Michael Damian

Michael Damian Weir, born April 26, 1962, in San Diego, California, is an American actor, singer, director, writer, and producer. He is widely recognized for portraying Danny Romalotti on the daytime television series The Young and the Restless, a role he held across multiple stints beginning in 1981 and continuing through periods in 1998, 2002 to 2004, 2008, 2012 to 2013, and again from 2022 to 2026.

Damian's entry into entertainment began early, performing with his family band, The Weirz, which released self-titled albums in 1975 and 1979. His brother Larry Weir is also a musician. In 1981, Damian appeared on American Bandstand to promote his debut single, a cover of Eric Carmen's "She Did It," after which he was cast as Danny Romalotti on The Young and the Restless. He also appeared in three episodes of The Facts of Life, playing a character named Flyman across Season 6 episodes in 1985 and Season 7 in 1986, and performed the theme song to Saved by the Bell.

His recording career produced five studio albums and three top 40 hits. Among them was a number-one cover of David Essex's "Rock On," taken from the Dream a Little Dream soundtrack, which was certified gold in 1989. He also received a BMI Songwriting Award for the single "Was It Nothing at All."

After more than a decade on The Young and the Restless, Damian made his Broadway debut in 1993, taking the starring role of Joseph in Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. The production ran at the Minskoff Theatre for 231 performances, from November 10, 1993, to May 29, 1994. With Damian in the lead, the show set a single-day box-office record and established the highest weekly gross for a Broadway revival at that venue. The cast album received a Grammy Award nomination in the Best Musical Show Album category.

Damian later moved into film directing, making his feature debut with the indie comedy Hot Tamale, which he co-wrote with his wife Janeen, the daughter of actor James Best. He subsequently directed Moondance Alexander, Flicka 2, Marley & Me: The Puppy Years, Flicka: Country Pride, and A Princess for Christmas. In 2012, he directed and co-wrote the romantic comedy The Sweeter Side of Life, again collaborating with his wife and featuring his father-in-law James Best in his final film role. The film premiered on the Hallmark Channel on January 19, 2013.