Michael Cera

Michael Cera

Cera in 2012
Born Michael Austin Cera
(1988-06-07) June 7, 1988
Brampton, Ontario, Canada
Occupation Actor, musician
Years active 1998–present

Michael Austin Cera (/ˈsɛrə/; born June 7, 1988)[1] is a Canadian actor and musician. He started his career as a child actor, most notably portraying a young Chuck Barris in Confessions of a Dangerous Mind (2002). He is mostly known for his role as George Michael Bluth on the sitcom Arrested Development and for his leading roles in the comedy films Superbad (2007), Juno (2007), Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist (2008) and Youth in Revolt (2010). In 2010, he portrayed Scott Pilgrim in Scott Pilgrim vs. the World and played an exaggerated version of himself in This Is the End (2013). Cera made his Broadway debut in the 2014 installment of Kenneth Lonergan's This Is Our Youth.

Aside from acting, Cera is also a musician, having released his debut album True That in 2014.

Early life

Cera was born in Brampton, Ontario. He is the son of Linda (née Cockman) and Luigi Cera, a technician. His father is Sicilian,[2] and his mother has Irish, Dutch, Scottish, and English ancestry.[3][4] His parents both worked for Xerox.[5] Cera has an older sister, Jordan, and a younger sister, Molly. He became interested in acting after viewing Ghostbusters repeatedly when sick with the chicken pox at the age of three. He memorized all the dialogue and idolized Bill Murray.[6] He enrolled in The Second City Toronto and took improvisation classes.[6]

He attended Conestoga Public School, Robert H. Lagerquist Senior Public School and Heart Lake Secondary School until grade nine, but then completed school online through grade 12.[7][8]

Acting

His first role was an unpaid appearance in a Tim Hortons summer camp commercial.[7][8][9] That eventually led to a Pillsbury commercial in which he poked the Pillsbury Doughboy, his first role with lines.[10]

Cera in 2007

"Arrested Development never felt safe. Even the first season, we did thirteen episodes, and we thought we'd never do a back nine. So I never thought in a million years we'd get to make three seasons. I was happy we got that far. I thought it was really good, and I'm really proud of it. I don't think we made a bad episode."

—Michael Cera, Esquire (2009)[10]

Cera's career began when he was cast as Larrabe Hicks in the Canadian television series I Was a Sixth Grade Alien in 1999. In 2002, Cera played the young Chuck Barris in Confessions of a Dangerous Mind and he also provided the voice for Brother Bear in the 2002 Berenstain Bears animated series. Also in 2002, he was cast in The Grubbs, a new Fox TV series. It received a poor critical response, including an E! Online review that called it "the worst sitcom ever produced".[11] He also voiced Josh Spitz in the cartoon Braceface. He played George Michael Bluth in the award-winning television series Arrested Development for three seasons before it was cancelled for six years.[12] In 2005, he starred as Harold in the award winning short film Darling Darling, for which he was awarded Best Actor at the San Gio Festival in Verona, Italy. In 2006, he created and starred in a parody of Impossible is Nothing, a video résumé created by Aleksey Vayner.[13] He also guest-starred in an episode of teen noir drama Veronica Mars – in the episode "The Rapes of Graff", which also featured Arrested Development co-star Alia Shawkat – and also in the Adult Swim series Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!.

Cera, along with best friend Clark Duke, wrote and starred in a series of short videos released on their website.[12] The idea came from Duke, who was enrolled at Loyola Marymount University and did it for his film school studies.[14] In 2007, they signed a deal with CBS Television to write, produce, direct, and act in a short-form comedy series entitled Clark and Michael.[15] The show featured guest stars such as David Cross, Andy Richter and Patton Oswalt, and was distributed via CBS's new internet channel, CBS Innertube.[16]

Cera also appeared in a staged comedy video that shows him being fired from the lead role of the film Knocked Up after belittling and arguing with the director, in a scene that mocks the David O. Russell blow up on the set of I Heart Huckabees.[12]

Cera starred alongside Jonah Hill in the film Superbad, which was written by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg. The film opened in North America on August 17, 2007. In November 2007, he hosted Saturday Night Live on strike, a live staged version of SNL not shown on television due to the 2007 Writers Guild of America Strike.[17] Also in 2007, Cera co-starred in Juno as Paulie Bleeker, a teenager who impregnates his long-time school friend Juno (Ellen Page). For Superbad and Juno, Cera won Breakthrough Artist in the Austin Film Critics Association Awards 2007.

In 2007, Cera appeared in the comedy short "Drunk History", playing Alexander Hamilton in a comedic retelling of Hamilton's duel with Aaron Burr.[18] Cera starred in the independent film Paper Heart. It was written by and co-starred Charlyne Yi, and premiered at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival where it won a screenwriting award. Cera and Yi composed the movie's soundtrack. He also starred alongside Jack Black in the 2009 comedy Year One. In 2009, Cera's first published short story, "Pinecone", appeared in McSweeney's Quarterly. In January 2010, Cera starred in a film adaptation of the novel Youth in Revolt, in the role of the lead character, Nick Twisp, and his destructive "supplementary persona", François Dillinger.[12][19] Cera played the title character in the film adaptation of the graphic novel Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, released in August 2010.[20]

Cera dressed as Captain America, in promotion of Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, and parody of Captain America: The First Avenger, at the 2010 San Diego Comic Con

In 2013, Cera starred in Magic Magic, a film directed by Sebastian Silva and filmed in Chile, for which he spent "five hours a day learning Spanish".[21] He also worked with Silva in another Chilean film released in 2013 titled Crystal Fairy & the Magical Cactus. He played an exaggerated version of himself in the apocalyptic comedy film This Is the End, which was released in summer of 2013.[22] Cera reprised his role of George Michael Bluth for the fourth season of Arrested Development in May 2013, which he was also a consulting producer on.[23] According to press reports, Cera will appear in the Arrested Development film when it eventually goes into production.[24][25][26]

Cera, along with Reggie Watts, Tim & Eric, and Sarah Silverman created the web-based comedy YouTube channel known as Jash, where he posts short films which he directs and stars in.[27][28] Cera is part of the cast of Burning Love, a web spoof of ABC's The Bachelor and The Bachelorette.

In August 2014, Cera began a run of Kenneth Lonergan's This is Our Youth on Broadway, co-starring with Kieran Culkin and Tavi Gevinson.

Music

In 2010 Cera contributed mandolin and backing vocals to the Weezer song "Hang On" from their album Hurley.[29] Cera has also established himself as the touring bass player in Mister Heavenly, an indie rock band originating in the American northwest,[30] and is a member of the band The Long Goodbye, along with Clark Duke.[31] Cera also played bass and sang back up during songs in both Scott Pilgrim vs. the World and Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist.

He released his full-length debut album True That on August 8, 2014 through his official Bandcamp page.[32][33] The album features 19 original tracks, a cover of Roderick Falconer's "Play It Again" as well as a cover of Blaze Foley's "Clay Pigeons."[34]

In early 2015, Canadian musician Alden Penner released "Meditate", a track from his upcoming EP Canada in Space, which features Cera. Penner subsequently announced that the EP would be released on 29 June 2015 on City Slang records, as well as a European tour of the UK, Netherlands, France, and Germany, which featured Cera as both co-headliner and member of Penner's backing band.[35][36]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2000 Frequency Gordy Hersch Jr. (Age 10)
2000 Steal This Movie! America Hoffman (Age 7–8)
2000 Ultimate G's: Zac's Flying Dream Young Zac
2002 Confessions of a Dangerous Mind Chuck Barris (Age 8–11)
2007 Superbad Evan
2007 Juno Paulie Bleeker
2008 Extreme Movie Fred
2008 Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist Nick O'Leary
2009 Paper Heart Himself
2009 Year One Oh
2009 Youth in Revolt Nick Twisp / François Dillinger
2010 Scott Pilgrim vs. the Animation Scott Pilgrim (voice) Short film
2010 Scott Pilgrim vs. the World Scott Pilgrim
2012 The End of Love Michael
2012 The Immigrant Michael Short film
2013 Crystal Fairy & the Magical Cactus Jamie
2013 Magic Magic Brink Also executive producer
2013 Brazzaville Teen-Ager Gunther Short film; also director and writer
2013 Failure Man Short film; also director and writer
2013 This Is the End Himself
2013 Gregory Go Boom Gregory Short film
2013 Bitch Himself Short film; also director and writer
2014 Hits Bennie
2015 Entertainment Tommy
2015 That Dog Tim Short film
2015 A Very Murray Christmas Jackie the Talent Agent
2016 Sausage Party Barry (voice)
2017 Person to Person TBA Completed
2017 Lemon Alex Completed
2017 The Lego Batman Movie Robin (voice) In production
2017 How to Be a Latin Lover TBA Post-production
2017 Blazing Samurai Hank (voice) In production
2017 Molly's Game Player X Filming

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1999 Twice in a Lifetime Skateboarder #2 Episode: "The Blame Game"
1999–2001 I Was a Sixth Grade Alien Larrabe Hicks 44 episodes
1999 Noddy Butch Episode: "Big Bullies"
1999 Switching Goals Taylor Television film
1999 What Katy Did Dorry Television film
2000 La Femme Nikita Jerome Episode: "He Came from Four"
2001–2004 Braceface Josh Spitz (voice) 40 episodes
2001 Doc Max 2 episodes
2001 The Ripping Friends Boy Boy / Young Boy (voices) 2 episodes
2001 Stolen Miracle Brandon McKinley Television film
2001 My Louisiana Sky Jesse Wade Thompson Television film
2001 The Familiar Stranger Young Ted Welsh Television film
2001 Walter and Henry Crying Kid Television film
2003–2004 The Berenstain Bears Brother Bear (voice) 40 episodes
2003 Rolie Polie Olie Little Gizmo (voice) 4 episodes
2003 Pecola Robbie Rabbit (voice) 26 episodes
2003–2006
2013
Arrested Development George Michael Bluth 64 episodes
Consulting producer (season 4)
2005 Wayside Todd (voice) Episode: "Pilot"
2006 Veronica Mars Dean Rudolph Episode: "The Rapes of Graff"
2006 Tom Goes to the Mayor Scrotch (voice) Episode: "Undercover"
2007 Clark and Michael Mikey Cera Also co-creator, director, writer and producer
2007 Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! Jamie Stevens Episode: "Cats"
2008–2016 Childrens Hospital Sal Viscuso (voice) 63 episodes
2012 The Simpsons Nick (voice) Episode: "The Daughter Also Rises"
2012; 2015 Comedy Bang! Bang! Himself 2 episodes
2013–2016 Drunk History John Endicott / Morris Cohen / Andrew Jackson 3 episodes
2014 Saturday Night Live Surrogate Episode: "Jonah Hill/Bastille"
2014 How and Why Mendelsohn Pilot
2015 Louie Young Man Episode: "Sleepover"
2015 Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp Jim Stansel 3 episodes
2017 Twin Peaks TBA

Discography

Studio albums
Soundtrack

Awards and nominations

Year Result Award Category Nominee
2002 Nominated Young Artist Award Best Performance in a TV Movie or Special: Supporting Young Actor My Louisiana Sky
2004 Won TV Land Award TV Land Future Classic Award Arrested Development
2005 Nominated Screen Actors Guild Award Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series
2006 Nominated
2007 Won Chicago Film Critics Association Most Promising Performer Juno
Won Austin Film Critics Association Breakthrough Artist Award
Won Superbad
2008 Nominated Critics' Choice Movie Awards Best Young Actor
Nominated Juno
Nominated Best Acting Ensamble
Nominated Canadian Comedy Awards Best Performance by a Male: Film Superbad
Nominated MTV Movie Awards Breakthrough Performance
Nominated Best Kiss Juno
Nominated Best Male Performance
Nominated Satellite Awards Best Actor in a Motion Picture: Comedy or Musical Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist
Nominated Teen Choice Awards Choice Movie Actor: Comedy Superbad
Nominated Choice Movie Breakout: Male
Nominated Best Movie Actor: Comedy Juno
Nominated Choice Movie Breakout: Male
Nominated Choice Comedian Himself
2009 Nominated British Academy Film Awards Rising Star Award
Nominated Teen Choice Awards Choice Movie Actor: Music/Dance Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist
2010 Won Satellite Awards Best Actor in a Motion Picture: Comedy or Musical Scott Pilgrim vs. the World
2011 Nominated Teen Choice Awards Choice Movie Actor: Action
2014 Nominated Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series Arrested Development

See also

References

  1. Schneller, Johanna (2007-12-29). "Triple threat". The Globe and Mail. pp. R1–3.
  2. Synnot, Siobhan (2009-01-25). "Irresistible rise of the nerd", Scotland on Sunday, p. 6.
  3. Rhodes, Joe (2007-08-15). "'Superbad' – but in a good way". Springfield State Journal Register. Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2007-08-18.
  4. Irish Daily Star http://www.thestar.ie/star/michael-cera-colin-is-farr-too-boring-25292/. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  5. Biography Today. Detroit, Michigan: Omnigraphics. 2009. p. 19. ISBN 978-0-7808-1051-8.
  6. 1 2 "Biography Today", pp.20
  7. 1 2 Leszcz, Benjamin (2006-01-04). "The essence of adolescence". National Post. Retrieved 2007-08-20.
  8. 1 2 Strauss, Bob (2007-12-08). "Hollywood heavy still a Brampton beanpole". The Globe and Mail. p. R1.
  9. Leszcz, Benjamin (August 2007). "Que Sera Cera". Toronto Life. Retrieved 2007-12-19.
  10. 1 2 Jones, Chris (July 2009), "Michael Cera". Esquire. 152 (1):86–88
  11. "Biography Today", pp.21–23
  12. 1 2 3 4 Male, Andrew (2007-09-15). "Sardonic youth". London: Guardian Unlimited. Retrieved 2007-09-15.
  13. (2006-12-20). "Youtube ''Impossible is the Opposite of Possible''". Youtube.com. Retrieved 2010-12-07.
  14. "Biography Today", pp.24
  15. "Clark and Michael website". Clarkandmichael.com. Retrieved 2010-12-07.
  16. "Wired ''Sitcom to Bitcom''". Wired.com. 2009-01-04. Retrieved 2010-12-07.
  17. Strauss, Bob (2007-12-08). "Hollywood heavy still a Brampton beanpole". The Globe and Mail. p. R1.
  18. "UCBcomedy.com". UCBcomedy.com. Retrieved 2010-12-07.
  19. Dimension Films (2007-08-15). "Michael Cera Is Nick Twisp". MovieWeb. Archived from the original on 2007-09-30. Retrieved 2007-08-19.
  20. "Here's what happens". Bryan Lee O' Malley. Retrieved April 4, 2008.
  21. Hernandez, Lee (2011-02-11). ""Juno" Star Michael Cera Takes Up Spanish as a Second Language". Latina magazine. Retrieved 2011-02-11.
  22. Bricken, Rob (April 2, 2013). "The new This Is the End redband trailer contains Michael Cera's graphic death. That is all.". io9. Gawker Media. Archived from the original on December 20, 2012. Retrieved April 6, 2013.
  23. Egner, Jeremy (2013-05-24). "Michael Cera on the Return of 'Arrested Development'". The New York Times.
  24. Dos Santos, Kristin (2009-02-24). "Sources: Michael Cera Joins Arrested Development Movie". E! Online – Watch with Kristin. Retrieved 2009-02-27.
  25. Crider, Michael (October 2, 2011). "'Arrested Development' Returning For Season 4 – To Lead Into Movie". Screenrant. Retrieved May 1, 2012.
  26. Porter, Rick (April 18, 2012). "'Arrested Development' Season 4: Netflix releasing all 10 episodes at once next year". Zap2it. Retrieved May 1, 2012.
  27. Matheson, Whitney (2013-03-11). "JASH: Your fave comedians launch a YouTube channel". USA Today. Retrieved 11 March 2013.
  28. Danton, Eric R. (2013-03-11). "Sarah Silverman, Michael Cera Launch JASH Comedy Channel on YouTube". Rolling Stone Magazine. Retrieved 11 March 2013.
  29. Dorof, Jakob. "Weezer – Hurley". Slantmagazine. Retrieved 23 November 2010.
  30. December 2, 2010 12:40 a.m. by Erik Ziedses des Plantes (2010-11-30). "Michael Cera Is Apparently Mister Heavenly's Bassist". Prefixmag.com. Retrieved 2010-12-07.
  31. "Michael Cera's Long Goodbye". Spin. August 22, 2007. Retrieved August 13, 2014.
  32. 1 2 Gordon, Jeremy (August 13, 2014). "Michael Cera Released a Surprise Album Last Night". Pitchfork. Retrieved August 13, 2014.
  33. 1 2 Travis, Ben (August 13, 2014). "Michael Cera releases album online". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved August 13, 2014.
  34. Todd Olmstead (August 13, 2014). "Michael Cera Quietly Releases an Album That You Can Stream". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved August 13, 2014.
  35. Camp, Zoe. "The Unicorns' Alden Penner Teams With Michael Cera for New EP and Tour". Pitchfork. Pitchfork Media Inc. Retrieved 20 June 2015.
  36. music, Guardian. "Michael Cera to tour with the Unicorns' Alden Penner". Guardian News and Media Ltd. Retrieved 20 June 2015.
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