Biography for
Michael Welch (I) More at IMDbPro »

Date of Birth

25 July 1987, Los Angeles, California, USA

Nickname

Mike

Height

5' 10" (1.78 m)

Mini Biography

Michael Welch is best known for his role as the popular Mike Newton in The Twilight Saga film series (2008-2011) and Luke Girardi in the beloved TV series Joan of Arcadia (2003-2005).

In 2012, Welch filmed and starred in Hansel and Gretel Get Baked, a Tribeca Film Release, February 19, 2013. Welch also filmed The Demented, Grace Unplugged, The Well and the much anticipated movie, The Boys of Abu Ghraib.

Welch has portrayed intense roles as the leading man in such Independent films as Born Bad, Unrequited and Lost Dream.

Michael can be seen in award-winning festival favorites such as Archie's Final Project, An American Crime, United States of Leland, American Son, All the Boys Love Mandy Lane, and The Cover-up.

Welch is familiar to television audiences for his many starring roles on Emmy Award-winning shows, most recently CSI: NY, Criminal Minds, and Bones. During the past several years he appeared on CSI, an arc on The Riches, CSI: Miami, Numb3rs, Law & Order: SVU, Crossing Jordan, NCIS, Cold Case, and Without a Trace. His earlier years included performances on Stargate: SG-1, Judging Amy, The District, Touched by an Angel, Malcolm in the Middle, The X-Files, The Pretender, 7th Heaven, Chicago Hope, and Frasier.

Welch won best actor at the 2011 First Glance Film Festival in Hollywood for his portrayal of a troubled young man in Unrequited. He is the recipient of two Young Artist Awards, first for his performance in Star Trek: Insurrection at the age of 10 as Artim, and the second for his work as Luke Girardi on the hit television series Joan of Arcadia, which ran for two seasons on CBS.

In spite of his busy schedule, it is essential to Michael to give back. Welch received the Pioneering Spirit Award from The Thirst Project in 2011 for his outstanding efforts in raising awareness and money to provide clean drinking water by drilling wells. In 2010, Welch was invited to Germany by the USO to support both wounded soldiers and over 600 military youth. Welch was Co-Chair for 4th annual Walk on The Horizon, an event to raise awareness and resources for adults with disabilities. For over 10 years, Welch hosted and entertained less fortunate youth with Kids With A Cause.

Welch is represented by Curtis Talent Management and Innovative Artists.

IMDb Mini Biography By: Jill Donna Public Relations

Spouse

Marissa Lefton

(2008 - present) (filed for divorce)

Trivia

Played a younger version of Colonel Jack O'Neill (Richard Dean Anderson) in the "Stargate SG-1" (1997) episode, 'Fragile Balance.' His "Joan of Arcadia" (2003) co-star Mary Steenburgen has been mentioned several times on that series as being O'Neill's heartthrob.

Part of what got him into acting was his flexible ability to accurately emulate other roles and dialects.

Comments that after shooting the entire first season of "Joan of Arcadia" (2003), he was recognized just as equally from a single episode of "Stargate SG-1" (1997).

He is a skilled drummer.

Has an older sister, Sarah, who is an Optometrist working on an Indian Reservation in Arizona.

As his eyes are blue in real-life, he had to wear contact lenses when playing the younger version of Colonel Jack O'Neill in the "Stargate SG-1" (1997) episode "Fragile Balance" as Richard Dean Anderson (who plays the usual version of the character) has brown eyes.

Has worked with two actors who appeared in versions of "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers": Richard Dean Anderson (who he appeared with in the "Stargate SG-1" (1997) episode "Fragile Balance") played Adam McFadden in "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" (1982), Russ Tamblyn (who he appeared with in the "Joan of Arcadia" (2003) episodes "Night without Stars", "Do the Math" and "Friday Night") played Gideon Pontipee in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954).

Is close friends with his "Joan of Arcadia" (2003) co-star Chris Marquette and Aaron Himelstein who played the recurring character Friedman on that series.

Appeared in episodes of two different television series which originally aired on January 21, 2001 on Fox: "The X-Files" (1993) episode "Badlaa" and "Malcolm in the Middle" (2000) episode "New Neighbors."

The actresses who played his girlfriends, Mageina Tovah and Becky Wahlstrom, in "Joan of Arcadia" (2003) were eight and twelve years older than him respectively even though they were all supposed to be much the same age.

Got his first car, a Toyota Prius, in October 2004.

Has two nephews named Paul and Sammy and 2 nieces named Sarah and Sophie.

Michael has two dogs Buckley and D.J.

Andrew Dorsett, the Young Frasier to his Young Niles in "Frasier" (1993) episode "Where Every Bloke Knows Your Name," plays in a band with one of Welch's friends who is also one of his former drum instructors.

Has worked with two different actors who were born on January 23, 1950: Richard Dean Anderson in the "Stargate SG-1" (1997) episode "Fragile Balance" and Richard Gilliland in the "Joan of Arcadia" (2003) episodes "Death Be Not Whatever" and "The Devil Made Me Do It".

He is a frequent co-star of his close friend Aaron Himelstein.

In July 2010, Michael was invited to Germany, by the USO to be the celebrity guest for their first USO educational tour. He worked with over 600 students and spent time with wounded soldiers.

Personal Quotes

(Regarding his performance as Luke on "Joan of Arcadia") I don't feel that I'm playing it like a nerd. I've never liked to play stereotypes.

[You have to] put your own ego aside and do what's right for the role. I've always been willing to do that. I really don't care what I look like as long as it fits with the thing I'm working on.

I always thought it'd be fun to go to a sci-fi convention, watch a bunch of Klingons walking around, all of that kind of stuff.