersonations, and his Mona Lisa routine became a signature. On stage, he played Queenie in Fortune and Men's Eyes for more than 400 performances, and he co-wrote the book for and directed the 1992 musical Freeway Dreams. His films included The Gay Deceivers (1969), Messiah of Evil (1973), Summer School Teachers (1975) and The Rose (1979). He also appeared on television shows such as Mannix and Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In, and he voiced characters on Wild West C.O.W.-Boys of Moo Mesa.
64years old at death
- Born Galesburg
- Died Riverside
- Star sign: TaurusFirst day of the sign, on the Aries cusp
- Also credited as James Robert Malley
Movie Career
- Films
- 4
- Career span
- 10 years1969 to 1979
Every film, newest first
- 1979The RoseIMDb rating 7.0
- 1975Summer School TeachersIMDb rating 4.4
- 1973Messiah of EvilIMDb rating 6.3
- 1969The Gay DeceiversIMDb rating 5.9
Genres
Share
Did you know?!
Own stunts
Greer dubbed some of Bette Davis's lines in the TV miniseries The Dark Secret of Harvest Home and again in Wicked Stepmother, her last film, because his impersonation of her was so perfect.
About the name
Greer legally changed his name in the mid-1960s, picking Michael because he liked it and Greer after the actress Jane Greer.
Beyond film
Greer created a signature routine that he kept performing, with changes, for the rest of his career. He played the Mona Lisa, talked through a big picture frame on his lap, and told art-related jokes.
A role that slipped away
Greer turned down the film role of Queenie in Fortune and Men's Eyes before reprising his stage performance of the part in MGM's 1971 version.
Behind the camera
Greer wrote comedy material for performers including Phyllis Diller, Debbie Reynolds, Rip Taylor and Larry Storch, besides writing his own act.
Behind the camera
Michael Greer directed the Los Angeles production of Freeway Dreams, a 1992 musical about commuters stuck in traffic, for which he and composer Wayne Moore wrote the book; the show ran four months.
Michael Greer movies on Netflix
Worked with
Michael Greer made one film with each of them. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
Harry Dean Stanton's page
Dick Miller's page
Elisha Cook Jr.'s page
Royal Dano's page
David Keith's page
Bette Midler's page
All films by Mark Rydell
All films by Gloria Katz
All films by Willard Huyck
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.