I was born overseas in Wiesbaden Germany, the son of an officer in the US. Army; the title “Army Brat” fits me well. I started acting when I was in the 4th grade and “landed” my first role as the littlest juggler; from that point on I was “hooked”. With my family relocating every 2-3 years I began to study the differences in people based on location, learning to adapt to the different subcultures that exist from town to town, state to state, country to country. Perhaps my “best education” was learning how to “act” like the “locals” in order to fit in. As I continued to grow up moving around the world something began to dawn on me; I had the ability to be a chameleon…to “morph” into what was needed in order to adjust. As a teenager I worked with one of the most talented people I have ever met, my drama teacher. She perceived my ability to adapt, and, thus, pushed my limits; Jesse Reter showed me how to “use” these observations, and hone my “craft” on the stage.
After high school I moved out to LA with “big dreams”, yet “clueless”. After several years of struggling I realized that my father’s advice was right; I needed an education. Returning to the east I “garnished” a degree, a mortgage, a wife, a car, a adopted racing greyhound…my friends say I sound like a bad country song! In North Carolina I became very involved in the local community theater doing 1-2 roles a year; however, somewhere along the way I lost my “dream”…or rather understood “the dream” had changed…now wanting to “work” full time the arts. During this time frame I auditioned for Dawsons Creek, gaining a small walk on /extra role playing a paramedic. My “claim to fame”, in California was as an “extra” in the movie Cocktail and my first TV appearance on Dawsons Creek! The “experience” on Dawsons Creek was what “prompted” me to move to New York, and follow the “dream” once more.
I have felt the ability to become someone else, through the written word…making it “reality”… has been an “education” in the art of acting. Reacting to life’s challenges…learning to adjust and cope…has helped me to “communicate life”, as well as "communicate" on the stage.
In addition to being a full time "critical care" nurse, I am finding the time to audition, and “study” the people around me, in New York City. Joy comes when I work in my garden or work on my house to build something; yet, ecstatic joy comes from creating a character so an audience will believe, if just for a moment, that that character is me.
Michael Webb
