Michael Emerson - wikipedia Michael Emerson Michael Emerson Emerson at the 2013 San Diego Comic Con ( 1954 - 09 - 07 ) September 7, 1954 ( age 63 ) Cedar Rapids, Iowa, US Nationality American Alma mater Drake University ( BA, Theater Arts, 1976 ) University of Alabama ( MFA, 1995 ) Occupation Actor Years active 1986 -- present Spouse ( s ) ( First wife ) ( divorced ) Carrie Preston ( m. 1998 ) Michael Emerson ( born September 7, 1954 ) is an American film and television actor who is best known for his roles as serial killer William Hinks on The Practice, Benjamin Linus on Lost, Zep Hindle in the first Saw film, and Harold Finch on the CBS series Person of Interest. Emerson has also worked extensively in theater and narration. He has won two Primetime Emmy Awards and been nominated for three others, as well as receiving other awards and nominations. Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 3 Personal life 4 Filmography 4.1 Film 4.2 Television 4.3 Video games 5 Theater 6 Other work 7 Awards 8 References 9 External links Early life Emerson was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to Carol ( née Hansen ) and Ronald H. Emerson. He grew up in Toledo, Iowa, where he attended South Tama County High School and was a member of its marching band. He graduated in 1976 from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, where he majored in Theater and a minored in Art. He studied a semester at the National Theater Institute at The Eugene O'Neill Theater Center, then moved to New York City. Unable to find acting work, he took retail jobs and worked as an illustrator. In 1986, he moved to Jacksonville, Florida, where ( from 1986 -- 93 ) he appeared in local productions at Theater Jacksonville and The Players by the Sea and worked as a director and teacher at Flagler College. After several years of differing kinds of work including illustration and teaching, Emerson earned a Master of Fine Arts degree at the University of Alabama in the Alabama Shakespeare Festival acting program. Career Upon graduation from the University of Alabama in 1995, Emerson returned to New York City where he appeared in the annual Alabama Shakespeare Festival showcase. Emerson landed a starring role in 1997 as Oscar Wilde in Moises Kaufman 's critically acclaimed off - Broadway play Gross Indecency : The Three Trials of Oscar Wilde, and then followed up with several other notable stage performances. In 1998, he performed opposite Uma Thurman in an off - Broadway production of Le Misanthrope. In 1999, he played the role of Willie Oban in The Iceman Cometh. He co-starred with Kate Burton in both Give Me Your Answer, Do ! and Hedda Gabler. In September 2001, Emerson won an Emmy Award as `` Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series '', for playing serial killer William Hinks in several episodes of The Practice. In 2006, Emerson began a guest - star role as Benjamin Linus on the serial drama television series Lost. Emerson was originally set to appear in a small number of episodes, then returned for Season 3 as a main cast member and eventually became a main antagonist of the program. He received an Emmy Award nomination in the `` Outstanding Supporting Actor '' category in 2007 and 2008 for his work in the third and fourth seasons, respectively. He finally won the award in 2009 after being nominated for his role in the fifth season. Emerson was nominated in 2009 for a Golden Globe in the `` Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role '' category. He was nominated for an Emmy for each season in which he was listed in the main cast. On Lost, Emerson 's wife Carrie Preston portrayed Emily Linus ( Emerson 's character 's mother ) in the flashback sequences of the episode `` The Man Behind the Curtain ''. The two teamed up again, with Emerson portraying Preston 's next - door neighbor, in the film Ready ? OK ! ( 2008 ). Most recently, Preston appeared in several episodes of Person of Interest as Grace Hendricks, the former fiancée of Emerson 's character, Harold Finch. On July 31, 2010, Emerson and Preston read A.R. Gurney 's Love Letters, which was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize for Drama, at the Charleston Stage. They performed it as a fundraiser for the Stage, a South Carolina theatre. The reading was followed by a brief and intimate Question and Answer session. Michael Emerson filming Person of Interest in New York City Emerson was set to reunite with former Lost cast member and friend Terry O'Quinn, in a comedy - drama tentatively titled Odd Jobs, by J.J. Abrams. It was expected to start filming by the end of 2010, but further development of the show has been postponed. Emerson joined the cast of another Abrams series, Person of Interest, that debuted in September 2011 on CBS. He played a billionaire who teams up with a supposedly dead CIA agent to fight crime in New York City. Personal life Emerson is married to actress Carrie Preston, who plays his fiancee, Grace Hendricks, in Person of Interest. Emerson met Preston while he was performing in a stage production of Hamlet in Alabama. They married in September 1998, and both Emerson and his wife starred in Straight - Jacket ( 2004 ). He was previously married, and the couple resided in Florida before divorcing. Emerson is a long - time supporter of the charities connected to the theatre community, including the Actors Fund, Broadway Cares, and Off - Off Broadway, in addition to publicly supported radio stations and Habitat for Humanity. Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes The Journey Michael 1998 The Impostors Burtom 's Assistant Playing by Heart Bosco 1999 I 'll Take You There Tom For Love of the Game Gallery Doorman 2002 The Laramie Project Reverend Unfaithful Josh Saw Zep Hindle Straight - Jacket Victor 2005 Saw II Zep Hindle Uncredited ; archive sound 29th and Gay Gorilla The Legend of Zorro Harrigan 2006 Saw III Zep Hindle Uncredited ; archive footage Jumping Off Bridges Frank Nelson 2008 Ready ? OK ! Charlie New Saw 3D Zep Hindle Uncredited ; archive footage Goldstar, Ohio Steve Harper 2012 Batman : The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1 The Joker ( voice ) Straight - to - Video 2013 Batman : The Dark Knight Returns, Part 2 Straight - to - Video Television Year Title Role Notes Orpheus Descending Clown Television movie 1998 Grace & Glorie Arnold Dudley Television movie 1999 Stark Raving Mad Mr. Putnam Episode : `` The Psychic '' 2000 The District Man in Bar Episode : `` Pilot '' 2000 -- 2001 The Practice William Hinks 6 episodes Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series The Education of Max Bickford Unknown Episode : `` Herding Carts '' Sounds from a Town I Love Unknown Television movie 2002 Law & Order : Criminal Intent Gerry Rankin Episode : `` Phantom '' The X-Files Oliver Martin Episode : `` Sunshine Days '' 2003 Without a Trace Stuart Wesmar Episode : `` Victory for Humanity '' Skin Scarpelli Episode : `` Secrets & Lies '' Whoopi F. Thomas Erickson Episode : `` The Fat and the Frivolous '' Law & Order : Special Victims Unit Allan Shaye Episode : `` Ritual '' 2005 The Inside Marty Manning Episode : `` Pre-Filer '' 2006 -- 2010 Lost Ben Linus Main role, 79 episodes Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor on Television Nominated -- Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor -- Series, Miniseries or Television Film Nominated -- Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series ( 2007 -- 08, 2010 ) Nominated -- Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actor -- Series, Miniseries or Television Film ( 2006 -- 07 ) Nominated -- Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor on Television ( 2007, 2009 -- 11 ) Nominated -- Teen Choice Award for Choice TV Villain 2007 Lost : Missing Pieces Ben Linus 2 episodes Front Line John Winthrop Episode : `` God In America '' 2011 Parenthood Andy Fitzgerald Episode : `` Amazing Andy and His Wonderful World of Bugs '' G.I. Joe : Renegades Doctor Venom Episode : `` The Anaconda Strain '' Generator Rex Alpha Nanite Episode : `` Ben 10 / Generator Rex Heroes United '' 2011 -- 2016 Person of Interest Harold Finch Main role, 103 episodes 2014 The Mystery of Matter : Search for the Elements Narrator 3 episodes 2017 Arrow Cayden James Recurring Role Claws Ted Episode : `` Ambrosia '' Video games Year Title Role Notes 2008 Lost : Via Domus Ben Linus ( voice ) Theater Othello, University of North Florida Noises Off ( as Gary ), Theatre Jacksonville, 1986 or 1987 Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare at the Met, 1987 Hamlet ( as Hamlet ), University of North Florida Theatre, Jacksonville, Florida, 1987 Hamlet ( as Hamlet ), Players - By - The - Sea Theatre, Jacksonville Beach, Florida The Importance of Being Earnest, Arkansas Repertory Theatre, 1990 Parts Unknown, Players - By - The - Sea Theatre, Jacksonville Beach, Florida, 1993 The Tempest ( as Ferdinand ), Alabama Shakespeare Festival, 1994 or 1995 The Way of the World ( as Lady Wishfort ), Alabama Shakespeare Festival, 1994 or 1995 Hamlet ( as Rosencrantz ), Alabama Shakespeare Festival, 1994 or 1995 All 's Well That Ends Well, Alabama Shakespeare Festival, 1994 or 1995 Henry IV, Part 1, Alabama Shakespeare Festival, 1994 or 1995 A Christmas Carol, Alabama Shakespeare Festival, 1994 or 1995 The Crucible, Alabama Shakespeare Festival, 1994 or 1995 Amadeus, Arkansas Repertory Theatre, 1995 Androcles and the Lion, Alabama Shakespeare Festival, 1995 or 1996 Gross Indecency : The Trials of Oscar Wilde ( as Oscar Wilde ), Minetta Lane Theatre, off - Broadway, 1997 -- 1998 The Misanthrope, Classic Stage Company, 1998 The Iceman Cometh ( as Willie Oban ), Brooks Atkinson Theatre, 1999 Give Me Your Answer, Do ! ( as David Knight ), Gramercy Theatre, off - Broadway, 1999 -- 2000 Hedda Gabler ( as George Tesman ), Williamstown Theatre Festival, Main Stage, 2000 Hedda Gabler ( as George Tesman ), Ambassador Theatre, Broadway, 2001 -- 2002 Only the End of the World ( as Louis ), Theatre 3, off - Broadway, 2002 Frequency Hopping ( as George Antheil ), Hourglass Group, 2002 Tartuffe ( as Cleante ), American Airlines Theatre, Broadway, 2003 Measure for Measure ( as Duke Vincentio ), California Shakespeare Theater, Orinda, California, 2003 Someone Who 'll Watch Over Me, The Ridgefield Playhouse for Movies and the Performing Arts, 2004 Hamlet ( as Ghost, Claudius, Osric, and Guildenstern ), McCarter Theatre Center, Princeton, New Jersey, 2005 Bach at Leipzig ( as Schott ), New York Theatre Workshop, 2005 Likeness, Primary Stages Theater ( 307 W. 38th Street ), 2008 Every Good Boy Deserves Favour ( as Alexander ), Chautauqua Theater Company, 2008 Love Letters ( as Andrew Makepeace Ladd, III ), Charleston Stage, 2010 Wakey, Wakey ( play by Will Eno ) Signature Theatre ( as Guy ), 2017 Other work In 2000, played the unnamed narrator character in the radio play adaptation of the Neil Gaiman short story, Murder Mysteries. In 2001, participated in a Woody Allen short called `` Sounds From a Town I Love '' which aired on television during The Concert for New York City and depicts people talking on their cellphones as they walk around New York City. In 2003, participated in a staged reading of a play involving string theory written by Jacquelyn Reingold called String Fever at Rockefeller University. In 2003, was the voice of George Washington in Favorite Son, an experimental documentary film about the relationship between George Washington and Alexander Hamilton. In 2005, narrated audio book CD of Robert Penn Warren 's novel All the King 's Men. In 2006, narrated audio book CD of The Amalgamation Polka by Stephen Wright, published. In 2007, with other Lost cast members, he participated in a play - reading session at the Tenney Theatre in Hawaii to raise money for the Honolulu Theatre for Youth. In 2009, narrated a reading of `` Babar the Elephant '' with the Honolulu Symphony Orchestra. Co-narrated with Peter J. Fernandez, the audio book version of James Patterson 's novel, Four Blind Mice. Co-narrated with John Rubinstein the audio book of the novel Private Sector by Brian Haig. Narrated the Neil Gaiman American Gods novella The Monarch of the Glen ( from Fragile Things ) in volume III of an audio book series called `` Legends II : New Short Novels by the Masters of Modern Fantasy ''. Awards Primetime Emmy Awards : Won - 53rd Primetime Emmy Awards ( Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series ) for playing `` William Hinks '' on The Practice, 2001. Nominated - 59th Primetime Emmy Awards ( Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series ) for portraying Ben Linus on Lost, 2007. Nominated - 60th Primetime Emmy Awards ( Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series ) for portraying Ben Linus on Lost, 2008. Won - 61st Primetime Emmy Awards ( Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series ) for portraying Ben Linus on Lost, 2009. Nominated - 62nd Primetime Emmy Awards ( Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series ) for portraying Ben Linus on Lost, 2010. Golden Globe Awards : Nominated - 67th Golden Globe Awards ( Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television ) for portraying Ben Linus on LOST, 2010. Saturn Awards : Won - 34th Saturn Awards ( Best Supporting Television Actor ) for portraying Ben Linus on Lost, 2008. Nominated - 35th Saturn Awards ( Best Supporting Television Actor ) for portraying Ben Linus on Lost, 2009. Nominated - 36th Saturn Awards ( Best Supporting Television Actor ) for portraying Ben Linus on Lost, 2010. Nominated - 37th Saturn Awards ( Best Supporting Television Actor ) for portraying Ben Linus on Lost, 2011. References ^ Jump up to : `` Alumnus Michael Emerson wins Emmy Award for work in ' Lost ' ''. news.drake.edu. Drake University. October 5, 2009. ^ Jump up to : Michael, Emerson ( 2012 ). `` Interview with Actor Michael Emerson ''. StatedMag.com. Interview with Jimmy Aquino. Retrieved April 24, 2017. ^ Jump up to : Michael Emerson profile, michaelemerson.net ; accessed December 1, 2014. Jump up ^ Profile, tamatoledonews.com ; accessed December 1, 2014. Jump up ^ `` Theatre ''. drake.edu. Drake University. Archived from the original on May 6, 2008. Retrieved April 24, 2017. ^ Jump up to : `` Ben Linus : Played by Michael Emerson ''. abc.go.com. American Broadcasting Company. Archived from the original on August 5, 2011. Retrieved December 1, 2014. ^ Jump up to : Emerson, Michael ( March 8, 2007 ). `` ( Untitled ) ''. The Morning Show with Mike & Juliet ( Interview ). ^ Jump up to : Audio commentary for `` The Man Behind the Curtain '', Season 3 DVD set of Lost. Jump up ^ `` Primetime Emmy Nominations for 2009 ''. Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved April 10, 2012. Jump up ^ `` Primetime Emmy Award Database ''. Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. Retrieved April 10, 2012. Jump up ^ `` Ben Linus Wants A True Blood Cameo ''. io9.com. 2009 - 03 - 18. Retrieved 2012 - 05 - 21. Jump up ^ Jackson, Erica ( 2010 - 08 - 03 ). `` Prime - time stars chip in for Charleston Stage fundraiser ''. Charleston City Paper. Retrieved 2012 - 05 - 21. Jump up ^ Andreeva, Nellie ( 2010 - 02 - 16 ). `` Lost 's Michael Emerson Reunites With J.J. Abrams In CBS Pilot Person Of Interest ''. tvline.com. Retrieved 2011 - 02 - 17. Jump up ^ `` Person of Interest ( 2011 -- 2016 ) Full Cast & Crew ''. IMDb.com. Internet Movie Database. Retrieved April 24, 2017. Carrie Preston... Grace Hendricks ( 8 episodes, 2012 - 2016 ) ^ Jump up to : Charlie Patton ( 1999 - 05 - 16 ). `` If he can make it there... '' The Florida Times - Union. Retrieved 2008 - 03 - 24. Jump up ^ `` Theatre Jacksonville, season 67 ''. Theatre Jacksonville. Retrieved 2008 - 03 - 25. Jump up ^ `` Letters to the Editor, `` Cheers for Michael '' ``. First Coast Community. 1999 - 06 - 12. Retrieved 2008 - 03 - 30. ^ Jump up to : `` Emerson 's career took him through Montgomery ''. The Anniston Star. 2008 - 01 - 31. Retrieved 2008 - 03 - 15. ^ Jump up to : `` Primetime Emmy ® Award Database ''. Emmys.com. Retrieved 2012 - 05 - 21. Jump up ^ `` HFPA - Nominations and Winners ''. Goldenglobes.org. Archived from the original on 2012 - 10 - 22. Retrieved 2012 - 05 - 21. External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to Michael Emerson. Michael Emerson on IMDb Michael Emerson at the Internet Broadway Database Michael Emerson at the Internet Off - Broadway Database Official website ; accessed December 2, 2014. Meet Michael Emerson ; an unofficial fansite ; accessed December 2, 2014. Interview Blender.com ; accessed December 2, 2014. ABC.com bio ; accessed December 2, 2014. Huffington Post interview ; accessed December 2, 2014. Awards for Michael Emerson Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series Patrick McGoohan ( 1975 ) Gordon Jackson ( 1976 ) Louis Gossett Jr. ( 1977 ) Barnard Hughes ( 1978 ) John Lithgow ( 1986 ) Joe Spano ( 1989 ) Patrick McGoohan ( 1990 ) David Opatoshu ( 1991 ) Laurence Fishburne ( 1993 ) Richard Kiley ( 1994 ) Paul Winfield ( 1995 ) Peter Boyle ( 1996 ) Pruitt Taylor Vince ( 1997 ) John Larroquette ( 1998 ) Edward Herrmann ( 1999 ) James Whitmore ( 2000 ) Michael Emerson ( 2001 ) Charles S. Dutton ( 2002 ) Charles S. Dutton ( 2003 ) William Shatner ( 2004 ) Ray Liotta ( 2005 ) Christian Clemenson ( 2006 ) John Goodman ( 2007 ) Glynn Turman ( 2008 ) Michael J. Fox ( 2009 ) John Lithgow ( 2010 ) Paul McCrane ( 2011 ) Jeremy Davies ( 2012 ) Dan Bucatinsky ( 2013 ) Joe Morton ( 2014 ) Reg E. Cathey ( 2015 ) Hank Azaria ( 2016 ) Gerald McRaney ( 2017 ) Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series Dennis Weaver ( 1959 ) Roddy McDowall ( 1961 ) Albert Paulsen ( 1964 ) James Daly ( 1966 ) Eli Wallach ( 1967 ) Milburn Stone ( 1968 ) James Brolin ( 1970 ) David Burns ( 1971 ) Jack Warden ( 1972 ) Scott Jacoby ( 1973 ) Michael Moriarty ( 1974 ) Will Geer ( 1975 ) Anthony Zerbe ( 1976 ) Gary Frank ( 1977 ) Robert Vaughn ( 1978 ) Stuart Margolin ( 1979 ) Stuart Margolin ( 1980 ) Michael Conrad ( 1981 ) Michael Conrad ( 1982 ) James Coco ( 1983 ) Bruce Weitz ( 1984 ) Edward James Olmos ( 1985 ) John Karlen ( 1986 ) John Hillerman ( 1987 ) Larry Drake ( 1988 ) Larry Drake ( 1989 ) Jimmy Smits ( 1990 ) Timothy Busfield ( 1991 ) Richard Dysart ( 1992 ) Chad Lowe ( 1993 ) Fyvush Finkel ( 1994 ) Ray Walston ( 1995 ) Ray Walston ( 1996 ) Héctor Elizondo ( 1997 ) Gordon Clapp ( 1998 ) Michael Badalucco ( 1999 ) Richard Schiff ( 2000 ) Bradley Whitford ( 2001 ) John Spencer ( 2002 ) Joe Pantoliano ( 2003 ) Michael Imperioli ( 2004 ) William Shatner ( 2005 ) Alan Alda ( 2006 ) Terry O'Quinn ( 2007 ) Željko Ivanek ( 2008 ) Michael Emerson ( 2009 ) Aaron Paul ( 2010 ) Peter Dinklage ( 2011 ) Aaron Paul ( 2012 ) Bobby Cannavale ( 2013 ) Aaron Paul ( 2014 ) Peter Dinklage ( 2015 ) Ben Mendelsohn ( 2016 ) John Lithgow ( 2017 ) Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor on Television Dennis Haysbert ( 1999 ) James Marsters ( 2000 ) Michael Rosenbaum ( 2001 ) Victor Garber ( 2002 ) James Marsters ( 2003 ) Terry O'Quinn ( 2004 ) James Callis ( 2005 ) Masi Oka ( 2006 ) Michael Emerson ( 2007 ) Adrian Pasdar ( 2008 ) Aaron Paul ( 2009 ) John Noble ( 2010 ) Aaron Paul ( 2011 ) Jonathan Banks ( 2012 ) Aaron Paul ( 2013 ) Laurence Fishburne ( 2014 ) Richard Armitage ( 2015 ) Ed Harris ( 2016 ) VIAF : 85720614 LCCN : nr2005030504 ISNI : 0000 0001 1576 7149 GND : 1144911729 BNF : cb16707134g ( data ) Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Michael_Emerson&oldid=811659214 '' Categories : 1954 births 20th - century American male actors 21st - century American male actors American male film actors American male stage actors American male Shakespearean actors American male television actors Audio book narrators Drake University alumni Outstanding Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Drama Series Primetime Emmy Award winners Living people Male actors from Iowa Actors from Cedar Rapids, Iowa People from Toledo, Iowa Hidden categories : Articles with hCards All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from April 2017 Articles with unsourced statements from December 2014 Articles with IBDb links Wikipedia articles with VIAF identifiers Wikipedia articles with LCCN identifiers Wikipedia articles with ISNI identifiers Wikipedia articles with GND identifiers Wikipedia articles with BNF identifiers Talk Contents About Wikipedia Asturianu Беларуская ( тарашкевіца ) ‎ Български Català Čeština Dansk Deutsch Eesti Español Euskara فارسی Français Gaeilge Galego 한국어 Bahasa Indonesia Italiano עברית Magyar მარგალური Nederlands 日本 語 Norsk Polski Português Русский Simple English Suomi Svenska ไทย Türkçe Українська 中文 Edit links This page was last edited on 23 November 2017, at 02 : 05. 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Question: who plays harold finch in person of interest
Answer: Michael Emerson