Michael Beach ’82 has acted in more than 50 feature films and in hundreds of hours of television series and dramas. For his roles in films and television large and small, and for decades of work in the industry, the Graduate’s Association of Noble and Greenough School is thrilled to honor him as this year’s Distinguished Graduate. 

Originally from Roxbury, Massachusetts, Mike excelled in athletics growing up and never aspired to become an actor. Mike attended Nobles for four years as a boarder. He was a senior prefect and Nobelonian, served as the President of the African American Awareness Club, and acted in movies made with his classmates Rupert Thompson, Mark DeAngelis, Phil Smith and others. No surprise, Mike also acted in several Nobles theatre productions including the musical “Godspell” his senior year. At graduation, Mike won the Sidney Lovett Eaton Prize for excellence in the performing arts. Following Nobles, he received a BFA from Julliard and has the honor of being the first and only Nobles student to be accepted into the prestigious institution. Mike began his professional career in acting upon graduation, and he has been working ever since, which in this industry, is a feat in and of itself. 

With a career that spans almost four decades, Mike has become an established name in the entertainment industry through the diverse, complex, and captivating characters he has brought to life on screen. Over the years, from drama to comedy, he has proved time and time again he can do it all.

Mike has worked with hundreds of acclaimed actors, producers, and directors over the years, becoming known for his commitment to his craft, professionalism, and innate talent. His big screen debut was in End of the Line in 1987, and he went on to appear opposite Morgan Freeman and Beverly Todd in Lean on Me (1989). Mike’s big break came in 1995 with the film Waiting to Exhale. Fans of ER will recognize Mike from his three-year stint and he became a regular cast member in the NBC drama series Third Watch for six years. This is but a fraction of his acting resume. He has also appeared in several recent popular TV series, including Sons of Anarchy, The 100, and Chicago P.D. and Netflix’s The Harder they Fall  and The Rim of the World. Mike also recurs on Netflix’s Golden Globe nominated series Dahmer- Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story, which is one of Netflix’s most watched series of all time.

Mike has been widely recognized for his work and received many awards and accolades. When he isn’t on set you can find Mike cruising down the Pacific Coast Highway on one of his motorcycles, working out at the gym, and spending time with his family. We are so thrilled that Mike could be here with us today and are happy to honor him as our 2023 Distinguished Graduate.