Trivia

Saw his first Broadway musical, "Sweeney Todd" , at age 18 and he attributes his desire to become an actor to seeing that show. He enjoyed it so much that he saw the show 6 more times.

Won the 2004 Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical for his portrayal of John Wilkes Booth in Stephen Sondheim's "Assassins."

Toured across America and the U.K. as a guitarist with legendary musician Bob Mould. (January 1998)

Starred opposite Patti LuPone in the title role of Stephen Sondheim's "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" on Broadway (the role garnered him a third Tony award nomination). Closed on September 3, 2006. (October 2005)

His father told Michael and his siblings when they were young that they each had to play an instrument for at least a year. Michael chose the violin, played it for a few months, then quit in favor of the "cooler" guitar.

Starred as the title role in the off-Broadway smash, "Hedwig and the Angry Inch." Also performed as Hedwig in Los Angeles and London. Closed in New York on April 9, 2000. (July 1998)

Originated the role of Thomas Andrews in the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical "Titanic: The New Musical". (1997)

Has a dog named Gibson (after the guitar).

He is a 1979 graduate of Phillips Exeter Academy and a 1983 graduate of Yale University.

Released his band Cerveris' debut album, "Dog Eared" , in February of 2004.

Played 'The Earl of Kent' and won critical acclaim in Shakespeare's 'King Lear', costarring Kevin Kline. Performed at the Public Theatre in New York City. Closed after an extended run on March 25, 2007. (February 2007)

Originated the role of Tommy in "The Who's Tommy" (which garnered him his first Tony award nomination) on Broadway, as well as in San Diego and Germany. He went on stage as Tommy a total of 1,304 times. (1996)

Grew up in Huntington, West Virginia. His parents still reside in West Virginia.

Has been shaving his head since 1993.

Attended Yale as an undergraduate. Majored in theater studies in the humanities department.

He was nominated for a 2004 Joseph Jefferson Award for Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical for "A Little Night Music" at the Chicago Shakespeare Theater in Chicago, Illinois.

Brother is actor Todd Cerveris. They appeared on stage together in 2004's Off-Broadway play, 'The Booth Variations'.

Won Broadway's 2004 Tony Award as Best Actor (Featured Role - Musical) for his portrayal of John Wilkes Booth in Stephen Sondheim's "Assassins." He had previously been Tony-nominated in 1994 as Best Actor (Musical) for his role as 'Tommy' in "The Who's Tommy.".

His father is of Italian descent, with roots in Campania. His mother has English, and some Scottish, ancestry. The family surname was originally "Cerverizzo".

Michael has been nominated 6 times for the Tony Award: in 1993, for "The Who's Tommy", 2004 for "Assassins", 2006 for "Sweeney Todd", 2007 for "LoveMusik", 2012 for "Evita", and 2015 for "Fun Home". His nominations in 1993, 2004 and 2012 were for Featured Actor in a Musical. His nominations in 2006, 2007, and 2015 were for Lead Actor in a Musical. Michael has won twice, in 2004 and in 2015.

Began rehearsals for a new musical entitled 'LoveMusik', in which he will be portraying German playwright and songwriter, Kurt Weill. Lovemusik, co-starring fellow Tony award winner Donna Murphy and produced by Hal Prince, is scheduled to open on Broadway on May 3, 2007. (March 2007)

Michael and fellow Tony winner Donna Murphy were Tony nominees for playing Tony winners in the 2007 musical "LoveMusik". Michael portrayed Kurt Weill (Best Score for "Street Scene", 1947) and Donna played Weill's wife, Lotte Lenya (Featured Actress in a Musical for "Threepenny Opera", 1956).

Born on exactly the same date as Lance Kerwin (of "James @ 15" and "Enemy Mine") fame.