Michael D. Cohen (born
) is a Canadian actor. He is best known for his role as Schwoz Schwartz in ''
Henry Danger'' and its spinoffs, ''
The Adventures of Kid Danger
''The Adventures of Kid Danger'' is an American animated comedy television series created by Dan Schneider that aired on Nickelodeon from January 15 to June 14, 2018. The series is based on ''Henry Danger'' and details the animated adventures o ...
'' and ''
Danger Force
''Danger Force'' is an American comedy television series developed by Christopher J. Nowak that premiered on Nickelodeon on March 28, 2020. The series is a spinoff of ''Henry Danger'' and includes returning stars Cooper Barnes and Michael D. ...
''.
Life and career
Born in
Winnipeg
Winnipeg () is the capital and largest city of the province of Manitoba in Canada. It is centred on the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine rivers, near the longitudinal centre of North America. , Winnipeg had a city population of 749, ...
, Cohen started
transitioning from female to male in his 20s, making the information publicly known only in 2019.
He and his family moved to
Richmond, British Columbia
Richmond is a coastal city in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia, Canada. It occupies almost the entirety of Lulu Island (excluding Queensborough), between the two estuarine distributaries of the Fraser River. Encompassing the adja ...
, when he was 10. As a fan of
Carol Burnett
Carol Creighton Burnett (born April 26, 1933) is an American actress, comedian, singer, and writer. Her groundbreaking comedy variety show ''The Carol Burnett Show'', which originally aired on CBS was one of the first of its kind to be hosted ...
and the other actors on ''
The Carol Burnett Show
''The Carol Burnett Show'' is an American variety/sketch comedy television show that originally ran on CBS from September 11, 1967, to March 29, 1978, for 279 episodes, and again with nine episodes in fall 1991. It starred Carol Burnett, Har ...
'', he was inspired to be an actor and writer, and won a Young Playwright's Contest at age 12.
Years after graduating from college, Cohen moved to
Toronto
Toronto ( ; or ) is the capital city of the Canadian province of Ontario. With a recorded population of 2,794,356 in 2021, it is the most populous city in Canada and the fourth most populous city in North America. The city is the ancho ...
, where he studied acting and landed his first
voice over
Voice-over (also known as off-camera or off-stage commentary) is a production technique where a voice—that is not part of the narrative (non- diegetic)—is used in a radio, television production, filmmaking, theatre, or other presentations. ...
job, without an agent, on the animated TV series ''
Pippi Longstocking
Pippi Longstocking ( sv, Pippi Långstrump) is the fictional main character in an eponymous series of children's books by Swedish author Astrid Lindgren. Pippi was named by Lindgren's daughter Karin, who asked her mother for a get-well story w ...
''. He began his career when he appeared in ''
Moville Mysteries
''Moville Mysteries'' is a Canadian animated horror adventure television series starring Frankie Muniz as Mosley "Mo" Moville. Two seasons were produced with 26 episodes from September 7, 2002, to May 14, 2003. The show was on YTV in Canada and F ...
,'' shortly after which he appeared in ''
Queer as Folk'', ''
Doc
DOC, Doc, doc or DoC may refer to:
In film and television
* ''Doc'' (2001 TV series), a 2001–2004 PAX series
* ''Doc'' (1975 TV series), a 1975–1976 CBS sitcom
* "D.O.C." (''Lost''), a television episode
* ''Doc'' (film), a 1971 Wester ...
'', ''
RoboRoach
''RoboRoach'' is a Canadian animated television series which ran on Teletoon in Canada, Animania HD in the United States, and Fox Kids internationally. The title song was sung by Big Rude Jake. It follows the story of a cockroach named Ruben and ...
'', and ''
Henry's World
''Henry's World'' is a Canadian animated children's television series produced for Canada's Family Channel by Cuppa Coffee Animation, Alliance Atlantis Communications, with TV-Loonland AG also producing the first. It was first aired from 2001 ...
,'' as well as many commercials. In 2005, he won the national Moc Docs award for Best
Mockumentary
A mockumentary (a blend of ''mock'' and ''documentary''), fake documentary or docu-comedy is a type of film or television show depicting fictional events but presented as a documentary.
These productions are often used to analyze or comment on c ...
for his short film ''Jew Jube Lives''—a rap parody based on the question, "If
Eminem
Marshall Bruce Mathers III (born October 17, 1972), known professionally as Eminem (; often stylized as EMINƎM), is an American rapper and record producer. He is credited with popularizing hip hop in middle America and is critically acclai ...
were Jewish and grew up in
Thornhill, what would he be like?" He was the voice of Ty Archer in the animated TV series ''
Grossology'' for which he and the ensemble received a
Gemini Award nomination, the Canadian equivalent of an
Emmy.
Since 2014, Cohen has played Schwoz Schwartz on the sitcom ''Henry Danger'',
a role he continues in the ''Henry Danger'' spinoff series ''
Danger Force
''Danger Force'' is an American comedy television series developed by Christopher J. Nowak that premiered on Nickelodeon on March 28, 2020. The series is a spinoff of ''Henry Danger'' and includes returning stars Cooper Barnes and Michael D. ...
''.
He has appeared on shows such as ''
Modern Family
''Modern Family'' is an American family sitcom television series created by Christopher Lloyd and Steven Levitan for the American Broadcasting Company. It ran for 11 seasons, from September 23, 2009, to April 8, 2020. It follows the lives of th ...
'', ''The Real O'Neals'', ''2 Broke Girls'', ''The Mindy Project'', ''Backstrom'', ''Eagleheart'' and ''Austin & Ally''. His recent film credits include the comedy ''
Suburbicon
''Suburbicon'' is a 2017 American black comedy crime film directed by George Clooney and co-written by the Coen brothers, Clooney, and Grant Heslov. It stars Matt Damon, Julianne Moore, Noah Jupe, and Oscar Isaac, and follows a mild-mannered f ...
'', directed by
George Clooney
George Timothy Clooney (born May 6, 1961) is an American actor and filmmaker. He is the recipient of List of awards and nominations received by George Clooney, numerous accolades, including a British Academy Film Awards, British Academy Film A ...
and written by the
Coen brothers
Joel Daniel Coen (born November 29, 1954) and Ethan Jesse Coen (born September 21, 1957),State of Minnesota. ''Minnesota Birth Index, 1935–2002''. Minnesota Department of Health. collectively known as the Coen brothers (), are American film ...
; the Oscar-nominated film ''
Whiplash
Whiplash may refer to:
* The long flexible part of a whip
* Whiplash (medicine), a neck injury
** Whiplash Injury Protection System (WHIPS), in automobiles
Film and television
* ''Whiplash'' (1948 film), a US film noir about a boxer
* ''Whiplas ...
;'' and the
Canadian Screen Award
The Canadian Screen Awards (french: link=no, Les prix Écrans canadiens) are awards given for artistic and technical merit in the film industry recognizing excellence in Canadian film, English-language television, and digital media ( web series ...
-nominated film ''
It Was You Charlie'', for which he was nominated for an
ACTRA Award
The ACTRA Awards were first presented in 1972 to celebrate excellence in Canada's television and radio industries. for Outstanding Lead Performance.
Cohen has dozens of commercial credits including Mini Starburst, FedEx, Capital One, Boston Market, Honda (with
Patrick Warburton
Patrick Warburton (born November 14, 1964) is an American actor.
On television, he has played David Puddy on '' Seinfeld'', the title character on ''The Tick'', Jeb Denton on ''Less Than Perfect'', Jeff Bingham on '' Rules of Engagement'' and L ...
), and the Super Bowl Hulu Plus campaign with Will Arnett. Cohen was co-chair of the
SAG-AFTRA
The Screen Actors Guild - American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA, stylized as SAG·AFTRA ) is an American labor union representing approximately 160,000 film and television actors, journalists, radio personalities, recordi ...
Hollywood Conservatory at the
American Film Institute l, and is a member of the National SAG-AFTRA Conservatory Committee. He has a master's degree in
adult education focusing on transformative education for performers. He offers acting workshops and private audition coaching for actors in L.A., Toronto and around the world. He resides in
Los Angeles
Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world' ...
.
Filmography
Accolades
References
External links
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cohen, Michael D.
1970s births
21st-century Canadian male actors
Living people
Year of birth uncertain
Canadian male television actors
Canadian male voice actors
Male actors from Winnipeg
Male actors from British Columbia
Transgender male actors
Canadian male film actors
People from Richmond, British Columbia
Canadian LGBT actors
Canadian expatriate male actors in the United States