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The "CRAZY" Attorneys ^
Paul Ben-Victor, Holmes Osborne & Michael Younger Born in Culver City and raised in the Los Angeles area, Michael did spend 15 months of his 10th-11th years as a rancher in Northern California, becoming an excellent cowboy and hunter. He earned a BA (Political Science) at Whittier College, where was a highly honored intercollegiate football player, competitive speaker and student leader, the second Rhodes Scholar nominee in Whittier College's then 73-year history. He was also a lead and harmony singer/songwriter in a local rock band. He earned his Juris Doctor degree at UCLA School of Law, while working full time (graveyard) for the L.A. County Probation Department. Michael excelled as a litigator for over twenty years, focusing primarily on criminal defense and intellectual property plaintiff litigation. Former colleague Mark P. Stone, Esq, of Stamford, CT, says of him, "In my 25 years as a practicing attorney, Michael is the best trial lawyer I have ever seen. He commands the courtroom and enthralls his jury. And his work ethic is unmatched. He will be missed." Litigating, however, did not satisfy Michael's burning desire to perform and create. As he humorously puts it, "The venue (courtroom) was too restrictive, the audience (jury) too subdued, and the director (judge) too unappreciative ; -)" Since '97, he has pursued his passion for acting in the traditional venues of film, television and theatre. Michael is best known for his supporting role as the Cotton County District Attorney in CRAZY IN ALABAMA (1999), directed by Antonio Banderas ("Zorro", "Spy Kids I & II"). He doubled as the court scenes technical advisor, advising on set design and dressing, and blocking and dialogue. "Michael personifies professionalism: He is a very powerful and talented actor, and a more than competent singer, with good range and a good ear. Always early, prepared and doing whatever needs to be done--stage dressing, stage managing, contributing cogent ideas. Off the page fast. Very generous with assist plays. Takes direction extraordinarily well. Leads others by his example. Takes care of business, does whatever is needed, and more than is expected. When two of our actors dropped out, he stepped up and took their roles, Lyndon Baines Johnson and Bull Conner, playing two radically different characters, doing two radically different monologues and solo songs, exceptionally well. He also stepped in as our Announcer/Radio Announcer, the transitional glue of the play, and was the power in our chorus. I wish all actors were as talented, professional and hard-working as Michael. For future productions, he will be among the first actors I call. He is equally adept and powerful playing villain and hero."--Nyna Shannon Andersen, Writer/Director of KING, THE MAN, a dramatic musical based on the life of Martin Luther King, Jr., winner of multiple nominations and awards, following it's 6-week run ending February 11, 2001. Michael was nominated as Best Supporting Actor. Michael has recently moved into film production. He is a Producer and Vice President/Legal Affairs Directorof Triton Film Group, LLC. He has acted in several low-budget features and TV shows and revels in the challenge of stretching the production dollar, everyone contributing above and beyond their job description. He is contracted as an Associate Producer of Triton Film Group's thriller, "Inner Demons" and Caine Entertainment's action-adventure, "The Last Conspiracy", both of which he actively helped develop by preparing script breakdowns, and assisting with scheduling and budgeting. He is an original member of the East Bay Filmmaker's Group. As a writer, Michael collaborated with Canadian author Jonathan Sprung on a pilot script "Spin Cycle" and is currently collaborating with Sprung on a Western based on the life of Cole Younger. He also contributed to "Inner Demons", "The Last Conspiracy" and Caine Entertainment's "Jaded Love".
Michael's recreational passion is scuba diving. With over 300 dives to his credit, as deep as 150 feet, he has earned Advanced and Open Water II certifications. He has dived the Great Barrier Reef, the Galapagos Islands, Kona and the California coast, especially Catalina Island, but prefers the warmer waters--"DIVE NAKED!"--of the Caribbean (Cayman Islands, Turks & Caicos Islands and Cozumel). The father of two adult daughters, Michael also has two beautiful grandsons, Riles and Cole.
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