Michael Zegen

Acting

Michael Zegen

Born 1979-02-20 · Ridgewood, New Jersey, USA

Michael Jonathan Zegen (born February 20, 1979) is an American actor. He is best known for his roles in the television series Rescue Me (2004–2011), Boardwalk Empire (2011–2014), and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (2017–2023). Zegen was born to a teacher mother and a lawyer father, and lived in Glen Rock, New Jersey, before moving to nearby Ridgewood when he was five. He has two brothers. He is Jewish. His mother was born in Austria in a displaced persons' camp, and his maternal grandparents were Holocaust survivors from Ukraine and Poland. He attended Ridgewood High School, where he was active in the school's theater program. Zegen is a 2001 graduate of Skidmore College. His role on Rescue Me began as a recurring character in seasons 1–3, playing the nephew of series lead Tommy Gavin (Denis Leary). In seasons 5–6, he was promoted to the main cast when his character began probationary firefighter school to become a firefighter. In 2010, Zegen was cast as gangster Bugsy Siegel for the second, third, and fifth season of the HBO series, Boardwalk Empire. In 2011, Zegen, along with James Ransone, was cast in supporting roles in the HBO comedy series How To Make It In America. In mid-2011, Zegen was cast in a recurring guest role in the second season of the AMC series The Walking Dead. In 2014 he created the role of Liam off-Broadway in the dark comedy Bad Jews. Zegan made his Broadway debut in A View from the Bridge in 2015. In 2017, Zegen played Joel Maisel in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. For the role he has won two Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series awards from the Screen Actors Guild. He returned to Broadway in 2021 to star in Trouble in Mind by Alice Childress.

Acting credits

The Box poster
5.6

Norma and Arthur Lewis, a suburban couple with a young child, receive a simple wooden box as a gift, which bears fatal and irrevocable consequences. A mysterious stranger delivers the message that the box promises to bestow upon its owner $1 million with the press of a button. However pressing this button will simultaneously cause the death of another human being somewhere in the world; someone they don't know. With just 24 hours to have the box in their possession, Norma and Arthur find themselves in the cross-hairs of a startling moral dilemma and must face the true nature of their humanity.

The Box

2009

The Girl Next Door poster
6.7

In a quiet suburban town in the summer of 1958, two recently orphaned sisters are placed in the care of their mentally unstable Aunt Ruth. But Ruth's depraved sense of discipline will soon lead to unspeakable acts of abuse and torture that involve her young sons, the neighborhood children, and one 12-year-old boy whose life will be changed forever.

The Girl Next Door

2007

Brooklyn poster
7.3

In 1950s Ireland and New York, young Eilis Lacey has to choose between two men and two countries.

Brooklyn

2015

Adventureland poster
6.4

It's the summer of 1987, and recent college grad James Brennan can't wait to begin his long-anticipated dream trip to Europe. Unfortunately, James' plans come to a screeching halt when his parents announce that they are unable to subsidize his trip. Forced to take a job at the local amusement park, James prepares for the worst summer ever, until he finds love with a captivating co-worker named Em.

Adventureland

2009

Frances Ha poster
7.3

An aspiring dancer moves to New York City and becomes caught up in a whirlwind of flighty fair-weather friends, diminishing fortunes and career setbacks.

Frances Ha

2013

The Stand In poster
5.3

When ordered to serve a year in rehab, actress Candy hires her on-set stand-in to take her place. The unassuming woman flips the script and steals her identity, career and boyfriend in this hilarious comedy about trading places.

The Stand In

2020

Assassination of a High School President poster
5.8

After the theft of copies of SAT exams from a principal's office, teenage reporter Bobby Funke sets out to unmask the thief.

Assassination of a High School President

2008

The Seagull poster
5.4

At a picturesque lakeside estate, a love triangle unfolds between the legendary diva Irina, her lover Boris, and the ingénue Nina.

The Seagull

2018

No artwork available
NR

A lonely young woman mistakenly receives a severed thumb in the mail. She makes it her life’s obsession to return it to the hand it once belonged to, putting her on a collision course that will upend her world forever.

Thumb

Tyrel poster
5.1

Tyler joins his friend on a trip to the Catskills for a weekend birthday party with several people he doesn’t know. As soon as they get there, it’s clear that (1) he’s the only black guy, and (2) it’s going to be a weekend of heavy drinking. Although Tyler is welcomed, he can’t help but feel uneasy in “Whitesville.” The combination of all the testosterone and alcohol starts to get out of hand, and Tyler’s precarious situation starts to feel like a nightmare.

Tyrel

2018

Prime Day Concert 2019 poster
5.9

Taylor Swift performs live with Dua Lipa, SZA and Becky G at the Prime Day Concert 2019, hosted by Jane Lynch.

Prime Day Concert 2019

2019

Bad Jews poster
NR

After a beloved grandfather dies in New York—leaving a treasured piece of religious jewelry that he succeeded in hiding even from the Nazis during the Holocaust—cousins fight over not only the family heirloom, but their religious faith, cultural assimilation, and even the validity of each other's romances.

Bad Jews

2021

Ex-Girlfriends poster
4.9

Jennifer Carpenter, Kristen Connolly and Alexander Poe star in a comedy about three New Yorkers struggling to uncover the truth behind their romantic entanglements. Disheartened by his latest relationship catastrophe, Graham (Poe) attempts to rekindle the spark with his ex-girlfriend, Laura (Connolly). In the attempt to win her back Graham discovers he has a unique problem: Laura and another one his ex-girlfriends (Carpenter) are dating the same guy.

Ex-Girlfriends

2012

Becks poster
5.3

After a crushing breakup with her girlfriend, a Brooklyn musician moves back in with her Midwestern mother. As she navigates her hometown, playing for tip money in an old friend's bar, an unexpected relationship begins to take shape.

Becks

2018

Bittersweet Place poster
8.5

The story of the Schaffer family, made up of terminally ill father Jack and his two daughters, bipolar Pappy, and Susannah, who tries to keep the family together despite it taking a strain on her romantic life.

Bittersweet Place

2005

Notice to Quit poster
4.8

Andy Singer, a struggling New York City realtor, finds his world crashing down around him when his estranged 10-year-old daughter, Anna, shows up unannounced on his doorstep in the middle of his eviction.

Notice to Quit

2024