01. Michael Terry Weiss was born on February 2 1962 (that means he’s 36 now for those who failed math), and he has brown eyes. He grew to a nicely tall 6’3″ in the city of Chicago, and began acting as a child in commercials.

02. While in high school, Michael studied acting at the Second City workshop in Chicago, then to the University of Southern California where he joined their school of drama.

03. Michael’s big break came when he managed to win a role in prestigious daytime drama series Days of Our Lives. His debut as Dr. Michael Horton occured when his character’s van broke down just outside Salem. This episode also contained the first of the regular occasions when Michael would be required to remove his shirt.

04. Other roles before The Pretender included the 1991 update of cult ’60s series Dark Shadows, in which Michael played a dual role as Joe Haskell, a man on the vampire bit-list, and Peter Bradford when the show flash-backed to 1790.

05. Michael has also been seen in 2000 Malibu Road, Remember Me, a 1995 TV movie in which he played a man suspected of murder, and 1995’s acclaimed Jeffrey, in which he played an HIV positive gay man opposite Steven Weber and Star Trek: The Next Generation’s Patrick Stewart.

06. At one point, Michael worked as a personal trainer with many of his clients being fellow actors. He lives a fit and healthy lifestyle, working out regularly and avoiding eating red meat.

07. A keen proponent of caring for the environment, Michael is on the board of directors of the Earth Communications Office. He is in charge of putting together public service announcements to increase environmental awareness, for which he has utilized the services of other actors.

08. Michael has written a stage play called Streams of Consciousness, which he hopes one day he will be able to take to the stage, maybe directing it himself at the Met Theatre, a company based in LA of which he is a member.

09. His role as Jarod has obviously had a big impact on him. Reportedly, one day while relaxing with friends, a house caught fire. Michael attempted to put out the fire with a garden hose until the fire trucks came along, and when they told him to stop, he is said to have replied, “But I’m the Pretender!”

10. Michael’s next movie role is a Boogie Nights style exposed of the pornography industry called Net Worth. Disappointingly for fans, no nudity is involved.