---
name: "Michael Fairman"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/michael-fairman"
fi1m_id: "michael-fairman"
imdb_id: "nm0265637"
tmdb_id: 84707
wikidata_id: "Q3856160"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "25 February 1934"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 5
average_fi1m_score: 74
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 5
updated: "2026-10-23T04:12:06.417150+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Michael Fairman

## Identity

Michael Fairman

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/michael-fairman
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** michael-fairman
- **IMDb ID:** nm0265637
- **TMDB ID:** 84707
- **Wikidata ID:** Q3856160
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Fairman, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3856160, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0265637/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/84707

Actor. Born 25 February 1934 in New York City, New York, USA.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 25 February 1934, New York City, New York, USA
- **Active:** 1980–2002
- **Also known as:** Michael Eugene Fairman
- **Average Fi1m score:** 74, as actor, over 5 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1980s 64 (2), 2000s 82 (3)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 82 to 76 across 3 titles
- **Score spread:** 2 at 80+, 2 at 60–79, 1 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 0 of 2 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Comedy 2, Drama 2, Thriller 2, Action 1, Action & Adventure 1, Adventure 1
- **Screen time:** 7 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $126m across 3 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Fairman, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3856160, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0265637/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/84707

## Streaming the US now

- **Disney+:** [*Firefly*](https://film.one/tv/firefly.md) (83)
- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Thirteen Days*](https://film.one/film/thirteen-days.md) (70)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Biography

Michael Fairman is an American actor and writer. Born in New York City, he trained at New York University after service as a navigator in the US Air Force and studied with Lee Strasberg and Uta Hagen. He began his career in stage productions, including work at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival and off-Broadway, before moving into television and film in the 1970s.

Fairman is known for recurring roles on soap operas such as *Ryan's Hope* and *The Young and the Restless*, and guest appearances across series including *Hill Street Blues*, *Cagney & Lacey*, *Seinfeld*, *The X-Files*, *Monk*, *Bones* and *Sons of Anarchy*. Film credits include *Mulholland Drive* (2001) and *Thirteen Days* (2000), in which he portrayed Adlai Stevenson. He played Adelai Niska in the series *Firefly* (2002). He has also written episodes of *WKRP in Cincinnati*.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.*

## On Fi1m (5)

- *Firefly* (2002), Fi1m 83, as Adelai Niska — [page](https://film.one/tv/firefly.md)
- *Mulholland Drive* (2001), Fi1m 92, as Jason — [page](https://film.one/film/mulholland-drive.md)
- *Thirteen Days* (2000), Fi1m 70, as Adlai Stevenson — [page](https://film.one/film/thirteen-days.md)
- *Murphy Brown* (1988), Fi1m 77, Actor — [page](https://film.one/tv/murphy-brown.md)
- *Any Which Way You Can* (1980), Fi1m 50, as CHP Captain — [page](https://film.one/film/any-which-way-you-can.md)

## Complete filmography (113)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Righteous Thieves* (2023), as Vanderhooff
- *Will Trent* (2023), series, as Dale Merrick
- *Father Stu* (2022), as Randall
- *Kidding* (2018), series, as Ray
- *After the Reality* (2016), as Elmer Severson
- *Benched* (2014), series, as Judge Ickles
- *Workaholics* (2011), series, as Gramps DeMamp
- *Dark Streets* (2008), as Nathaniel
- *Sons of Anarchy* (2008), series, as Lumpy Feldstein — Fi1m 67, [page](https://film.one/tv/sons-of-anarchy.md)
- *Dead Silence* (2007), as Henry Walker
- *The Hard Easy* (2006), as Colonel Max
- *Love Comes to the Executioner* (2006), as Warden
- *Night Stalker* (2005), series, as Hugh
- *Ghost Whisperer* (2005), series, as Dennis' Father
- *Bones* (2005), series, as David Hal-El — Fi1m 70, [page](https://film.one/tv/bones.md)
- *Medium* (2005), series, as Frontier Doctor
- *Ordinary Miracles* (2005), as Sterling Grimes
- *Cold Case* (2003), series, as David Rosen (2004)
- *Without a Trace* (2002), series, as Thomas Healy
- *Firefly* (2002), series, as Adelai Niska — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/tv/firefly.md)
- *Monk* (2002), series, as Stanley Greenblatt
- *Black Scorpion Returns* (2001), as General Stryker
- *Mulholland Drive* (2001), as Jason — Fi1m 92, [page](https://film.one/film/mulholland-drive.md)
- *The Perfect Wife* (2001), as Orville Gleason
- *Black Scorpion* (2001), series, Actor
- *Thirteen Days* (2000), as Adlai Stevenson — Fi1m 70, [page](https://film.one/film/thirteen-days.md)
- *Boston Public* (2000), series, as Harold Shaw
- *The Perfect Tenant* (2000), as Mr. Hartwell
- *Family Law* (1999), series, as Pierce's Attorney
- *Judging Amy* (1999), series, as Judge Henry Bouton
- *Forces of Nature* (1999), as Richard
- *Providence* (1999), series, as Frank Gerrish
- *The Christmas Wish* (1998), as Mr. Connor
- *Freedom Strike* (1998), as Gen. Porter
- *The King of Queens* (1998), series, as Harold
- *Mike Hammer, Private Eye* (1997), series, Actor
- *Dharma & Greg* (1997), series, as Porter
- *Brooklyn South* (1997), series, as Dr. Vanderluke
- *Just Shoot Me!* (1997), series, as Bob
- *The Practice* (1997), series, as School Board President, Governor's Council Interviewer
- *Cupid* (1997), as Carl
- *Sunset Beach* (1997), series, Actor
- *The Nurse* (1997), as Bob Martin
- *Kid Cop* (1996), as Charlie Rebbins
- *Apollo 11: First Steps on the Moon* (1996), as Edwin Aldrin, Sr.
- *7th Heaven* (1996), series, as Milton Madison
- *Arli$$* (1996), series, as Buddy Reingold
- *The Great White Hype* (1996), as Chairman Jerry Schwartz
- *An Unfinished Affair* (1996), as Clayton Edmunds
- *The Late Shift* (1996), as Michael Gartner
- *JAG* (1995), series, as Norman Watts
- *Courthouse* (1995), series, Actor
- *ER* (1994), series, as Mort Harris — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/er.md)
- *Viper* (1994), series, as Abe Goldberg
- *Hoggs' Heaven* (1994), as Dad
- *Shameful Secrets* (1993), as Mal
- *Boy Meets World* (1993), series, as Dr. Markman
- *The X-Files* (1993), series, as Older Jason Nichols — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-x-files.md)
- *The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr.* (1993), series, as General Quarry
- *Star Trek: Deep Space Nine* (1993), series, as Vendor — Fi1m 85, [page](https://film.one/tv/star-trek-deep-space-nine.md)
- *Mad About You* (1992), series, as Conductor
- *Bob* (1992), series, Actor
- *Bloodsucking Pharaohs in Pittsburgh* (1991), as Medical Examiner (as Michael Eugene Fairman)
- *Eddie Dodd* (1991), series, Actor
- *Johnny Ryan* (1990), as Meyer Lansky
- *Wings* (1990), series, as Reporter
- *The Banker* (1990), as Fred
- *Alien Nation* (1989), series, as Capt. McKnight
- *Seinfeld* (1989), series, as Mr. Pensky — Fi1m 90, [page](https://film.one/tv/seinfeld.md)
- *Quantum Leap* (1989), series, as Judge Mulhearn
- *Murphy Brown* (1988), series, Actor — Fi1m 77, [page](https://film.one/tv/murphy-brown.md)
- *Hercules* (1988), Writer
- *Tour of Duty* (1987), series, Actor
- *Down and Out in Beverly Hills* (1987), series, Actor
- *The Story of Book One* (1987), Actor
- *21 Jump Street* (1987), series, as Frank Hartman
- *L.A. Law* (1986), series, as Judge Douglas McGrath
- *I Dream of Jeannie... Fifteen Years Later* (1985), as Gen. Hatten
- *MacGyver* (1985), series, as Gen. Relkwin
- *Stingray* (1985), as Ned Rosenberg, M.D.
- *Murder, She Wrote* (1984), series, as Cabby
- *Hunter* (1984), series, as Carl Weller
- *Anatomy of an Illness* (1984), as Dr. Lowman
- *Night Court* (1984), series, as Judge Casement
- *Found Money* (1983), as Lt. Haskell · Writer
- *Scarecrow and Mrs. King* (1983), series, as Sergei, Dr. Theodore Glaser
- *The A-Team* (1983), series, as Anthony Raymond
- *Mama's Family* (1983), series, as Joe
- *Gavilan* (1982), series, Actor
- *Newhart* (1982), series, Actor
- *Remington Steele* (1982), series, as Cop
- *Cheers* (1982), series, as Dutch Kincaid — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/cheers.md)
- *Knight Rider* (1982), series, as Eric Fenton
- *The Powers of Matthew Star* (1982), series, Actor
- *Cagney & Lacey* (1982), series, as Deputy Inspector Knelman — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/tv/cagney-and-lacey.md)
- *Fly Away Home* (1981), as Hap Andrews
- *Charlie Chan and the Curse of the Dragon Queen* (1981), as Bernard Lupowitz
- *Hill Street Blues* (1981), series, as Arnold Detweiler — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/tv/hill-street-blues.md)
- *Dynasty* (1981), series, Actor
- *Any Which Way You Can* (1980), as CHP Captain — Fi1m 50, [page](https://film.one/film/any-which-way-you-can.md)
- *Bosom Buddies* (1980), series, Actor
- *Marilyn: The Untold Story* (1980), Actor
- *Scared Straight! Another Story* (1980), as Warden Livermore
- *The French Atlantic Affair* (1979), series, as Comdr. Hewitt
- *Like Normal People* (1979), as Lt. Anderson
- *Mrs. Columbo* (1979), series, as Lieutenant
- *WKRP in Cincinnati* (1978), series, as Shoe Store Owner
- *Taxi* (1978), series, as John Brennan — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/tv/taxi.md)
- *A Question of Guilt* (1978), as Man on Stand
- *Peeping Times* (1978), as The Mayor, Mayor of Ewell
- *Lou Grant* (1977), series, as Dr. Thomas Chamberlain, Senator
- *Charlie's Angels* (1976), series, as Cal Stone
- *The Anderson Tapes* (1971), as Sergeant Claire

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/michael-fairman