Michael Charrois was born on May 24th, 1962, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, where he would later develop a passion for the performing arts. He began his academic journey by studying Acting and Playwrighting at the University of Alberta and the Banff School of Fine Arts. In 1986, Michael joined the Resident Acting Company of Edmonton's Family Theatre, Stage Polaris, and shortly after, he started teaching Performing Arts classes at the Stage Polaris Academy of Drama.
Michael's career continued to flourish as he became a member of Canadian Actors' Equity Association in 1988. During this period, he also honed his skills as a street performer, juggling fire and clowning, as well as playing music with his friends in a rock band called Big Inc. As a songwriter, Michael wrote lyrics for songs and musical plays for the stage, which culminated in the 1999 production, The Illumination of Marshall McLuhan.
Michael's breakthrough in film came when he played the role of Wiggens in Clint Eastwood's Academy Award-winning film, Unforgiven, in 1992. This was also the year he became a member of ACTRA, the Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists. As a festival performer, Michael traveled throughout Western Canada, Ottawa, and the United States, performing at the Orlando and New York Fringe Festivals.
In 1996, Michael was appointed as a Councillor for the Edmonton ACTRA Branch, and later, he served as President and Alternate National Councillor. In the 2000 provincial election, Michael represented the Alberta New Democratic Party in the Castledowns riding, finishing in third place behind the Liberal and Conservative parties.
In 2001, Michael bid farewell to Edmonton's harsh winters by moving to Vancouver, where he continued to pursue his passion for the performing arts. In 2002, he was cast in his first of over a dozen plays at New Westminster's Burr Theatre. Throughout the early 2000s, Michael performed in various productions, including busking on Granville Island with his street show, Economics 101, and conducting Mad Science experiments at local schools.
Michael's political career continued as he represented the New Democrats in the North Vancouver riding for the 2008 and 2012 federal elections. As of 2016, Michael serves as the Performing Arts Education Coordinator at the Evergreen Cultural Centre in Coquitlam, BC, where he teaches public speaking and theatre arts. He also teaches at Burnaby's Shadbolt Arts Centre.
