Michael T. Weiss
decision to star in "The Pretender" was greatly influenced by the wide
spectrum of professionals he would be asked to portray, which includes a
policeman, airline pilot, doctor, lawyer and stuntman. The role, in
short, is every actor's dream.
A native of Chicago, Weiss began acting as a child, appearing in local
TV commercials. While in high school, he studied acting at the Second
City workshop, and after graduation, he enrolled in USC's prestigious
school of drama. Shortly after receiving his B.F.A. there in 1984, Weiss
landed the role of Dr. Mike Horton on NBC's venerable daytime drama
"Days of Our Lives."
Weiss also appeared on prime-time television in the NBC miniseries "The
Great Los Angeles Earthquake" and NBC's movie "Take My Daughter,
Please." After leaving "Days" in 1990, Weiss co-starred in NBC's 1991
remake of "Dark Shadows," playing dual roles. In 1992, he co-starred in
"2000 Malibu Road," with Drew Barrymore and Jennifer Beals.
During the past winter, Weiss completed the filming of "Freeway," a
feature film produced by Oliver Stone, which won critical raves at the
Sundance Film Festival. Reese Witherspoon, Kiefer Sutherland and Amanda
Plummer appear with Weiss, who plays a perverted, drug-addicted creep --
a role diametrically opposed to that of Jarod on "The Pretender."
In addition, Weiss particularly enjoys working on stage. He is proud of
his accomplishments as a playwright, and recently completed the play
"Streams of Consciousness." He eventually hopes to direct the project at
the Met Theatre, a Los Angeles-based ensemble company that he is a
member of.
An outspoken environmentalist, Weiss sits on the board of directors for
the Earth Communications Office. He also serves as the organization's
director of public service announcements, and he has helped to
coordinate a series of public service announcements featuring actors who
promote environmental awareness.
Weiss' birthday is February 2.
Jarod
Jarod is a Pretender. He was taken from his parents in the early 1960s
as a young child, and kept in “The Centre”, where his genius was
exploited and the products of his brilliant mind were sold to the
highest bidder.
When Jarod discovered the harmful applications of his work, he escaped
from “The Centre”. He remains at large, and he now uses his skills to
help people, serving as a force for justice. As he helps people, he runs
away from The Centre, who has sent Miss Parker, Mr. Lyle, Sydney and
other operatives to get him back.
When he first ran away, Jarod didn't know a thing about the outside
world, only what he saw in books. So, Jarod is still learning how to
live outside The Centre, and also he is learning several things, such as
ice-cream, lucky charms, tv shows, different food...
He was a friend of Miss Parker once, when they were both children at The
Centre. Their relationship appears to be hunter and hunted, but there's
obviously something behind it. Also, Miss Parker gave him his first
kiss, so...
Jarod deals with all kinds of people and sometimes he sees himself in
trouble. One time, Argyle tried to sell him to The Centre for a large
amount of money. But despite this, Jarod cares a lot for Argyle and has
helped him some times.
In the first season, Jarod found his brother, Kyle. But after the van
explosion he only saw him again when Lyle send him to Arizona. Lyle
kidnapped Jarod and, a while later, Kyle showed up and was shot by Lyle.
Lyle and Jarod have a very complicated hate relationship. Although,
Jarod is not able to kill him and Lyle gets always the best of him.
After Kyle's death, Jarod discovered a clinic called NuGenesis. His
parents went there in order to conceive a child. What Jarod still
doesn't know is if he is adopted or not. Jarod is also one of the red
files.
In the end of season #2, Jarod was caught by a explosion on SL-27 while
looking for information on his past. However, he survived, as well as
everyone else but Gar, the sweeper.
Jarod kept his search for his father, having Fennigor's information: he
said his father killed Catherine Parker. When he finds him, he asks if
it is true what Fennigor said, and his father simply asks his son back
with "What do you think, son?". Major Charles helps his son recover the
clone, and when they are ready to leave, there's a shooting and Jarod
stays to help Miss Parker, that was shot in the back.
Jarod is only able to see his father again in the end of season four,
when he also finds his sister, Emily, that is badly injured.
When he finds that Ethan is his brother, as well as Miss Parker's, he
goes to stop him from blowing the subway station. But, they are only
able to jump when the timer is marking 2 seconds, and the train
explodes, causing a violent fireball.
Filmography
1985
Days of Our Lives - TV series - Mike Horton
1988
Take My Daughters, Please - TV Movie -
Howling IV: The Original Nightmare - Movie - Richard
1990
The Big One: The Great Los Angeles Earthquake - TV Movie -
Dark Shadows - TV Movie - Joe Haskell
1991
Dark Shadows - TV Series - Joe Haskell/Peter Bradford
1992
2000 Malibu Road - TV series - Roger Tabor
1993
Angel 4: Undercover - Movie - Ryan Gersh
1994
The Adventures of Brisco County Jr. (ep. season 1, #19 "Brooklyn
Dodgers") - TV series - Johnny
1995
Remember Me - TV Movie - Scott Covey
Jeffrey - Movie - Steve
1996
The Pretender - TV series - Jarod
Freeway - Movie - Larry
1999
Profiler (ep. season 3, #19 "Grand Master") - TV series - Jarod
Planescape: Torment - VG - Nameless One
Freeway II: Confessions of a Trick Baby - Movie - Larry
2000
Profiler (ep. season 4, #10 "Clean Sweep") - TV series - Jarod
Profiler (ep. season 4, #18 "Pianissimo") - TV series - Jarod
Net Worth - Movie - Michael Winslow
2001
The Pretender 2001 - TV Movie - Jarod
The Pretender: Island of the Haunted - TV Movie - Jarod
Bones - Movie - Lupovich
The Legend of Tarzan - TV series - Tarzan (voice)
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