Michael Anthony Angarano (born December 3, 1987) is an American actor. He became known for his roles in the film Music of the Heart (1999) and the television series Cover Me (2000–2001), as well as for playing a recurring role as Elliott in the sitcom Will & Grace. Since then he has starred in a number of films including Sky High (2005), Lords of Dogtown (2005), The Forbidden Kingdom (2008), Gentlemen Broncos (2009), Haywire (2011), The English Teacher (2013), Sun Dogs (2017), and Oppenheimer (2023). He has also appeared in the television series I'm Dying Up Here (2017–2018) and This Is Us. The latter earned him a Primetime Emmy Award nomination as an Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series in 2019.
Early life Angarano was born in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, New York City, to Michael and Doreen Angarano; he has two sisters and a younger brother. He is of Italian descent.
He was raised in Oakwood, Staten Island before his family moved to California when he was 12. His family owns and operates the dance studio Reflections in Dance in Canoga Park, California. Angarano graduated from Crespi Carmelite High School.
Career In the late 1990s, Angarano was one of three finalists for the role of young Anakin Skywalker in Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, until the creators decided to cast Jake Lloyd in the role."Finding Anakin — Auditions for Star Wars Episode I". YouTube. Accessed April 28, 2026.
Angarano played the 11-year-old version of William Miller in Cameron Crowe's semi-autobiographical film Almost Famous in 2000.
In 2000, 12-year-old Angarano acted in Cover Me: Based on the True Life of an FBI Family. The following year, he landed his first major film role in Little Secrets, opposite Evan Rachel Wood and David Gallagher. Three years later, he starred in the Nickelodeon TV-movie Maniac Magee. He played the lead role in 2005's Sky High alongside Kelly Preston, Kurt Russell, Danielle Panabaker, and Mary Elizabeth Winstead. Other film roles include parts in The Bondage, Black Irish, Man in the Chair, Snow Angels, The Final Season, One Last Thing..., The Forbidden Kingdom alongside Jackie Chan and Jet Li, Ceremony, The Brass Teapot, and Red State.
Angarano did not study martial arts before starring in The Forbidden Kingdom with Jackie Chan and Jet Li. Once cast he studied in China for eight hours a day for two weeks with action choreographer Woo-Ping Yuen. Over the seven months of shooting his skills and confidence grew. Angarano's fight scenes were filmed during the last 35 days of shooting.
On television, from 2001 to 2006, he had a recurring role on Will & Grace as Elliott, the son of Jack McFarland, a role he reprised in an episode of the show's 2017 reboot. In 2007, he appeared in four episodes of the show 24 as Scott Wallace, a teenager taken hostage by a terrorist. From 2014 to 2015, he played Dr. Bertram "Bertie" Chickering, Jr. on Cinemax's period drama The Knick. Angarano has also played Eddie Zeidel on the Showtime series I'm Dying Up Here.
Personal life From 2005 to early 2009, Angarano was in a relationship with American actress Kristen Stewart. He then dated English actress Juno Temple from 2013 to 2016.
In September 2019, he confirmed his relationship with American actress Maya Erskine. On November 2, 2020, the couple revealed that they were engaged and expecting a child. Their son was born in 2021. The duo were married by early 2024. The couple were expecting their second child, a girl. Their daughter was born in 2024.
Filmography
Film Year Title Role Notes1996Childhood's End1st BoyUncreditedI'm Not Rappaport3-year-old Cowboy1997For Richer or PoorerSammy Yoder1998River RedYoung Tom1999Music of the HeartYoung Nick TzvarasBaby Huey's Great Easter AdventureNick2000Almost FamousYoung William MillerThe Brainiacs.comMatt Tyler2002Little SecretsPhilip LenoxThe New KidAustin2003SeabiscuitYoung Red Pollard2004The Dust FactoryRocky MazzelliLimited releaseSpeakDavid Petrakis2005Dear WendyFreddieLimited releaseSky HighWill StrongholdLords of DogtownSid2006One Last Thing...Dylan JameisonLimited releaseThe BondageCharlie2007The Final SeasonMitch AkersMan in the ChairCameron KincaidSnow AngelsArthur ParkinsonBlack IrishCole McKay2008The Forbidden KingdomJason Tripitikas2009Gentlemen BroncosBenjamin Purvis2010CeremonySam Davis2011The Art of Getting ByDustin MasonRed StateTravisNoah's Ark: The New BeginningTownsmanVoice roleHaywireScott2012The Brass TeapotJohn2013The End of LoveHimselfCameoThe English TeacherJason SherwoodEmpire StateEddie2015Wild CardCyrus KinnickThe Stanford Prison ExperimentChristopher Archer2017AvenuesMaxAlso director, writer, and producerSun Dogs Ned Chipley 2018 In a Relationship Owen 2023 Oppenheimer Robert Serber 2024 Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1 Walter Childs Sacramento Rickey Also director, writer, and producer
Television Year Title Role Notes1995Saturday Night LiveDavid Duchovny's sonEpisode: "David Duchovny/Rod Stewart"New York NewsEpisode: "Welcome Back Cotter"1997Stranger in My HomeDrewTV movieCybillTimmyEpisode: "The Wedding"1998Another WorldSteven FrameTemporary: February 25 and 27, 1998Grace and GlorieBicycle KidTV movieThe PretenderPatrick HarperEpisode: "Stolen"1999As the World TurnsMatthew John "M.J." DixonSeven DaysEvan HamiltonEpisode: "For the Children"2000–2001Cover MeChance ArnoMain cast, 24 episodes2001Say UncleNickTV movie2001–2006, 2017Will & GraceElliot Regular season 4; recurring seasons 3, 5–6, 8; special guest season 9 (14 episodes)2003Maniac MageeJeffrey Lionel MageeTV movieMy Life with MenBenTV pilotERZackEpisode: "The Greater Good"2004Less than PerfectGeorge DentonEpisodes: "The Crush", "Claude's 15 Minutes of Christmas"2005SummerlandJeb EkhartEpisodes: "Leaving Playa Linda", "Where There's a Will There's a Wave"Kevin HillEthan ClaypoolEpisode: "Only Sixteen"200724Scott Wallace4 episodes2012Entry LevelJakeTV movie2014–2015The KnickDr. Bertie Chickering, Jr.Main cast2014Drunk HistoryWalt DisneyEpisode: "Hollywood"2017–2018I'm Dying Up HereEddie ZeidelMain castMomCooperEpisodes: "A Seafaring Ancestor and a Bloomin' Onion", "A Bear and a Bladder Infection"2018–2021This Is UsNick PearsonRecurring role, 7 episodes2019DollfaceSteveEpisode: "Beauty Queen"2020PEN15GregEpisodes: "Play" and "Opening Night"A TeacherTinder DateEpisode 92022MinxGlennMain role (season 1)AngelyneDannyEpisodes: "Glow in the Dark Queen of the Universe" and "Pink Clouds"2024 LaidRichieMain role2025Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy Sam AmiranteMain role2026Margo's Got Money TroublesMark GableMain cast
References
External links
UltimateDisney.com Interview – November 2005