- Born
- Height5′ 9″ (1.75 m)
- Michael Mando has had an international upbringing. Initially born in Quebec City, he found himself growing up all over the world, from Canada to Africa, Europe, the Middle East, and finally the United States. He speaks four languages: French, English, Arabic, and Spanish. Despite excelling in competitive sports such as hockey, football, and soccer, he opted for an academic scholarship instead.
Everything changed when he was caught in a crossfire and took a bullet to the knee. During his years of rehabilitation, he discovered a deep love of acting. This passion led him to study contemporary and classical theatre, which provided him with the foundation to make the leap into video games, co-creating the character Vaas in the international success Far Cry 3.
He was later nominated twice in the same year for Best Supporting Actor at the Canadian Screen Awards for his performances in TV dramas Rookie Blue and Orphan Black. Michael broke into TV mainstream during his six-season run with Better Call Saul, earning him multiple award nominations for his performance as Nacho Varga.
He's been teased as the super-villain The Scorpion in Marvel's Spiderman franchise, with upcoming roles including a lead in "King Ivory" (2024).- IMDb Mini Biography By: Siri Garber - Platform PR
- Mando not only lends his voice, face and body to the infamous Vaas in Far Cry 3, but he also co-created the character with Ubisoft. The company was so pleased with his audition, that they created a new character based on his liking and acting choices.
- By his early 20s, Michael had already lived in 10 cities, 5 countries, 4 continents and over 35 different houses, which helped him better absorb different cultures and behaviors.
- While recording his famous "insanity" scene for Far Cry 3, Michael sat in a dark room alone talking to a tennis ball on a pole.
- Michael Mando and Bob Odenkirk became good friends during the shooting of Better Call Saul (2015).
- Michael's mother tongue is French - he is also fluent in English, Arabic and Spanish.
- Before acting, I was always attracted to words, to literature - be they the words of Williams, Arthur Miller, Shakespeare or Moliere.
- I think as an actor... I don't like to compare a character to anybody else, just because I respect other people's work, and I want that character to have his own identity.
- Commit to what you love - that's important. Believe in yourself and try as much as possible to do everything you do from a place of love. Not labor, but love.
- I'm a big fan of 'Orphan Black,' and to be one of the original cast members is something that will always be dear to me.
- I'm personally attracted to great writing - that's what turns me on the most.
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