Michael Stewart

Michael Calvin Stewart was a student of the ARTS, born in Utica, Mississippi, the youngest of eight children to James Norman Stewart and Elee Fields Stewart.  Michael’s formative years of schooling were spent at Hubbard and Mixon Elementary Schools, Hinds County Agriculture High School and Jackson State University.  However, he credits his ability to speed read to his big sister, Juanita who nicknamed Michael “Buddy”, who initially taught him how to read before he entered school.   Speed reading came in handy, because Michael was always anxious to finish one book and go to the next one.  Along the way, Michael developed a photographic memory.  He was encouraged to use his photographic memory talent by family members one year while playing a role in a benefit play produced by Uncle William and Aunt Clara Wooley at Zion Travelers Missionary Baptist Church.  The acting experience gave him the incentive for acting.  Michael appreciated and loved quality writers, such as William Shakespeare and August Wilson. I recalled the depth, complexity and humanity he brought to his characters on screen.

Michael enlisted in the United States Navy and was honorably discharged two years into his stint due to having a Sickle Cell crisis.

Michael was a graduate of Theatre, Jackson State University, Jackson, MS, the Beah Richard’s Theatre of Being, Los Angeles, CA, and the Texas A & M Theatrical Workshop.  He was a founding member of the Vivid Theatre Ensemble of Dallas, TX.  Michael amassed a number of accolades during his storied career. Michael was a recipient of the Best Actor Award (1994) Dallas Theatre Critics, the Best Supporting Actor, fences, Stage West (1993), Best Actor in Featured Drama,” Advice to the Players”, Live Oak Theatre (1991), Austin Circle of Theatres Award, “Advice to the Players (1991), Austin Drama Critics Award, “Advice to the Players”

During Michael’s  TV/Film career he played in the following:   Love’s Savage Fury (Youngblood), Beulah Land (Alonzo), The Mississippi (Todd), Riverbend (Hank), Love Child (Dory), Robocop (policeman), Western Auto (mechanic), Nissan (buyer), Bank One (loan officer), Nations Bank (father) and  “Ghosts of Mississippi” (gas station attendant)

During Michael’s  professional Stage career, he played in the following plays:  “Comedy of Errors (Antipholus of Ephesus) New Stage Theatre Jackson, MS, Dirty Work (Braiden Chaney) University of Mississippi, The Piano Lesson (Avery) New Stage Theatre, Fences (Lyons) New Stage Theatre, An Asian Jockey in our Midst (Nathan) Live Oak Theatre, Hell Cab (various roles) Pegasus Theatre, The Lion and the Jewel (Lukunle) Addison Central Theatre, The Meeting (Malcolm X) El Centro College, The Mighty Gents (Zeke/father) Jubilee Theatre,  Fences (Bono) Stage West,  Play with Repeats (Lawrence Bott) Addison Theatre , Stringbean (Lovett) Theatre Three, Tambourines to Glory (Buddy Lomax) Vivid Ensemble, Advice to the Players (Robert) Live Oak Theatre, A Midsummer’s Night Dream (Oberon) Live Oak Theatre, Macbeth (Young Siward)Dallas Shakespeare Festival, Twelfth Night (Malvolio/Sea Captain) Dallas Shakespeare Festival, Pericles (Cerimon)Dallas Shakespeare Festival Taming of the Shrew (Biondello) New Stage Theatre, A Midsummer’s Night Dream (Puck) New Stage Theatre and The ship in the Bottle (David) Teatro Dallas,  A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, (played several roles) and A Raisin in the Sun (Walter Lee) Jackson State University under the directorship of Tommie Tonea Stewart.

Michael was preceded in death by his parents; James and Elee Stewart, brothers; James Earl Stewart,  Lee Author Stewart, and Excel Stewart, Sisters; Gloria Jean Stewart and Wilma Stewart Phillips, maternal grandparents; Tollie and Cynthia Fields, Paternal grandparents; Peter and Lillian Stewart.  He is survived by two sisters; Shirley Stewart Perkins, and Juanita Stewart Brown of Jackson, MS; one uncle: Peter Stewart, Jr.; sister-n-law, Florida Stewart, of Aurora, IL, several nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and a devoted and loving friend, Ms. Patricia Jones of Aurora, IL.