Biography
Versatile supporting and occasional leading actor Michael Boatman has worked steadily on stage, screen, and television since making his feature film debut playing Motown in
Hamburger Hill (1987). Fans of the late-'90s ABC sitcom
Spin City will recognize him for playing Carter, while those who loved the ABC drama
China Beach will remember him for playing the caustic but funny Private Sam Beckett.
Though born in Colorado Springs, CO, Boatman was raised in Chicago. His initial interest in acting as a teen was purely mercenary, in that he thought it might be a way to meet girls. He proved to have a knack for acting and went on to study theater at Western Illinois University, where he played leads in a variety of classic dramas. He won a Best Supporting Actor Award after competing in the Irene Ryan National Competition at the Kennedy Center.
Following the filming of
Hamburger Hill, Boatman spent 18 months in New York establishing his acting credentials off-Broadway. The role of Private Beckett lured him to Los Angeles and he remained on
China Beach for its entire run. Other television appearances include guest shots on
The Larry Sanders Show and
Living Single, as well as co-starring roles in such made-for-TV movies as
Donor and
Conspiracy of Terror. In 1994, Boatman played the lead in the film
The Glass Shield. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide