Michael Lerner

Biography

Michael Lerner was an American actor who began performing as a teenager and built a career largely as a character actor. Born in Brooklyn, he trained at Brooklyn College and the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art on a Fulbright Scholarship before joining the American Conservatory Theater. His film debut came with Alex in Wonderland (1970), and he took supporting roles in The Candidate (1972), St. Ives (1976), and The Postman Always Rings Twice (1981). His role as film producer Jack Lipnick in Barton Fink (1991) brought him an Academy Award nomination in the Best Supporting Actor category. He also played Arnold Rothstein in Eight Men Out (1988), Bugsy Calhoune in Harlem Nights (1989), Phil Gillman in Amos & Andrew (1993), and the Warden in No Escape (1994). On television he was Mel Horowitz on Clueless from 1996 to 1997, and his later films included The Beautician and the Beast (1997), Godzilla (1998), and Elf (2003).

81years old at death

Born June 22, 1941Brooklyn
Died April 8, 2023Burbank
Star sign: CancerThe sign runs June 21 to July 22
Also credited as Michael Charles Lerner

Movie Career

Films: 53
Career span: 52 years1970 to 2022

Genres

Comedy60%, 32 films
Drama53%, 28 films
Crime25%, 13 films
Action15%, 8 films
Romance13%, 7 films

First and latest

Photos

Did you know?!

First role
Lerner went to Lafayette High School, and his first acting role came there in a school play, where he played a donkey.
First role
In 1970, Lerner appeared in his first film, Alex in Wonderland. Director Paul Mazursky had seen Lerner's production of Little Murders and liked his performance.
Early training
Lerner won a Fulbright Scholarship, which let him spend two years studying theater at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.
First role
At 13, Lerner appeared on television for the first time, playing a "quiz kid" on a show whose host was a sportscaster from the local area.

Michael Lerner movies on Netflix

First Oscar2022IMDb rating 5.6as Louis B. Mayer
Ashby2015IMDb rating 6.4as Entwhistle
1000 to 12014IMDb rating 6.8as Dr.
Mirror Mirror2012IMDb rating 5.6as Baron
Atlas Shrugged: Part I2011IMDb rating 5.6as Wesley Mouch
The Bannen Way2010IMDb rating 5.2as The Mensch
Life During Wartime2009IMDb rating 6.4as Harvey
A Dennis the Menace Christmas2007IMDb rating 4.7as Mr. Souse
Slipstream2007IMDb rating 4.8as Big Mikey
Love and Other Disasters2006IMDb rating 6.1as Marvin Bernstein
The Last Time2006IMDb rating 6.0as Leguzza
When Do We Eat?2005IMDb rating 5.8as Ira Stuckman
Poster Boy2004IMDb rating 6.0as Jack Kray
The Calcium Kid2004IMDb rating 5.6as Artie Cohen
101 Dalmatians II: Patch's London Adventure2003IMDb rating 5.7as Producer (voice)
Elf2003IMDb rating 7.1as Fulton
Nobody Knows Anything!2003IMDb rating 3.3as Uncle Lou
29 Palms2002IMDb rating 4.7as The Judge
Mockingbird Don't Sing2001IMDb rating 6.3as Dr. Stan York
My Favorite Martian1999IMDb rating 5.1as Mr. Channing
The Mod Squad1999IMDb rating 4.4as Howard
Celebrity1998IMDb rating 6.3as Dr. Lupus
Godzilla1998IMDb rating 5.5as Mayor Ebert
Safe Men1998IMDb rating 5.8as Big Fat Bernie Gayle
Tale of the Mummy1998IMDb rating 4.1as Professor Marcus
For Richer or Poorer1997IMDb rating 5.9as Phil Kleinman
The Beautician and the Beast1997IMDb rating 5.5as Jerry Miller
A Pyromaniac's Love Story1995IMDb rating 5.3as Perry
No Way Back1995IMDb rating 5.1as Frank Serlano
Blank Check1994IMDb rating 5.3as Biderman
No Escape1994IMDb rating 6.1as The Warden
Radioland Murders1994IMDb rating 6.2as Lieutenant Cross
The Road to Wellville1994IMDb rating 5.9as Goodloe Bender
Amos & Andrew1993IMDb rating 5.7as Phil Gillman
Barton Fink1991IMDb rating 7.6as Jack Lipnick
Omen IV: The Awakening1991IMDb rating 3.9as Earl
Maniac Cop 21990IMDb rating 5.9as Edward Doyle
Harlem Nights1989IMDb rating 6.1as Bugsy Calhoune
Eight Men Out1988IMDb rating 7.2as Arnold Rothstein
Vibes1988IMDb rating 5.7as Burt Wilder
Anguish1987IMDb rating 6.7as John Pressman
Movers & Shakers1985IMDb rating 4.2as Arnie
Strange Invaders1983IMDb rating 5.4as Willie Collins
Class Reunion1982IMDb rating 4.6as Dr. Robert Young
The Postman Always Rings Twice1981IMDb rating 6.6as Mr. Katz
Threshold1981IMDb rating 5.9as Henry De Vici
Borderline1980IMDb rating 6.0as Henry Lydell
A Love Affair: The Eleanor and Lou Gehrig Story1978IMDb rating 6.7as Dr. Canlan
The Other Side of Midnight1977IMDb rating 6.0as Barbet
St. Ives1976IMDb rating 6.2as Myron Green
Busting1974IMDb rating 6.4as Marvin
The Candidate1972IMDb rating 7.0as Paul Corliss
Alex in Wonderland1970IMDb rating 5.4as Leo

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

Top

Barton Fink1991 Comedy, Drama, Mysteryas Jack Lipnick
IMDb rating 7.6137K votes
Godzilla1998 Action, Sci-Fi, Thrilleras Mayor Ebert
IMDb rating 5.5215K votes
Mirror Mirror2012as Baron
IMDb rating 5.696K votes
Elf2003as Fulton
IMDb rating 7.1349K votes
Eight Men Out1988as Arnold Rothstein
IMDb rating 7.224K votes
The Postman Always Rings Twice1981as Mr. Katz
IMDb rating 6.628K votes
Harlem Nights1989as Bugsy Calhoune
IMDb rating 6.128K votes
The Beautician and the Beast1997as Jerry Miller
IMDb rating 5.511K votes

Most often with

Ken Kwapis directed two of these films. Jon Polito appears in four of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

Top

Jon Polito

Christopher Lloyd

Jeff Goldblum

Donald Sutherland

Steve Buscemi

Anthony HopkinsKen KwapisDirector, 2 films

Films together

Jon Polito4 films together, 1991 to 2011
Jon Polito's page
- Atlas Shrugged: Part I2011IMDb rating 5.6Lerner as Wesley MouchPolito as Orren Boyle
- 29 Palms2002IMDb rating 4.7Lerner as The JudgePolito as The Security Guard
- Tale of the Mummy1998IMDb rating 4.1Lerner as Professor MarcusPolito as Parsons
- Barton Fink1991IMDb rating 7.6Lerner as Jack LipnickPolito as Lou Breeze
Christopher Lloyd3 films together, 1988 to 1999
Christopher Lloyd's page
- My Favorite Martian1999IMDb rating 5.1Lerner as Mr. ChanningLloyd as Uncle Martin
- Radioland Murders1994IMDb rating 6.2Lerner as Lieutenant CrossLloyd as Zoltan
- Eight Men Out1988IMDb rating 7.2Lerner as Arnold RothsteinLloyd as Bill Burns
Jeff Goldblum3 films together, 1976 to 1988
Jeff Goldblum's page
- Vibes1988IMDb rating 5.7Lerner as Burt WilderGoldblum as Nick Deezy
- Threshold1981IMDb rating 5.9Lerner as Henry De ViciGoldblum as Dr. Aldo Gehring
- St. Ives1976IMDb rating 6.2Lerner as Myron GreenGoldblum as Hood
Donald Sutherland2 films together, 1970 to 1981
Donald Sutherland's page
- Threshold1981IMDb rating 5.9Lerner as Henry De ViciSutherland as Dr. Thomas Vrain
- Alex in Wonderland1970IMDb rating 5.4Lerner as LeoSutherland as Alex Morrison
Steve Buscemi2 films together, 1988 to 1991
Steve Buscemi's page
- Barton Fink1991IMDb rating 7.6Lerner as Jack LipnickBuscemi as Chet
- Vibes1988IMDb rating 5.7Lerner as Burt WilderBuscemi as Fred
Anthony Hopkins2 films together, 1994 to 2007
Anthony Hopkins's page
- Slipstream2007IMDb rating 4.8Lerner as Big MikeyHopkins as Bonhoeffer
- The Road to Wellville1994IMDb rating 5.9Lerner as Goodloe BenderHopkins as Dr. John Harvey Kellogg
Ken KwapisDirector, 2 films, 1988 to 1997
All films by Ken Kwapis
- The Beautician and the Beast1997IMDb rating 5.5Lerner as Jerry Miller
- Vibes1988IMDb rating 5.7Lerner as Burt Wilder
Also two films together27 more actors
- Wallace ShawnMy Favorite Martian (1999) and Strange Invaders (1983)
- John CusackThe Road to Wellville (1994) and Eight Men Out (1988)
- Charles BronsonBorderline (1980) and St. Ives (1976)
- John TurturroSlipstream (2007) and Barton Fink (1991)
- Jeffrey TamborSlipstream (2007) and Radioland Murders (1994)
- Dylan BakerCelebrity (1998) and Radioland Murders (1994)
- Kevin DunnAshby (2015) and Godzilla (1998)
- Peter DinklageElf (2003) and Safe Men (1998)
- Matthew BroderickGodzilla (1998) and The Road to Wellville (1994)
- Larry MillerFor Richer or Poorer (1997) and Radioland Murders (1994)
- Hank AzariaCelebrity (1998) and Godzilla (1998)
- Allen GarfieldBusting (1974) and The Candidate (1972)
- Orlando BloomLove and Other Disasters (2006) and The Calcium Kid (2004)
- Ian McNeiceThe Beautician and the Beast (1997) and No Escape (1994)
- Judy DavisCelebrity (1998) and Barton Fink (1991)
- Kenneth TobeyStrange Invaders (1983) and The Candidate (1972)
- Louise FletcherA Dennis the Menace Christmas (2007) and Strange Invaders (1983)
- John MahoneyBarton Fink (1991) and Eight Men Out (1988)
- Camryn ManheimSlipstream (2007) and The Road to Wellville (1994)
- Mare WinninghamMirror Mirror (2012) and Threshold (1981)
- Miguel A. Núñez Jr.For Richer or Poorer (1997) and Harlem Nights (1989)
- Jack NoseworthyA Dennis the Menace Christmas (2007) and Poster Boy (2004)
- Dey YoungThe Mod Squad (1999) and Strange Invaders (1983)
- Ramon BieriVibes (1988) and A Love Affair: The Eleanor and Lou Gehrig Story (1978)
- I.M. HobsonAmos & Andrew (1993) and Barton Fink (1991)
- Karen DuffyCelebrity (1998) and Blank Check (1994)
- Jacob ReynoldsSafe Men (1998) and The Road to Wellville (1994)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.