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Michael Chernus

Highest Rated: 100% The Courtroom (2022)

Lowest Rated: 15% Jack and Diane (2012)

Birthday: Aug 8, 1977

Birthplace: Rocky River, Ohio, USA

Best-known for his portrayal of Piper's slacker brother in "Orange is the New Black" (Netflix, 2013-), character actor Michael Chernus also played key roles in "Lovely by Surprise" (2007), "Captain Phillips" (2013) and "Manhattan" (WGN America, 2014-). Born in Rocky River, OH in 1977, Chernus studied at the Juilliard School's Drama Division before making his on-screen debut in indie family drama "Winter Passing" (2005). Two years later, Chernus was cast as Humkin, a fictional creation who escapes from the pages of a novel, in "Lovely by Surprise" (2007), and following minor roles in war tale "The Messenger" (2009), neo-noir sitcom "Bored to Death" (HBO, 2009-2011) and small-town drama "Nonames" (2010), he bagged his first recurring part as Ryan Flanagan in medical series "Mercy" (NBC, 2009-2010). After adding romantic comedy "Love and Other Drugs" (2010), sports drama "Coach" (2010) and Vera Farmiga's directorial debut "Higher Ground" (2011) to his filmography, Chernus enjoyed multi-episode stints on "Damages" (FX, 2007-2012) and "The Big C" (Showtime, 2010-13), and played electronics store clerk Jeffrey Price in "Men in Black III" (2012), NRAG investigator Arthur Ingram in "The Bourne Legacy" (2012) and real-life first officer Shane Murphy in "Captain Phillips" (2013). Chernus landed one of his most memorable roles in 2013 when he was cast as Piper's underachieving sibling Cal in "Orange is the New Black" (Netflix, 2013-). During his scene-stealing stint on the prison drama, Chernus also played himself in Hollywood satire "He's Way More Famous Than You" (2013), and appeared in a string of indie movies including "Mutual Friends" (2013), "Goodbye to All That" (2014) and "Alex of Venice" (2014). Chernus then signed on to play scientist Louis 'Fritz' Fedowitz in "Manhattan" (WGN America, 2014-), the 1940s-set period drama about the race to develop the first atomic bomb, worked with acclaimed directors Noah Baumbach on "Mistress America" (2015) and Cameron Crowe on "Aloha" (2015), and guested on "Nashville" (ABC, 2012-) and "Elementary" (CBS, 2012-) before showing up in comedy dramas "People Places Things" (2015) and "The Family Fang" (2015).

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Highest rated movies

100% The Courtroom
Watchlist
98% 89% Molli and Max in the Future
Watchlist
93% 89% Captain Phillips
Watchlist
92% 87% Spider-Man: Homecoming Watchlist 90% 67% The Kindergarten Teacher Watchlist
90% 75% The Messenger
Watchlist
86% 80% Werewolves Within Watchlist
85% 44% Glass Chin
Watchlist
84% 48% The Family Fang Watchlist 82% 66% Mistress America Watchlist

Filmography

Movies

Credit
No Score Yet No Score Yet Out of My Mind Unknown (Character) - 2024
98% 89% Molli and Max in the Future Unknown (Character) - 2023
100% No Score Yet The Courtroom Unknown (Character) - 2022
86% 80% Werewolves Within Pete (Character) $575.6K 2021
71% No Score Yet Materna David (Character) - 2020
No Score Yet 100% Inez & Doug & Kira Doug (Character) - 2019
90% 67% The Kindergarten Teacher Grant Spinelli (Character) - 2018
92% 87% Spider-Man: Homecoming Phineas Mason/The Tinkerer (Character) $334.4M 2017
40% 41% The Most Hated Woman in America Jon Garth Murray (Character) - 2017
46% 15% The Dinner Dylan Heinz (Character) $1.3M 2017
52% 25% Complete Unknown Clyde (Character) $166.8K 2016
84% 48% The Family Fang Kenny (Character) $240.1K 2015
82% 66% Mistress America Dylan (Character) $2.4M 2015
77% 71% People, Places, Things Gary (Character) $407.2K 2015
No Score Yet No Score Yet Mutual Friends Chernus (Character) - 2014
85% 44% Glass Chin Brian Colby (Character) - 2014
62% 32% Goodbye to All That Freddie (Character) $9.0K 2014
93% 89% Captain Phillips Shane Murphy (Character) $107.1M 2013
15% 21% Jack and Diane Jaimie (Character) - 2012
56% 58% The Bourne Legacy Arthur Ingram (Character) $113.2M 2012
67% 70% Men in Black 3 Jeffrey Price (Character) $179.0M 2012
81% 62% Higher Ground Ned (Character) $841.2K 2011
No Score Yet 83% NoNAMES Danny (Character) - 2010
No Score Yet 38% Coach Michael (Character) - 2010
90% 75% The Messenger Alan (Character) $1.1M 2009
No Score Yet 61% Lovely by Surprise Humkin (Character) - 2007

TV

Credit
97% 88% Severance Ricken Hale (Character) 2025
100% 90% Carol & the End of the World Eric (Voice) 2023
97% 85% Little America Paul (Character) 2022
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Accidental Wolf Unknown (Character) 2020-2022
No Score Yet No Score Yet Cinema Toast Man (Voice) 2021
58% 86% Prodigal Son Jerry (Guest Star) 2021
68% 68% Tommy Ken Rosey (Character) 2020
90% 85% Easy Kyle (Character) 2016-2017 2019
91% 89% Patriot Edward Tavner (Character) 2015 2017-2018
91% 90% Manhattan Louis "Fritz" Fedowitz (Character) 2014-2015
93% 90% The Good Wife Spencer Harman (Guest Star) 2015
90% 82% Orange Is the New Black Unknown (Character),
Unknown (Guest Star)
2013-2015
78% 83% Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Jay Delaney (Guest Star) 2011 2015
95% 89% Elementary Edwin Borstein (Guest Star) 2014
91% 73% Nashville Callie Khouri (Guest Star) 2014
94% 78% Royal Pains Pat McRevis (Guest Star) 2013
81% 88% Nurse Jackie Louie (Guest Star) 2013