Michael Welch is an American actor. He is best known for the role of Luke Girardi on the television series ''

Joan of Arcadia ''Joan of Arcadia'' is an American fantasy family drama television series telling the story of teenager Joan Girardi ( Amber Tamblyn), who sees and speaks with God and performs tasks she is given. The series originally aired on Fridays on CBS f ...

'' and for the role of Mike Newton in the films ''

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Eclipse An eclipse is an astronomical event which occurs when an astronomical object or spacecraft is temporarily obscured, by passing into the shadow of another body or by having another body pass between it and the viewer. This alignment of three ...

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Breaking Dawn ''Breaking Dawn'' (stylized as ''breaking dawn'') is the 2008 fourth novel in Twilight (novel series), ''The Twilight Saga'' by American author Stephenie Meyer. Divided into three parts, the first and third sections are written from Bella Swan' ...

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Career

Welch is known for his role as Mike Newton in '' The Twilight Saga'' film series. Although he auditioned for the part of Edward Cullen, he was cast in the role of Mike Newton. He's also well known for his role as Luke Girardi in the television series ''

'', which ran for two seasons (2003–05). Welch was cast in the series '' Z Nation'' on Syfy, which began airing in the fall of 2014. He also appeared in the 2014 film '' Boy Meets Girl'', a romantic comedy which received many awards at LGBT film festivals in the U.S. and internationally.

Awards

* Los Angeles FirstGlance Film Festival (2011) — Won, Festival Award – Best Actor for ''Unrequited'' (2010) (Lucky Day Studios) * FilmOut San Diego (2014) — Won, FilmOut Festival Award – Best Actor for '' Boy Meets Girl''. Welch is the recipient of two Young Artist Awards. His first was for his performance in the film '' Star Trek: Insurrection'' at the age of 10. The second was for his work as Luke Girardi on ''Joan of Arcadia''.

Personal life

Welch's father is

Protestant Protestantism is a branch of Christianity that emphasizes Justification (theology), justification of sinners Sola fide, through faith alone, the teaching that Salvation in Christianity, salvation comes by unmerited Grace in Christianity, divin ...

, and his mother is Jewish. Welch married Marissa Lefton in 2008. The couple separated in 2011 and jointly filed for divorce in California on February 14, 2013. He married model Samantha Maggio in 2016. Welch has two children.

Selected filmography

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Welch, Michael Living people 21st-century American male actors American male child actors American male film actors American male television actors American male voice actors Jewish American male actors Male actors from Los Angeles Actors from California 21st-century American Jews Year of birth missing (living people)