Michael Strong was a talented method actor who, although not a household name, consistently delivered compelling performances on screen. He often played typical New Yorkers, whether they were cops, thugs, or characters with an edgy intensity that was uniquely his own.
Prior to transitioning to film, Michael established himself as a skilled stage actor, with an extensive resume that included performances on and off-Broadway. He was a graduate of the prestigious Actor's Studio and a founding member of the Lincoln Center Repertory Company, where he appeared in notable plays by Arthur Miller, S.N. Behrman, and Eugene O'Neill.
Typically cast as military types or working-class firebrands, Michael's breakthrough role came as a young burglar in Sidney Kingsley's Broadway play "Detective Story" in 1949. Director William Wyler later brought him to Hollywood to reprise his role in the 1951 film adaptation.
Michael's notable film roles included a used-car salesman in the thriller "Point Blank" (1967) and Brigadier General Hobart Carver in the Oscar-winning war drama "Patton" (1970). However, it was television where Michael found his greatest success, with his distinctive looks and nervous demeanor often hinting at his characters' secrets.
He frequently played Eastern bloc spies, contract assassins, and NYPD sergeants, and was a staple in many major police series of the time. Fans of "Star Trek" may remember Michael as the unhinged Dr. Roger Korby, whose consciousness was transferred into an android body in the episode "What Are Little Girls Made Of?" in 1966.
Throughout his career, Michael continued to act, playing tough characters with equal ease, until his eventual retirement.
