Michael Zegen

Michael Zegen is an American actor whose career spans stage, television, and film, earning him a reputation as a versatile performer. Born on February 20, 1979, in Glen Rock, New Jersey, he grew up in a culturally rich household; his mother was a teacher who survived a displaced‑persons camp in Austria, and his father practiced law, while his maternal grandparents were Holocaust survivors from Ukraine and Poland. The young Zegen displayed an early passion for drama at Ridgewood High School, where he actively participated in the school's theater program before graduating in 2001 from Skidmore College with a degree that further honed his craft. He broke into professional acting in 2002, and his breakout television role came as the charismatic firefighter‑in‑training James “Jimmy” McManus on Rescue Me, where he evolved from a recurring guest to a main cast member by the fifth season. Zegen's portrayal of the legendary gangster Bugsy Siegel in HBO's Boardwalk Empire cemented his status as a compelling dramatic actor, while subsequent supporting roles in How to Make It in America and a guest appearance on The Walking Dead demonstrated his range across genres. On stage, he originated the role of Liam in the off‑Broadway hit Bad Jews in 2014 and later made his Broadway debut in A View from the Bridge (2015), returning in 2021 to headline Trouble in Mind by Alice Childress. From 2017 to 2023, Zegen delighted audiences as the witty, aspiring comedian Joel Maisel in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, a performance that helped the ensemble win two Screen Actors Guild Awards for Outstanding Performance by a Comedy Series. Off‑screen, he married fellow actress Jennifer Damiano in January 2025, a partnership that began after they co‑starred in the off‑Broadway production Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice in 2020. Though the couple has not publicly disclosed any children, Zegen continues to balance a thriving career with his personal commitments, remaining an influential figure in contemporary American entertainment.