Michael St. Angel was born in 1916 in Rockford, Illinois, to prominent businessman Jasper St. Angel. He attended Beloit College, majoring in drama, before transferring to St. Ambrose College, where he became a drama teacher after graduating.
However, Michael decided to pursue a career in acting, leaving his teaching post after a couple of years and joining the Belfry Players in Wisconsin. He traveled the country in stock shows before making his Broadway debut in 1942 in the small role of a soldier in "The Cat Screams."
Michael's breakthrough came when he was cast in the comedy "Janie," which ran for over a year. He then caught the attention of a Warner Bros. talent scout, who convinced him to audition for the lead role of George Gershwin in the biopic "Rhapsody in Blue" (1945). Although the part went to Robert Alda, Michael was about to return to New York when a meeting with RKO Studios resulted in a contract.
Michael's early film career was marked by small roles, including "Gangway for Tomorrow" (1943),"Bride by Mistake" (1944),and "Marine Raiders" (1944). He then landed a romantic co-starring role opposite Elaine Riley in the Leon Errol comedy starrer "What a Blonde" (1945).
Michael married Fox singer/dancer Marjorie Holliday in 1945, and they had a son, Jasper Michael, Jr., in 1951. However, Marjorie abandoned her career to focus on family obligations as Michael's film career began to decline.
Despite his objections, RKO changed his marquee name to "Steven Flagg" in an attempt to boost his career, but little changed. Michael continued to work in films and television, including "First Yank Into Tokyo" (1945),"The Madonna's Secret" (1946),and "The Truth About Murder" (1946).
In the 1950s, Michael moved more towards television work, with a promising opportunity to star as TV detective Mike Hammer falling through. He worked as a personal assistant to columnist Walter Winchell and even opened his own restaurant in 1959.
Michael's acting career slowed down in the 1960s and 1970s, with occasional small roles in films and television shows. He continued to work in the restaurant business, eventually becoming the manager of his last eatery, Michael's Los Feliz.
Michael St. Angel passed away in 1984 at the age of 67 at the Motion Picture and Television Hospital, survived by his son.
