Michael Emerson

Award-Winning Actor, Lost

Travels From Travels From:
Speaking Fee Speaking Fee:
REQUEST BOOKING INFORMATION

Michael Emerson Biography

With his signature piercing voice, steely gaze and wily demeanor, Michael Emerson captivated television audiences worldwide as scene-stealing villain "Benjamin Linus" on the critically acclaimed fantasy-drama Lost. His five-season stint on the groundbreaking series – which resulted in a Golden Globe nomination, four Emmy nominations and an Emmy win for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series – led Variety to pronounce Emerson "one of the greatest villains in television history." As one of the show's most complex and nuanced characters, "Ben Linus" became a fan favorite, helping to pull in 13.5 million viewers for its May 2010 series finale.

Currently, Emerson stars as Harold Finch on CBS’ hit show Person of Interest. He plays a billionaire software-genius who creates a Machine for the government that is designed to detect acts of terror before they can happen, by monitoring the entire world through every cell-phone, email and surveillance camera.

But long before finding himself on a mysterious island off the coast of Fiji, Emerson was trying to survive on an island of a different sort: New York City. Fresh out of college, the theater major struggled to find success in the Big Apple, and soon sought out a profession where he could continue to flex his creative muscle. For several years he worked as a successful magazine illustrator; his work was published in The Boston Globe and The New York Times.

Still yearning to pursue his deferred dream, fate soon intervened for Emerson. He found himself auditioning for a Jacksonville, Florida production of "Othello," and over the next five years he honed his craft on stages across the South while supplementing his income with work as a carpenter, landscaper, teacher, and director. Emerson eventually enrolled in the Alabama Shakespeare Company's MFA program and the rest, as they say, is history – not only did he meet his future wife, True Blood's Carrie Preston, but his Broadway debut followed in 1999, when he shared the stage with such acting heavyweights as Kevin Spacey and Paul Giamatti in "The Iceman Cometh." He went on to appear in feature films including Saw and The Legend of Zorro, and guest starred on such television shows as The X-Files and The Practice, for which he garnered an Emmy.

Michael Emerson's path to success in acting has been an unlikely one, full of detours, distractions, and twists – not unlike the show that made him a household name. With humor, humility, and a lighthearted tone, he shows audiences that it is never too late to live out your dream. An advocate for issues facing the theater community, he supports several charities, including Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS and Gay Men's Health Crisis.

BOOK Michael Emerson

Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 09/23/2024.

Michael Emerson Speaking Topics

  • Unlikely: A Working Actor's Unconventional Success Story

    There was a time when Emmy Award-winning character actor Michael Emerson wasn't sure he'd ever make it in show business. After struggling to find success as an actor in New York City, Emerson reluctantly abandoned his dream, and it wasn't until his early 40s that he landed his first important role in The Big Apple as the title role in the play "Gross Indecency: The Three Trials of Oscar Wilde." Now a recognizable face thanks to his work in Lost, Saw, and The Legend of Zorro, Emerson presents his own personal photos in a lighthearted, optimistic presentation that highlights his unconventional path to success as an actor.

  • Get 'Lost' with Michael Emerson

    Enjoy an evening with Michael Emerson, the creative force behind "Benjamin Linus," Lost's wily, manipulative villain. In this captivating presentation, Emerson discusses his five-season stint on the monumental series, and opens the conversation up to lively Q&A with the audience. Now's your chance to have your burning Lost questions answered!

Michael Emerson Videos

FAQs on booking Michael Emerson

  • How do I book Michael Emerson to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Michael Emerson for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Michael Emerson, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Michael Emerson or any other speaker of your choice.
  • What are the speaker fees for Michael Emerson

    Speaking fees for Michael Emerson, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Michael Emerson are for live events and for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Michael Emerson, click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
  • What topics does Michael Emerson speak about?

    Michael Emerson is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Acting, Celebrity, College, Culture, Diversity & Inclusion, Health, Inspirational, Leadership, LGBTQ, Literary, Motivational, Performing Arts, Television & Film, World Affairs.
  • Where does Michael Emerson travel from?

    Michael Emerson generally travels from an undisclosed location, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent.
  • Who is Michael Emerson’s agent?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully booked keynote speakers like Michael Emerson for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Michael Emerson for your next private or corporate function.
  • What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

    AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Michael Emerson or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.
  • Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

    If you’re looking for the best, unbiased speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.

Michael Emerson is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Unlikely: A Working Actor's Unconventional Success Story and Get 'Lost' with Michael Emerson. The estimated speaking fee range to book Michael Emerson for your event is $30,000 - $50,000. Michael Emerson generally travels from and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Sharon Stone, Kal Penn, Victoria Rowell, Hill Harper and Tony Plana. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Michael Emerson for an upcoming live or virtual event.

Tell us about your event!

During normal business hours, we respond to most inquiries within 4 hours.

  • Customized Service

    Our agents find the right fit for your event

  • Unparalleled Database

    Full access to all speakers & celebrities

  • One Stop Shopping

    A reliable and unbiased point of contact

  • Logistics Management

    Your personal Logistics Manager who takes care of all event details

This website is a resource for event professionals and strives to provide the most comprehensive catalog of thought leaders and industry experts to consider for speaking engagements. A listing or profile on this website does not imply an agency affiliation or endorsement by the talent.

All American Entertainment (AAE) exclusively represents the interests of talent buyers, and does not claim to be the agency or management for any speaker or artist on this site. AAE is a talent booking agency for paid events only. We do not handle requests for donation of time or media requests for interviews, and cannot provide celebrity contact information.

If you are the talent and wish to request a profile update or removal from our online directory, please submit a profile request form.

TOP