Michael Wincott was born January 21, 1958 in Ontario, Canada to William Wincott and Lucia Buzzetti Wincott.  He was raised in the community of Scarborough, just north of Toronto, where he attended high school at Cedarbrae Collegiate Institute.  Michael attended Victoria College at the University of Toronto from 1977-78.  His first acting job was at the Public Theater in New York working for Joseph Papp in such productions as “When You Comin’ Back, Red Ryder” and “Tis a Pity She’s a Whore”. 

In 1979 he worked on several Canadian film projects, such as the popular TV series, “The Littlest Hobo”, and the Canadian boxing thriller “Title Shot”, and two TV movies, “An American Christmas Carol” and “The Family Man”. It was also the year of his feature film debut in the Canadian production “Wild Horse Hank”, playing rodeo cowboy Charlie Conners opposite of Linda Blair’s title character of Hank.

In 1982 Michael applied to attend and was accepted at the prestigious Juilliard School of Drama in New York.  He spent the next four years supporting his training with roles on  TV series such as “Miami Vice”, “The Equalizer”, and “Crime Story” as well as a minor role in the low budget film “Curtains”.  He graduated Juilliard in 1986 and from there, his roles became more substantial.

His first post graduation film was the biographic drama “The Sicilian” starring Christopher Lambert in which Michael portrayed Corporal Silvestro Canio. But his role as Kent in the Oliver Stone stage play "Talk Radio" would become another defining point in his film career.  When the film version was being cast, Director Stone was concerned that although the 27-year-old Michael could be convincing as a teenager on stage, the cameras would betray his true age. But he was soon convinced by his peers that Michael’s intense and singular performance could not be duplicated and he was cast in the role for the film version.  Stone was not dissapointed as the sheer energy Michael poured into the character made most of the other characters bland by comparison.

Although capable of great performances in humor, he is most remembered as a dramatic actor. More precisely, a villain. With his chilling coolness, corrosively alluring voice and sharp brooding features, he has often felt the cold hand of typecasting. Truly remarkable, even loveable characters, such as Rene Ricard from the Julian Schnabel film “Basquiat” are overshadowed by the larger than life villains such as Top Dollar from the Brandon Lee tragic cult classic “The Crow”.  But Michael is noted, by the more perceptive, for taking characters created to accent a story and creating a focal point.  His greatest accolades come from minor rolls where he often renders the most poignant moment in a film.  He also has a tremendous ability to enhance the content of a script and even ad-lib such great oratories as the “Anarchy Speech” from “The Crow” and the comic ramblings of Conway Twill in the Jim Jarmusch film “Dead Man” starring Johnny Depp.  

Michael is reportedly quite the cut up off camera, often keeping those around him in comically induced hysterics.  But once the cameras start to role, the character he portrays takes over. His passion for the art of acting is absolute.  In fact, he is downright adamant about it.  His opinion that “Obedience won’t get you anywhere in acting.” seems to mold his career as well as his roles.  His peers consider him to be one of the more dedicated actors they've worked with.  Johan Kruger, Line Producer for the film "The Red Phone: Manhunt" in which Michael played villain "Van Eyck" said; "He is a bit eccentric (in a nice way). He 'lives' his role which is what makes him such a good actor. Disciplined and always very well prepared - all elements of a true professional.”  Tony Todd, who played Grange in "The Crow", describes him as "...a great actor, brilliant, and a pleasure to work with".

Michael currently resides in Los Angeles, California.