Michael Patrick Thornton
Lucky
Michael Patrick Thornton (Lucky) is an actor, improviser, writer, director, and co-founder of Chicago’s acclaimed The Gift Theatre. He recently starred alongside Jessica Chastain in the Broadway revival of A Doll’s House, directed by Jamie Lloyd and adapted by Amy Herzog, for which Michael’s performance as Dr. Rank earned him the 2023 Actors’ Equity Foundation Joe A. Callaway Award for best performance in a classical play in New York. Currently, Thornton stars in Obliteration, written by frequent collaborator Andrew Hinderaker and featuring Cyd Blakewell, now running at Chicago’s Revival Theater after a sold-out run at Steppenwolf. Thornton made his Broadway debut in Macbeth with Daniel Craig and Ruth Negga, directed by Sam Gold. On screen, Michael has acted opposite Jessica Chastain, J.K. Simmons, Hilary Swank, Alicia Vikander, Jude Law, and Demián Bichir. Notable recent credits include The Savant, Black Rabbit, “NCIS,” “Away,” “The Good Doctor,” “61st Street,” and “Let The Right One In.” For two seasons, Thornton starred on “Private Practice” opposite Audra McDonald. As a playwright and director, he has developed original works for stage and radio, as well as directed numerous world and national premieres, most notably David Rabe’s Good For Otto. His long-running improv show You & Me debuted at Second City, has enjoyed residencies at iO and Steppenwolf, and recently celebrated its 10th anniversary by making its New York debut at Lincoln Center. Thornton is the author of two novels: A Low Hum, and Janitor. Michael uses a wheelchair because walking is dumb. @michaelpatrickthornton.
