Mike Pniewski

Michael Pniewski (born April 20, 1961) is an American actor and public speaker.

Life and career Pniewski was born in Los Angeles, California. His education began at UCLA, where he graduated in 1983 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Theater and also won the Natalie Wood Acting Award.

His most notable role has been that of Chief of Detectives Kenny Moran on the hit television series Law & Order: Criminal Intent. He was seen on the Emmy Award-winning HBO series Recount. Pniewski appeared as legendary football coach Bobby Bowden in the film We Are Marshall and co-starred in the CBS/Hallmark Hall of Fame production Front of the Class. In 2019, he appeared in the Clint Eastwood film Richard Jewell. Additional credits include Big Love, Thief, The Riches, Miami Vice, The Ultimate Gift, The Sopranos, Madam Secretary, Blue Bloods, CSI: NY, Conviction, Warm Springs, Buried Alive II, Spaceballs, One Tree Hill, CSI: Miami, ER, Runaway Jury, From the Earth to the Moon, Ray, Remember the Titans, NCIS: New Orleans and Two Soldiers, the 2003 Academy Award winner for Best Live Action Short Film.

He has appeared in many commercials and done voice over work for Xerox, Ford, Buffalo’s, Wal-Mart, TNT, Bell South, Sprite, CNN, McDonald's, UPS, Hills Brothers, Georgia Power, Publix, Wachovia, Sudafed, Zoo Atlanta, Chevrolet, the Atlanta Thrashers, Miller Lite, SunTrust Bank, GTE, and Blockbuster Video.

From January 2002 until September 2004, he served as Georgia’s representative on the National Board of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG). He is currently the Atlanta Local First Vice-President of SAG-AFTRA.

In 2026, Pniewski portrayed Larry Van Oosten in the Lifetime film Rescued by Faith: The Connie and Larry Van Oosten Story which detailed their kidnapping and ransom at the hands of Chad Schipper.

Selected filmography

Beverly Hills Cop (1984) - Bonded Warehouse Clerk #1 Highway to Heaven (Season 1 Episode 20) (1985) - Cop #1 Modern Girls (1986) - Fire Marshal St. Elsewhere (season 5 episode 10) (1986) - Delivery Man Burglar (1987) - Man in Grey Uniform #1 Spaceballs (1987) - Laser gunner Phillip Asshole Remote Control (1988) - Artie L.A. Law (season 2 episode 10 (1988), season 3 episode 4 (1988), season 8 episode 3 (1993), season 8 episode 10 (1994)) - Judge James M. McCall Matlock (episode: The Priest) (1989) - Father David Burke Downtown (1990) - Man with Gun House Party (1990) - Cop #2 The Willies (1990) - Mr. Belcher Life Stinks (1991) - Male Nurse A Time to Kill (1996) - Deputy Tatum The People vs. Larry Flynt (1996) - Trucker Our Son, the Matchmaker (1996) - Kevin Harris The Gingerbread Man (1998) - Chatham County Sheriff From the Earth to the Moon (episode 4) (1998) - Flight Surgeon Forces of Nature (1999) - Conductor Takedown (2000) - Businessman Remember the Titans (2000) - Cop Unshackled (2000) - Guard Dobbs Walker Texas Ranger (2000) - Chief Moss Tucker Out of Time (2003) - Agent White Runaway Jury (2003) - Strode The Clearing (2004) - Detective Kyle Woodward Bobby Jones: Stroke of Genius (2004) - Mr. Mullen Ray (2004) - Bus Driver Diary of a Mad Black Woman (2005) - Foreman Law and Order "License to Kill" (2005, TV Series) - Randall Stoller Miami Vice (2006) - ER Doctor Heavens Fall (2006) - Deputy (uncredited) The Ultimate Gift (2006) - Operative We Are Marshall (2006) - Bobby Bowden Blood Done Sign My Name (2010) - William Burgwyn Lottery Ticket (2010) - Carl The Ledge (2011) - Lt. Markowitz Seeking Justice (2011) - Gibbs Dolphin Tale (2011) - Prosthetic Consultant Mean Girls 2 (2011) - Mr. Giamatti Safe Haven (2013) - Lieutenant Robinson Devil's Knot (2013) - Landlord (uncredited) Halt and Catch Fire (2014 - 2015, TV Series) - Barry Shields Madam Secretary (2014 - 2019, TV Series) - Gordon Becker Million Dollar Arm (2014) - Walter (Pittsburgh Scout) The Good Lie (2014) - Nick The Founder (2016) - Harvey Peltz Vengeance: A Love Story (2017) - Judge Schpiro The Case for Christ (2017) - Kenny London American Made (2017) - Willie (State Police) The Good Fight (2018 - 2022, TV Series) - Frank Landau Quantico (2018, TV Series) - Dick Booth Lodge 49 (2018, TV Series) - Ken Boyer The Resident (2018 - 2019, TV Series) - Abe Benedict Richard Jewell (2019) - Brandon Hamm Bluff City Law (2019, TV Series) - US Attorney Blumberg Hightown (2020 - 2024, TV Series) - Ed Murphy Ozark (2022, TV Series) - Ricky DiCicco Law & Order: Organized Crime (2022, TV Series) - Captain Patrick Darnell National Treasure: Edge of History (2022, TV Series) - Mark FBI: Most Wanted (2023, TV Series) - Captain James Kennedy Class of '09 (2023, Miniseries) - Chief Albury Reptile (2023) - Chief Marty Graeber His & Hers (2026, Miniseries) - Jim Pruss Rescued by Faith: The Connie and Larry Van Oosten Story (2026) - Larry Van Oosten Chicago Med (2026, TV Series) - Mark Asher Cape Fear (2026, TV Series) - Coburn