# Michael Gross (actor)

Michael Edward Gross (born June 21, 1947) is an American television, film, and stage actor. He is notable for playing Steven Keaton on the sitcom Family Ties (1982–1989) and survivalist Burt Gummer in the Tremors film franchise, being the only actor to appear in all the films and the television show.

## Early life

Gross was born in Chicago, the son of Virginia Ruth Gross, a telephone operator, and William Oscar Gross, a tool designer. Gross and his younger sister, Mary, were raised Catholic. He attended St. Francis Xavier and St. Genevieve schools in Chicago in his early years, graduating from the latter in 1961.
He attended Kelvyn Park High School on the north side of Chicago, graduating in 1965. He received his drama degree at the University of Illinois Chicago before attending Yale University for his Master of Fine Arts degree. His sister, Mary, a former Saturday Night Live cast member, is an actress. The siblings are first cousins to actor Ron Masak.

## Career

Gross was first seen by a broad audience in his role as Steven Keaton in the 1980s sitcom Family Ties; he and his co-star Meredith Baxter, who played his wife Elyse Keaton, were born on the exact same day: June 21, 1947. However, his longest-running role has been Burt Gummer in the Tremors franchise, having played the role for 30 years from the release of the original Tremors in 1990 to Tremors: Shrieker Island in 2020. His performance in Tremors 3: Back to Perfection earned him a Best Actor award from the DVD Exclusive Awards, formerly known as the Video Premiere Awards.
Gross guest-starred in an episode of the sitcom Night Court, in which he played a sexual predator of Markie Post's character, Christine Sullivan. In 1988, he portrayed a murderous bank robber in the true life film In the Line of Duty: The F.B.I. Murders. His other television credits include Boston Legal, How I Met Your Mother, Batman Beyond, ER, Parks and Recreation (Episode: "Summer Catalog"), Law & Order and two of its spin-offs: SVU and Criminal Intent. From August 2008 to January 2009, Gross appeared on the CBS soap The Young and the Restless as River Baldwin. Gross appeared in 2000 on Spin City as a therapist to Michael J. Fox's character on Fox's final show as a regular on that program. In November 1979, Gross originated the role of Greta in the Broadway production of Martin Sherman's Bent.

## Personal life

Gross has been married to casting director Elza Bergeron since June 2, 1984, and he is the stepfather to her two children.
Gross remains close friends with his Family Ties co-star Meredith Baxter.
Gross is a passionate railfan with an extensive collection of railroad antiques. He is an amateur railroad historian, photographer, modeler, and part-owner in a working railroad, the Santa Fe Southern Railway, a former branch line of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway which operates between Lamy and Santa Fe, New Mexico. He is also the spokesman for the World's Greatest Hobby campaign sponsored by the Model Railroad Industry Association that promotes the hobby of model railroading. He has also been a spokesperson for Operation Lifesaver, a campaign promoting safety at railroad grade crossings.
Since 2009, Gross has been the "celebrity spokesman" for the B&O Railroad Museum in Baltimore, Maryland. He is also the host of the B&O Railroad Museum Television Network on YouTube and a member of the Santa Fe Railway Historical Society.
Gross is a fan of the Chicago Cubs baseball team. After the Cubs won the 2016 World Series, Gross suggested his character Burt Gummer switch to a Cubs cap for Tremors: A Cold Day in Hell, replacing the Atlanta Hawks cap he had worn in the first five films of the series.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1980 | Just Tell Me What You Want | Lothar | |
| 1987 | Dorothy Meets Ozma of Oz | Himself / Host | Voice, direct to video |
| 1988 | Big Business | Dr. Jay Marshall | |
| 1990 | Tremors | Burt Gummer | |
| 1991 | Cool as Ice | Gordon Winslow / James Anthony Hackett | |
| 1992 | Alan & Naomi | Sol Silverman | |
| 1994 | In the Heat of Passion II: Unfaithful | Howard | |
| 1996 | Tremors 2: Aftershocks | Burt Gummer | Direct to video |
| 1996 | Sometimes They Come Back... Again | Jon Porter | Direct to video |
| 1996 | Kounterfeit | Captain Evans | Direct to video |
| 1997 | True Heart | Dick | |
| 1998 | Ground Control | Murray | |
| 2001 | Tremors 3: Back to Perfection | Burt Gummer | Direct to video |
| 2003 | Super Chief: Speed-Style-Service | Narrator | Documentary |
| 2004 | Tremors 4: The Legend Begins | Hiram Gummer | Tremors 4 or Tremors: The Legend Begins Direct to video |
| 2004 | You're on the Set of "Tremors 4: The Legend Begins" | Himself | Documentary short |
| 2004 | Daylight: The Most Beautiful Train In The World | Host / Narrator | Documentary |
| 2006 | Frühlingsgefühle | | Short film |
| 2007 | The Ballad of Esequiel Hernández | Himself | Documentary |
| 2008 | El Sonoma | Mr. Goreman | |
| 2008 | An American in China | Manny Braddock | |
| 2008 | 100 Million BC | Dr. Frank Reno | Direct to video |
| 2008 | Broken Windows | Teddy | |
| 2009 | Stay Cool | Mr. McCarthy | |
| 2011 | You're a Wolf | Dad | Short film |
| 2011 | Pizza Man | Professor Tucker | |
| 2011 | Just Like Her | Paul Marston | Short film |
| 2012 | Tim and Eric's Billion Dollar Movie | Narrator | |
| 2012 | Atlas Shrugged: Part II | Ted "Buzz" Killman | |
| 2012 | Meant to Be | Mr. Trantham | |
| 2013 | Guest House | Lou Wesley | Short film |
| 2014 | Our Father | John | Short film |
| 2015 | Tremors 5: Bloodlines | Burt Gummer | Direct to video |
| 2015 | Christmas at Rosemont | Dr. Molina | |
| 2015 | Bilal: A New Breed of Hero | Okba | Voice |
| 2015 | He Said | Walter Elling | |
| 2016 | Quackerz | Duckmus | Voice |
| 2016 | Last Call at Murray's | Murray | |
| 2016 | C Street | Governor Appalachia | |
| 2016 | 20th Century Limited: America's Most Famous Passenger Train | Narrator | Documentary |
| 2016 | Model Citizens | Himself | Documentary |
| 2017 | Camp Cool Kids | Grandpa Norman | |
| 2018 | Tremors Franchise Recap | Burt Gummer | Short film |
| 2018 | Tremors: A Cold Day in Hell | Burt Gummer | Also known as Tremors 6: A Cold Day in Hell Direct-to-video |
| 2018 | Power of the Air | Chairman | |
| 2019 | Noelle | Elder Elf Abe | Cameo |
| 2020 | Tremors: Making Perfection | Himself | Documentary short |
| 2020 | A Ring for Christmas | Graham Moore | |
| 2020 | Tremors: Shrieker Island | Burt Gummer | Also known as Tremors 7 and Tremors: Island Fury Direct to video |
| 2024 | Chosen Family | Alfred | |
| 2024 | The Merry Gentlemen | Stan | Netflix original film |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1975 | A Girl Named Sooner | Jim Seevey | Television film |
| 1980 | F.D.R.: The Last Year | Dr. Howard Bruenn | Television film |
| 1981 | Dream House | Julius "J.J." Jacobson | Television film |
| 1982 | The Neighborhood | Jack Wolfe | Television film |
| 1982 | Little Gloria... Happy at Last | Gilchrist | Miniseries |
| 1982–1989 | Family Ties | Steven Keaton | Main role, 171 episodes |
| 1983 | Cook & Peary: The Race to the Pole | James Troth | Television film |
| 1984 | Summer Fantasy | Ben Brannigan | Television film |
| 1985 | Finder of Lost Loves | Tom Lindsay | Episode: "Last Wish" |
| 1985 | Family Ties Vacation | Steven Keaton | Television film |
| 1985 | A Letter to Three Wives | George Phipps | Television film |
| 1987 | Night Court | Arthur Thursby | Episode: "Caught Red Handed" |
| 1987 | Right to Die | Bob Bauer | Television film |
| 1988 | In the Line of Duty: The F.B.I. Murders | William Russell Matix | Television film |
| 1988 | Day by Day | Steven Keaton | Episode: "Trading Places" |
| 1989 | A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court | King Arthur | Television film |
| 1990 | Vestige of Honor | Don Scott | Television film |
| 1991 | In the Line of Duty: Manhunt in the Dakotas | Agent Richard Mayberly | Television film |
| 1992 | With a Vengeance | Frank Tanner | Television film |
| 1993 | Batman: The Animated Series | Lloyd Ventrix / Mojo | Voice, episode: "See No Evil" |
| 1994 | Snowbound: The Jim and Jennifer Stolpa Story | Kevin Mulligan | Television film |
| 1994 | In the Line of Duty: The Price of Vengeance | Tom Williams | Television film |
| 1994 | Dream On | Father Sherman McKigney | Episode: "The Second Coming" |
| 1994 | Avalanche | Brian Kemp | Television film |
| 1995 | Awake to Danger | Ben McAdams | Television film |
| 1995 | Deceived by Trust | Dr. Gordon Powell | Television film |
| 1996 | Hijacked: Flight 285 | Ben Horn | Television film |
| 1996 | Ed McBain's 87th Precinct: Ice | Lt. Peter Byrnes | Television film |
| 1996 | The Making of a Hollywood Madam | Paul Fleiss |
| 1996 | The Outer Limits | Professor Stanley Hurst | Episode: "Inconstant Moon" |
| 1996 | The Outer Limits Phenomenon | Himself | TV documentary |
| 1996 | Promised Land | Greg Smith | Episode: "The Expatriate" |
| 1997 | Ed McBain's 87th Precinct: Heatwave | Lt. Peter Byrnes | Television film |
| 1997 | The Hunger | Professor Frank Ingram | Episode: "But at My Back I Always Hear" |
| 1999 | Batman Beyond | Warren McGinnis | Voice, episode: "Rebirth: Part 1" |
| 1999 | Ally McBeal | Mr. Volpe | Episode: "Only the Lonely" |
| 1999 | Norm | Councilman Krantz | 2 episodes |
| 2000 | Law & Order | Carl Braddock | Episode: "Trade This" |
| 2000 | Spin City | Dr. Peterson | Episode: "Goodbye: Part 1" |
| 2000 | Family Law | Anthony Jacobs | Episode: "Affairs of the State" |
| 2001 | The Undesirable | | Television film |
| 2001-2004 | ER | John Carter Sr. | 6 episodes |
| 2002 | Law & Order: Criminal Intent | Dr. Charles Webb | Episode: "Crazy" |
| 2002 & 2016 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Jeffrey Prince / Arthur Esterman | 2 episodes |
| 2003 | Tremors | Burt Gummer | Main role; 13 episodes |
| 2004 | Combustion | Talbot | Television film |
| 2004 | Drew Carey Show | Don Newmark | 4 episodes |
| 2004-2005 | Nature | Narrator | 2 episodes |
| 2005 | Mrs. Harris | Leslie Jacobson | Television film |
| 2005 | CSI: NY | Tom Endecott | Episode: "Manhattan Manhunt" |
| 2006 | Dome Car Magic: A History of Railroad Dome Cars | Narrator | |
| 2006–2011 | How I Met Your Mother | Alfred Mosby | 3 episodes |
| 2007 | Boston Legal | Father Nicholas McClinton | Episode: "Duck and Cover" |
| 2008–2009 | The Young and the Restless | River Baldwin | 36 episodes |
| 2010 | Parks and Recreation | Michael Tansley | Episode: "Summer Catalog" |
| 2010 | Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! | Robin | Episode: "Crows" |
| 2010 | Psych | Cody Blair | Episode: "Dead Bear Walking" |
| 2011 | Brothers & Sisters | Edward LeMonde | Episode: "The One That Got Away" |
| 2011 | Family Guy | Steven Keaton | Episode: "Brothers & Sisters" |
| 2011 | Drop Dead Diva | Principal Blake | Episode: "Prom" |
| 2011 | Curb Your Enthusiasm | Dermatologist Dr. Rivkin | Episode: "The Smiley Face" |
| 2011 | 12 Wishes of Christmas | Harry | Television film |
| 2011 | On Set: The Making of "12 Wishes of Christmas" | Himself | Short documentary |
| 2011-2013 | Dan Vs. | Don | Voice, 5 episodes |
| 2012 | Blue-Eyed Butcher | Ron Wright | Television film |
| 2012 | Adopting Terror | Dr. Ziegler | Television film |
| 2012 | NTSF:SD:SUV:: | Huck Jingles | Episode: "Family Dies" |
| 2012 | CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | President Rob Austin | Episode: "Pick and Roll" |
| 2012 | Naughty or Nice | Walter Kringle | Television film |
| 2012 | The Dog Who Saved the Holidays | Ned | Television film |
| 2013 | Call Me Fitz | Pat Childs | 5 episodes |
| 2014 | Last Man Standing | Mr. Hardin | Episode: "Hard-Ass Teacher" |
| 2014 | Suits | Walter Gillis | 4 episodes |
| 2014 | Partners | J.P. Buchanan | Episode: "The Law School Reunion" |
| 2014 | Anger Management | Dr. Randy Warren | 4 episodes |
| 2015 | Carbon Dating | Chris | Main role; 6 episodes |
| 2015 | Becoming Santa | Nick Claus | Television film |
| 2015-2016 | Grace and Frankie | Jeff | 4 episodes |
| 2015-2017 | The Stanley Dynamic | Grandpa / Lawrence Sr. | 5 episodes |
| 2016 | Togetherness | Mr. Pierson | Episode: "Advanced Pretend" |
| 2018 | A.P. Bio | Brandon | Episode: "Rosemary's Boyfriend" |
| 2018 | The Affair | Dr. Ezra Kaplan | 2 episodes |
| 2018 | Christmas Pen Pals | Ted | Television film |
| 2019 | Sister of the Bride | Robert | Television film |
| 2019 | Christmas Reservations | Tom Anderson | Television film |