| Michael Park joined the CBS daytime drama AS THE WORLD TURNS on March 12, 1997 in the role of Jack Snyder, a former government agent who joined the Oakdale Police Department. The return of Jack's former fiancee, Carly Tenney, left Jack questioning his commitment to his wife, Julia, and ever since, he has struggled to do right by both women. Park garned a Daytime Emmy Award nomination in the Outstanding Supporting Actor category in 2001 for his portrayal of the conflicted cop.
The actor was born on July 20 and grew up with his brother and two sisters in Canandaigua, NY, with his parents George and Rosemary. He attended Nazareth College, in Rochester, NY, with the idea of becoming an architect, even working in construction during his summer vacations. Despite not being a music or theater major, he decided to change career paths when he continued to win the lead roles in the school musical theater productions for which he auditioned.
After graduation, Park was acting in repertory theater when he was cast as Raoul in the national tour of Phantom of the Opera. Following the tour, he appeared in Hello Again, and understudied in the revival of Carousel, both at Manhattan's Lincoln Center, before making his Broadway debut in the original cast of Smokey Joe's Cafe. After leaving the musical, Park appeared off-Broadway in Violet during which time he was cast as Jack. He appeared alongside Martin Short and Faith Prince in the Tony-nominated Broadway revival of Little Me and will perform in City Center's Encores production of Bloomer Girl in March 2001.
The actor is an avid softball player and golfer, who often tees off with his castmates. Park and his wife, Laurie, a musical therapist whom he met in college, currently live in New York State. They have one son, Christopher Michael (b. 6/21/97), and are celebrating the birth of their daughter, Kathleen Rose (b. 2/14/00). |
