Actor Michael Chernus joins Behind the Awards to deep dive embodying the personal of Serial Killer John Wayne Gacy in Peacock’s Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy. Fans of Michael’s work also will recognize him from the hit Apple TV show Severance as well as Orange is the New Black. Michael touches on how is Theater roots helped him take on one True Crime’s most famous subjects.

MICHAEL CHERNUS is an acclaimed stage and screen actor known for his versatility across film, television, and theater. Born and raised in Rocky River, Ohio, he studied at The Juilliard School’s Drama Division and has built a distinguished career originating roles in world premieres by some of contemporary theater’s most celebrated playwrights, including Adam Rapp, Annie Baker, Brooke Berman, John Belluso, Noah Haidle, Molly Smith Metzler, Jessica Goldberg, Julia Jordan, Bess Wohl, and Lisa Kron. In 2011, he won an Obie Award and received a Lucille Lortel Award nomination for his performance in In the Wake at The Public Theater. Most recently, he appeared in Well, I’ll Let You Go at The Space at Irondale in Brooklyn.

Chernus currently stars as John Wayne Gacy in Peacock’s critically acclaimed limited series Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy, a dramatic retelling of one of America’s most infamous criminal investigations that centers on the victims, their families, and the pursuit of justice. The series marks his first leading television role and has garnered widespread praise for his transformative performance.

On television, Chernus is perhaps best known for his role as Ricken Hale in Apple TV+’s Emmy Award-winning phenomenon Severance. Additional television credits include Amazon Prime Video’s Dead Ringers opposite Rachel Weisz, Patriot, Easy, Tommy, Manhattan, Ramy, Perpetual Grace, LTD, Orange Is the New Black, and The Big C.

His film credits include Out of My Mind, Werewolves Within, Spider-Man: Homecoming, Captain Phillips, The Bourne Legacy, Men in Black 3, Mistress America, The Kindergarten Teacher, and numerous acclaimed independent features.

Beyond acting, Chernus has contributed to storytelling through appearances on This American Life and Radiolab. He also serves on the Advisory Board of SPACE on Ryder Farm, an artist residency and working organic farm in Brewster, New York, founded by his wife, Emily Simoness.

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