What is Michael Chiklis's Net Worth?
Michael Chiklis is a celebrated actor, best known for his Emmy Award-winning role on FX's police drama series "The Shield." Michael Chiklis has an estimated net worth of $14 million. His notable TV roles include "The Commish," "No Ordinary Family," "Vegas," "American Horror Story: Freak Show," and "Gotham." In film, Chiklis portrayed the Marvel superhero, the Thing, in two "Fantastic Four" movies.
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Michael Chiklis was born on August 30, 1963, in Lowell, Massachusetts to Katherine, a hospital administrative aide, and Charlie, a beauty salon owner. He has Irish and Greek roots. Growing up in Andover, Massachusetts, Chiklis started doing celebrity impressions at the age of five. He participated in various regional theater productions and joined the Actors' Equity Association at the age of 13. He starred in a school production of "M*A*S*H" at Andover High School and later attended Boston University, graduating from its College of Fine Arts.
After graduating college, Chiklis moved to New York and made his film debut as John Belushi in the 1989 biopic "Wired." He also made guest appearances on TV shows like "Miami Vice," "B.L. Stryker," and "Wiseguy."
Television Career
During the early 90s, Chiklis appeared in episodes of "Murphy Brown," "L.A. Law," and "Seinfeld." His first significant role came in 1991 when he played police commissioner Anthony J. Scali on ABC’s "The Commish," which ran for five seasons until 1996. He starred in the short-lived NBC sitcom "Daddio" in 2000 and played Curly Howard in the biopic "The Three Stooges" the same year. He voiced a character on "Heavy Gear: The Animated Series."
Chiklis underwent a dramatic transformation by adopting an intensive workout regimen and shaving his head, which helped him land his most distinguished role as LAPD detective Vic Mackey on FX’s crime drama "The Shield." His performance in the show's first season won him the Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series and the Golden Globe Award. The series aired for seven successful seasons until 2008.
Following "The Shield," Chiklis took on several main roles, including the father with superpowers on ABC’s "No Ordinary Family," Chicago mobster Vincent Savino on CBS’s "Vegas" alongside Dennis Quaid, and Dell Toledo on FX’s "American Horror Story: Freak Show." He also appeared in "Sons of Anarchy" and played Captain Nathaniel Barnes in "Gotham" during its second and third seasons. In 2021, he starred in "Coyote" as a recently retired US Border Patrol agent.
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Film Career
Chiklis appeared in Oliver Stone's "Nixon" in 1995, followed by a role in the 1999 sports drama remake "Body and Soul." He starred alongside Rod Steiger, Jennifer Beals, and Ray Mancini. Other notable films include "Taxman," "Soldier" with Kurt Russell, and "Do Not Disturb" with William Hurt and Jennifer Tilly.
In the early 2000s, he lent his voice to Hayao Miyazaki's "Spirited Away" and "The Adventures of Tom Thumb and Thumbelina." Chiklis portrayed Ben Grimm/The Thing in 2005’s "Fantastic Four" and its 2007 sequel "Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer." He starred with Lucy Liu in "Rise: Blood Hunter" and later in "Eagle Eye," "High School," "Parker" with Jason Statham and Jennifer Lopez. Recent credits include "When the Game Stands Tall," "The Do-Over," "1985," "10 Minutes Gone," and "Don't Look Up."
Music Career
Besides acting, Chiklis is an accomplished musician, skilled in guitar, bass, vocals, and drums. He performs in Boston-based bands like Best Kept Secret and Double Talk. In 2011, Chiklis and his band MCB released singles "Til I Come Home" and "Make Me High." He also released a solo album, "INFLUENCE," which he wrote and produced in his own music studio.
Personal Life
In 1992, Chiklis married Michelle Epstein. They have two daughters, Autumn and Odessa. Autumn played his character's daughter on "The Shield."
A passionate sports fan, Chiklis roots for the Boston Bruins, Boston Red Sox, and New England Patriots. He was featured in the HBO documentary "Curse of the Bambino" and narrated the introduction for the Patriots in Super Bowl XXXIX. Chiklis is also into martial arts, holding a yellow belt in karate.
Real Estate
In 1991, Michael bought a home in Sherman Oaks, California, from David Hasselhoff for $1.1 million. He listed it for $5.2 million in 2017 and sold it for $4.7 million in February 2018. In March 2018, he bought a home in Benedict Canyon, Los Angeles, for $2.6 million.
