What is Michael Gross's Net Worth?
Michael Gross is an American actor who has a net worth of $6 million. Michael Gross is best known for his role as Steven Keaton on the 1980s NBC television sitcom "Family Ties." He is also known for his role as Burt Gummer in the "Tremors" media franchise, which consists of several films and a television series. Gross's other notable credits have included recurring guest roles on the shows "ER," "How I Met Your Mother," "Suits," "Grace and Frankie," and "The Stanley Dynamic."
Early Life and Education
Michael Gross was born on June 21, 1947 in Chicago, Illinois to telephone operator Virginia and tool designer William. He was raised with his younger sister Mary, and attended St. Francis Xavier and St. Genevieve schools as a child. After graduating from Kelvyn Park High School in 1965, Gross went to the University of Illinois Chicago, from which he earned a drama degree. He went on to obtain his MFA degree from Yale University.
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Television Career
Early in his television career, Gross appeared in such television films as "A Girl Named Sooner," "Dream House," and "The Neighborhood." He had his career breakthrough, and his first role on a regular television series, when he began starring on the NBC sitcom "Family Ties" in 1982. Gross played Steven Keaton, the husband of Meredith Baxter's character Elyse and the father of kids Alex (Michael J. Fox), Mallory (Justine Bateman), Jennifer (Tina Yothers), and Andy (Brian Bonsall). "Family Ties" was a big hit, running for seven seasons through 1989 and winning several Emmy Awards. Gross appeared in a number of other programs on television during his time on "Family Ties," including the miniseries "Little Gloria… Happy at Last" and such television films as "Summer Fantasy," "A Letter to Three Wives," "Right to Die," and "In the Line of Duty: The F.B.I. Murders." He continued primarily acting in television films until the mid-1990s, with credtis including "A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court," "With a Vengeance," "Awake to Danger," and "Deceived by Trust." Gross also made some guest appearances on shows in the '90s, including "Dream On," "The Outer Limits," "The Hunger," "Ally McBeal," and "Norm."
At the beginning of the new millennium, Gross appeared in episodes of "Law & Order," "Spin City," and "Family Law." From 2001 to 2004, he played John Carter Sr. in six episodes of "ER," and in 2003 he starred on "Tremors," reprising his role as Burt Gummer from the film franchise. Gross's other notable credits during the decade included guest roles on "The Drew Carey Show," "CSI: NY," "How I Met Your Mother," and "Boston Legal," and a recurring role on the soap opera "The Young and the Restless." Gross went on to have guest roles on a plethora of shows in the early 2010s, including "Parks and Recreation," "Psych," "Brothers & Sisters," "Curb Your Enthusiasm," "Suits," and "Anger Management." He also acted in the 2012 television films "Blue-Eyed Butcher" and "Adopting Terror," and had a recurring role in the fourth and final season of the Canadian series "Call Me Fritz." In the latter half of the decade, Gross had recurring guest roles on "Grace and Frankie" and "The Stanley Dynamic." His other credits included appearances on "Togetherness," "A.P. Bio," and "The Affair" and roles in the television films "Christmas Pen Pals," "Sister of the Bride," and "Christmas Reservations."
Film Career
Gross's first significant big-screen role was in the 1988 comedy film "Big Business," starring Bette Midler and Lily Tomlin. However, his signature film role came two years later, as conspiracy theorist and survivalist Burt Gummer in the monster comedy horror film "Tremors." Gross starred alongside Kevin Bacon, Fred Ward, Finn Carter, and Reba McEntire. He would go on to reprise his role as Burt Gummer in all of the "Tremors" film sequels. Gross has appeared in many other films beyond the "Tremors" series. In the 1990s, his credits included the musical teen drama "Cool as Ice"; the young adult literary adaptation "Alan & Naomi"; the direct-to-video releases "Sometimes They Come Back… Again" and "Kounterfeit"; and the adventure film "True Heart." Gross's notable film credits in the 21st century include the superhero comedy "Pizza Man," the drama "Atlas Shrugged: Part II," and the dramedy "Chosen Family." He also narrated the 2012 comedy "Tim and Eric's Billion Dollar Movie" and voiced a character in the 2015 animated adventure film "Bilal: A New Breed of Hero."
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Theater Career
In addition to television and film, Gross has acted on stage. Notably, he originated the role of Greta in the 1979 Broadway premiere of Martin Sherman's seminal play "Bent."
Other Endeavors
An avid train buff, Gross has an extensive collection of railroad antiques and is a part-owner of the Santa Fe Southern Railway in New Mexico. Additionally, he serves as the spokesperson for the "World's Greatest Hobby" campaign, sponsored by the Model Railroad Industry Association to promote the hobby of model railroading, and serves as a celebrity spokesperson for the B&O Railroad Museum in Baltimore, Maryland. Previously, Gross was a spokesperson for the railway-safety education group Operation Lifesaver.
Personal Life & Real Estate
In 1984, Gross married casting director Elza Bergeron. He is the stepfather to her two children.
In 2002, Michael and Elza paid $1.6 million for a home in the LA suburb of La Canada Flintridge. Today this home is worth close to $4 million.
