Biography
Intense character actor Miguel Ferrer specializes in playing villains, bringing to each role an unpredictable energy. Working steadily on television and in feature films, Southern California-born and raised, Ferrer is the eldest of five children and is the son of famed actor
José Ferrer and jazz artist
Rosemary Clooney. Inspired by watching Little Ricky banging away on drums during the
I Love Lucy show and by Beatles percussionist
Ringo Starr, Ferrer first aspired to become a professional drummer and for a few years worked as a studio musician. Acting credits came by way of small television and feature film roles. He debuted on television guest starring as a drummer on the NBC series
Sunshine (1975). His first real break in movies came when he was cast as the murderously ambitious corporate executive in
Robocop (1986). The tall, rangy actor subsequently appeared in films such as
Revenge (1987) and
Point of No Return (1991). Back on television, he gave a memorable performance as an emotionally volatile FBI pathologist in
David Lynch's cult series
Twin Peaks. Ferrer has also starred as a Louisiana cop in Broken Badges. Other television credits include a guest-starring role on the
NBC medical drama E.R., a supporting role in the telemovies
Shannon's Deal and
Brave New World, and a regular role on the comedy
Lateline. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide