Boston University College of Fine Arts announces Michael Chiklis as 2018 Convocation Speaker
CFA welcomes back award-winning actor and BU College of Fine Arts alumnus for May 19th address
The College of Fine Arts (CFA) at Boston University proudly announces that Emmy-winning actor and television producer Michael Chiklis (CFA’85), has been named the speaker for the 2018 CFA Convocation. The College of Fine Arts Convocation is on Saturday, May 19, at 4pm at the Boston University Track and Tennis Center.
Chiklis is a graduate of Boston University College of Fine Arts School of Theatre. He returned to Boston University in 2004 to be honored as a recipient of the College’s Distinguished Alumni Award and again in 2016 to serve as master of ceremonies for the College’s annual event.
Known for his iconic portrayal of “Detective Vic Mackey” in the groundbreaking FX police drama, The Shield, Chiklis earned numerous accolades for his performance, including the 2003 Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Drama, the 2002 Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series, and the 2002 Television Critics Association Award for Individual Achievement in Drama. In addition to starring on The Shield, he also assumed the role of Producer and Director for many of the show’s episodes.
In 2014 Chiklis joined the cast of Ryan Murphy’s award-winning anthology, American Horror Story, for its fourth season, Freak Show, where he starred opposite Kathy Bates. The following year Chiklis was cast as series regular Nathaniel Barnes, Captain of the Gotham City Policy Department, in the show Gotham.
Chiklis’ other television credits include starring roles in the ABC police drama, The Commish; Daddio; the television movie The Three Stooges; Greg Berlanti’s ABC science-fiction comedy-drama, No Ordinary Family; and he starred opposite Dennis Quaid in Nick Pileggi’s period drama Vegas, the latter two of which Chiklis also served as an Executive Producer. He is currently filming the CBS pilot, Murder.
A notable actor on the big screen, Chiklis starred in the films Fantastic Four and Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer as “Ben Grimm,” aka Marvel Comics’ popular “The Thing.” Additional feature credits include Eagle Eye, Rise, The Tax Man, Last Request, and the controversial Wired, in which he played John Belushi, a role for which he auditioned days after his college graduation. He also starred in the inspirational drama When the Game Stands Tall, opposite Jim Caviezel; in the action feature Parker, opposite Jason Statham and Jennifer Lopez, directed by Taylor Hackford; and in Pawn, a crime thriller produced under his Extravaganza Films banner, with Forest Whitaker, Ray Liotta, and Nikki Reed. Chiklis is the voice of Chihiro’s father in the animated version of Spirited Away.
In addition to his acting career, Chiklis has a passion for music and released his first solo album Influence in September 2016. Written and produced by Chiklis at his own Extravaganza Music Studio, Influence is an amalgam of his most loved musical inspirations throughout his life.
A native of Lowell, MA, Chiklis has been acting professionally since earning his Equity card at age 13 and went on to graduate from Boston University. He resides in Los Angeles.