Michael Santiago(I)
- Actor
- Writer
- Director
Born Adolfo E. Urrutia, Oct 3, 1944 in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, the son
of Puerto Rican parents with Basque ancestry. Father, Carlos E.
Urrutia, a U.S. Army Officer and Mother, Lavinia M Lopez; older
brother, Carlos J. Urrutia. Graduated from elementary school, Karlsruhe
American High School, Karlsruhe, Germany in 1959. Graduated from
Carroll High School, Ozark, Alabama 1963. U.S. Army Veteran June
1963-June 1966. Served in 101st Airborne Division, 11th Air Assualt
Division (Test), and 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile); Served in
Vietnam August 1965 to June 66. Awarded Parachutist Badge, Combat
Infantry Badge for action in Plei Me, and South Vietnamese Army
Parachutist Badge. Employed as Sales Representative with IBM, 3M
Company, and Xerox Corp before deciding to pursue an acting career.
Studied Acting on the G.I. Bill at Theater of Arts, Los Angeles.
Appeared in numerous Actors Equity Waiver Stage productions, including
the lead role in Say Uncle Sam, an original play written by Lester
Cole, a founding member of the Screen Writers and Authors Guild and one
of The Hollywood Ten, a screenwriter blacklisted during the McCarthy
era. The play was produced by Jane Fonda and Donald Sutherland. While
appearing in stage play, Harvey, in Albuquerque, NM he was cast in a
featured role in the Italian film, L'uomo dagli occhi di ghiaccio (The
Man with the Icy Eyes)starring Antonio Sabato, Keenan Wynn, and Victor
Buono.