Michael T. Weiss, a 1980 Glenbrook North graduate, received the 2001 Distinguished Alumnus Award for his acting and playwright career. Michael Weiss had big plans even as a child. Dreaming of life as an actor in California, he set about, as a high school student, to make that dream a reality. While attending Glenbrook North, Weiss acted in a few productions under the direction of faculty member Pat Murphy and participated on the swim and water polo teams. But his dream was bigger, so at 16, he began studying acting at Chicago's Second City. Upon graduation from Glenbrook, he auditioned and was accepted into the University of Southern California's prestigious School of Drama, where he shared classes with well-known actors Ally Sheedy, Anthony Edwards, and Forest Whitaker. Soon after receiving his Bachelor of Fine Arts in 1984, Weiss landed a starring role as Dr. Mike Horton on the NBC daytime drama "Days of Our Lives." He continued with other television roles, working with Drew Barrymore on "2000 Malibu Road" and co-starring in NBC's remake of "Dark Shadows." He continued to hone his skills in diverse roles in several independent films, demonstrating his versatility and range as an actor. In “Jeffrey,” Weiss played the role of a promiscuous homosexual; in “Net Worth,” he was a suave real estate-selling ladies' man; and in Oliver Stone's “Freeway,” he played a drug addict. This last critically acclaimed role played opposite Reese Witherspoon, Kiefer Sutherland, and Amanda Plummer, gave him enormous creative license to explore the dark side of humanity. When Weiss was offered the role of Jarod in the NBC series "The Pretender," little did he know that the four-season hit would make him a star and lead to two successful "Pretender" spin-offs, the television movies The Pretender 2001 and The Pretender: Island of the Haunted. Initially, he balked at taking on the long-term obligation of a television series. Still, the premise attached to his character - a man who assumes a new identity each week - sold him on the role that would challenge him and offer opportunities to showcase his range as an actor. Weiss's deep, resonant voice was used for the title character in the Disney production of Tarzan. Additionally, he has written a play entitled Streams of Consciousness, which he hopes to direct one day. Weiss is involved with the Met Theatre, a Los Angeles-based ensemble company, and, in his real-life role as an environmental activist, is a member of the board of directors for the Earth Communications Office (ECO). As that organization's director of public service announcements, he has helped to organize a series of television spots featuring actors speaking on environmental issues. For his distinguished career as an actor both in film and television, Glenbrook North has Michael T. Weiss the 2001 Distinguished Alumnus Award.