Michael Manasseri

Michael Manasseri is an American actor, film director, and producer born on February 28, 1974, in Poughkeepsie, New York. He began his career on Broadway, appearing in productions between 1981 and 1984, including the play Oliver Oliver and The King and I.

Manasseri became widely recognized for his television work, most notably his portrayal of Wyatt Donnelly in the 1994 TV series Weird Science. He played Charles in License to Drive and contributed voice work to the animated series Santo Bugito. During the second season of the NBC sitcom Wings, he held a recurring role as young pilot Kenny McElvey. His television guest appearances include Buffy the Vampire Slayer, The Wonder Years, Boston Public, and ER, and he served as a regular cast member on Raising Miranda.

His career expanded into directing with his debut film Babysitter Wanted in 2007, which had its premiere at the Sitges Film Festival in Spain. In 2012, he directed Sucker, a science fiction and comic book horror film. He also directed the comedy The Pickle Recipe, which features David Paymer. In addition to directing, Manasseri worked as a producer on the 2011 Michigan-made film Detention of the Dead, directed by Alex Craig Mann.

In 2020, Manasseri received an Independent Spirit Award in the John Cassavetes Award category for his work as a producer on Give Me Liberty, a comedy released in 2019.