J. Michael Finley was born in Jonesboro, Arkansas, a city situated in the northeastern part of the state, and spent his formative years in Lebanon, Missouri, a city located in the central part of the state, in the Ozark Mountains region. As the second of five children born to Wayne and Betsy Finley, he was raised in a loving and supportive family environment.
J. Michael Finley's early exposure to the performing arts began during his junior high school years, where he started singing and acting. This early passion for the arts continued to grow and evolve as he attended Roosevelt University's Chicago College of Performing Arts, where he honed his craft and prepared for a professional career in the performing arts.
After completing his education, J. Michael Finley began his professional acting career in Chicago and its surrounding areas, quickly making a name for himself in the city's vibrant theater scene. His extensive stage credits include performances at some of Chicago's most renowned theaters, such as the Lyric Opera of Chicago, Paramount Theatre, Marriott Theatre, Drury Lane Theatre, Writers' Theatre, Court Theatre, and Mercury Theatre.
In 2015, J. Michael Finley made the bold decision to move to New York City, where he made his Broadway debut in the ensemble of Les Miserables and as the understudy for Jean Valjean. This marked a significant milestone in his career, and he went on to make his film debut in the movie I Can Only Imagine.
Following the completion of the I Can Only Imagine production, J. Michael Finley returned to Broadway as the standby for Elder Cunningham in the hit musical Book of Mormon. His impressive performance and dedication to his craft did not go unnoticed, and he soon found himself making his West End debut in the same role in 2018.
When not on stage or screen, J. Michael Finley enjoys watching St. Louis Cardinals baseball and spending quality time with his loving wife, Elizabeth Doran, whom he married on December 2nd, 2017.
