History Creator / MichaelShannon

Michael Corbett Shannon (born August 7, 1974) is an American stage, film, and television actor. His best known performances are as John Givings in ''Film/RevolutionaryRoad'', prohibition agent Nelson Van Alden in ''Series/BoardwalkEmpire'', Curtis [=LaForche=] in ''Film/TakeShelter'', and General Zod in ''Film/ManOfSteel''.

* ProductionPosse: Often works with director Creator/JeffNichols and actor Creator/JamesFranco.

* TheShelfOfMovieLanguishment: ''Poor Boy'' was filmed and screened in 2016, but wasn't given a release until 2018. ''The Current War'' premiered at the Toronto Film Festival in 2017 but is currently in distribution limbo due to the scandal surrounding the Weinstein Company.

* OldShame: During his ''Film/ManOfSteel'' interview, he wished that he'd never been in ''Film/KangarooJack'' as he's uncomfortable with the kangaroo rapping and finds it scary and evil.

* ''Film/ElvisAndNixon'' (2015)

Born in Kentucky to a single mother, he got his first work as an actor on the Chicago stage, at various times working for such theatre companies as Steppenwolf, The Next Lab and the Red Orchid Theatre. He eventually started to get small parts in Hollywood movies, too, notably the Creator/JerryBruckheimer-produced films ''Film/BadBoysII'', ''Film/PearlHarbor'', and ''Film/KangarooJack''. This visibility (along with his UsefulNotes/AcademyAward nomination for ''Film/RevolutionaryRoad'') has led to him recieving larger and more acclaimed roles in (mostly independent) films, such as ''Film/{{Bug}}'', ''Film/TheRunaways'', ''Film/BeforeTheDevilKnowsYoureDead'', ''Film/BadLieutenantPortOfCallNewOrleans'', ''Film/ShotgunStories''. He also works quite regularly on stage, having performed in many works by Tracy Letts in Chicago and New York as well as receiving a Tony nomination for his role in a recent revival of Theatre/LongDaysJourneyIntoNight.

* ''World Trade Center'' (2006)

* ''They Came Together'' (2014)

* ''Elvis and Nixon'' (2015)

* ''12 Strong'' (2018)

* BreakoutRole: His scene-stealing turn in ''Film/RevolutionaryRoad''.

[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Michael_Shannon_6137.jpg]]

* ''99 Homes'' (2014)

* DeletedRole: [[invoked]] His part as a preacher who converted UsefulNotes/GeorgeWBush to evangelical Christianity was completely cut from the Creator/OliverStone-directed biopic ''Film/{{W}}''.

* HeAlsoDid: [[invoked]] Was the BigBad in ''Film/KangarooJack.'' [[OldShame He now regrets the role for obvious reasons.]]

* RealLife/MeanCharacterNiceActor [[invoked]]
* MoneyDearBoy: [[invoked]] The only reason he probably starred in bad movies like ''Film/KangarooJack'' and ''Film/JonahHex''.
* OldShame: [[invoked]] During his ''Film/ManOfSteel'' interview, he wished that he'd never been in ''Film/KangarooJack'' as he's uncomfortable with the kangaroo rapping and finds it scary and evil.

* ProductionPosse: [[invoked]] Often works with director Creator/JeffNichols and actor Creator/JamesFranco.
* SugarWiki/RuleOfSeanConnery: See description. It doesn't matter how small his role or how bad the rest of it is, whenever Shannon shows up in a movie, he completely steals the scene.

* TypeCasting: [[invoked]] When he's in a movie, expect him to play a crazy, repressed or generally unstable person.

Despite the large number of villainous roles to his name, Shannon is very much known to be a [[MeanCharacterNiceActor nice guy]] who loves his daughter and has a great sense of humor.

* TheShelfOfMovieLanguishment: ''Poor Boy'' was filmed & screened in 2016, but wasn't given a release until 2018. ''The Current War'' premiered at the Toronto Film Festival in 2017 but is currently in distribution limbo due to the scandal surrounding the Weinstein Company.

* TheShelfOfMovieLanguishment: ''Poor Boy'' was filmes & screened in 2016, but wasn't given a release until 2018. ''The Current War'' premiered at the Toronto Film Festival in 2017 but is currently in distribution limbo due to the scandal surrounding the Weinstein Company.

* ''Film/TheCurrentWars'' (2017)

* RuleOfSeanConnery: See description. It doesn't matter how small his role or how bad the rest of it is, whenever Shannon shows up in a movie, he completely steals the scene.

* ''Film/HorseSoldiers'' (2017)

* ''[[Film/Fahrenheit4512018 Fahrenheit 451 (2018]]''

* HiddenDepths: He's also in an indie folk band called ''Corporal''.

He is best known for his virtuoso ability to play repressed, unstable, and otherwise crazed characters. He has also been compared to Creator/WillemDafoe in terms of roles and ChristopherWalken for his ability to [[OneSceneWonder completely steal a movie simply by showing up.]]

Michael Shannon (born August 7, 1974) is an American stage, film, and television actor. His best known performances are as John Givings in ''Film/RevolutionaryRoad'', prohibition agent Nelson Van Alden in ''Series/BoardwalkEmpire'', Curtis [=LaForche=] in ''Film/TakeShelter'', and General Zod in ''Film/ManOfSteel''.

* ''Horse Soldiers'' (2017)
* ''The Current Wars'' (2017)
* ''The Shape of Water'' (2017)

Born in Kentucky to a single mother, he got his first work as an actor on the Chicago stage, at various times working for such theatre companies as Steppenwolf, The Next Lab and the Red Orchid Theatre. He eventually started to get small parts in Hollywood movies, too, notably the Creator/JerryBruckheimer-produced films ''Film/BadBoysII'', ''Film/PearlHarbor'', and ''Film/KangarooJack''. This visibility (along with his UsefulNotes/AcademyAward nomination for ''Film/RevolutionaryRoad'') has led to him recieving larger and more acclaimed roles in (mostly independent) films, such as ''Film/{{Bug}}'', ''Film/TheRunaways'', ''Film/BeforeTheDevilKnowsYoureDead'', ''Film/BadLieutenantPortOfCallNewOrleans'', ''Film/ShotgunStories''.

* ''CecilBDemented'' (2000)

Born in Kentucky to a single mother, he got his first work as an actor on the Chicago stage, at various times working for such theatre companies as Steppenwolf, The Next Lab and the Red Orchid Theatre. He eventually started to get small parts in Hollywood movies, too, notably the Creator/JerryBruckheimer-produced films ''[[Film/BadBoys Bad Boys 2]]'', ''Film/PearlHarbor'', and ''Film/KangarooJack''. This visibility (along with his UsefulNotes/AcademyAward nomination for ''Film/RevolutionaryRoad'') has led to him recieving larger and more acclaimed roles in (mostly independent) films, such as ''Film/{{Bug}}'', ''Film/TheRunaways'', ''Film/BeforeTheDevilKnowsYoureDead'', ''Film/BadLieutenantPortOfCallNewOrleans'', ''Film/ShotgunStories''.

* ''[[BadBoys Bad Boys 2]]'' (2003)