Michael Rosenbaum

April 4, 10:52 AMCelebrity Profile ExaminerAndy Williamson

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MICHAEL ROSENBAUM AS LEX LUTHOR

For a guy who came to fame by portraying Superman’s legendary nemesis Lex Luthor on TV’s Smallville (2001 - present), Michael Rosenbaum is one very funny fellow.  Michael only appeared on the show for seven years before leaving, but ... does that mean he’s done with Lex for good?  This biographer has a theory.  More on that at the end of this article.

Michael Owen Rosenbaum was born on July 11th, 1972 in Oceanside, New York -- though he was raised in Newburgh, Indiana in a Jewish family (funny, he doesn’t look ... never mind).  After graduating from John H. Castle High School, Michael enrolled at Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, Kentucky.  There he earned a Bachelor’s degree in theater arts, and was also a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity.  Though he continued to act during this time, when school was over, Michael moved to New York where he could (hopefully) trod boards with a little more limelight.

While performing in off-Broadway plays and appearing in some low-budget independent films, Michael found a very unusual gig playing “The Amsterdam Kid” on Late Night with Conan O’Brien.  After this, Michael was cast in a couple of TV pilots that never went anywhere (they did get him noticed however), and a few short-lived (very short-lived) TV sitcoms, including Tom Arnold’s The Tom Show.  During this period, some film work kept food on his table, in movies like Clint Eastwood’s Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil (1997) and Urban Legend (1998).  He appeared in Sweet November with Keanu Reeves and Charlize Theron.  Michael also took to doing voice work on the animated series Batman Beyond.

MICHAEL ROSENBAUM

In 2001, Michael was cast in the role which would change his life forever, and give him millions (literally) of fans around the world -- that of young Lex Luthor in The WB Network (soon to be The CW) show Smallville.  Starring Tom Welling as an adolescent Clark Kent, Michael’s Lex is saved in the pilot by Clark, and the two begin an uneasy friendship.  Though in later seasons this alliance would surely be tested (and finally broken), the unique scenario of having these two iconic arch-enemies start off as best buds, was refreshing, funny, well written, and sometimes goose-bump inducing.  Michael was playing a heavy, but his natural instinct for humor often showed through his guile, making him even scarier.  Michael made his directorial debut with the 2007 episode Freak.

Tired of shaving his head (and possibly afraid of being typecast), Michael left the show in 2008 at the end of the seventh season.  In his final appearance, Lex finally figures out Clark’s secret, and confronts him in the Fortress of Solitude.  The episode ended with the crystalline structure (yes, the show somewhat embraces Richard Donner’s original Superman) crumbling down upon the two of them.  During season eight, Lex is reportedly alive but missing.

Other appearances during Michael’s Smallville years include Sorority Boys(2002), Bringing Down the House (2003), voice work in the animated Racing Stripes (2005), and Cursed with Cristina Ricci (2005).  He has done even more voice work in shows like Teen Titans, Jackie Chan Adventures, Justice League,and Batman: The Brave and the Bold.

Michael lives in Los Angeles.  He is an avid hockey fan (he loves those New York Rangers) and often participates in charity games -- favorite charity: The Ronald McDonald House.  He is a musician, and is proficient on both acoustic and electric guitar.  He loves wolves, Guns N’ Roses, and is left-handed.

MICHAEL ROSENBAUM

All right, back to my Smallville theory and the question of whether Michael will ever shave his bean again to play Lex Luthor.  In my bio of Tom Welling, I posited that this show has such an insanely-devoted fan base, that once it comes to an end, and Clark FINALLY dons cape, boots, and spit curl, that nothing will whet fans appetites for MORE.  Much more.  It may take a few years, but this show’s loving take on this iconic mythology is SO good, that I see either a feature film, or a TV movie, or possibly another series (Metropolis?) in its future.  I also see Michael returning to embody Lex again.  Having lived with the show for seven years, and having first hand experience with its legion of fans around the globe, I suspect Michael sees things ahead, too.  (Including a big fat paycheck -- no fool he.)  Michael has said he might possibly return for an episode or two during the series finale -- but in the meantime, he is working (a little) and growing his hair (a lot).

We will see what happens (as of this writing, the show was just picked up for season 9), but I stand by my theory.  Smallville’s rabid fanbase, iconic mythology, quality of material, talented (and lovely) cast, and long-distance legs make it not unlike the original Star Trek -- its incarnations will be more than one, and its longevity may even take it beyond television.  Years may pass before this happens, but ... remember that you read it here first.