Michael Mando
Encyclopedia
Michael Mando is a Canadian film and television actor, writer, and director with a background in contemporary and classical theatre training.
, Quebec
, Canada
. He was raised by his father, and is the middle child of two brothers. Their family traveled a lot, and lived in over 10 cities, across 4 continents, and in over 37 different homes all before he reached his mid-twenties. He is trilingual in English, French and Spanish.
at the University of Montreal, before discovering the performing arts at The Dome Theatre Program (Dawson College
) in 2004. Despite no prior training, Michael went on to play the male lead in all 5 productions at the program. He graduated with excellence in 2007. His Dome credits include, Orlando in Shakespeare’s As You Like It
, Professor Katz in David Edgar
’s Pentecost and Valentine Xavier in Tennessee Williams
’ Orpheus Descending
. Upon graduation, Steven W. Lecky, the Chairman of the program, proudly stated Michael to be “one of the finest talents to emerge from the program in the past 25 years.”
, Mando promptly founded Red Barlo Productions. The company’s first film, Conditional Affection (2010)(which Mando starred in, directed and wrote) was officially selected to Fantasia
, Bare Bones
, ACTRA Short Films
, and the New Hope International Film Festivals.
Mando’s TV debut simultaneously followed with a wide range of contrasting characters. His credits include guest appearances in the crime series The Bridge
(2010), the medical drama mini-series Bloodletting and Miraculous Cures (2010), as an MS 13
gang member in The Border
(2010), and as a close friend of the character Kenzi (played by Ksenia Solo
) in the sci-fi series Lost Girl
(2010).
Mando has had repeated collaborations with directors John Fawcett
and Eric Canuel
as well as producer David Barlow. Other upcoming credits include a recurring role in Les Blues de Ramville (2011), a starring role in the feature film Territories (2010), a guest appearance in new show King (2011) and two Ubisoft
video games to be released in 2011. Mando has also finished shooting his second film under Red Barlo Productions, Abyss of the Mind, which will be released in the spring of 2011.
, but shortly after decided to go into acting.
Early life
Mando was born in Quebec CityQuebec City
Quebec , also Québec, Quebec City or Québec City is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec and is located within the Capitale-Nationale region. It is the second most populous city in Quebec after Montreal, which is about to the southwest...
, Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. He was raised by his father, and is the middle child of two brothers. Their family traveled a lot, and lived in over 10 cities, across 4 continents, and in over 37 different homes all before he reached his mid-twenties. He is trilingual in English, French and Spanish.
Education
Mando was enrolled in many fields, including International RelationsInternational relations
International relations is the study of relationships between countries, including the roles of states, inter-governmental organizations , international nongovernmental organizations , non-governmental organizations and multinational corporations...
at the University of Montreal, before discovering the performing arts at The Dome Theatre Program (Dawson College
Dawson College
Dawson College was the first English CEGEP and is located in Westmount, just west of downtown Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Dawson College is located near the heart of downtown Montreal in a former nunnery on 4.85 hectares of green space...
) in 2004. Despite no prior training, Michael went on to play the male lead in all 5 productions at the program. He graduated with excellence in 2007. His Dome credits include, Orlando in Shakespeare’s As You Like It
As You Like It
As You Like It is a pastoral comedy by William Shakespeare believed to have been written in 1599 or early 1600 and first published in the folio of 1623. The play's first performance is uncertain, though a performance at Wilton House in 1603 has been suggested as a possibility...
, Professor Katz in David Edgar
David Edgar (playwright)
David Edgar is a British playwright and author who has had more than sixty of his plays published and performed on stage, radio and television around the world, making him one of the most prolific dramatists of the post-1960s generation in Great Britain.He was resident playwright at the Birmingham...
’s Pentecost and Valentine Xavier in Tennessee Williams
Tennessee Williams
Thomas Lanier "Tennessee" Williams III was an American writer who worked principally as a playwright in the American theater. He also wrote short stories, novels, poetry, essays, screenplays and a volume of memoirs...
’ Orpheus Descending
Orpheus Descending
Orpheus Descending is a play by Tennessee Williams. It was first presented on Broadway in 1957 where it enjoyed a brief run with only modest success. The play is basically a rewrite of an earlier play by Williams called Battle of Angels, which was written in 1940, but had been closed on its opening...
. Upon graduation, Steven W. Lecky, the Chairman of the program, proudly stated Michael to be “one of the finest talents to emerge from the program in the past 25 years.”
Acting career
After playing the leading character in two award winning professional theatre productions in MontrealMontreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, Mando promptly founded Red Barlo Productions. The company’s first film, Conditional Affection (2010)(which Mando starred in, directed and wrote) was officially selected to Fantasia
Fantasia Festival
Fantasia International Film Festival is a genre film festival that has been based mainly in Montreal since its founding in 1996...
, Bare Bones
Bare Bones International Film Festival
The Bare Bones International Film Festival was founded in 1999 by the Darkwood Film Arts Institute in the city of Muskogee, Oklahoma to showcase low-budget independent movies...
, ACTRA Short Films
ACTRA
The Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists is a Canadian labour union representing performers in English-language media. It has 22,000 members working in film, television, radio, and all other recorded media....
, and the New Hope International Film Festivals.
Mando’s TV debut simultaneously followed with a wide range of contrasting characters. His credits include guest appearances in the crime series The Bridge
The Bridge (TV series)
The Bridge was a Canadian police drama commissioned by CTV and CBS starring Aaron Douglas. The name of the series is derived from the bridge which separates the wealthy Rosedale neighborhood of Toronto with one of its poorest, St. James Town....
(2010), the medical drama mini-series Bloodletting and Miraculous Cures (2010), as an MS 13
Mara Salvatrucha
Mara Salvatrucha is a transnational criminal gang that originated in Los Angeles and has spread to other parts of the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Central America. The majority of the gang is ethnically composed of Central Americans and active in urban and suburban areas...
gang member in The Border
The Border (TV series)
The Border is a Canadian drama airing on CBC Television and 20 other TV networks worldwide. It was created by Peter Raymont, Lindalee Tracey, Janet MacLean and Jeremy Hole of White Pine Pictures. The Executive in Charge of Production is Janice Dawe. Episodes in the first season were directed by...
(2010), and as a close friend of the character Kenzi (played by Ksenia Solo
Ksenia Solo
Ksenia Solo is a Latvian-born Canadian actress, best known for her roles as Tasha on Life Unexpected and as Kenzi on Lost Girl.- Career :...
) in the sci-fi series Lost Girl
Lost Girl (TV series)
Lost Girl is a Canadian supernatural crime drama television series that premiered on the Showcase Television network in September 2010. The series is developed and produced by Prodigy Pictures. The series follows the life of a succubus named Bo, played by Anna Silk, as she learns to control her...
(2010).
Mando has had repeated collaborations with directors John Fawcett
John Fawcett (director)
John Fawcett is a Canadian director of film and television. His best known films are the 2000 werewolf movie Ginger Snaps and the 2005 horror film The Dark...
and Eric Canuel
Eric Canuel
Eric Canuel is a film director and actor from Quebec, Canada.Eric Canuel began his career in the mid-1980s making music videos for such artists as Paul Piché, Sass Jordan, Norman Iceberg, Vilain Pingouin and Sylvain Cossette...
as well as producer David Barlow. Other upcoming credits include a recurring role in Les Blues de Ramville (2011), a starring role in the feature film Territories (2010), a guest appearance in new show King (2011) and two Ubisoft
Ubisoft
Ubisoft Entertainment S.A. is a major French video game publisher and developer, with headquarters in Montreuil, France. The company has a worldwide presence with 25 studios in 17 countries and subsidiaries in 26 countries....
video games to be released in 2011. Mando has also finished shooting his second film under Red Barlo Productions, Abyss of the Mind, which will be released in the spring of 2011.
Personal life
Mando grew up wanting to be a writer or an athlete. He was shot in the knee in his mid-twenties and consequently decided to change directions. He then pursued an academic scholarship at the University of Montreal in International RelationsInternational relations
International relations is the study of relationships between countries, including the roles of states, inter-governmental organizations , international nongovernmental organizations , non-governmental organizations and multinational corporations...
, but shortly after decided to go into acting.
Filmography
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Far Cry 3 | Vaas | Video Game |
| 2011 | King | Esteban Demarco | TV Series |
| 2011 | Les Blues de Ramville | Marc-Andre David | TV Series |
| 2011 | Abyss of the Mind | Johnny H. | Film |
| 2010 | Lost Girl Lost Girl (TV series) Lost Girl is a Canadian supernatural crime drama television series that premiered on the Showcase Television network in September 2010. The series is developed and produced by Prodigy Pictures. The series follows the life of a succubus named Bo, played by Anna Silk, as she learns to control her... |
Neville | TV Series |
| 2010 | The Bridge The Bridge (TV series) The Bridge was a Canadian police drama commissioned by CTV and CBS starring Aaron Douglas. The name of the series is derived from the bridge which separates the wealthy Rosedale neighborhood of Toronto with one of its poorest, St. James Town.... |
K9 | TV Series |
| 2010 | Shaun White Skateboarding Shaun White Skateboarding Shaun White Skateboarding is a skateboarding game developed by Ubisoft Montreal and published by Ubisoft for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii, and Microsoft Windows, released on October 24, 2010. The game is also available through OnLive... |
Francisco Crystobal | Video Game |
| 2010 | Territories | Jal | Film |
| 2010 | The Border The Border (TV series) The Border is a Canadian drama airing on CBC Television and 20 other TV networks worldwide. It was created by Peter Raymont, Lindalee Tracey, Janet MacLean and Jeremy Hole of White Pine Pictures. The Executive in Charge of Production is Janice Dawe. Episodes in the first season were directed by... |
Marco | TV Series |
| 2010 | My Name is Sandy | Larry (Business Man) | Film |
| 2010 | Bloodletting and Miraculous Cures | Dr. Manolas | Mini-Series |
| 2010 | Conditional Affection | Jack | Short Film |
| 2009 | Web of Lies | Danny Wilcox | TV Film |
| 2009 | Flashpoint Flashpoint (TV series) Flashpoint is a Canadian police drama television series that debuted on July 11, 2008, on CTV in Canada and ran on CBS in the United States for its first three and a half seasons. In 2011, Ion Television began airing new episodes of the series in the United States... |
Felipe | TV series |
| 2009 | The Last Templar | Necia First Mate | Mini-Series |