Michael Rosenbaum
Birth dateJuly 11, 1972 (age 54)
Birth placeOceanside, New York, U.S.
EducationWestern Kentucky University (BA)
OccupationActor · director · writer · podcaster · musician
Years active1997–present

Michael Owen Rosenbaum (born July 11, 1972)[1][2] is an American actor and podcaster. He is known for portraying Lex Luthor on the television series Smallville, a role that TV Guide included in their 2013 list of "The 60 Nastiest Villains of All Time".[3]

Rosenbaum is also known for portraying Martinex in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, Parker in Urban Legend, Adam/Adina in Sorority Boys and Dutch Nilbog on Fox's Breaking In. He also has an extensive voiceover career in animation, such as his role of Wally West / The Flash in the DC Animated Universe series Justice League (2001–2004) and its sequel Justice League Unlimited (2004–2006). Between 2015 and 2016, he played the lead role in the TV Land comedy series Impastor.

He is also the lead singer of the band Sun Spin with his friend Rob Danson. The band's first album, Best Days was released on February 9, 2021.[4]

Early life

Rosenbaum was born in Oceanside, New York and raised in Newburgh, Indiana.[5] His mother, Julie (née Eckstein), is a writer and his father, Mark Rosenbaum, worked in pharmaceuticals.[6] He is one of six children with two brothers, Eric and Adam, and a sister, Laurie. After his parents' divorce, his mother remarried sports reporter Gordon Engelhardt, and his father remarried Alexis Pelegrino, with whom he had two daughters, Rosenbaum's half-sisters. His uncle is pet behaviorist Warren Eckstein.[7] Rosenbaum is Jewish, and says he was "closer to religion" in New York than in Indiana.[8]

Rosenbaum graduated from Castle High School in Newburgh, Indiana and from Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, Kentucky with a degree in theatre arts. Immediately after, he moved to New York City to pursue an acting career.[9]

Career

In 2001, Rosenbaum received a Saturn Award for his portrayal of Lex Luthor on Smallville.[10] Continuing in the superhero genre, he played Wally West (a.k.a. the Flash) in the DC Comics animated series Justice League, Static Shock, and Justice League Unlimited, as well as portraying a younger version of Wally West as Kid Flash in Teen Titans. In the third season Justice League Unlimited episode "The Great Brain Robbery", Rosenbaum reprised his role as Lex Luthor when Wally and Lex Luthor temporarily switched bodies. In February 2008, Rosenbaum confirmed that he would be leaving Smallville after the seventh season. After many months of speculation and him first turning down the contract to return, it was announced on February 11, 2011, that Rosenbaum would return to Smallville for the two-hour series finale, which aired on May 13, 2011,[11] with Rosenbaum reprising his role as Lex Luthor.[12]

In 2012, Rosenbaum appeared in Hit and Run, which starred Dax Shepard and Kristen Bell.[13] Rosenbaum portrayed the character Gil, a jealous ex-boyfriend from Annie's (Bell's character) past.[14]

Rosenbaum provided the voice work for Ghoul in the animated DCAU film Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker. Rosenbaum filmed the original SyFy comedy series Saved By Zeroes; yet was never picked up.[15][16] He recurred in Fox's original sitcom Breaking In; the show was cancelled initially after the first season but got a second chance, and Rosenbaum was promoted to series regular. The series was cancelled again after a few episodes of the second season.[17][18]

In 2014, Rosenbaum made his feature-film directorial and writing debut with the comedy Back in the Day, starring as an actor who returns to his hometown in Indiana for a class reunion. The film was filmed in Newburgh and Evansville, Indiana.[19][20] Prior to the production of Back in the Day, Rosenbaum planned to direct another comedy film, titled Sorry is For Sissies. The film had a cast including Jon Heder, Colin Hanks and Jennifer Love Hewitt; however, at least half of the film's budget was lost, and the film was scrapped.[21]

On June 17, 2014, Rosenbaum was cast as the lead in the TV Land original sitcom Impastor. The plot has been summarised as a "low-life who hides out in a small town by conning the residents into thinking he is their newly hired gay pastor".[22]

In 2017, Rosenbaum served as narrator for the reality television show Hunted which pitted investigators against teams of ordinary citizens trying to evade capture as fugitives.[23] Rosenbaum also starred in the Indie thriller The Neighbor opposite William Fichtner.[24]

In 2018, Rosenbaum debuted his casual celebrity interview-based podcast called Inside of You.[25] His first guest was his Smallville co-star Tom Welling.[26] The two subsequently launched the podcast Talkville in July 2022, where they re-watch every episode of Smallville.[27][28]

Rosenbaum reprised the role of Martinex in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, which premiered in May 2023.[29]

On January 6, 2023, Rosenbaum's band Sun Spin released their second album, Never Is What it Is.

In October 2023, Los Angeles Daily News reported that Rosenbaum and his longtime friend Jon Heder would star in the horror-themed reality television series Scared with Michael Rosenbaum and Jon Heder. Rosenbaum said of the project, "I wanted to do a reality show because we love horror movies. We'll go to the scariest places on Earth."[25]

In 2024, Rosenbaum was the lead actor in the audio series TRUE NOIR: The Assassination of Anton Cermak. The series was penned by Road to Perdition's Max Allan Collins.[citation needed]

In 2026, Rosenbaum's band Sun Spin released their third album, Welcome to this life. [30]

In 2026, Rosenbaum created and is executive producing an untitled project with Jeff Frost (Pluribus) and Joshua Michael Stern (Graves). Geena Davis is set to star.

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotesRef.
1997The Devil & the AngelThe Devil
The Day I Ran into All My Ex-BoyfriendsBart
Midnight in the Garden of Good and EvilGeorge Tucker
19981999Brick
Urban LegendParker Riley
2000Eyeball EddieSkelleyShort film
Batman Beyond: Return of the JokerGhoulVoice; direct-to-video[31]
2001Sweet NovemberBrandon / Brandy
Rave MacbethMarcus
2002Poolhall JunkiesDanny
Sorority BoysAdam / Adina
2003SpecialFred Molinski
Bringing Down the HouseTodd Gendler
2005CursedKyleUncredited
Racing StripesRuffshoddVoice[31]
2007CutlassBackground Extra #2Short film
Kickin' It Old SkoolKip
2008Dragonlance: Dragons of Autumn TwilightTanis Half-ElvenVoice; direct-to-video
Shear LoveShort film[32]
2010Father of InventionEddie
Catch .44Brandon
GhildBrauly GullivanShort film
2012Justice League: DoomBarry Allen / The FlashVoice; direct-to-video[31]
Hit and RunGil Rathbinn
2014Back in the DayJim OwensAlso director, writer, and executive producer
2015Justice League: Throne of AtlantisDrift LeaderVoice; direct-to-video[31]
2016The NeighborScott
2017Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2Martinex
2020DC Showcase: The Phantom StrangerSethVoice; short film[31]
2023Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3Martinex
2025SupermanRaptor Guard #1[33]

Television

YearTitleRoleNotesRef.
1998The Tom ShowJonathan SummersEpisode: "The Talk"
1999Rocket PowerSports AnnouncerVoice, episode: "Super McVariel 900/Loss of Squid"
1999–2000Zoe, Duncan, Jack and JaneJack CooperMain cast, 24 episodes
1999–2001Batman BeyondOllie, Carter Wilson / Terminal, Wendell, Carl, Agent WestVoice, 6 episodes[31]
2000The Wild ThornberrysTom RavenhearstVoice, episode: "A Shaky Foundation"
2000–2004Static ShockTrapper, The FlashVoice, 5 episodes
2001–2008, 2011SmallvilleLex Luthor154 episodes
Main cast (seasons 1–7), special guest (season 10)
Directed the 125th episode "Freak"
Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor on Television (2002)
SFX Award for Best Newcomer (2003)
Nominated – Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor on Television (2003, 2004, 2005 & 2006)
Nominated – Satellite Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series Drama (2003)
Nominated – Teen Choice Awards for Choice TV Sidekick (2002, 2003, 2007, 2008, 2009)
2001–2002The Zeta ProjectAgent WestVoice, recurring role[31]
2001–2004Justice LeagueWally West / The Flash, DeadshotVoice, main role
2003PlayersHimselfEpisode: "Charlie's Angels"
2004–2005Jackie Chan AdventuresDragoVoice
11 episodes
2004–2006Justice League UnlimitedWally West / The Flash, Deadshot, GhoulVoice, recurring role[31]
2005–2006Teen TitansKid FlashVoice, 2 episodes
2005It's Always Sunny in PhiladelphiaColinEpisode: "Gun Fever"
2006Zorro: Generation ZBernardoVoice, main role
Ultraman TigaEvil TigaVoice
2008James Gunn's PG PornCharlie Brown2 episodes
2009Untitled Family PilotDerek[34]
Batman: The Brave and the BoldDeadmanVoice, episode: "Dawn of the Dead Man!"[31]
2011–2012Breaking InDutch Nilbog8 episodes[35]
2015–2016ImpastorBuddy DobbsMain role
2017HuntedNarrator7 episodes
Typical RickMarkEpisode: "Mr. Gaber"
2019Robot ChickenWestleyVoice, episode: "Musya Shakhtyorov in: Honeyboogers"

Video games

YearTitleVoice roleRef.
2003GladiusValens
2006YakuzaAkira Nishikiyama[31]
2008Dark SectorHayden Tenno
2012Lollipop ChainsawNick Carlyle
2013Infinite CrisisBarry Allen / The Flash[36][37]
2015Batman: Arkham KnightJohnny Charisma[38]
2016Star Ocean: Integrity and FaithlessnessChristophe[39]
2018Lego DC Super-VillainsBarry Allen / The Flash[40][31]
2025Marvel's Deadpool VRRichard Rider / Nova[31]

References

  1. ^ "Birthdays for the week of July 11–17". Toronto Star. 5 July 2021. Retrieved February 2, 2023.
  2. ^ Hall, Richard A. (2021). Robots in Popular Culture: Androids and Cyborgs in the American Imagination. Abc-Clio. p. 93. ISBN 9781440873850.
  3. ^ Bretts, Bruce; Roush, Matt; (March 25, 2013). "Baddies to the Bone: The 60 nastiest villains of all time". TV Guide. pp. 14-15.
  4. ^ "Sun Spin's First Album Is Now Available". nerdsandbeyond.com. 9 February 2021. Archived 2021-03-01 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2021-03-01.
  5. ^ "Michael Rosenbaum biodata". Filmreference.com. Retrieved 2017-01-15.
  6. ^ "Michael Rosenbaum biography". Turner Classic Movies. Archived from the original on October 23, 2012. Retrieved February 21, 2017.
  7. ^ "Derek now lives in the Hollywood Hills". warreneckstein.com. Archived from the original on February 1, 2014.
  8. ^ Kraus, Haggay (April 2002). "Smallville Interview". michaelrosenbaum.com. Archived from the original on July 10, 2012.
  9. ^ "Michael's Story". www.wku.edu. Retrieved 2019-12-13.
  10. ^ "The 2001 Saturn Awards". MovieWeb.com. 13 June 2002. Retrieved April 27, 2023.
  11. ^ Rice, Lynette & Hibberd, James (February 11, 2011). "'Smallville' scoop: Michael Rosenbaum will return for series finale". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved March 10, 2011.
  12. ^ "Michael Rosenbaum Returning to Smallville For Series Finale". TVGuide.com. Retrieved February 16, 2011.
  13. ^ Schillaci, Sophie (August 22, 2012). "'Hit & Run's' Tom Arnold Reveals How Dax Shepard Helped Him Get His 'Man Card' Back (Video)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 13, 2021.
  14. ^ Roger Ebert (August 22, 2012). "Hit and Run". RogerEbert.com. Retrieved August 13, 2021.
  15. ^ Kevin Coll. "TV News: Michael Rosenbaum and Syfy Team Up for Comedy Series Saved by Zeroes". FusedFilm. Archived from the original on March 31, 2012. Retrieved February 21, 2017.
  16. ^ Jon Lachonis. "Smallville's Michael Rosenbaum Returning to TV". TV Overmind. Archived from the original on 2017-01-16. Retrieved 2010-05-07.
  17. ^ "Breaking News: Fox Comedy Has Big Plans For Smallville Vet Michael Rosenbaum". TVLine. Retrieved February 21, 2017.
  18. ^ "Fox Pulls Breaking In From Its Schedule, Cancellation Is Imminent for Real This Time". TV.com. 2012-04-12. Retrieved 2017-01-15.
  19. ^ Yamato, Jen (October 3, 2013). "Screen Media Goes 'Back In The Day' With Michael Rosenbaum". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved July 10, 2016.
  20. ^ Genzlinger, Neil (January 16, 2014). "The 20th High School Reunion Rears Its Head". The New York Times. Retrieved July 10, 2016.
  21. ^ Inside of You podcast, Episode 13, 5:00 (July 3, 2018)
  22. ^ "Smallville's' Michael Rosenbaum to Star in TV Land Comedy 'Impastor". The Hollywood Reporter. June 17, 2014.
  23. ^ "New 'Hunted' reality series to premiere on CBS in January". realitytvworld.com
  24. ^ August 19, matthew & Reply, 2016 at 12:11 AM · (2016-08-18). "LAST DAYS OF SUMMER, PRISON DOGS, TWO WORLDS Win Top Awards at FLICKERS: Rhode Island International Film Festival". VIMOOZ. Archived 2020-08-08 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2020-09-09.
  25. ^ Fadroski, Kelli Skye (October 6, 2023). "Michael Rosenbaum's 'Inside of You' podcast goes live in L.A. with Zachary Levi". Los Angeles Daily News. Archived February 2, 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved February 2, 2024.
  26. ^ "Inside of You podcast". insideofyoupodcast.com/
  27. ^ Spangler, Todd (July 6, 2022). "'Smallville' Rewatch Podcast With Show Stars Tom Welling, Michael Rosenbaum Gets Premiere Date (Podcast News Roundup)". Variety. Retrieved July 6, 2022.
  28. ^ "Talkville on Apple Podcasts". Apple Podcasts. Retrieved 2022-06-30.
  29. ^ Miller, Leon (August 5, 2022). "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2's Michael Rosenbaum Confirms Martinex Will Be in Vol. 3". Comic Book Resources. Archived August 6, 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved August 15, 2022.
  30. ^ "Untitled Dorothea Puente/Jeff Frost - Production & Contact Info | IMDbPro". pro.imdb.com. Retrieved 2026-05-02.
  31. ^ "Michael Rosenbaum (visual voices guide)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved August 24, 2023. 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.
  32. ^ "Shear Love". Archived from the original on March 2, 2008.
  33. ^ Reche Alonso, Jesús (June 4, 2025). "Michael Rosenbaum vuelve al universo DC aunque casi nadie se ha dado cuenta". La Casa de El
  34. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (April 27, 2009). "Missi Pyle joins NBC family pilot". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on April 30, 2009.
  35. ^ Hipes, Patrick. "Impastor". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on May 10, 2014. Retrieved 2017-01-15.
  36. ^ Infinite Crisis. Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. 2015.
  37. ^ "Credits - Infinite Crisis". infinitecrisis.com. Archived from the original on July 2, 2015.
  38. ^ Batman: Arkham Knight. Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. 2015.
  39. ^ "Star Ocean: Integrity and Faithlessness (2016 Video Game)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved 9 January 2023.
  40. ^ "Syndicated Comics". 28 September 2018.