Michael Emerson Biography (Ben) - 'Lost' Actor Michael Emerson

From Bonnie Covel, former About.com Guide

See More About:

Michael Emerson

©ABC/Mario Perez

Michael Emerson's 'Lost' Role:

Benjamin Linus, one of the Others. Before it was known that he was an Other, he went by the name Henry Gale.

Birth:

September 7, 1954 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Early Career:

While pursuing acting Michael Emerson worked in retail and as a freelance illustrator for several publications, including The Boston Globe and The New York Times. Later he acted in local productions and worked as a teacher and director.

Education:

Majored in Theater at Drake University, then enrolled in the Alabama Shakespeare Festival's University of Alabama.

Family:

Michael Emerson has been married to his second wife, Carrie Preston, since 1998.

Of Note:

Michael Emerson is mostly a stage actor and worries about the power of TV. He said that more people saw him on The Practice than will ever see him in all the stage plays he'll ever do. He's not sure whether to be humbled or troubled by that fact.

He wasn't cast on Lost until the second season. Previous to that, he'd watched most of the episodes because his wife is a Lostaholic. He was cast for three episodes, but the producers liked him so much, they brought him back. By season three he was a main character.