Michael Pniewski (born April 20, 1961) is an American actor and public speaker.

Life and career

Pniewski was born in Los Angeles, California. His education began at UCLA, where he graduated in 1983 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Theater and also won the Natalie Wood Acting Award.

His most notable role has been that of Chief of Detectives Kenny Moran on the hit television series Law & Order: Criminal Intent. He was seen on the Emmy Award-winning HBO series Recount. Pniewski appeared as legendary football coach Bobby Bowden in the film We Are Marshall and co-starred in the CBS/Hallmark Hall of Fame production Front of the Class. In 2019, he appeared in the Clint Eastwood film Richard Jewell. Additional credits include Big Love, Thief, The Riches, Miami Vice, The Ultimate Gift, The Sopranos, Madam Secretary, Blue Bloods, CSI: NY, Conviction, Warm Springs, Buried Alive II, Spaceballs, One Tree Hill, CSI: Miami, ER, Runaway Jury, From the Earth to the Moon, Ray, Remember the Titans, NCIS: New Orleans and Two Soldiers, the 2003 Academy Award winner for Best Live Action Short Film.

He has appeared in many commercials and done voice over work for Xerox, Ford, Buffalo’s, Wal-Mart, TNT, Bell South, Sprite, CNN, McDonald's, UPS, Hills Brothers, Georgia Power, Publix, Wachovia, Sudafed, Zoo Atlanta, Chevrolet, the Atlanta Thrashers, Miller Lite, SunTrust Bank, GTE, and Blockbuster Video.

From January 2002 until September 2004, he served as Georgia’s representative on the National Board of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG). He is currently the Atlanta Local First Vice-President of SAG-AFTRA.

In 2026, Pniewski portrayed Larry Van Oosten in the Lifetime film Rescued by Faith: The Connie and Larry Van Oosten Story which detailed their kidnapping and ransom at the hands of Chad Schipper.

Selected filmography

External links