Michael Gross (born June 21, 1947) is an American television, film, and stage actor. He is notable for playing Steven Keaton on the sitcom Family Ties (1982–1989) and survivalist Burt Gummer in the Tremors film franchise, being the only actor to appear in all the films and the television show.
Early life Gross is the son of Virginia Ruth Gross, a telephone operator, and William O. Gross. Gross and his younger sister, Mary, were raised Catholic. He attended St. Francis Xavier and St. Genevieve schools in Chicago in his early years, graduating from the latter in 1961.
Career Gross was first seen by a broad audience in his role as Steven Keaton in the 1980s sitcom Family Ties. However, his longest-running role has been Burt Gummer in the Tremors franchise, having played the role for 30 years from the release of the original Tremors in 1990 to Tremors: Shrieker Island in 2020. His performance in Tremors 3: Back to Perfection earned him a Best Actor award from the DVD Exclusive Awards, formerly known as the Video Premiere Awards. Gross said he took the Tremors role partly because he enjoyed the prospect of playing the paranoid survivalist character who was very different from the pacifist hippie Steven Keaton.
Gross guest-starred in an episode of the sitcom Night Court, in which he played a man who sexually assaults Markie Post's character, Christine Sullivan. In 1988, he portrayed a murderous bank robber in the true life film In the Line of Duty: The F.B.I. Murders. His other television credits include Boston Legal, How I Met Your Mother, Batman Beyond, ER, Parks and Recreation (Episode: "Summer Catalog"), Law & Order and two of its spin-offs: SVU and Criminal Intent. From August 2008 to January 2009, Gross appeared on the CBS soap The Young and the Restless as River Baldwin. Gross appeared in 2000 on Spin City as a therapist to Michael J. Fox's character on Fox's final show as a regular on that program. In November 1979, Gross originated the role of Greta in the Broadway production of Martin Sherman's Bent.
Personal life Gross has been married to casting director Elza Bergeron since June 2, 1984, and he is the stepfather to her two children.
Gross remains close friends with his Family Ties co-star Meredith Baxter.
Gross is a railfan with an extensive collection of railroad antiques. He is an amateur railroad historian, photographer, modeler, and former part-owner in a working railroad, the Santa Fe Southern Railway, a former branch line of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway which operates between Lamy and Santa Fe, New Mexico.Hall, Ken; Southeastern Antiquing and Collecting Magazine (2003), The Celebrity Collector - Michael Gross, his family tree and his collections are rooted in the railroad; retrieved October 7, 2005. He is also the spokesman for the World's Greatest Hobby campaign sponsored by the Model Railroad Industry Association that promotes the hobby of model railroading. He has also been a spokesperson for Operation Lifesaver, a campaign promoting safety at railroad grade crossings.Model Railroad Industry Association (2005), World's Greatest Hobby campaign keeps model railroading on the right track for the future; retrieved October 7, 2005.
Since 2009, Gross has been the "celebrity spokesman" for the B&O Railroad Museum (now known as the National Museum of Railroad History & Innovation) in Baltimore, Maryland. He is also the host of the B&O Railroad Museum Television Network on YouTube and a member of the Santa Fe Railway Historical Society.
Gross is a fan of the Chicago Cubs baseball team. After the Cubs won the 2016 World Series, Gross suggested his character Burt Gummer switch to a Cubs cap for Tremors: A Cold Day in Hell, replacing the Atlanta Hawks cap he had worn in the first five films of the series.
Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 1980 Just Tell Me What You Want Lothar 1987 Dorothy Meets Ozma of Oz Himself / Host Voice, direct to video 1988 Big Business Dr. Jay Marshall 1990 Tremors Burt Gummer 1991 Cool as Ice Gordon Winslow / James Anthony Hackett 1992 Alan & Naomi Sol Silverman 1994 In the Heat of Passion II: Unfaithful Howard1996 Tremors 2: Aftershocks Burt GummerDirect to video Sometimes They Come Back... Again Jon Porter Kounterfeit Captain Evans 1997 True Heart Dick 1998 Ground Control Murray 2001 Tremors 3: Back to Perfection Burt Gummer Direct to video 2003 Super Chief: Speed-Style-Service Narrator Documentary2004 Tremors 4: The Legend Begins Hiram Gummer Tremors 4 or Tremors: The Legend Begins Direct to video You're on the Set of "Tremors 4: The Legend Begins" Himself Documentary short Daylight: The Most Beautiful Train In The World Host / Narrator Documentary 2006 Frühlingsgefühle Short film 2007 The Ballad of Esequiel Hernández Himself Documentary2008 El Sonoma Mr. Goreman An American in China Manny Braddock 100 Million BC Dr. Frank Reno Direct to video Broken Windows Teddy 2009 Stay Cool Mr. McCarthy2011 You're a Wolf Dad Short film Pizza Man Professor Tucker Just Like Her Paul Marston Short film2012 Tim and Eric's Billion Dollar Movie Narrator Atlas Shrugged: Part II Ted "Buzz" Killman Meant to Be Mr. Trantham 2013 Guest House Lou WesleyShort film 2014 Our Father John2015 Tremors 5: Bloodlines Burt Gummer Direct to video Christmas at Rosemont Dr. Molina Bilal: A New Breed of Hero Okba Voice A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information. He Said Walter Elling2016 Quackerz Duckmus Voice Last Call at Murray's Murray C Street Governor Appalachia 20th Century Limited: America's Most Famous Passenger Train NarratorDocumentary Model Citizens Himself 2017 Camp Cool Kids Grandpa Norman2018 Tremors Franchise RecapBurt Gummer Short film Tremors: A Cold Day in Hell Also known as Tremors 6: A Cold Day in Hell Direct-to-video Power of the Air Chairman 2019 Noelle Elder Elf Abe Cameo2020 Tremors: Making Perfection Himself Documentary short A Ring for Christmas Graham Moore Tremors: Shrieker Island Burt Gummer Also known as Tremors 7 and Tremors: Island Fury Direct to video2024 Chosen Family Alfred The Merry Gentlemen Stan Netflix original film
Television Year Title Role Notes 1975 A Girl Named Sooner Jim SeeveyTelevision film 1980 F.D.R.: The Last Year Dr. Howard Bruenn 1981 Dream House Julius "J.J." Jacobson1982 The Neighborhood Jack Wolfe Little Gloria... Happy at Last Gilchrist Miniseries 1982–1989 Family Ties Steven Keaton Main role, 171 episodes 1983 Cook & Peary: The Race to the Pole James TrothTelevision film 1984 Summer Fantasy Ben Brannigan1985 Finder of Lost Loves Tom Lindsay Episode: "Last Wish" Family Ties Vacation Steven KeatonTelevision film A Letter to Three Wives George Phipps1987 Night Court Arthur Thursby Episode: "Caught Red Handed" Right to Die Bob BauerTelevision film1988 In the Line of Duty: The F.B.I. Murders William Russell Matix Day by Day Steven Keaton Episode: "Trading Places" 1989 A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court King ArthurTelevision film 1990 Vestige of Honor Don Scott 1991 In the Line of Duty: Manhunt in the Dakotas Agent Richard Mayberly 1992 With a Vengeance Frank Tanner 1993 Batman: The Animated Series Lloyd Ventrix / Mojo Voice, episode: "See No Evil"1994 Snowbound: The Jim and Jennifer Stolpa Story Kevin MulliganTelevision film In the Line of Duty: The Price of Vengeance Tom Williams Dream On Father Sherman McKigney Episode: "The Second Coming" Avalanche Brian KempTelevision film1995 Awake to Danger Ben McAdams Deceived by Trust Dr. Gordon Powell1996 Hijacked: Flight 285 Ben Horn Ed McBain's 87th Precinct: Ice Lt. Peter Byrnes The Making of a Hollywood Madam Paul Fleiss The Outer Limits Professor Stanley Hurst Episode: "Inconstant Moon" The Outer Limits Phenomenon Himself TV documentary Promised Land Greg Smith Episode: "The Expatriate"1997 Ed McBain's 87th Precinct: Heatwave Lt. Peter Byrnes Television film The Hunger Professor Frank Ingram Episode: "But at My Back I Always Hear"1999 Batman Beyond Warren McGinnis Voice, episode: "Rebirth: Part 1" Ally McBeal Mr. Volpe Episode: "Only the Lonely" Norm Councilman Krantz 2 episodes2000 Law & Order Carl Braddock Episode: "Trade This" Spin City Dr. Peterson Episode: "Goodbye: Part 1" Family Law Anthony Jacobs Episode: "Affairs of the State" 2001 The Undesirable Television film 2001–2004 ER John Carter Sr. 6 episodes 2002 Law & Order: Criminal Intent Dr. Charles Webb Episode: "Crazy" Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Arthur Esterman Episode: "Lust" 2003 Tremors Burt Gummer Main role; 13 episodes2004 Combustion Talbot Television film The Drew Carey Show Don Newmark 4 episodes 2004–2005 Nature Narrator 2 episodes2005 Mrs. Harris Leslie Jacobson Television film CSI: NY Tom Endecott Episode: "Manhattan Manhunt" 2006 Dome Car Magic: A History of Railroad Dome Cars Narrator 2006–2011 How I Met Your Mother Alfred Mosby 3 episodes 2007 Boston Legal Father Nicholas McClinton Episode: "Duck and Cover" 2008–2009 The Young and the Restless River Baldwin 36 episodes2010 Parks and Recreation Michael Tansley Episode: "Summer Catalog" Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! Robin Episode: "Crows" Psych Cody Blair Episode: "Dead Bear Walking"2011 Brothers & Sisters Edward LeMonde Episode: "The One That Got Away" Family Guy Steven Keaton Episode: "Brothers & Sisters" Drop Dead Diva Principal Blake Episode: "Prom" Curb Your Enthusiasm Dermatologist Dr. Rivkin Episode: "The Smiley Face" 12 Wishes of Christmas Harry Television film On Set: The Making of "12 Wishes of Christmas" Himself Short documentary 2011–2013 Dan Vs. Don Voice, 5 episodes2012 Blue-Eyed Butcher Ron WrightTelevision film Adopting Terror Dr. Ziegler NTSF:SD:SUV:: Huck Jingles Episode: "Family Dies" CSI: Crime Scene Investigation President Rob Austin Episode: "Pick and Roll" Naughty or Nice Walter KringleTelevision film The Dog Who Saved the Holidays Ned 2013 Call Me Fitz Pat Childs 5 episodes2014 Last Man Standing Mr. Hardin Episode: "Hard-Ass Teacher" Suits Walter Gillis 4 episodes Partners J.P. Buchanan Episode: "The Law School Reunion" Anger Management Dr. Randy Warren 4 episodes2015 Carbon Dating Chris Main role; 6 episodes Becoming Santa Nick Claus Television film 2015–2016 Grace and Frankie Jeff 4 episodes 2015–2017 The Stanley Dynamic Grandpa / Lawrence Sr. 5 episodes 2016 Togetherness Mr. Pierson Episode: "Advanced Pretend" Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Jeffrey Prince Episode: "Assaulting Reality"2018 A.P. Bio Brandon Episode: "Rosemary's Boyfriend" The Affair Dr. Ezra Kaplan 2 episodes Christmas Pen Pals TedTelevision film2019 Sister of the Bride Robert Christmas Reservations Tom Anderson
References
External links
Michael Gross at Internet Off-Broadway Database Michael Gross comment on ownership in regards to Santa Fe Southern