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1[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/michaelshannon.jpg]]
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3Michael Corbett Shannon (born August 7, 1974 in Lexington, Kentucky) is an American stage, film, and television actor.
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5Born 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 receiving larger and more acclaimed roles in (mostly independent) films, such as ''Film/{{Bug|2006}}'', ''Film/TheRunaways'', ''Film/BeforeTheDevilKnowsYoureDead'', ''Film/TheBadLieutenantPortOfCallNewOrleans'', ''Film/ShotgunStories''. He also works quite regularly on stage, having performed in many works by Creator/TracyLetts in Chicago and New York as well as receiving a Tony nomination for his role in a revival of ''Theatre/LongDaysJourneyIntoNight''.
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7He 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 Creator/ChristopherWalken for his ability to [[OneSceneWonder completely steal a movie simply by showing up]]. 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''.
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9[[{{Typecasting}} Despite the large number of villainous roles to his name]], [[MeanCharacterNiceActor Shannon is very much known to be a nice guy who loves his daughters and has a great sense of humor]].
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11Not to be confused with Creator/MichaelJShannon (no relation).
12----
13!!His Notable Films:
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15* ''Film/GroundhogDay'' (1993) he's the groom of the couple (Fred and Debbie) whom [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjltG0T1430 Phil gives Wrestlemania tickets to as a wedding gift]].
16* ''Film/CecilBDemented'' (2000)
17* ''Film/VanillaSky'' (2001) as the cop watching David
18* ''Film/HighCrimes'' (2002)
19* ''Film/EightMile'' (2002)
20* ''Film/BadBoysII'' (2003)
21* ''Film/KangarooJack'' (2003)
22* ''Film/GrandTheftParsons'' (2003)
23* ''Film/{{Bug|2006}}'' (2006)
24* ''Film/WorldTradeCenter'' (2006)
25* ''Film/ShotgunStories'' (2007)
26* ''Film/BeforeTheDevilKnowsYoureDead'' (2008)
27* ''Literature/RevolutionaryRoad'' (2008)
28* ''Series/{{Delocated}}'' (2009) (Episode: "Sick of It". He actually SMILES in this!)
29* ''Film/TheBadLieutenantPortOfCallNewOrleans'' (2009)
30* ''Film/MySonMySonWhatHaveYeDone'' (2009)
31* ''Film/TheRunaways'' (2010)
32* ''Film/{{Jonah Hex|2010}}'' (2010)
33* ''Series/BoardwalkEmpire'' (2010-2014)
34* ''Film/MachineGunPreacher'' (2011)
35* ''Film/TakeShelter'' (2011)
36* ''Film/PremiumRush'' (2012)
37* ''Film/TheIceman'' (2012)
38* ''Film/{{Mud}}'' (2013)
39* Franchise/DCExtendedUniverse as [[Characters/SupermanGeneralZod General Zod]]
40** ''Film/ManOfSteel'' (2013)
41** ''Film/BatmanVSupermanDawnOfJustice'' (2016, footage from ''Man of Steel'')
42** ''Film/{{The Flash|2023}}'' (2023)
43* ''Film/TheyCameTogether'' (2014)
44* ''Film/YoungOnes'' (2014)
45* ''Film/NinetyNineHomes'' (2014)
46* ''Film/TheNightBefore'' (2015)
47* ''Film/ElvisAndNixon'' (2016)
48* ''Film/MidnightSpecial'' (2016)
49* ''Film/{{Loving}}'' (2016)
50* ''Film/NocturnalAnimals'' (2016)
51* ''Film/TheCurrentWar'' (2017)
52* ''Film/TheShapeOfWater'' (2017)
53* ''Film/{{Pottersville}}'' (2017)
54* ''[[Film/TwelveStrong 12 Strong]]'' (2018)
55* ''Series/{{Waco}}'' (2018)
56* ''Film/WhatTheyHad'' (2018)
57* ''[[Film/Fahrenheit4512018 Fahrenheit 451]]'' (2018)
58* ''Film/StateLikeSleep'' (2018)
59* ''Series/TheLittleDrummerGirl'' (2018)
60* ''Film/KnivesOut'' (2019)
61* ''Literature/NinePerfectStrangers'' (2021)
62* ''Film/BulletTrain'' (2022)
63* ''Series/GeorgeAndTammy'' (2022)
64* ''WesternAnimation/LittleDemon'' (2022)
65* ''Film/{{Amsterdam|2022}}'' (2022)
66* ''[[Film/EricLaRue Eric [=LaRue=]]]'' (directing only) (2023)
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68----
69!!This actor's works provides examples of:
70* AxCrazy: An expert at such roles, to the point that it's a surprise when he isn't playing such a part.
71* TheComicallySerious: A master of playing comedic roles totally straight.
72* DeathGlare: Has this down to an art form as his various roles demonstrate.
73* DeletedRole: His part as a preacher who converted UsefulNotes/GeorgeWBush to evangelical Christianity was completely cut from the Creator/OliverStone-directed biopic ''Film/{{W}}''.
74* DramaticReading: He did one for the infamous Delta Gamma sorority letter. Watch it [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dngOH9G4UPw here]].
75* FunnyCharacterBoringActor: Inverted. He's knowing for playing very serious, humorless characters but is known in real life to be much more laid-back, friendly and has a very good sense of humor with some co-stars and directors praising him as one of the funniest actors they've worked with.
76* HeAlsoDid: Was the BigBad in ''Film/KangarooJack.'' [[OldShame He now regrets the role for obvious reasons.]]
77* HiddenDepths:
78** He's in an indie folk band called ''Corporal''
79*** And showed off his impressive singing voice playing Music/GeorgeJones in the miniseries ''George & Tammy''
80** He also does a [[https://youtu.be/dmvQgA6nbhk dead-on]] Music/IggyPop impersonation.
81** He [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5zlXbaAheo8 once covered]] Music/{{Suicide|Band}}'s "Ghost Rider" with Music/YoLaTengo, and launched into a [[MakesJustAsMuchSenseInContext hammy, improvised monologue about Ghost Rider's childhood.]]
82** His aforementioned comedic skills - Shannon is primarily considered a dramatic actor but people like Creator/RianJohnson and Creator/ChrisEvans have called him one of the funniest actors they've ever worked with.
83* HairTriggerTemper: His characters tend to be very easily enraged.
84* HotBlooded: His characters are usually ''very'' emotional.
85* KubrickStare: A master of this trope.
86* LargeHam: Some of Shannon's roles can go for this.
87* MoneyDearBoy: The only reason he probably starred in bad movies like ''Film/KangarooJack'' and ''Film/{{Jonah Hex|2010}}''.
88* OldShame: During his ''Film/ManOfSteel'' interview, he wished that he'd never been in ''Film/KangarooJack'' as he found the kangaroo rapping scary and evil.
89* PerpetualFrowner: If his characters ever smile, it's never a good sign.
90* PlayingAgainstType: [[invoked]] Despite being so well known for crazy guys, he's earned equal acclaim playing more conventional types in ''Shotgun Stories'' and ''Return''.
91** Arguably playing against type in ''Knives Out''. Where as Shannon is usually known for playing manic, domineering characters, Walt Thrombey is a rather unthreatening wimp who doesn't contribute much to his family's legacy and can't even reign in his alt-right son.
92* ProductionPosse: Often works with director Creator/JeffNichols, actors Shea Whigham and Paul Sparks, and writer/actor Creator/TracyLetts.
93* SelfDeprecation: He's completely aware of how {{typecast|ing}} he is as crazy types, and isn't afraid to have fun with that, such as in [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3pLHDPxfK0&ab_channel=MTV this video where he talks about adorable things]] or [[http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/4ad20b4edf/michael-shannon-reads-the-insane-sorority-letter this Funny or Die video]] where he reads Rebecca Martinson's [[WebOriginal/DerangedSororityGirl insane sorority letter]].
94* 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 was caught in distribution limbo due to the Harvey Weinstein scandal and not released until 2019.
95* StarMakingRole: His scene-stealing turn in ''Film/RevolutionaryRoad''.
96* TwoFirstNames: Although Shannon is typically a female given name.
97* TypeCasting: When he's in a movie, expect him to play a crazy, repressed or generally unstable person.

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