Michael Leigh Cook

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Image for Parlor Game: When Walter Benjamin meets Anna May Wong
© Yunah Hong & Michael Leigh Cook
Parlor Game: When Walter Benjamin meets Anna May Wong
23. Jul

Michael Leigh Cook

Mutterschiff
About me
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Michael Leigh Cook is an international actor and screenwriter, known for playing historical characters and villainous roles. Since 2012 he has been primarily working in the United States. From Oct. 2023 - February 2024 he played the role of Herr Fahrenkopf in Tennessee Williams's The Night of the Iguana at the Signature Theatre New York, directed by Tony-Award winner Emily Mann, starring Tim Daly, Lea DeLaria and Daphne Rubin-Vega. 

Recently, Michael portrayed cultural critic Walter Benjamin in a film, that was discussed at the Milan Film Festival and generated great interest. As a co-producer Michael helped realize a stage play and two short films, including: "If The Trees Could Talk", winner of several awards.

Michael studied at HB Studio in New York, where he was coached by Academy Award winner Mercedes Ruehl (Scene Study Masterclass) and BAFTA winner Jonathan Lynn (Shakespeare).

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open agency on Filmmakers
Michael Leigh Cook
Vita as Open in Filmmakers
Berlin (DE), New York (US)
Gendermale
Place of birthFrankfurt / Main
NationalityGerman
Main professionActor
Working permitsEuropean Union (EU-27)
Housing optionsMünchen (DE), Frankfurt am Main (DE), Hamburg (DE)
AssociationsActors' Equity Association (AEA), SAG-AFTRA
SpecializationsTheater
Driver's licensesCar class
Eye colorgreen brown
Hair colorbrown
Height (cm)180
Weight (in kg)172
LanguagesGerman(native)English
DialectsBerlin German
AccentsAmerican
SportBilliardsBasketballFencing (sports)Jiu JitsuSoccer
DanceStandard
PitchBaritone
SingingMusical
Special skillsImprovisationStoryteller
Training

2013-2016: HB Studio, New York

Mercedes Ruehl (Scene Study)
Jonathan Lynn (Shakespeare)
Amanda Quaid (Speech, Accents)
Christian Kelly-Sordelet (Stage Combat)

2020: Producing with Fran Kirmser @ HB Studio, NYC

Awards
2015
If The Trees Could Talk (Cinema film)
2015
Black Sun (Short film)
2015
If The Trees Could Talk (nominated) (Cinema film)
Film
2025
Parlor Game picture
Parlor Game (Cinema film)
Walter Benjamin (LR)
Yunah Hong James Sharpe, USA Yunah Hong Yunah Hong
2019
Waking Life picture © Cinefocus Prod.
Waking Life (Short film)
Scott (SUP)
Valerie Finkel Shaelyn Koops & Valerie Finkel Valerie Finkel Shaelyn Koops
2014
If The Trees Could Talk picture © Michael Leigh Cook
If The Trees Could Talk (Cinema film)
SS Officer Friedrich (LR)
Michael Weinstein Blake Brewer & Michael Leigh Cook (Associate Producer) Wayne Chang Michael Weinstein
2014
Black Sun picture
Black Sun (Short film)
FBI Agent Langen (LR)
Christian Caputo Caputo Production Christian Caputo
Television
2024
Brinkmann & König picture © TV Berlin
Brinkmann & König (TV show)
Special Guest
Dr. Brinkmann Dr. Brinkmann TV Berlin TV Berlin
2015
Mysteries at the Castle picture
Mysteries at the Castle (Documentary series)
Claus Schenk Graf von Stauffenberg (ELR)
Jeremiah Crowell Optomen Productions History Jeremiah Crowell
2015
Mansions & Murders picture
Mansions & Murders - Iron Maid (Series)
Claus von Bülow (ELR)
Christian Faber Bray Entertainment Investigation Discovery Christian Faber Lorraine DiRienzo
2015
Fully Engaged picture
Fully Engaged - The Party (S.1, Ep.12) (Mini series)
Sergeant Deleon (GR)
Rob Margolies Different Duck Films Seeka TV, Worldwide Rob Margolies Erika Robel
2013
Inside The American Mob (End Game) picture
Inside The American Mob (End Game) (TV series)
FBI Agent DeVecchio (SUP)
Ryan Miller Left/Right Docs (U.S.) National Geographic Linda LaTortue
2012
Deadly Sins picture
Deadly Sins - Lethal Entitlement (S1.Ep.6) (Series)
Ernest Scherer III (ELR)
Randy Martin Dick Clark Investigation Discovery Randy Martin
2006
Medicpoter 117-Jedes leben zählt picture
Medicpoter 117-Jedes leben zählt - Flug ins Ungewisse (Series)
Polizist (EFR)
Thomas Nikel MR Film, Wien RTL & ORF MR Film Jens Jendrich
2004 – 2005
Gute Zeiten Schlechte Zeiten picture © Grundy UFA
Gute Zeiten Schlechte Zeiten - 5 Episodes (3119 u.a.) (TV series)
Mirko Lubitsch (GR)
Tina Kriwitz Grundy UFA RTL Reg Watson
2002
Die Wache picture
Die Wache - Blinder Hass (Series)
Bernd Kesselmann (ELR)
Peter Sämann Endemol RTL Mani Braun Hans Gerd Müller
1999
City Express picture
City Express - Börsenspiele (TV series)
Konstantin Horatz (ELR)
Norbert Skrovanek Colonia Media Filmprod. MDR & WDR Martina Borger
1999
Die Männer vom K3 picture
Die Männer vom K3 - Tod eines Festmachers (Series)
Mark Behle (ELR)
Andreas Thiel Studio Hamburg NDR Esther Klostermann
1998
Die Wache picture
Die Wache - Letzter Wille (Series)
Dr. Martin Schwarz (ELR)
Daniel Anderson Endemol RTL Mani Braun
1996 – 1997
Park Hotel Stern picture © Rhinestone
Park Hotel Stern - Talk am Kamin, Zweite Chance, Diamantenjagd, u.a. (TV series)
Peter (Recurring: 24 Episodes) (SUP)
John Delbridge, Bob Bladgen, u.a. Rhinestone TV SAT 1 SAT 1 Dana Cebulla
1997
Derrick picture
Derrick (Series)
Bruno Brrandecker (EFR)
Helmut Ashley Telenova ZDF Helmut Ringelmann Herbert Reinecker
Theater
2023 – 2024
The Night of the Iguana picture
The Night of the Iguana (Drama)
Herr Fahrenkopf (SUP)
Emily Mann La Femme Theatre Productions Signature Theater, New York Stephanie Klapper Tennessee Williams
2017
Terezin picture © Michael Leigh Cook
Terezin
Karl Rahm (LR)
Nick Tolkien Steinberg Theatre Group Playwrights Horizons, New York Nick Tolkien & Michael Leigh Cook Nick Tolkien
2015
The Diary of Anne Frank picture © Shakespeare Theatre
The Diary of Anne Frank (Drama)
Mr. Kraler (GR)
Joe Discher Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey Stephen Brown-Fried Frances Goodrich & Albert Hackett
1994
Drei Männer im Schnee picture
Drei Männer im Schnee (Other)
Dr. Scheinpflug (LR)
Joachim Mock Hansa Theater Berlin Hansa Theater Berlin Joachim Mock Erich Kästner
1993 – 1994
Der Herr Ornifle picture
Der Herr Ornifle (Drama)
Fabrice De Simieuse (SUP)
Heinz Drache Euro-Studio Theater im Rathaus Jean Anouilh
Other
Literary Colloquium Berlin picture
Literary Colloquium Berlin (Drama)
Michael Leigh Cook