Website www.mikecmanning.com Reality show Real World Height 1.75 m | Role Actor Name Mike Manning | |
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Full Name Michael Christopher Manning Occupation Actor, producer, writer, television personality Education University of Northern Colorado Parents Michael Manning, Susan Manning Movies Cloud 9, eCupid, I Do, Gingerdead Man 3: Saturday, Black Hearts Similar People Kiersey Clemons, Luke Benward, Dillon Lane, Houston Rhines, Dove Cameron Profiles | ||
Michael Christopher "Mike" Manning (born April 12, 1987) is an American actor, producer, television personality and activist. Manning first gained fame as a cast member on the MTV series The Real World: D.C. Since then he has starred in a number of films and television programs, such as the 2014 Disney Channel original movie Cloud 9, in which he played Nick Swift, and for producing the documentary Kidnapped for Christ.
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Early life
Michael Christopher Manning is from Thornton, Colorado. His parents are Michael Sr. and Susan Manning. He is the oldest of three children; he has a younger brother named Jonathan and a younger sister named Alyssa. He grew up in Colorado and Florida.
Manning was involved with children's theater. He started his entertainment career at the age of 14 in the Horizon Stage's production of And They Dance Real Slow in Jackson, and soon after appeared in a production of Oliver! based on the classic Charles Dickens story. He was described in his MTV biography as "the typical jock...a star athlete, prom king, popular with all the girls...an all around golden child from a Christian family."
Acting career
As an actor, Manning is best known for his role in the Disney Channel original movie Cloud 9, centered around competitive snowboarding, with a premiere date of January 17, 2014. Manning played Nick Swift in the movie, and was trained by ex-members of the US Olympic Snowboarding Team for the role.
Manning guest starred in an episode of the online drama series Youthful Daze that premiered in 2014, along with Paul Vandervort and Bryan James. Manning returns as "Colin" for Season 3 of "Youthful Daze," along with soap opera actors Jen Lilley and Brittany Underwood.
Manning appeared in eCupid, which premiered at the Honolulu Rainbow Film Festival.
He also appeared in the film I Do, which premiered worldwide on July 18, 2012. In June 2012 Manning starred alongside Dean Cain and Kristy Swanson in the Hallmark Channel film Operation Cupcake. Manning has also been in the films Black Hearts, The Brothers Sinclair, and Gingerdead Man 3: Saturday Night Cleaver, as well as the self-produced, Campsite Killer, a short comedy-horror film. He has also been producing a documentary called Kidnapped for Christ.
Manning appeared in "Kapu", the January 14, 2013 episode of the CBS TV series Hawaii Five-0, in which he played a young college student. He also wrote, produced and starred in the short horror film Campsite Killer. Manning appeared in "Party Crasher", November 5, 2012 episode of Disney XD's "Crash & Bernstein", playing the Australian boyfriend of the lead female Amanda. Rae Dawn Chong, best known for her starring roles in The Color Purple and Commando performed opposite Manning in Lisa Phillips Visca's original screenplay "CLIMAX," premiering at the Santa Monica Playhouse in Santa Monica, California.
Producing career
In 2014, Mike co-founded the production company Chhibber Mann Productions with actor/producer Vinny Chhibber. The production company is involved with producing the film Folk Hero & Funny Guy, which will be directed by Jeff Grace. The film is set to star actors Wyatt Russell, Alex Karpovsky and Melanie Lynskey, and centers around a story about two best friends, one being a struggling comedian and one being a successful singer-songwriter. The Chhibber Mann Production company website says that its mission is to create content "to connect audiences with entertainment that matters," projects with an aspect of positive social change.
Manning is an Executive Producer on the documentary film Kidnapped for Christ along with 'N Sync Alum Lance Bass. The film sheds light on controversial behavior modification methods used on children, sent there by their parents, at an Evangelical Christian reform school "Escuela Caribe" located in the Dominican Republic. Kidnapped for Christ premiered at the Slamdance Film Festival in Park City, UT at the end of January 2014. Tom DeSanto, executive producer of the X-Men and Transformers films is also involved with the project. The film was sold to Showtime and released on television July 10, 2014. Promotional materials for the film, including the website, contain a push for the passage of the U.S. Stop Child Abuse in Residential Programs for Teens Act of 2013. The bill would take steps to regulate against neglect and abuse in residential programs like Escuela Caribe. Manning only became involved with the film because of his friendship with the main protagonist, and he is now working to produce another documentary with Kidnapped for Christ director Kate Logan entitled "An Act of Love," the story of Reverend Frank Schaefer being defrocked by the United Methodist Church. Pauley Perrette, best known for her role as "Abby Sciuto" on the CBS show NCIS, is also an executive producer on the film. An Act of Love had its World Premiere at the Mill Valley Film Festival on October 9, 2015, and won the Audience Favorite, Silver Award in the 2015 Valley of the Docs category.
Manning also produced the short film Campsite Killer as well as the feature film Black Hearts. Black Hearts won the award for "Best Comedy" at the Laughlin International Film Festival in October 2013.
The Real World: DC
Manning's TV career started in 2009 at age 22 on The Real World: DC, the twenty-third season of MTV's reality television series The Real World, for which Manning auditioned on a random lark with a friend. Having had recently come out as bisexual, the revelation caused conflict with some of his loved ones. In his pre-show interviews, Manning described himself as a "pile of contradictions," and indicated that his time in D.C. would be a turning point for him and the question of whether his family would accept his sexuality. Manning explained in the season premiere that he attended church every Sunday, through which he hoped to bond with his castmate and fellow churchgoer, Ashley Lindley. His storyline also depicted his social life, in particular his newfound freedom to date and his concerns regarding family and religion.
Manning joined the cast with the intention of working as an environmentalist, but unexpectedly became an activist for LGBT rights as well, working for the Human Rights Campaign and the Energy Action Coalition. During the course of his work for the Human Rights Campaign, Manning met with Congressman Jared Polis of Colorado and Congressman James P. Moran of Virginia, and attended the October 10, 2009 HRC dinner at which President Barack Obama spoke.
During The Real World: Washington D.C. Reunion, which premiered on March 31, 2010 following the season finale, Manning indicated that he was attending Bible study, and had recently acquired a job as a host on a TV show. Since the show, Mike has stated that being on The Real World: DC helped him to realize the power of television to help influence public opinion and create social change, and was ultimately a large part in his decision to help found the production company Chhibber Mann Productions.
Personal life
Manning lives in Los Angeles. He enjoys outdoor activities, including skiing, wake-boarding and surfing. He is openly bisexual and recently got engaged to his boyfriend of several years.
Awards
On June 11, 2010 Manning was awarded the 2011 Courage Award by the Los Angeles-based organization LifeWorks, for his dedication to the youth development and mentoring program. He was also awarded Weekender magazine's Rebel with a Cause Award. He is also the official Youth Ambassador for the anti-bullying organization Boo2Bullying.