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American actor, writer and even former claw machine pro, Michael Cyril Creighton dances through a spectrum of roles in his professional life. Creighton is renowned for a number of roles, such as his portrayal of Howard Morris in Only Murders in the Building, Patrick in High Maintenance, Joe Crowley in Spotlight, and for his Writers Guide of American Award-winning web series Jack in a Box.

He has worked alongside Steve Martin, Martin Short and Selena Gomez on Only Murders in the Building—and his passionate fanbase rarely lets him go unnoticed on the streets of New York. “Sometimes people say, ‘I know you from somewhere,’ thinking we went to high school together or I’m their friend's cousin. Then it hits them, and they gasp, ‘OH MY GOD, you’re the CAT GUY!’”

Creighton adds that sometimes fans will even grab him from behind. “This makes me scream like a damsel in distress because I hate being snuck up on or surprised. But honestly, I’m happy people respond to Howard as a character, and I love those interactions,” he reveals.“ It’s great to feel appreciated for my work. Whenever someone says, ‘I’m sorry to bother you,’ I usually reply, ‘Are you kidding? This is all I ever wanted.’”

**Left:**
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Coat by Le Catou
Sweater by Billy Reid
Denim by Roberto Cavalli
Handmade Orchid Brooch by Zero Waste Daniel
**Right:**
Suit by Karl Lagerfeld Paris
Shirt by Billy Reid
Handmade Leather and Fabric Floral Brooch by Zero Waste Daniel
Shoes by Bruno Marc Shoes

Michael, you grew up on Long Island and attended Emerson College in Boston. How did your early experiences and background form your approach to acting and writing?
Ahh, Long Island! I think it’s an environment that nurtures and creates big, bold personalities with big, bold feelings. So that has informed my work, for sure. I was raised by a group of very funny people—my mom, her sisters, and my grandparents. As a writer, I constantly hear those voices in my head—my aunts bickering, my mom getting way too excited about going to 7-11 for a Big Gulp, or my grandmother telling me I gained weight. Again.

When I studied acting at Emerson College, I really discovered the power of being an individual and embracing my uniqueness. The training there focused as much on building confidence and finding my voice as it did on acting techniques, breathing exercises, and Chekhov. One of the most important lessons I began to learn in college—and that I’ve only recently come to fully understand—is that embracing what makes me different, rather than viewing those qualities as flaws, is key to success.

You’re best known for playing the highly emotional, cat loving gossip “Howard Morris” on Hulu’s Only Murders in the Building. Can you share what drew you to this character and how you approached bringing him to life?
I was drawn to OMITB because of the incredible people involved and the amazing script. I love playing Howard Morris. He’s such a delicious character because he’s full of contradictions. He’s sweet but sour, vulnerable yet angry, completely individual but always wanting to be part of the group. To me, Howard always seems a little suspicious, yet constantly in danger. It’s a delicate balance, but the writers are so brilliant that everything I need is right there on the page.

You’ve worked alongside Steve Martin, Martin Short and Selena Gomez on Only Murders in the Building. This must have been an incredible experience. How did the dynamic between you and your co-stars influence your performance and the overall chemistry of the show?
I have a front-row seat to one of the greatest showbiz friendships in history—Steve and Marty. I feel so lucky to have witnessed the start of another incredible friendship between Steve, Marty, and Selena. They’re an amazing trio, generous scene partners, and genuinely kind people. It makes going to work a total pleasure. They treat everyone with the same kindness and respect, whether it's a day player who’s in for one episode or Meryl Streep. The joy they bring to their work and the humanity they show others really shines through on screen, I think. Howard Morris idolizes the trio and desperately wants their acceptance. I’d be lying if I said there isn’t any overlap between the character and me. I feel so fortunate to have accidentally become the fourth wheel in their tricycle.

**Left:**
Suit by Karl Lagerfeld Paris
Shirt by Billy Reid
Handmade Leather and Fabric Floral Brooch by Zero Waste Daniel
Shoes by Bruno Marc Shoes
**Right:**
BarabasMen Dudish Go Blazer by BarabasMen
Coat by Le Catou
Sweater by Billy Reid
Denim by Roberto Cavalli
Handmade Orchid Brooch by Zero Waste Daniel
Shoes by Florsheim Shoes

You’ve also been seen as the congenial dog lover, “Fred Jr.” on Showtime’s Dexter: New Blood and as “Mel,” a cranky comedy writer who loves a stiff drink on the final season of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. How do these different roles compare to your character, Howard Morris?
I always approach characters the same way—by trying to find the funny in the darkness and the darkness in the funny. Dexter: New Blood is obviously a very dark show, but it was so fun to play the part of “Fred Jr.” who was clearly meant to be the wholesome, light comic relief amidst all the serial killing, so I happily leaned into that. I had a blast acting with Michael C. Hall in those scenes.

The trick to acting on The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel was speaking fast and getting all the words right. It felt like using a different part of my brain because the rhythm and tempo of that show is so, so quick. There’s no time to overthink or second-guess, so I made strong choices from the start and just hoped they worked. Of course, I did my homework and thought about how Mel felt like he wasn’t living up to his potential, had a chip on his shoulder, and drank too much, blah blah blah—but once the camera rolled, all I focused on was being fast, funny, and making the Palladinos proud.

With Only Murders in the Building, do you see any potential for Howard to evolve in upcoming seasons? Are there any components of his character that you’re eager to explore more?
As long as Howard isn’t killed—or a killer (and I’ll never confirm or deny either!)—I think there’s always room for him to evolve and grow. In Season 1, he started out as a two-episode character, and all we knew was that he loved his cat, loved to gossip, and was very emotional. Now, four seasons in, we know so much more about his wants, needs, passions, and pitfalls. He’s gone from “that eccentric neighbor” to Howard Morris—the cat-loving, theatre-loving, yodeling librarian who just wants to belong to the group.

We’ve seen Howard try and fail quite a bit, and I’m curious to explore what his life would look like with some success. What is he really good at? And where does he come from? We’ve heard bits and pieces about his mother, and I think it would be fascinating to learn more about his upbringing, family and what ultimately brought him to the Arconia.

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Jacket by Billy Reid
Galvarino Patina Whole-cut Shoes by Que Shebley

You played clergy abuse survivor Joe Crowley in the 2016 Academy Award Winner for Best Picture, Spotlight, and were part of receiving a Robert Altman Award at the 2016 Film Independent Spirit Awards. What was your initial reaction to receiving this recognition?
Spotlight is, without a doubt, the most important and satisfying project I’ve ever been part of. Awards are nice, and it’s lovely to be recognized, but they’re just the cherry on top of an already special experience. Nothing compares to the pride I feel in being part of such an exquisitely crafted movie, as well as the relationships I built while filming. I credit my performance to the real Joe Crowley, who I had the joy of meeting the day before I filmed. We stayed friends until he passed a few years later. He was one of the funniest, most resilient people I’ve ever known. The entire experience was life-changing.

Can you please tell us a bit about your web series, Jack in a Box?
In 2009, I was working at an Off-Broadway box office, doing downtown theater on the side, and waiting for my on-camera career to take off. Eventually, I got tired of waiting. So, I created a web series about an actor working in an Off-Broadway box office, waiting for his career to take off. It became my way of learning to act on camera, exploring writing for others, and creating without waiting for permission. It was such a blast to make. I wrote and starred in 31 episodes, got to act with all my favorite people, and even won a Writers Guild Award for it. It’s still on YouTube, and every now and then, I’ll pick a random episode and beam with pride and joy for this indie project I created with my friends. It really changed my life—it was like grad school for me; I learned so much.

Suit by Karl Lagerfeld Paris
Shirt by Billy Reid
Handmade Leather and Fabric Floral Brooch by Zero Waste Daniel

Your career consists of both acting and writing. Is there a title that you resonate with more, or do you believe these talents work hand-in-hand?
I think being an actor makes me a better writer and vice versa. I encourage everyone to multi-hyphenate if they can.

Do you have any future projects that you can tell us about?
I’ll make a cameo appearance in American Horror Stories, airing October 15th on Hulu. I just shot a wild indie film called Floating Carousel and am developing a pilot I’ve written for myself to star in. And of course, Only Murders in the Building Season 4 is airing right now, and it’s been picked up for Season 5. I can’t wait to see my neighbors again!

CREW CREDITS:
Talent: Michael Cyril Creighton
PhotoBook Editor-In-Chief: Alison Hernon
PhotoBook Creative Director: Mike Ruiz
Photographer: Michael Creagh
Fashion Stylist: Alison Hernon at Exclusive Artists
Groomer: Evy Drew at Exclusive Artists
Retouching: Luka Ukropina
Fashion Stylist Assistant: Atėnė At
Tearsheets by Daniel López, Art Director, PhotoBook Magazine
Interview by Brya Sheridan

Michael Cyril Creighton Currently In Only Murders in the Building