Michael Beach is an American actor and musician best known for his roles in television series such as Third Watch, The O.C., and critically acclaimed films such as Passing Strange, The Shawshank Redemption, and A Family Thing. Beach was born in Roxbury, Massachusetts, the second of three children. From an early age he was interested in music, performing in choirs and musicals, and moving to New York City shortly after high school to pursue a career in acting.

He achieved his big break in 1994 when he starred in the Broadway musical “Passing Strange” which went on to win three Tony Awards. He has since gone on to appear in over two dozen feature films and television series. Beach was even nominated for a Screen Actors' Guild Award for his performance in the 1996 mini-series ”A Family Thing.”

In addition to acting, Beach has released several music albums, featuring various styles from blues to rock,