Actor/producer Michael Nardelli was born in Cleveland, Ohio, grew up in Albany, New York and spent his senior high school year in Atlanta. Moving to Southern California, he received his Bachelor's Degree in film and theater from the University of Southern California and started studying with "The Groundlings", which he continues today. One of four children born to Bob and Sue Nardelli, Michael caught the acting bug in high school and performed in plays and short films, later producing them, as well, at USC. On the acting side, he counts James Dean, Cary Grant, James Stewart and Paul Newman as major inspirations in his life. Nardelli made his professional acting debut as "Stradivarius Helberg" in an episode of Quintuplets (2004) in 2004. He followed that with a co-starring role, opposite Zac Efron, in Un coeur de gagnant (2005), a feature film, which Nardelli calls "Seabiscuit meets The Karate Kid". He also portrayed the teenage "Daniel" in a 2009 episode of Earl (2005). In addition to his acting career, Nardelli has worked hard to establish himself as a resourceful producer, who already has two major features under his belt. He made his producing debut, in 2010, on Another Happy Day (2011), directed by Sam Levinson (director Barry Levinson's son), which stars Kate Bosworth, Demi Moore, Thomas Haden Church, Ellen Burstyn, Ellen Barkin and George Kennedy. Working under his own producing banner - Taggart Productions - Nardelli also portrays Kate Bosworth's brother in the film, which was a hit at this year's Sundance Film Festival, winning the Waldo Salt Award for Best Screenplay for Levinson. He has also just produced a romantic comedy, The Giant Mechanical Man (2012), which stars Jenna Fischer, Topher Grace, Chris Messina and Malin Akerman. Nardelli terms it a film in the style of the Spencer Tracy/'Katherine Hepburn' films, with a touch of the quirky comedy of Woody Allen. In between producing gigs, Nardelli co-starred in Grassroots (2012), a political comedy and true story, which also stars Jason Biggs, Christopher McDonald, Tom Arnold and Cedric the Entertainer, and which was directed by Stephen Gyllenhaal - Jake Gyllenhaal's dad. He also portrays a lovesick teenager in the upcoming 3D horror thriller, The Collection (2012), which is a sequel to the 2009 film, The Collector (2009). Both films are due for release in the latter part of 2011. Together with director, McG, he is developing a motion picture based on a true story, first published by Rolling Stone magazine, by acclaimed writer Sabrina Rubin Erdely. Dubbed "The Girl Who Conned the Ivy League", it is being groomed as an Amanda Seyfried vehicle. Nardelli describes it as a modern day Arrête-moi si tu peux (2002). Nardelli resides in Los Angeles.
