Mike Manning
As a multi-Emmy-winning actor, writer and producer, Mike Manning has demonstrated a wide range of talents working with some of the biggest names in Hollywood. On television, Manning is most known for his role in Disney's snowboarding movie "Cloud 9," on MTV's "Teen Wolf," as 'The Manny' on NBC's popular drama "This Is Us," and playing 'Charlie Dale' on the long-running soap "Days of Our Lives". Manning's other TV credits include "Hawaii Five-0" on CBS, "Major Crimes" on TNT, "Crash & Bernstein" on Disney XD, and Tyler Perry's "The Haves and the Have Nots," and as 'Caleb McKinnon' on "The Bay" (Peacock), for which Manning won two Emmy Awards and was also nominated for an Independent Series Award.
Manning has been recognized for his noteworthy performances in the civil rights feature film "Son of the South" executive produced by Oscar-winner Spike Lee, and the third installment of the "God's Not Dead" faith-based blockbuster. Other credits include the WWII drama "D-Day: Battle of Omaha Beach," "The Call" featuring Lin Shaye and Tobin Bell, and "Slapface" which won the 2021 Cinequest Film Festival Audience Award before becoming a Shudder Original.
Growing up in Colorado, Manning showed an interest in stage acting at an early age, getting involved in high school productions like "Oliver!" and "The Secret Garden." He has since performed at the Santa Monica Playhouse in the production of Lisa Visca's original "Climax" opposite Rae Dawn Chong, and later the lead role in "Raise Me Up." Mike is also a voiceover actor, working as an English voice on some of the largest foreign Netflix shows in the world, including the worldwide Spanish hit "Money Heist," the French hit "Lupin," Mexico's "Unstoppable," Italy's "Generation 56K," Brazil's "Spectros," and the Spanish Sci-Fi "Welcome to Eden."
In 2014, Mike executive produced the Showtime documentary "Kidnapped for Christ" alongside Tom DeSanto ("X-Men"). That year, the New York Post referred to Manning as an actor "becoming an up-and-coming producer to remember," and after co-founding his production company Chhibber Mann Productions, he's been creating meaningful content ever since. In 2022, Manning launched Lucky Mann Productions, aiming at continuing his producing endeavors, with a focus on representation and using storytelling to break negative stereotypes and educate audiences about certain social causes.
After producing the documentary "An Act of Love" with actress Pauley Perrette ("NCIS"), Mike later produced the homeless youth documentary "Lost in America," featuring Oscar-winner Halle Berry, Tiffany Haddish, Grammy-winner Jewel and Rosario Dawson. Manning also helped produce "The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson," directed by Oscar-nominated David France, which was a Netflix Original after premiering at the Tribeca Film Festival. Other producing credits include: the SXSW thriller "M.F.A.," the Tribeca comedy "Folk Hero & Funny Guy" with Wyatt Russell and Melanie Lynskey, the SXSW award-winning drama "Jinn" (Filmmaker Magazine's "50 Most Anticipated Films of 2018") and the Lionsgate family film "Powder Pup," which Manning also co-wrote.
Mike works with nonprofits that advocate for the poor, the environment, and equal rights. In 2010, Manning lobbied Congress on behalf of The Human Rights Campaign while a cast member on MTV's "The Real World." Since then, Mike has received proclamations from the New York City Council and other political organizations for his cause-related work. He's on the board of Boo2Bullying, Legacy Youth Leadership, and the world's largest youth-led clean water organization, Thirst Project.