Mike Pniewski

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^[1] and also won the Natalie Wood Acting Award.^[2]

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.^[3][4] 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.^[5]

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.^[6][7]

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.^[8]

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.^[9]