From Hardwood to Hollywood: The Remarkable Journey of Mike Warren
Michael Warren '71, an Emmy-nominated actor and former college basketball standout, embodies a fascinating transition from the intensity of the NCAA court to the captivating world of television and film. His story is one of athletic achievement, artistic exploration, and enduring success.
Early Life and Basketball Prowess
Lloyd Michael Warren was born and raised in South Bend, Indiana, the son of Ellen and Grayson Warren. He attended Central High School, where he excelled both academically and athletically. As a senior, he served as class president, demonstrating leadership qualities that would later define his basketball career. On the court, Warren twice earned all-state honors, solidifying his reputation as a dominant force in Indiana high school basketball. He graduated in 1964 as the Bears' career, season, and single-game scoring leader.
UCLA Bruins Dynasty: A Foundation of Excellence
Warren's basketball journey continued at UCLA, where he played under the legendary coach John Wooden. From 1966 to 1968, he was a three-year varsity letterman and starting guard for the Bruins. Playing alongside iconic figures like Lew Alcindor (later known as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar), Lucius Allen, and Lynn Shackelford, Warren contributed to an era of unparalleled success.
The Bruins posted undefeated seasons of 30-0 in 1967 and an impressive 29-1 in 1968. Both teams, under Wooden's guidance, captured the NCAA national championship. Warren, the smallest Bruins starter at 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m), averaged 12.4 points as a junior in 1967. He was named to the NCAA All-Tournament team and was an All-American in 1968, one of three on that UCLA team along with Alcindor and guard Lucius Allen. The team is considered one of the best in college basketball history.
Notably, Warren holds the distinction of being the only player to captain two of Wooden's championship squads (1967 and 1968). This speaks volumes about his leadership abilities and the respect he commanded from his teammates and coach. Twice an all-stater at South Bend Central, Warren set an Elkhart regional record with a 43-point game as a senior. He started every game in his varsity career and was an academic All-American as a sophomore. He was later inducted into the UCLA Hall of Fame and South Bend’s Hall of Fame.
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NBA Draft and Transition to Acting
Despite his collegiate success, Warren's path to the NBA was not straightforward. He was drafted in the 14th round (173rd overall) of the 1968 NBA Draft by the Seattle SuperSonics but was released during the exhibition season. The Los Angeles Stars of the ABA also picked him up, hoping to capitalize on his Bruins fame, but he didn't last through their 1968 preseason.
This setback, however, paved the way for a remarkable career transition. As Warren himself told The New York Times, "At 22, I was a washed-up ballplayer. But I think if I had played pro ball, I would have escaped, if even just momentarily, a growing-up period I eventually had to go through."
Warren's interest in acting led him to enroll in the School of Theater, Film, and Television at UCLA, where he earned a B.A. majoring in theater arts. He appeared as basketball player Easly in Drive, He Said (1971), directed by Jack Nicholson and in the film adaptation of Butterflies Are Free (1972) where he played a store owner named Roy.
Television Stardom: Hill Street Blues and Beyond
Warren's breakthrough role came with the NBC television series Hill Street Blues, where he played Officer Bobby Hill. The show, known for its realistic portrayal of police work, became a critical and commercial success, and Warren's performance earned him an Emmy nomination in 1983.
His career took off in television in 1974, as he played the role of park ranger P. J. Lewis on the NBC adventure series Sierra, and went on to play a rookie officer for a possible backdoor pilot during the final 1975 season of Adam-12. His film work includes Norman… Is That You? (1976) with Redd Foxx and Pearl Bailey. He guest starred in In the House opposite LL Cool J as Debbie Allen's ex-husband. Warren played Darrin Dewitt Henson's boss on the Showtime show Soul Food, in which he played hustler-turned-entrepreneur Baron Marks. He played Pete Bancroft in the Tales from the Darkside episode, "Satanic Piano" (1985). Warren appeared as Virgil Tibbs' former longtime police partner and friend, Matthew Pogue on In the Heat of the Night episode "The Hammer and the Glove", which aired in 1988. In 1996, he was on the Early Edition episode Hoops. In 2001, he played Officer William Henderson in an episode of TV series The District, entitled "The Project".
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A Budding Photographer
Warren is also an accomplished photographer. His interest in photography dates to his time at UCLA. After graduation, he began shooting professional commercial head shots for actors. His photograph of the Jackson Five at a Los Angeles concert appeared in the Los Angeles Times, which duly credited him. Over the years, he shot less commercially, concentrating more on photographing his growing family. In 2015, an internal voice said to him, "Look Up!" The incredible cloud formations he saw made a strong and lasting impression on him, and he began "chasing clouds" all over the city, searching for the right vantage point to get the perfect photograph. Since then, Warren has developed a creative style that aims to elevate his photographs to pieces of art. In the recent past, Michael Warren, was one of three artists featured in an photographic exhibition at the Americana in Glendale.
Personal Life and Family
Warren's personal life has also been a source of interest. His son, Cash Garner Warren, is married to actress Jessica Alba.
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