Extremely Under rated
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Archived from the IMDb Discussion Forums — Michael Callan
cfinde — 12 years ago(June 22, 2013 11:54 PM)
Mr Callan is an excellent actor. Whenever he is in a role, he simply inhabits the character. Not sure he was professionally trained but seems that he was a prodigy of acting. I have watch him steal scene after scene from Jane Fonda in Cat Ballou and that is an incredible achievement.
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QuakerGrey — 11 years ago(November 05, 2014 08:26 AM)
Good assessment.
Michael Callan exhibits one of the greatest acting ranges in the history of film and television.
His great versatility allows him to perform a wide variety of characters very effectively in Drama, Comedy, Musicals or Romance alike, and fans very often express astonishment that this is the same actor who appears in such-and-such a film or program as compared with just about any other rol79ce of Michael's.
That outstanding Michael Callan certainly demonstrates reaching the once-unattainable possibility of an actor's losing himself in character by becoming said character, and he does this with the most professional of talents to surprise fans and critics alike from one role to another.
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WeatherViolet — 11 years ago(April 02, 2015 08:39 AM)
Very true about his very vast acting abilities, as well as his very broad acting range, and everything in-between.
If we compare some of his early performances with his latter, we certainly do see his inhabiting his character to such a very great extent that it's very hard to believe that Michael is the same actor in one role from another.
When we examine something such as his appearance in
Gidget Goes Hawaiian
(1961) as Eddie Horner with his later television dramas, such as
"Murder, She Wrote"
"Murder, She Spoke" (1987) as Carl Anglin
"J.B.. as in Jailbird" (1988) as Sgt. Nash
"Good-Bye Charlie" (1990) as Bart Mahoney
"Fatal Paradise" (1994) as Phillip Sparling
then we may wonder whatever became of that sharp and preppy-appearing song and dance actor to become as gruff and wiley and non-nonsensical as some of his "MSW" characters.
Anyway, Michael certainly proves himself one fine and outstanding talent for commanding screen attention wherever he may appear. Thank-you for your wonderful body of highly professional work over the many decades, and may you be very well for years and years to come.
If Sheridan were here, he'd be appalled. -
CatClay — 1 year ago(January 13, 2025 03:30 AM)
I LOVE this thread! I have recently gotten back into watching Cat Ballou and as much as I've always loved Michael Callan as Clay, this time around I have checked out some of his other work. He is a GREAT actor! He absolutely becomes that character. In my opinion, I think Callan's portrayal of Clay Boone on Cat Ballou was his best performance, and he absolutely can go toe to toe with the greats, like Fonda. His scenes in the train berth, and in Cat's room were just brilliant. He MADE that character what it is. I never, ever forgot his performance when I was a kid watching. It really stuck with me. Too bad Clay Boone had to end with Cat Ballou. Michael has passed on now. Rest in heaven, Mr. Gorgeous.