--- name: "Michael Lerner" canonical: "https://film.one/person/michael-lerner" fi1m_id: "michael-lerner" imdb_id: "nm0503627" tmdb_id: 4250 wikidata_id: "Q527303" roles: ["Actor"] born: "22 June 1941" died: "8 April 2023" reviewed_on_fi1m: 5 average_fi1m_score: 73 average_as: "actor" average_over: 5 updated: "2026-10-05T03:07:54.547006+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 Lerner ## Identity Michael Lerner - **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/michael-lerner - **Type:** Person - **Fi1m ID:** michael-lerner - **IMDb ID:** nm0503627 - **TMDB ID:** 4250 - **Wikidata ID:** Q527303 - **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Lerner_(actor), https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q527303, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0503627/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/4250 Actor. Born 22 June 1941 in Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA. Died 8 April 2023. ## Details - **Work:** Actor - **Born:** 22 June 1941, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA - **Died:** 8 April 2023 - **Active:** 1991–2014 - **Also known as:** Michael Charles Lerner - **Academy Awards:** 1 Oscar nomination - **Average Fi1m score:** 73, as actor, over 5 titles - **Fi1m score by decade:** 1990s 64 (2), 2000s 80 (2), 2010s 78 (1) - **Fi1m against the critics:** 73 to 65 across 5 titles - **Score spread:** 2 at 80+, 2 at 60–79, 1 under 60 - **Lead roles:** 0 of 3 acting credits billed first or second - **Genres:** Comedy 3, Action 2, Drama 2, Science Fiction 2, Thriller 2, Adventure 1 - **Screen time:** 10 hours of reviewed films - **Box office:** $1,393m across 5 films with figures - **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Lerner_(actor), https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q527303, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0503627/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/4250 ## Streaming the US now - **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Godzilla*](https://film.one/film/godzilla-1998.md) (46) For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country. ## Fi1m on Michael Lerner > Michael Lerner made a career of men who were certain: studio heads, mayors and mobsters who talked fast and never checked their facts. Jack Lipnick in *Barton Fink* is the best of them; most of the rest gave him the same man with less to do. Jack Lipnick runs a studio and has never had a reason to doubt his own judgement. Michael Lerner plays him at speed and at volume, so that by the time one of his sentences has finished everyone in the office has already agreed with it, and the Coens barely need to underline the absurdity because he has done it for them. The glasses were modelled on Louis B. Mayer's, and that is the method in short: find the real man behind the type and wear him. We laughed at Lipnick in *Barton Fink* (1991) and were never entirely sure it was safe to, because the talk comes so fast and so warmly that there is no gap in it to check whether he is joking. It is his best-known performance and, on the evidence we have, his best. He had been working for two decades before it. After a start on stage in San Francisco he moved to Los Angeles in the early 1970s and worked steadily in television and in supporting film parts, and the roles that got him noticed were the ones the casting would keep returning to: Arnold Rothstein, the gambler who fixed the 1919 World Series, in John Sayles's *Eight Men Out* (1988), and the gangster Bugsy Calhoune in *Harlem Nights* (1989). Studio heads, crime bosses, politicians, publishers. Men with money and a reason to be listened to. He liked playing real people and said so, because it let him become someone for a while, and the historical parts are where the research shows. After Lipnick the offers were largely for the same man in worse films. Mayor Ebert in Roland Emmerich's *Godzilla* (1998) is a joke about an American television critic, and as we said in our review the film runs it several times in case anyone missed it; Lerner is game, but there is no character under the gag to play. Fulton Greenway, the publisher in *Elf* (2003), and Senator Brickman in *X-Men: Days of Future Past* (2014) are the type again with a fresh title. He was candid about this himself, describing the blockbuster parts as good parts rather than great acting roles, and he said that nobody offered him the sympathetic romantic lead he wanted. The one lead he did get, as a hypnotised killer in *Anguish* (1987), he named as a personal favourite. What made him worth having, even when he was least used, was the layer of charm he put under the bullying. Lipnick is a monster, but he is pleased to see you, and Lerner never plays the monster and the host as two separate settings. The Coens saw it and brought him back for a small part in *A Serious Man* (2009). Most directors saw only the volume. Start with *Barton Fink*, then *Eight Men Out*. Save *Godzilla* for an evening when you want to watch a good actor wait for a script to give him something to do. ## Biography Michael Lerner was an American actor. Born in Brooklyn, New York, on 22 June 1941, he studied drama at Brooklyn College before receiving a Fulbright Scholarship to train at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. He later worked with the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco. Lerner appeared in numerous film and television roles over six decades. He played Jack Lipnick in the Coen brothers’ *Barton Fink* (1991), for which he received an Academy Award nomination for best supporting actor. Other credits include Arnold Rothstein in *Eight Men Out* (1988), Mayor Ebert in *Godzilla* (1998), Fulton in *Elf* (2003) and Senator Brickman in *X-Men: Days of Future Past* (2014). He also appeared in *A Serious Man* (2009) and episodes of *Law & Order: Special Victims Unit*. His brother Ken Lerner and nephew Sam Lerner are also actors. *Sources: nytimes.com, apnews.com, en.wikipedia.org.* ## On Fi1m (5) - *X-Men: Days of Future Past* (2014), Fi1m 78, as Senator Brickman — [page](https://film.one/film/x-men-days-of-future-past.md) - *A Serious Man* (2009), Fi1m 84, as Solomon Schlutz — [page](https://film.one/film/a-serious-man.md) - *Elf* (2003), Fi1m 75, as Fulton — [page](https://film.one/film/elf.md) - *Godzilla* (1998), Fi1m 46, as Mayor Ebert — [page](https://film.one/film/godzilla-1998.md) - *Barton Fink* (1991), Fi1m 83, as Jack Lipnick — [page](https://film.one/film/barton-fink.md) ## Complete filmography (162) Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page. - *Sallywood* (2024), as Ned Levitt - *First Oscar* (2022), as Louis Burt Mayer - *Frankenstein's Monster's Monster, Frankenstein* (2019), as Bobby Fox - *Drive Me to Vegas and Mars* (2018), as Milt the Man - *American Bred* (2018), as Francis Adamo - *The Shickles* (2016), as Elroy Shickles - *Internet Famous* (2016), as Joel Swanson - *Ashby* (2015), as Entwhistle - *X-Men: Days of Future Past* (2014), as Senator Brickman — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/film/x-men-days-of-future-past.md) - *1000 to 1* (2014), as Dr. - *2 Dead 2 Kill* (2014), as Alphonse Dente - *Immigrant* (2013), Actor - *Brahmin Bulls* (2013), as David - *Somebody Marry Me* (2013), as Phil Rosenberg - *Maron* (2013), series, as Ralph - *Burning Man: Metropolis* (2012), as Hoover Robinson - *Mirror Mirror* (2012), as Baron - *Suburgatory* (2011), series, as Aaron Laynberg — Fi1m 70, [page](https://film.one/tv/suburgatory.md) - *Atlas Shrugged: Part I* (2011), as Wesley Mouch - *Pete Smalls Is Dead* (2010), as Leonard Proval - *Wax On, Fuck Off* (2010), as Cy Rosenthal - *Life During Wartime* (2010), as Harvey - *The Bannen Way* (2010), series, as The Mensch - *The Bannen Way* (2010), as The Mensch - *A Serious Man* (2009), as Solomon Schlutz — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/a-serious-man.md) - *The Good Wife* (2009), series, as Judge Dwight Sobel — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-good-wife.md) - *Glee* (2009), series, as Sidney Greene — Fi1m 68, [page](https://film.one/tv/glee.md) - *Childrens Hospital* (2008), series, as Pop - *Yonkers Joe* (2008), as Stanley - *A Dennis the Menace Christmas* (2007), as Mr. Souse - *Dirty Sexy Money* (2007), series, Actor - *Saving Grace* (2007), series, as Rebbe Jory Quecksilber - *Slipstream* (2007), as Big Mikey - *The Last Time* (2006), as Leguzza - *Love and Other Disasters* (2006), as Marvin Berstein - *Art School Confidential* (2006), as Art Dealer - *When Do We Eat?* (2006), as Ira Stuckman - *Nobody Knows Anything!* (2004), as Uncle Lou - *Entourage* (2004), series, as Joe Roberts — Fi1m 63, [page](https://film.one/tv/entourage.md) - *Poster Boy* (2004), as Jack Kray - *The Calcium Kid* (2004), as Artie Cohen - *LArceny* (2004), as Jack Dane - *Elf* (2003), as Fulton — Fi1m 75, [page](https://film.one/film/elf.md) - *101 Dalmatians II: Patch's London Adventure* (2003), as Producer (voice) - *29 Palms* (2002), as The Judge - *Mockingbird Don't Sing* (2001), as Dr. Stan York - *Murder at the Cannes Film Festival* (2000), as Morrie Borelli - *Attention Shoppers* (2000), as Khourosh - *Third Watch* (1999), series, as Seymour Morgenstern - *Law & Order: Special Victims Unit* (1999), series, as Morty Berger, Defense Attorney Morton Berger - *The Mod Squad* (1999), as Howard - *My Favorite Martian* (1999), as Mr. Channing - *Celebrity* (1998), as Dr. Lupus - *Godzilla: The Series* (1998), series, as Mayor Ebert (voice), Mayor Ebert - *Safe Men* (1998), as Big Fat Bernie Gayle - *Russell Mulcahy’s Tale of the Mummy* (1998), as Professor Marcus - *Desperation Boulevard* (1998), as Mannie Green - *Godzilla* (1998), as Mayor Ebert — Fi1m 46, [page](https://film.one/film/godzilla-1998.md) - *For Richer or Poorer* (1997), as Phil Kleinman - *The Beautician and the Beast* (1997), as Jerry Miller - *Clueless* (1996), series, as Mel Horowitz - *Girl in the Cadillac* (1995), as Pal - *Picture Windows* (1995), series, as Maestro - *Courthouse* (1995), series, as Myron Winkleman - *Picture Windows: Language of the Heart* (1995), as Maestro - *No Way Back* (1995), as Frank - *A Pyromaniac's Love Story* (1995), as Perry - *The Road to Wellville* (1994), as Goodloe Bender - *Radioland Murders* (1994), as Lieutenant Cross - *No Escape* (1994), as Warden - *Blank Check* (1994), as Biderman - *Amos & Andrew* (1993), as Phil Gillman - *The Comrades of Summer* (1992), as George - *Newsies* (1992), as Weasel - *Barton Fink* (1991), as Jack Lipnick — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/film/barton-fink.md) - *Omen IV: The Awakening* (1991), as Earl - *Made in Hollywood* (1990), as Irving - *Maniac Cop 2* (1990), as Edward Doyle - *Framed* (1990), as Elliot Shane - *Any Man's Death* (1990), as Herb Denner - *Harlem Nights* (1989), as Bugsy Calhoune - *Tales from the Crypt* (1989), series, as Mr. Byrd - *Eight Men Out* (1988), as Arnold Rothstein - *Vibes* (1988), as Burt Wilder - *The King of Love* (1987), as Nat Goldberg - *Hands of a Stranger* (1987), as Captain Cirillo - *Anguish* (1987), as John Pressman - *That Secret Sunday* (1986), Actor - *This Child Is Mine* (1985), as Abe Rosenberg - *MacGyver* (1985), series, as Gantner - *Amazing Stories* (1985), series, as Mr. Marvin - *Hollywood Beat* (1985), series, as Max - *The Equalizer* (1985), series, as Amar - *Movers & Shakers* (1985), as Arnie - *The Execution* (1985), as Sidney Ferraro - *Rita Hayworth: The Love Goddess* (1983), as Harry Cohn - *Strange Invaders* (1983), as Willie Collins - *The A-Team* (1983), series, as Jerry - *Class Reunion* (1982), as Dr. Robert Young - *Threshold* (1981), as Henry De Vici - *The Postman Always Rings Twice* (1981), as Mr. Katz - *Hill Street Blues* (1981), series, as Rollie Simone, Meyer Rabinowitz — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/tv/hill-street-blues.md) - *Borderline* (1980), as Henry Lydell - *Coast to Coast* (1980), as Dr. Frederick Froll - *Gridlock* (1980), as Marv - *This Year's Blonde* (1980), as Jack Warner - *The Baltimore Bullet* (1980), as Paulie - *Goldengirl* (1979), as Sternberg - *Hart to Hart* (1979), series, as Arthur Radner - *Hart to Hart* (1979), as Poker Player - *Diary of a Young Comic* (1979), as Norman Greenleaf - Billy's agent - *Ruby and Oswald* (1978), as Jack Ruby - *Confessions of the D.A. Man* (1978), as Mark Warren - *A Love Affair: The Eleanor and Lou Gehrig Story* (1978), as Dr. Canlan - *Killer on Board* (1977), as Dr. Berglund - *Outlaw Blues* (1977), as Hatch - *The Other Side of Midnight* (1977), as Barbet - *Scott Free* (1976), as Santini - *St. Ives* (1976), as Myron Green - *Dark Victory* (1976), as Manny - *F. Scott Fitzgerald in Hollywood* (1975), as Marvin Margulies - *Wonder Woman* (1975), series, as Ashton Ripley - *Starsky & Hutch* (1975), series, as Fat Rolly - *Starsky & Hutch* (1975), as Fat Rolly - *A Cry for Help* (1975), as Phillip Conover - *Sarah T. - Portrait of a Teenage Alcoholic* (1975), as Dr. Marvin Kittredge - *The Dream Makers* (1975), as Mike - *Reflections of Murder* (1974), as Jerry Steele - *Hangup* (1974), as Fred Richards - *The Rockford Files* (1974), series, as Arnold Love, Murray Rosner — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-rockford-files.md) - *Police Woman* (1974), series, as Ralph Guidera - *Harry O* (1974), series, Actor - *Rhoda* (1974), series, Actor - *Newman's Law* (1974), as Frank Archer - *The Rockford Files: Backlash of the Hunter* (1974), as Dr. Ruben Seelman - *Busting* (1974), as Marvin - *Kojak* (1973), series, as Dr. Samuel Fine — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/tv/kojak.md) - *Barnaby Jones* (1973), series, as Albert Krueger - *Firehouse* (1973), as Ernie Bush - *Magic Carpet* (1972), as Michael Glassman - *Delphi Bureau* (1972), series, as Cy Turrell - *The Streets of San Francisco* (1972), series, as Lou Watkins - *M*A*S*H* (1972), series, as Captain Futterman — Fi1m 85, [page](https://film.one/tv/m-a-s-h-1972.md) - *The Bob Newhart Show* (1972), series, as Mr. Carolla - *Banacek* (1972), series, as Bartender - *The Candidate* (1972), as Paul Corliss - *Emergency!* (1972), series, as Martin Noble - *What's a Nice Girl Like You...?* (1971), as Fats Detroit - *Marriage: Year One* (1971), as Lemberg - *Thief* (1971), as Jack Cutter - *The Ski Bum* (1971), as Rod - *Alex in Wonderland* (1970), as Leo - *Night Gallery* (1970), series, as Dr. Burgess (segment "You Can Come Up Now, Mrs. Millikan") - *The Odd Couple* (1970), series, as Sergeant Chomsky - *Three's a Crowd* (1969), as Sid Bagby - *Love, American Style* (1969), series, as Karatz - *The Brady Bunch* (1969), series, Actor - *The Bold Ones: The New Doctors* (1969), series, as Parelli - *The Doris Day Show* (1968), series, as Fat Man, Mr. Murray - *Ironside* (1967), series, as Joe Yarby, Adrian Father - *That Girl* (1966), series, Actor - *Pigeon*, as Unnamed man ## Gallery - ![Michael Lerner](https://film.one/media/person/78482/gallery-a7f33162da84.jpg) Michael Lerner — CBS Television, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b7/Michael_Lerner_%22Ruby_and_Oswald%22_%281978_CBS_press_photo%29.JPG?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![Michael Lerner](https://film.one/media/person/78482/gallery-88992b250932.jpg) Michael Lerner — Image via TMDB - ![Michael Lerner](https://film.one/media/person/78482/gallery-07ac26d1defb.jpg) Michael Lerner — Image via TMDB - ![Michael Lerner](https://film.one/media/person/78482/gallery-ab0834c9282d.jpg) Michael Lerner — Image via TMDB ## Awards ### Academy Awards — 0 won, 1 nominated - 1992: Best Supporting Actor (nominated), for *Barton Fink* *From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.* --- © 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-lerner