Michael Berryman (born September 4, 1948 in Los Angeles, California) is an American character actor, who is famous for having an unusual physique and face, the result of hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia, a rare genetic condition which caused him to fail to develop hair, sweat glands, fingernails or teeth. He played in several horror movies and other B movies.

Berryman has the advantage of having a very recognizable appearance, difficult to forget for anyone who saw him but only once. His most well-known appearances were in The Hills Have Eyes and One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.

Berryman is, since the 1970s, a face symbolic of horror movies, where he usually plays mad bikers and killers. His filmography and roles have not been to the level of his potential, according to his fans.

Biography

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Born in Los Angeles, the son of neurosurgeon Sloan Berryman and his wife Barbara, Michael Berryman has battled all his life against the life-threatening physical ailments that have given him his distinctive look. At the age of 6, he underwent reconstructive skull surgery. His father searched for just the right surgeon to perform the operation. Without the surgery he would have either died or gone blind. Berryman ventured into acting by chance, after being spotted by famed director George Pal while running a plant shop in Venice, California.

Berryman graduated from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, where he studied veterinary medicine and liberal arts. He never took an acting lesson in his life. Instead, he learned on-the-job while appearing in a steady progression of horror, fantasy, and science fiction films, including The Hills Have Eyes, Deadly Blessing, The Voyage Home, The Devil's Rejects and Weird Science. His TV appearances have included The Highwayman, Tales from the Crypt, The Next Generation, and The X-Files.

Berryman says that his appearance in The X-Files was his favorite role. He played a guardian angel, a positive role in stark contrast to his horror movie roles. "I was given a role as the 'scary guy who we find out is really a guardian angel, a hero, a selfless soul dedicated to protect and honor truth and goodness."^*

Berryman can be seen in several Motley Crue videos including "Home Sweet Home" and "Smokin' In The Boy's Room"

An active motivational speaker and environmentalist, the multifaceted actor takes a leading role in numerous charitable causes.

External links

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• The Future And You podcast for March 25, 2006 interview beginning at 1:07:44.

1948 births | Living people | American actors | American character actors | American film actors | American television actors | People from Los Angeles | People with rare diseases | Star Trek film actors | Star Trek: The Next Generation actors | Tales from the Crypt actors | X-Files actors

Michael Berryman