Michael Cooke - Biography
Michael Cooke was born and raised in New York City. He lived in the same Sutton Place apartment building in which the then married Marilyn Monroe and Arthur Miller also lived. Marilyn liked the young lad and would often ask his mom when she was without Michael, how her “little son” was doing. Michael’s father was the Sports Editor for the New York Herald Tribune.
In his early teens Michael began observing and imitating a lot of actors he admired, thus beginning his dream of being an actor. He studied with a wonderful teacher, a disciple of “The Method’s Lee Strasberg,” the singular Peggy Feury. Peggy’s effect on Michael’s life and growth was immense. He saw the world with a more profound vision due to Peggy’s insights and tutelage.
In New York and in Regional theatres Michael performed in a number of plays intermixed with guest appearances on television, commercials and voice/over work.
Moving to Los Angeles in 1991, Michael continued his commercial work as well as performances on television and film. Michael wrote and appeared in a one-man show entitled “The Shank of the Evening”. He was fortunate to work with some great directors, among them, Bob Raefelson, Paul Verhoeven, and David Lynch. Michael is particularly proud to have appeared in Mr. Verhoeven’s “Showgirls” — a film that has now achieved the cult status and distinction of being considered one of the worst movies of all time. But respectfully, Mr. Verhoeven was a most astute and generous director on set. Working with David Lynch on “Mulholland Dr.” was particularly memorable. Michael found Mr. Lynch to be a compelling, inspirational, and a most unpretentious individual.
Michael has been irretrievably a victim to the supreme influence of the pantheon of jazz pianists too numerous, in their infinite variety, to name here. However, four among them stand at the pinnacle of Michael’s regard: the living legend Mr. Ahmad Jamal, Thelonious Monk, Bill Evans, and the largely unsung be-bop/post bebop pianist Walter Bishop Jr., with whom Michael studied, and consequently in that process, became a most valued and dear friend.
Michael’s primary course of learning jazz piano has been by ear, as in to listen – and listen keenly again and again to the greats he loves and that he has been so influenced by, and by their example, to learn directly from them. This study culminated (after a good many years) into the development of a presentation called, “Tales Between The Keys”, an ongoing performance ever changing in its interrelation to word and music, music and word. Michael’s approach is to meld the two forms “as one”, rooting the influences of vignette, impressions, stories intertwined with song. This presentation began to take form in 2007 with Michael performing in Los Angeles at the Jazz Bakery, and then in New York at several private functions. In January, 2008 Michael performed at The Catalina’s Jazz Club in Hollywood to much acclaim. Michael was asked by The Catalina’s for a return engagement on June 18th, 2008 (watch video).
Michael is married to a beautiful individual who in some sort of conjunction someway produced two rapscallion children – the both of which are redoubtable for their spalpeen and most scurrilous attempts at receiving “favors” for which (to be painfully honest) they ALWAYS should receive. - God between us and all harm!