Michael Tucker (born February 6, 1945) is an American actor, author, and playwright. He is best known for his role in the television series L.A. Law (1986–1994), for which he received two Golden Globe nominations and three Primetime Emmy Award nominations.
Career
Tucker's acting experience includes early appearances with Joseph Papp and a major stint at the Arena Theatre, in Washington, D.C. He also has worked with Lina Wertmüller, Woody Allen, and Barry Levinson.
Tucker co-starred in L.A. Law as Stuart Markowitz along with his wife, Jill Eikenberry, who portrayed the character Ann Kelsey.
Writing
Tucker has written several books, including Living in a Foreign Language: A Memoir of Food, Wine, and Love in Italy, which describes his buying a house in a small Italian village and mastering the fine art of Italian cooking. He is the author of Notes From A Culinary Wasteland, a blog about food, travel and the good life.
In March 2015 Tucker co-starred with Eikenberry in The M Spot, a play written by Tucker and presented at the New Jersey Repertory Company.
He wrote the dramedy Fern Hill, of which a production starring Eikenberry, directed by Nadia Tass, was performed by New Jersey Repertory Company in Philadelphia in August 2018, and then at 59E59 Theaters in September 2019.
Other activities
Both Tucker and Eikenberry are active in fund-raising for breast cancer research and treatment.
Personal life
After meeting artist Emile Norman, Eikenberry and Tucker purchased land from him to become his neighbors in Big Sur, California. In 2006, they produced a PBS documentary entitled Emile Norman: By His Own Design.
Filmography
1971: They've Killed President Lincoln
1978: A Night Full of Rain
1978: An Unmarried Woman as Fred
1978: Eyes of Laura Mars as Bert
1979: Vampire as Christopher Bell
1981-1984: Hill Street Blues as Gabe Fimpel / Mr. Heidel
1982: Diner as "Bagel"
1984: The Goodbye People
1985: The Purple Rose of Cairo as Gil's Agent
1982-1986: Toys "R" Us commercials and The Animal Alphabet as Geoffrey the Giraffe (voice)
1986-1994: L.A. Law as Stuart Markowitz
1987: Assault and Matrimony as Edgar
1987: Radio Days as Father
1987: Tin Men as "Bagel"
1988: Mickey's 60th Birthday as Stuart Markowitz
1988: Checking Out as Harry Lardner
1989: Day One as Leo Szilard
1989: The Tracey Ullman Show as Jo-Jo's Father
1990: Casey's Gift: For Love of a Child as Peter Ctilwell
1990: Too Young to Die? as Buddy Thornton
1990: The Secret Life of Archie's Wife
1991: In the Nick of Time as Ben Talbot
1992: A Town Torn Apart as Dennis "Doc" Littky
1993: Tracey Ullman Takes on New York as Harry Rosenthal
1993: For Love or Money as Harry Wegman
1994: D2: The Mighty Ducks as Don Tibbles
1996, 1998-1999: Tracey Takes On... as Harry Rosenthal
1997: 'Til There Was You as Saul Moss
2000: Growing Up Brady as Sherwood Schwartz
2002: L.A. Law: The Movie as Stuart Markowitz
2009: Cold Souls as Theater Director
2010: Law & Order as Nelson Lehman
2023: East New York as Sy Somers
Plays
2015: The M Spot
2018: Fern Hill
2023: A Tailor Near Me
Books
1995: I Never Forget a Meal: An Indulgent Reminiscence
2007: Living in a Foreign Language: A Memoir of Food, Wine, and Love
2009: Family Meals: Coming Together to Care for an Aging Parent
2012: After Annie: A Novel
Productions
2006: Emile Norman: By His Own Design - PBS documentary produced with wife Jill Eikenberry
Michael Tucker at the Internet Broadway Database
Michael Tucker at the Internet Off-Broadway Database (archived)