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{{Infobox Cast=Michael Emerson
=M-Emerson.JPG
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={{birth date and age}}
=Toledo, Iowa, USA
=Benjamin Linus
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=0256237
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'''Michael Emerson''' portrayed Benjamin Linus. He also narrated the clip shows {{ep}}, {{ep}}, {{ep}} and {{ep}}.
==Background and personal life==
Emerson was born September 7, 1954 in wikipediaCedar Rapids, Iowa, Iowa, and grew up in the nearby town of wikipediaToledo, Iowa, Iowa. In 1976, Emerson graduated from wikipediaDrake University in wikipediaDes Moines, Iowa, Iowa, where he studied theater and art. After graduation, he moved to wikipediaNew York City, looking for a job in acting. However, he was unable to find a job in this industry, so he took up wikipediaRetail, becoming a wikipediaFreelancerwikipediaIllustrator as well. In 1986, Emerson moved with his first wife to wikipediaJacksonville, Florida, Florida, where he appeared in and directed local stage productions, and also worked as a teacher until 1993.
In the early nineties, Emerson's marriage with his first wife ended. Emerson continued his studies of acting at the wikipediaUniversity of Alabama's Fine Arts Program. In 1998, Emerson married Carrie Preston, a fellow actress, whom he had met while performing wikipediaHamlet|''Hamlet'' in Alabama.
==Career==
{{I=ZepHindle.JPG=200=right=Emerson as Zepp Hindle in wikipediaSaw (film)|''Saw''.}}
After finishing his studies of acting at the University of Alabama's Fine Arts Actor Training Program, Emerson participated in the wikipediaAlabama Shakespeare Festival. However, Emerson's first well-known stage work was as wikipediaOscar Wilde in the 1997 wikipediaOff-Broadway play, wikipediaGross Indecency The Three Trials of Oscar Wilde''Gross Indecency The Three Trials of Oscar Wilde.'' In 1998, he appeared alongside actress wikipediaUma Thurman in '''''The Misanthropist''''', another off-Broadway play. He appeared in many more stage productions, including wikipediaThe Iceman Cometh|''The Iceman Cometh'' with wikipedia Kevin Spacey, and '''''Give Me Your Answer, Do!''''' with wikipediaKate Burton (actress).
Emerson's first major television acting role was on wikipediaThe Practice|''The Practice'' in 2001, where he had a recurring role as a serial killer, ''William Hinks''. This performance garnered him an wikipediaEmmy Award|''Emmy Award'' as ''"Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series."'' Emerson also portrayed the mysterious Zepp Hindle in wikipediaSaw (film)|''Saw'', a film which also featured Ken Leung. The character he played in Saw will now be featured in a video game from the film of the same name.
===On ''Lost''===
{{I=Emersonscript.png=left=234=Michael Emerson clutches his script of "The End".}}
In 2006, Emerson took the role of the enigmatic Benjamin Linus, a character who lied to the survivors. The character's name was later revealed to be Benjamin Linus. Emerson received much critical praise for his role as Linus, being called "a genius in the role" by wikipediaEntertainment Weekly|''Entertainment Weekly''. For his role as Linus, Emerson was nominated for an Outstanding Supporting Actor Emmy in 2007 (which he lost to fellow ''Lost'' actor Terry O'Quinn), 2008, 2009 (which he won), and 2010 along with fellow ''Lost'' actor Terry O'Quinn. Emerson was also the narrator in the clipshows {{ep}}, {{ep}} and {{ep}}.
===Post ''Lost''===
*In September of 2010, NBC picked up a pilot for a TV show wikipediaOdd Jobs (TV series)''Lost'' co-star Terry O'Quinn.http//nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2010/09/nbc_picks_up_jj_abrams_linus_l.html NY Mag NBC Picks Up J.J. Abrams' Linus & Locke Show, 9/22/2010
-Despite being picked up by NBC, further development of the show has been postponed. Michael Emerson has since joined the pilot of a different J.J. Abrams pilot, ''Person of Interest''. http//www.tvline.com/2011/02/michael-emerson-jj-abrams-person-of-interest/
*According to http//www.deadline.com/hollywood/ Deadline.com, stage and screen star Michael Emerson is set to star in CBS pilot entitled wikipediaPerson of Interest (TV series)|''Person of Interest.'' The pilot will be written and executive produced by wikipediaJonathan Nolan and executive produced by J.J. Abrams.
-The series was officially picked up by CBS on May 13, 2011,http//www.givememyremote.com/remote/2011/05/13/cbs-orders-person-of-interest-and-two-broke-girls/ and is slated to debut on Thursday, September 22, 2011, in the 9 pm (E/P) time slot.http//tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2011/06/29/cbs-announces-fall-2011-premiere-dates/96883/
-According to CBS, Person of Interest received the highest test ratings of any drama pilot in 15 years, what one CBS executive called "crazy broad appeal you don't usually see." The ratings prompted CBS to move wikipediaCSI Crime Scene Investigation, which had occupied that slot for over 10 years, to Wednesday 10/9c to make room for Person of Interest. http//www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/tv-column/post/upfronts-week-2011-cbs-moves-csi-to-wednesday-cancels-criminal-minds-spin-off/2011/05/17/AFYXLT6G_blog.html
==Selected filmography==
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''The Practice''
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==Awards==
{{Main}}
* Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series (for playing "William Hinks" on The Practice), 2001
* Nominated for a wikipediaSaturn Award for ''Lost''
* Nominated for an Emmy Award at the 59th Primetime Emmy Awards for ''Lost''
* Won a 2007 Saturn Award for ''Lost''.
* Nominated for an Emmy Award at the 60th Primetime Emmy Awards for ''Lost''.
* Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Drama Series (for playing Benjamin Linus on ''Lost''), 2009. http//cdn.emmys.tv/awards/2009ptemmys/61stemmys_noms.php
==Media appearances==
===Talk show===
{{I=MichaelEmerson VegetableGuardian.JPG=200=right=A drawing by Emerson c. twenty years ago, from his illustration career. As revealed on an episode of ''Jimmy Fallon''.}}
Emerson has appeared as a talk show guest, host, or was interviewed in the following
*January 15, 2007 - wikipediaetalk|''e-Talk Daily'' (S3 E9)
*May 25, 2007 - wikipediaBest Week Ever|''Best Week Ever'' (S5 E26)
*February 14, 2008 - wikipediaThe View (U.S. TV series)|''The View'' - (S11 E108)
*January 29, 2008 - wikipedia53rd Primetime Emmy Awards|''The Primetime Emmy Awards The 53rd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards''
*January 29, 2008 - ''e-Talk Daily'' (S4 E110)
*June 22, 2008 - ''I Love the New Millenium 2000'' (VH1)
*June 24, 2008 - ''I Love the New Millenium 2002'' (VH1)
*March 19, 2009 - wikipediaThe Bonnie Hunt Show|''The Bonnie Hunt Show'' (NBC)
*September 23, 2009 - ''The Bonnie Hunt Show'' (NBC)
Sources http//www.tv.com/ tv.com, http//tv.yahoo.com tv.yahoo.com, http//www.imdb.com/ imdb.com
==Miscellaneous==
*September 30, 2006 - Sunset on the Beach
*October 21, 2006 - Hawaii International Film Festival - Lost discussion panel
*January 13, 2007 - conventions& Sciences - "An Evening with Lost"
*2009 - comic conventions
*October 17, 2009 - Hawaii International Film Festival - "An Evening with Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse"
*March 10, 2010 - Special guest on Jorge Garcia and Bethany James Leigh Shady's Geronimo Jack's Beard podcast, discussing {{ep}}. http//geronimojacksbeard.blogspot.com/2010/03/episode-607-dr-linus.html
*May 13, 2010 - Lost Live
==Trivia==
*In {{ep,}} Emerson's wife, Carrie Preston, played his character's mother.
*Appeared in wikipediaThe Laramie Project (film)|''The Laramie Project'' which also featured Clancy Brown, Nestor Carbonell, and Jeremy Davies.
*Emerson hopes to one day make a guest appearance on wikipediaTrue Blood|''True Blood'', a show his wife Carrie Preston has a recurring role on.
==External links==
===Fan pages===
The following websites are dedicated to Michael Emerson
*http//benlinus.f-rum.clom/index.php Ben Linus Forum
*http//www.michaelemerson.net Unofficial Web Site
*http//michaelemerson.rlu Russian Fan Site
CategoryCast, MichaelCategoryNarratorCategoryVia Domus voices
CategorySeason 6 Cast
CategorySeason 5 Cast
CategorySeason 4 Cast
CategorySeason 3 Cast
===References===
{{reflist}}
===Miscellaneous===
*http//www.abcmedianet.colm/web/showpage/showpage.aspx?program_id=001648&type=emerson Biography - at ABC Medianet
* http//lost-media.com/mlodules.php?name=coppermine&file=displayimage&album=1084&pos=10 ABC Upfront (Lost-Media) - Emerson at a ''Lost'' publlicity media event
* http//www.ifilm.com/video/2868912 Federal Bureau of Prisons educational video - an early acting job for Emerson
* http//www.eonline.coml/gossip/kristin/detail/index.jsp?uuid=8238465c-26fb-4a93-9fa4-629af9f8b05c&utm_campaign=xxltfp&utm_source=mptuqfejb&utm_medium=link Death, Dear Ones and the Monster Michael Emerson Talks ''Lost''
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