Michael Elias was born and raised in upstate New York, where he developed a strong foundation for his future endeavors in the entertainment industry. He has had a diverse career, working in motion pictures, television, and stage as an actor, writer, producer, and director in various locations including New York, Los Angeles, and London.
Elias was a member of The Living Theatre, a prestigious theatre company, where he acted in the critically acclaimed production of 'The Brig' by Kenneth Brown in both New York and London. He also worked with Warner Bros, where he created and produced the award-winning television series 'Head of the Class' that ran for five seasons on ABC, starring Howard Hesseman and Billy Connolly.
As a writer and director, Elias is known for his work on the acclaimed Showtime jazz drama 'Lush Life', which starred Forest Whitaker, Jeff Goldblum, and Cathy Baker. His direction earned him a nomination for Best Director in the Cable Ace Awards. Elias has also written and produced several screenplays, including "The Jerk", "The Frisco Kid", "Serial", "Envoyez les Violons", and "Young Doctors in Love".
In addition to his work in television and film, Elias is also a playwright. His play "The Catskill Sonata" premiered in Los Angeles, directed by Paul Mazursky, and was named the number one play of the year by the LA Weekly. Elias has also written a novel, "The Last Conquistador", which was published by Open Road Media in 2013.
Elias is currently working on a television adaptation of Anthony Burgess' novel "A Dead Man in Deptford", which tells the story of Christopher Marlowe's life. John Maybury is set to direct the project. Elias is a member of several prestigious organizations, including the Writer's Branch of The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the Foreign Language Committee, the Writers Guild of America, the Directors Guild of America, and PEN.
Elias graduated from St. John's College in Annapolis, Maryland, where he earned a degree in mathematics and philosophy. He currently resides in both Los Angeles and Paris with his wife, Bianca Roberts, the Executive Director of The Mona Bismarck American Center.
