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Brendan had very little thought of entering the world of film and television. In his late teens, others took notice of his strong good looks, and he worked in Winnipeg doing some minor modeling for local catalogue companies. On a trip to a family wedding in Vancouver in the fall of 1997, he decided to check out the local modeling scene. He approached his current management company in the hopes of landing some modeling work but they immediately noticed that he had much more potential for film and television. Within a week, Brendan had landed a guest star role on "Breaker High" for UPN and he has gained increasing notice and success as an actor. After relocating to Vancouver, Brendan was a very active and sought after young actor. In addition to "Breaker High", his credits for television include two different co-starring roles on "Millennium" for FOX; costar on the syndicated series "Night Man"; costar in the USA Network Movie of the Week "Every Mother’s Worst Fear"; a Lead in the FOX Family Channel Movie of the Week, "Perfect Little Angels"; a guest star spot on "The New Addams Family" also for FOX Family Channel; and a lead in the ABC Movie of the Week "Our Guys" opposite Eric Stoltz and Ally Sheedy. Brendan's current role is the part of "Michael Guerin" in the prime-time WB drama "Roswell." His feature film credits include "Disturbing Behavior" for MGM, the lead role of Eddy in the independent feature "Christina’s House", directed by up-and-coming Canadian director Gavin Wilding and a role in "Final Destination" opposite Devon Sawa for New Line Cinema. Brendan has also appeared in various national commercial campaigns for companies such as "Shell Canada" and "Champs Sports." He filmed an independent movie "Kill Me Later" with Selma Blair in Vancouver, and worked on the vampire movie "Forsaken" during the summer hiatus after first season of Roswell. Brendan has a female Rottweiler named Opa and currently lives in Los Angeles. He is very proud of being Canadian, likes hockey (especially the Vancouver Canucks), and is a huge fan of Metallica and Spiderman - even sporting two new Metallica-related tattoos. Brendan comes from a very strong religious background and is active in charitable causes, including helping to build a Habitat for Humanity House in California with other stars of the WB. He also served as Canadian spokesman for World Vision's "30 Hour Famine" for the year 2000 (a charity for which FanForum's Los Angeles party in August 2000 raised $26,000!). From Brendan's Official Biography; thanks to black widow.
The Character of Michael Guerin
Michael Guerin is in many ways the most complex character on "Roswell," and the most driven as well. Unlike Max and Isabel, he has grown up in a very unhappy environment, being bounced around from various foster homes with neglectful caretakers who have given him no support or encouragement. He lived in a trailer park with his latest foster dad, Hank, who was a mean and abusive drunk. As a result, Michael has become a complete outsider, coming close to flunking out of school despite his hidden brilliance, and trusting no one but Max and Isabel. He has become obsessed with finding out the truth about his origins as a means to escape the world that he has come to despise, and he often acts in an impetuous way to achieve this goal. Michael is also the most emotional of the alien trio, and the one most likely to act on his feelings. Michael has the least amount of control of his powers, due to his insecurity and inability to control his emotions.
His feelings for Maria threaten to disrupt his carefully maintained alienation from everyone except Max and Isabel. These feelings for Maria scare him a great deal, and he simply doesn’t know how to deal with them. Because of Michael's unhappy and uncertain childhood, he has not learned many of the niceties of human interpersonal behavior and also has built a shell around himself to protect him from being hurt. He is totally unskilled in relationships and his feelings for Maria are disturbing and frightening to him, so he wants to keep her at arms' length.
However, Maria is a very warm and accepting and loving person and, in spite of himself, they grow very close, especially after his mean foster dad Hank threw Michael out and threatened him with a gun (in "Independence Day"). Michael ended up crying in Maria's arms, coming to her as the only person who could comfort him. Hank disappeared after that and Michael was granted legal independence (Hank was killed by Nasedo, but Michael was unaware of this). Michael got a job as a cook at the Crashdown Cafe and an apartment and began to build a life on his own. He and Maria continued to grow even closer.
However, events soon conspire to push Maria and Michael apart. Tess arrives in town and Michael starts getting visions that he might be with Isabel - at one point they think she might even be pregnant with his child through some alien dream connection. Michael thinks for a time that Riverdog (Ned Romero) is Nasedo, and that Nasedo might be his father. When he meets the real Nasedo, it is quite a let down - nothing is as he imagined. Michael uses his powers to kill Agent Pierce, then feels he has become a bad person and a danger to Maria. He pushed her away totally - because he loves her and wants to protect her from him, and also because of the mission he has to do for his alien people.
The second season finds Michael with new, non-spiky, longer hair and a motorbike. He is still not the ideal boyfriend or the most charming or tactful person. If anything, his anger and frustration have increased and he is annoyed by Max's sudden appointment as king and leader, and they argue frequently.
Michael comes to trust Sheriff Valenti, and with his mission and finding out more about himself, he has overcome some of his anger and found new strength and new focus. Together the pod squad discovers new facts about their alien and human origins.
Michael and Isabel have rejected any thought of a relationship with each other. Maria and Michael continue to bicker and be close, but he initally stands firm on his resolve not to continue his romantic relationship with her.
The battle with the Skins heats up and Michael is not sure he is ready, or that he will be strong enough. The new waitress at the Crashdown, Courtney, comes on to him outrageously, amusing Michael and making Maria very jealous and annoyed. Michael is not interested in Courtney at all, but they become closer when he finds out she is an alien - a 'good' Skin and on his side. In a very touching gesture, in the episode "Harvest" Michael saves Courtney's 'husk' (her new human body being grown to replace her current shedding old one) before they destroy the Skins' headquarters in Arizona. Unfortunately, she dies to protect them soon afterward to keep the secret of the Granilith from falling into the hands of Nicholas, leader of the 'bad' Skins.
Michael has the unsettling experience of meeting his 'dupe' Rath, who is ten times more uncouth than Michael ever could be. The totally unbelieving and cynical Michael discovers some faith during Christmas when he helps Max heal sick children and Isabel helps him out and manages to get Maria a Christmas gift she loves. Also during the holiday season, there seems to be the beginning of a thaw in Michael's resolve to keep Maria at arms' length.
As Max grows more confident and stronger as a leader, Michael begins to doubt Max less and to become more confident in his own powers as well. He wants to forge ahead with things and still chafes under Max's cautious wait-and-see approach to life; while Max sees Michael as a person who 'leaps before he looks.' But Max never doubts Michael's friendship or loyalty, or that Michael will be there for him and will continue to be the driving force in their search for their identity and their origins.
Character sketch by Jerry D.; updated by MyrnaLynne.
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