Celebrity Nooz: Michael Gross

Michael Gross (Actor) as Steven Keaton - Family Ties

Updated: 4/23/09

Name: Michael Gross

Born: June 21, 1947, Chicago, Illinois

Claim To Fame: He is fondly known for his portrayal of father Steven Keaton on the award-winning television show Family Ties.

Family Life: Gross has been married to casting director Elza Bergeron since June 2, 1984, and they have two children, Theodore and Katharine.

Info: Gross graduated with a B.A. in Speech and Theatre from the University of Illinois and earned his Master of Fine Arts degree in acting from the School of Drama at Yale University. From there, he got involved with theatre work at the Actors Theatre of Louisville, The Guthrie Theater, The Yale Repertory Theater, Baltimore?s Center Stage, the Indiana Repertory Theatre and the Mark Taper Forum.

Although best known for his roles on Family Ties and in the Tremors film and television series, Gross has made several television and film appearances throughout his career. He has been seen on television on the original Law & Order, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, The Outer Limits, Ally Macbeal, CSI: New York, How I Met Your Mother, Boston Legal and Medium. He has also had recurring roles on The Drew Carey Show and ER.

His film credits include Just Tell Me What You Want, Big Business, and Alan and Naomi. He has also appeared in numerous made-for-television movies including The FBI Murders, Right to Die, F.D.R., The Last Year, Manhunt in the Dakotas, and Little Gloria...Happy at Last with Angela Lansbury and Bette Davis. Most recently he appeared in the HBO special Mrs. Harris alongside Annette Benning and Ben Kingsley.

Trivia: Was born on the exact same date as his Family Ties co-star Meredith Baxter.

Is a passionate railfan with an extensive collection of railroad antiques.

Brother of Mary Gross.

Cousin of Ron Masak. First cousin once removed of Kathryn Masak and Mike Masak.

Won an Obie in 1982 for his role in the off-Broadway production "No End Of Blame."

Steven Keaton, Gross's character on "Family Ties" (1982), was ranked #12 in TV Guide's list of the "50 Greatest TV Dads of All Time" [June 20, 2004 issue].

Where Are They Now: Gross has been appearing as Lowell "River" Baldwin, the estranged father of Michael Baldwin (Christian LeBlanc), since August of 2008. He has appeared at the Williamstown Theatre Festival in the world premiere of Buffalo Gal, and in Ancestral Voices, worked with Royal Shakespeare Company founder Sir Peter Hall in a production of Romeo and Juliet and appeared in the Broadway production of Macbeth.

He recently took part in the Midwest premier of Art at Chicago?s Royal George Theatre, the U.S. premiere of Money and Friends at Los Angeles? Doolittle Theatre, and Love Letters in Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Aside from acting, Gross is also an amateur railroad historian, photographer, modeler, and part-owner in a working railroad, the Santa Fe Southern Railway. He is the spokesman for the World's Greatest Hobby campaign, and will be the spokesman for the B&O Railroad Museum for 2009.

Gross also is extremely active in such charitable organizations as World Vision, animal welfare, anti-drug programs, responsible gun ownership and AIDS research. He received the American Hero Award for his charitable activities and is largely active in Futures For Children, a sponsorship and self-help program working with Southwestern Native American Tribes. Gross and his wife are also Foundation Board members of the Institute of American Indian Arts Museum in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

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Videos: Family Ties - Theme Song

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