Michael — The Boys in the Band Character Profile

About Michael

Host of a 1968 Manhattan birthday party. A Roman Catholic, sporadically employed actor and recovering alcoholic who has abstained from drinking and smoking for five weeks. He orchestrates a party game to force guests to call someone they truly loved, but the event spirals into chaos, causing him to relapse. Ultimately collapses in despair over self-hatred before leaving for midnight Mass.

Michael — Character Profile

Character Facts

Played by

Kenneth Nelson

Appears in

The Boys in the Band (1970)

Role

Protagonist

Relationships (6)

• Michael — Social Party Friends — Larry (Keith Prentice)

  Friend and partner engaged in the group's emotional dynamics.

• Michael — Social Party Friends — Hank (Laurence Luckinbill)

  Friend navigating personal relationship struggles at the party.

• Michael — Social Party Friends — Bernard (Reuben Greene)

  Friend who joins the gathering and engages in the group activity.

• Michael — Social Party Friends — Emory (Cliff Gorman)

  Close friend and active participant in the gathering.

• Michael — Conflict Hostile Friends — Harold (Leonard Frey)

  Friendship strained by mutual criticism and hidden resentments.

• Michael — Social Best Friend — Donald (Frederick Combs)

  Deep bond of mutual support and shared history.

Explore the full interactive character relationship map of The Boys in the Band

More characters from The Boys in the Band

• Harold (Leonard Frey)
• Alan McCarthy (Peter White)
• Emory (Cliff Gorman)
• Donald (Frederick Combs)
• Bernard (Reuben Greene)
• Hank (Laurence Luckinbill)
• Photo Model (uncredited) (Maud Adams)
• Larry (Keith Prentice)
• Cowboy Tex (Robert La Tourneaux)
• Pedestrian (uncredited) (Elaine Kaufman)