Michael Jeter
1952 — 2003
Lawrenceburg, Tennessee
Tony Award and Emmy Award winning actor of television, stage, and film.
"The way I look at it, my vocation is looking for work; my vacation is when I get it." — Michael Jeter
Born in Lawrenceburg, Tennessee, Jeter had intended to be a physician when he was accepted into Memphis State University. But during his studies he bumped into the campus theatre and became entranced with the idea of pretending and creating plays.
He soon switched his goals to drama and following college, he relocated to New York, where he won his first job, a small role in MilosForman's movie musical, "Hair." Other stage gigs followed including his Tony-award-winning Broadway performance in "Grand Hotel."
He made his first appearance on the small screen in 1977 with a bit part in the series "Lou Grant." He continued to work in theatre and television until the mid '80s, when he began to land larger roles in feature films like "The Money Pit" and Tango & Cash.
By the early '90s, he had earned one Emmy and was nominated for four more for his performances as the frustrated assistant football coach in TV's "Evening Shade." He continued to make strong showings in feature films like "The Fisher King," "Patch Adams," "Waterworld," and "The Green Mile."
Bio by Tribute.ca: http://www.tribute.ca/