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Michael A. Goorjian

Known For
Directing

Known Credits
44

Gender
Male

Birthday
February 4, 1971 (55 years old)

Place of Birth
San Francisco, California, USA

Michael A. Goorjian

Biography

Michael A. Goorjian (born February 4, 1971; San Francisco) is an American filmmaker, writer and actor. Goorjian won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or Special for his role as David Goodson in the television film David's Mother (1994). He is also known for his role as Justin, Neve Campbell’s love interest on the series Party of Five (1994–2000), as well as Heroin Bob in the film SLC Punk! (1998) and its sequel, Punk's Dead (2016). As a director, Goorjian achieved recognition for his first major independent film, Illusion (2004), which he wrote, directed and starred in alongside Hollywood legend Kirk Douglas.

Goorjian was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area. His father, Peter, is Armenian, with his paternal grandparents being survivors of the Armenian genocide; his mother, Sarah, is of Scottish-American descent. Goorjian grew up in Oakland, California, and attended Bishop O'Dowd High School, which had a strong drama program. At the age of 14, he decided to audition for a local theatre company, thinking it was a ‘cool way’ to skip class; after successfully landing the lead role in a 'not-so-cool' play called Computer Crazy, Goorjian soon found out that the rest of the cast were all senior citizens and that he would have to perform the play at his own junior high school. Despite this seemingly rather humiliating experience, Goorjian stuck with acting, eventually training at UCLA’s School of Theatre, Film and Television. Goorjian’s first big Hollywood break came as a dancer when, in 1992, he was cast as ‘Skittery’ in the Disney film Newsies (starring Christian Bale and Robert Duvall). What followed were roles in numerous subsequent films, including Chaplin (with Robert Downey Jr.), Forever Young (with Mel Gibson), the Oscar-nominated Leaving Las Vegas, Hard Rain (with Morgan Freeman and Christian Slater), SLC Punk! (with Devon Sawa), The Invisibles (with Portia de Rossi), Broken (with Heather Graham) and Conversations with God.

Goorjian made his first real foray into directing with the mock-documentary Oakland Underground, a comedy about an underground occult music scene in Oakland, CA. From there, Goorjian made Illusion with Kirk Douglas, which was released theatrically in 2006 after racking up over a dozen festival awards, including Best Screenplay at The Hampton’s International Film Festival, Best Feature at the Lake Tahoe International Film Festival and The Audience Award at the Sonoma International Film Festival. With Illusion Goorjian was critically lauded for his ability to blend great filmmaking with philosophical depth. Soon after Illusion, Goorjian began collaborating with the publishing company Hay House to produce and direct a number of films including the documentary You Can Heal Your Life (2007), starring metaphysical author and teacher, Louise L. Hay and The Shift, starring author Dr. Wayne Dyer, along with Michael DeLuise and Portia de Rossi. His most recent work with Hay House is an original film anthology called Tales of Everyday Magic, which explores meaningful philosophical ideas through intimate character-driven stories.

Known For

Directing

2022Amerikatsi...Director
2012Entanglement...Director
2012The Magic Hand of Chance...Director
2012Painting the Future...Director
2012Tales of Everyday Magic...Director
2012My Greatest Teacher...Director
2009The Shift...Director
2007You Can Heal Your Life...Director
2007The War Prayer...Director
2006Players' Club...Director
2004Illusion...Director
1998Call Waiting...Director
1997Oakland Underground...Director
1991Blood Drips Heavily on Newsie Square...Director

Writing

2022Amerikatsi...Writer
2012Entanglement...Writer
2012The Magic Hand of Chance...Writer
2012Painting the Future...Writer
2012Tales of Everyday Magic...Writer
2012My Greatest Teacher...Writer
2004Illusion...Writer
2002The Mesmerist...Screenplay
2001Amerikana...Writer
1997Oakland Underground...Writer

Production

2022Amerikatsi...Producer
2011Part Time Fabulous...Associate Producer
1999The Invisibles...Producer
1997Oakland Underground...Producer

Editing

2022Amerikatsi...Editor
2007The War Prayer...Editor

Crew

2007The War Prayer...Technical Supervisor

Acting

2022Land of Dreamsas Bartender
2022Amerikatsias Charlie
2022The Lincoln Lawyeras Alex Grant
2018Pin-Upas Guy
2017The Wizard of Liesas Dan Horwitz
2016Punk's Dead: SLC Punk 2as Bob
2016Luciferas Elliot Richards
2010Covert Affairsas Borz Altan
2009Lie to Meas Franko James Vincent / Glen Welsh
2008Around Juneas Mr. Lewis
2007Brokenas Thomas
2006Conversations with Godas Roy
2005Eyesas Bobby Creech
2004Houseas Sean Randolph
2004Illusionas Christopher
2002Without a Traceas Ricky Wilson
2002CSI: Miamias John Stockman
2002Monkas Jacob Carlyle
2002Go for Brokeas Rome / Romie
2002The Mesmeristas Coroner #1
2001Aliasas Andre Sterescu
2001Amerikanaas Peter
2000Something Moreas Sam
2000Deal of a Lifetimeas Henry
2000CSI: Crime Scene Investigationas Aaron Pratt
1999Do Not Disturbas Billy Boy Manson
1999Here Lies Lonelyas Sid
1999Life in a Dayas Dr. Peter Hamilton
1999The Invisiblesas Jude
1998SLC Punkas Bob
1998Hard Rainas Kenny
1998Art Houseas Danny Farthing
1995Leaving Las Vegasas College Boy 1
1994Touched by an Angelas Budd Glaser
1994Chicago Hopeas Jacob Joffe
1994Party of Fiveas Justin Thompson
1994Blind Justiceas Soldier #1
1994David's Motheras David Goodson
1993The Flood: Who Will Save Our Children?as Scott Chapman
1992Chaplinas Charles Chaplin Jr
1992Forever Youngas Steven
1992Newsiesas Skittery
1991Blood Drips Heavily on Newsie Squareas Self
1985Growing Painsas Hank Miller