Michael Paré
Michael Paré (born October 9, 1958) is an American actor renowned for his breakout roles in 1980s cult classics such as Eddie and the Cruisers (1983), where he portrayed the enigmatic rock singer Eddie Wilson, and Streets of Fire (1984), in which he played the tough soldier of fortune Tom Cody.[1][2] Born Michael Kevin Paré in Brooklyn, New York City, to homemaker Joan Moroney and print shop owner Francis Paré, he grew up in a large family as the eldest of ten children.[3] His father, of French-Canadian descent, died of leukemia when Paré was five years old, leaving his mother to raise the family alone.[3] A talented athlete in high school, Paré excelled in football before attending the Culinary Institute of America, where he trained as a chef and worked in New York City restaurants.[4] His entry into entertainment came unexpectedly when a modeling agent spotted him at age 22, leading to acting lessons with Uta Hagen and his screen debut in the 1981 ABC pilot Crazy Times.[2] Paré's early television success came with his starring role as Tony Villicana, the rebellious high school student, on the ABC series The Greatest American Hero (1981–1983), which marked his first major exposure.[1] Transitioning to film, he gained prominence in the mid-1980s with lead roles in science fiction and action genres, including The Philadelphia Experiment (1984) as a time-displaced sailor and Instant Justice (1987) as a martial artist seeking vengeance.[3] He further solidified his presence in B-movies and direct-to-video releases throughout the 1990s and 2000s, appearing in titles like Village of the Damned (1995), a remake of the horror classic, and Bad Moon (1996), a werewolf thriller.[2] On television, he co-starred as undercover detective Joey La Fiamma in the CBS series Houston Knights (1987–1988) and later as bounty hunter Dante Montana in the sci-fi show Starhunter (2000–2001), reprising the role in Starhunter ReduX (2018–2019).[1] In the 2010s and beyond, Paré continued a prolific career in independent and genre films, earning acclaim for supporting roles such as Frank Levin in The Lincoln Lawyer (2011) and the sinister Mr. Wallington in the Western horror Bone Tomahawk (2015).[1] He received the Best Actor award at the PollyGrind Film Festival for his performance in Road to Hell (2012).[1] Recent projects include the crime drama City of Lies (2018), the action film Wanted Man (2024) alongside Dolph Lundgren, and 2025 releases such as Shark Terror, Helloween, and Sacred Grounds: Forbidden.[5][3] On a personal note, Paré has been married three times: first to film producer Lisa Katselas from 1980 to 1982, then to Marisa Roebuck from 1986 to 1988, and since 1992 to model Marjolein Booy, with whom he has one child.[3] He briefly dated actress Nancy Allen from 1984 to 1985.[6] Residing in California, Paré maintains an active presence in the industry, balancing family life with his enduring commitment to action, horror, and sci-fi projects.[7]Early life
Family and childhood
Michael Paré was born Michael Kevin Paré on October 9, 1958, in Brooklyn, New York City.[8][9] He was one of ten children in a working-class family of Irish-American and French-Canadian descent, with his mother Joan Moroney serving as a homemaker of Irish ancestry and his father Francis owning and operating several print shops.[8][9][3] Paré had three brothers and six sisters, and the family's modest circumstances in Brooklyn underscored their blue-collar roots amid the bustling urban environment of mid-20th-century New York.[8][9] Tragedy struck early in Paré's childhood when his father died of leukemia in 1963, at the time Paré was five years old, leaving Joan to raise the large family alone.[8][9] This loss thrust young Paré into greater responsibilities within the household, as his mother managed the challenges of supporting nine other children through homemaking. The family relocated to Westchester, New York, following the death; later, while in junior high, Paré and his two younger sisters moved to Fenton, Michigan, to live with an uncle, a former U.S. Marine, and his family.[8] The family's Irish-American heritage, rooted in Joan's background, influenced their resilient, close-knit dynamic, with Paré often reflecting on the working-class ethos that shaped his formative years.[8][9] In high school, Paré was a talented athlete, excelling in football.[4] From an early age, Paré developed a passion for film, drawing inspiration from iconic actors of the 1950s and 1960s such as James Dean and Marlon Brando, whom he viewed as kindred spirits amid his own sense of youthful rebellion and lack of immediate role models.[8][10] He also admired figures like Humphrey Bogart, Spencer Tracy, Paul Newman, and Montgomery Clift, whose brooding intensity and naturalistic performances resonated with Paré's experiences in a tough, family-oriented Brooklyn upbringing.[8][10] These early influences fostered a deep appreciation for cinema that would later guide his path, even as he navigated the practical demands of his family's circumstances.[8]Education and entry into entertainment
Paré attended the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York, for one year, during which he earned an internship at the renowned Tavern on the Green restaurant in Manhattan.[11] Following his training, he worked as a chef in New York City, establishing a promising career in the culinary field that aligned with his early interests.[12] While employed as a chef around 1978 and 1979, Paré was approached by talent agent Yvette Bikoff, who represented models at agencies such as Jolie Models and Zoli in New York.[12][10] Bikoff spotted him in a bar or restaurant and persuaded him to pursue modeling, leading to print advertisements and runway work that marked his initial foray into the entertainment industry.[10] These modeling gigs also opened relocation opportunities, including shooting television commercials in Japan during the late 1970s.[10] Encouraged by Bikoff, Paré transitioned toward acting, studying techniques from Uta Hagen's books and attending one class at her school in the early 1980s.[13] He drew inspiration from classic Hollywood icons such as James Dean and Marlon Brando, whose brooding intensity resonated with his own style.[14] After about a year and a half of preparation, Paré made his screen debut in the 1981 ABC pilot Crazy Times, followed by his first major role through an audition with casting director Joyce Selznick for the ABC series The Greatest American Hero.[2][10] His Brooklyn upbringing instilled a resilience that proved essential during this pivotal shift from culinary work to the uncertainties of entertainment.[12]Career
Breakthrough in the 1980s
Paré's first major television role was as high school student Tony Villicana in the ABC series The Greatest American Hero (1981–1983), a role that marked his first starring position and showcased his ability to embody a tough yet vulnerable young character in a superhero drama.[15] His breakthrough in film came with the lead role of charismatic rock singer Eddie Wilson in Eddie and the Cruisers (1983), a musical drama that highlighted his screen presence and lip-syncing skills, establishing him as a rising talent despite initial commercial underperformance; he reprised the role in the 1989 sequel Eddie and the Cruisers II: Eddie Lives!.[16] In 1984, Paré starred as Tom Cody, a noble soldier-for-hire, in Walter Hill's neo-noir rock musical Streets of Fire, a role that transitioned him from television to major Hollywood action leads and contributed to the film's enduring cult status due to its stylized visuals, soundtrack, and fanbase in international markets like Japan.[17] That same year, he played David Herdeg, a Navy sailor displaced through time in The Philadelphia Experiment, blending science fiction elements with romantic tension alongside Nancy Allen's character.[18] Paré solidified his leading man status on television as detective Joey LaFiamma in the CBS series Houston Knights (1987–1988), partnering with Michael Beck's Levon Lundy in a buddy-cop format that emphasized action and drama, reflecting his shift toward starring roles in the genre.[19] Throughout the decade, Paré's output evolved from supporting parts, bolstered by his early modeling background that aided auditions, to prominent leads in action and dramatic projects, cementing his reputation as a versatile performer.Television roles
Paré's television career encompasses a wide range of roles across genres, including action, sci-fi, and crime dramas, with over 40 credits from 1981 to 2024.[3] His early work in the 1980s, such as the lead role in the police drama Houston Knights (1987–1988) as Detective Joey La Fiamma, established his presence in episodic television.[20] One of Paré's prominent lead roles was as Dante Montana, a bounty hunter searching for his kidnapped son in the sci-fi space opera Starhunter (2000–2001), where he appeared in the first season and provided linking footage for later iterations, including Starhunter ReduX (2018–2019).[21] This role highlighted his ability to portray rugged protagonists in futuristic settings, contributing to the series' cult following in the genre.[21] Paré frequently took on guest spots in popular series, showcasing his versatility in supporting characters. In television films, Paré starred in The Colony (1995) as Alec Harken, a man uncovering dark secrets in a seemingly idyllic suburb.[22] He also led The Curse of Inferno (1997), portraying a character navigating a heist gone wrong amid themes of greed and consequence. In the 2010s and beyond, Paré continued with guest appearances in procedural dramas. These roles underscored his enduring appeal in law enforcement and mystery narratives, maintaining a steady output in television through the 2020s.Film roles from the 1990s onward
In the 1990s, Paré continued building his film career with roles in genre-driven projects, notably portraying Frank McGowan in the science fiction horror film Village of the Damned (1995), where he played a father grappling with the threat of telepathic alien children invading a rural community.[19] He followed this with a supporting turn as Uncle Ted in the werewolf thriller Bad Moon (1996), assisting his nephew in confronting a shape-shifting beast tied to a family curse.[23] These performances highlighted Paré's versatility in horror and sci-fi, often emphasizing tense familial dynamics amid supernatural peril. Transitioning into the 2000s, Paré gravitated toward direct-to-video action and thriller fare, embodying rugged authority figures in low-budget productions. In 100 Feet (2008), he depicted Mike Watson, a vengeful ghost pursuing his widow's new life under house arrest.[5] Similarly, in The Perfect Sleep (2009), Paré appeared as Officer Pavlovich, navigating a shadowy underworld of assassins and redemption in a noir-inspired narrative.[24] This era marked a pivot from leading-man status to more ensemble-driven roles in genre B-movies, reflecting the evolving landscape of independent distribution. The 2010s saw Paré's resurgence in indie cinema, where he took on leading parts that drew on his earlier action-hero persona while exploring character depth. A standout was his portrayal of Tom Cody in Road to Hell (2008), an unofficial sequel to Streets of Fire, earning him the Best Actor award at the PollyGrind Film Festival for his intense depiction of a war-weary soldier seeking salvation.[25] Post-2000, Paré increasingly embraced supporting character roles in international co-productions, including Canadian sci-fi ventures like Carver's Gate (1995, though extending into later collaborations), allowing him to diversify across borders and budgets.[26] Paré's output exploded in the 2020s, with a prolific schedule of over 100 credits from 2015 to 2024, including 20 films in 2022 alone—such as Alabama Rose as Ethan and Renegades as Donovan—and 19 in 2024, featuring roles in Sentinel as the President and Alien: Rubicon amid an extraterrestrial invasion.[27] This surge underscored his embrace of high-volume indie thrillers and horrors, prioritizing narrative grit over mainstream visibility. Looking ahead to 2025, Paré remains active in the genre, starring as Detective Noah Rafferty in the mystery thriller Death 4 Dinner, unraveling a senator's suspicious demise, and as CIA Chief in the action-drama Mundije.[28]Personal life
Marriages and relationships
Michael Paré's first marriage was to film producer Lisa Katselas in 1980; the union ended in divorce in 1982, and the couple had no children.[29][30] His second marriage, to Marisa Roebuck, took place in 1986 and lasted until their divorce in 1988; this brief relationship occurred during the height of his early career success, and they had no children.[29][8] He briefly dated actress Nancy Allen from 1984 to 1985.[6] Paré married former fashion model Marjolein Booy on March 21, 1992, a partnership that continues to provide stability in his personal life.[29][31] Paré's three marriages illustrate a trajectory of personal development navigated alongside the pressures of his professional commitments in entertainment.[32]Family and lifestyle
Paré and his wife, Marjolein Booy, have one son together, who is now an adult. This family unit forms the core of his personal life, with Paré emphasizing a stable and supportive home environment.[33] Since the 1990s, Paré has resided in California, particularly in the Los Angeles area, where he has cultivated a family-oriented lifestyle amid his acting career. This West Coast base allows for a balanced routine focused on family time and personal well-being, away from the intensity of frequent film shoots.[34] Paré maintains his physical fitness through a dedicated regimen that includes regular running and martial arts training; he holds a black belt in karate and has practiced the discipline for many years to stay prepared for demanding action roles. He leads a healthy, disciplined lifestyle, abstaining from alcohol, smoking, and drugs, which he credits for his longevity in the industry. As an avid film enthusiast, Paré enjoys watching horror and sci-fi movies, classic theater, and even cooking shows, often drawing inspiration from cinema icons like James Dean. No major health issues have been reported in connection with his personal life.[33][8]Filmography
Feature films
Michael Paré has appeared in over 80 feature films since the early 1980s, showcasing his versatility across genres including drama, action, science fiction, and horror, often collaborating with notable directors in both studio and independent projects.[3] His breakthrough came in the 1980s with lead roles in cult classics that highlighted his charismatic screen presence as a rock musician and action hero.- Eddie and the Cruisers (1983) as Eddie Wilson, a fictional 1960s rock star, directed by Martin Davidson, drama/music genre.[35]
- Streets of Fire (1984) as Tom Cody, a tough soldier of fortune in a rock 'n' roll dystopia, directed by Walter Hill, action genre.[36]
- The Philadelphia Experiment (1984) as David Herdeg, a Navy sailor involved in a time-bending WWII experiment, directed by Stewart Raffill, science fiction genre.
- Village of the Damned (1995) as Frank McGowan, a father confronting alien children in a small town, directed by John Carpenter, horror/science fiction genre.
- Road to Hell (2008) as Tom Cody, reprising his role from Streets of Fire in this unofficial sequel, directed by Albert Pyun, action genre.[37]
- Wanted Man (2024) as Reese, in this action film directed by and starring Dolph Lundgren.[38]
- Mundije (2025) as CIA Chief, in this action-drama based on true events about an Albanian martial artist fighting organized crime, directed by Ilir Luma.[39]