Michael Champion obit

 Singer, Songwriter, Actor and Musician Michael Champion Has died

He was not on the list.

Michael Edward Campbell Champion was born November 3,1946 in Anderson, Indiana to Robert Campbell and Kate Williamson Campbell. He died June 16, 2021 in Casper, Wyoming. Michael was a musician, actor, boxing coach, mentor, father and husband. He always had a story to tell, a prank to play and advice to give...whether you wanted it or not. He could talk to anyone. He was a larger than life character whose life impacted many people.

Michael began his career in the entertainment industry early on. His family moved to Detroit, MI in 1962 where he began singing in many local commercials. When the Detroit Tigers won the World Series in 1968 he recorded a song, “Roly Poly Mickey Lolich”, which played constantly on radio and TV. Michael then contracted with Motown as a songwriter and studio musician. He produced an album for the Jackson Five - Joyful Jukebox Music, for which he received a Gold Record. During this time he also formed a band, Abstract Reality with Ray Monette and Bob Babbitt. They later changed the name to Scorpion.

His name appears as Mike Campbell on the album Scorpion and Meat Loaf's debut album Stoney & Meatloaf (1971). For this recording, apart from having co-written four songs, he played the harmonica on Lady Be Mine.

Michael stepped into acting when he went to audition for the Broadway touring production of Hair, where he was cast as Berger. He loved it and moved to LA to record his first album and pursue acting. His first professional acting job was a one line part on All in the Family. He went on to do many roles in commercials, TV and movies including Beverly Hills Cop, Pink Cadillac and Total Recall. He continued acting in local productions and student films to help out friends until 2021.

He became an actor by the name of Michael Champion and since 1979 played in several TV series and films such as Diagnosis Murder (1993), Matlock (1989), and The Flash (1991, as Captain Cold), History of the World: Part I (1981), Beverly Hills Cop (1984), Total Recall (1990) and Toy Soldiers (1991), and video game characters like the terrorist in Flash Traffic: City of Angels (1994) and 'Wolf' in Maximum Surge (1996). Musician and record co-producer Ralph Terrana has been quoted: "He [Campbell] was a very talented writer. He also could be a little unusual. We called him Crazy Mike."

In 1992 Michael became a believer in Jesus Christ and this changed the trajectory of his life. For the next 29 years he told people about his Savior. Michael was also sober for over 30 years and helped many people on their journey to sobriety.  Michael was an avid boxing enthusiast which led him to a second career as a boxing coach. He poured his life into coaching and mentoring many young people.

Michael’s pride and joy were his children and grandchildren. He was always ready to brag about them to anyone who would listen.  Michael is survived by his wife of 29 years Melissa, his four children Piper (Cody), Emma (Chandler), Ian (Alexcis), and Chloe (Donivan), four grandchildren Penelope, August, Poet and Ambrose, two sisters, Caralee and Suzanne, nieces, nephews, and countless friends and acquaintances. He was preceded in death by his parents.

Services will be held Friday, June 25, 2021 at City Park Church located at 804 S Wolcott. Viewing will be from 4:30-6:30pm with the service at 6:30pm, and a reception to follow.

 

Filmography

 

Actor

Tales from the Folk of Scarlet Creek (2021)

Tales from the Folk of Scarlet Creek

Mike Champs

2021

 

Maximum Surge (1996)

Maximum Surge

Wolf

Video Game

1996

 

Dead Cold (1995)

Dead Cold

Bill Butler

Video

1995

 

Rachel McLish in Raven Hawk (1995)

Raven Hawk

Gordon Fowler

TV Movie

1995

 

Aurora: Operation Intercept (1995)

Aurora: Operation Intercept

Johann Wells

1995

 

Cassidy Rae and Ethan Embry in Evolver (1995)

Evolver

Squad Leader

1995

 

Dennis Franz, Jimmy Smits, Sharon Lawrence, James McDaniel, Gordon Clapp, and Nicholas Turturro in NYPD Blue (1993)

NYPD Blue

Derrick Cobb

TV Series

1995

1 episode

 

Flash Traffic: City of Angels (1994)

Flash Traffic: City of Angels

Ivan Belinko

Video Game

1994

 

Renegade (1992)

Renegade

TV Series

1994

1 episode

 

Ray Alexander: A Taste for Justice

TV Movie

1994

 

Jeff Kaake, Heather Medway, Joe Nipote, and Dawn Stern in Viper (1994)

Viper

Erick Van Hook

TV Series

1994

1 episode

 

Dick Van Dyke and Barry Van Dyke in Diagnosis Murder (1993)

Diagnosis Murder

Big Angie

TV Series

1993

1 episode

 

Private Wars (1993)

Private Wars

Chief Carpenter

Video

1993

 

The Swordsman (1992)

The Swordsman

Stratos

1992

 

D.B. Sweeney in Leather Jackets (1991)

Leather Jackets

Costello

1991

 

The Heroes of Desert Storm (1991)

The Heroes of Desert Storm

Warr. Off. Hunter

TV Movie

1991

 

Sean Astin, Wil Wheaton, Keith Coogan, George Perez, and T.E. Russell in Toy Soldiers (1991)

Toy Soldiers

Jack Thorpe

1991

 

Dane Farwell and John Wesley Shipp in The Flash (1990)

The Flash

Captain Cold

TV Series

1991

1 episode

 

Tom Bosley and Tracy Nelson in Fatal Confession: A Father Dowling Mystery (1987)

Father Dowling Mysteries

Harry Deal

TV Series

1990

1 episode

 

False Identity (1990)

False Identity

Luther

1990

 

Arnold Schwarzenegger in Total Recall (1990)

Total Recall

Helm

1990

 

Michael Dorn, Jonathan Frakes, Gates McFadden, Marina Sirtis, Brent Spiner, LeVar Burton, and Patrick Stewart in Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987)

Star Trek: The Next Generation

Boratus

TV Series

1990

1 episode

 

Fred Dryer and Stepfanie Kramer in Hunter (1984)

Hunter

John Calder

TV Series

1989

1 episode

 

One Man Out (1989)

One Man Out

Burkhardt

1989

 

Andy Griffith in Matlock (1986)

Matlock

Guard John Jackson

TV Series

1989

2 episodes

 

Paradise (1988)

Paradise

Sam Lamar

TV Series

1989

1 episode

 

Clint Eastwood and Bernadette Peters in Pink Cadillac (1989)

Pink Cadillac

Ken Lee

1989

 

The Forgotten (1989)

The Forgotten

Sergeant Elmer J. Miller

TV Movie

1989

 

Johnny Depp, Holly Robinson Peete, Peter DeLuise, Dustin Nguyen, and Steven Williams in 21 Jump Street (1987)

21 Jump Street

Facility Director

TV Series

1989

1 episode

 

Stephen Caffrey in Tour of Duty (1987)

Tour of Duty

M.P. Sergeant

TV Series

1989

1 episode

 

Paul Fusco and Mihaly 'Michu' Meszaros in ALF (1986)

ALF

Sgt. Matt Fox

TV Series

1988

2 episodes

 

Michael Paré and Michael Beck in Houston Knights (1987)

Houston Knights

Delbert Bartley

TV Series

1988

1 episode

 

Hooperman (1987)

Hooperman

Floyd Kelson

TV Series

1988

1 episode

 

Sarah Jessica Parker, Amanda Peterson, Trey Ames, Adam Arkin, Jayne Atkinson, Richard Kiley, Diana Muldaur, David Oliver, Scott Paulin, Wendy Phillips, and Morgan Stevens in A Year in the Life (1987)

A Year in the Life

TV Series

1988

1 episode

 

Dennis Farina and Bill Smitrovich in Crime Story (1986)

Crime Story

Stark's Crew

TV Series

1987

1 episode

 

Fatal Beauty (1987)

Fatal Beauty

Buzz

1987

 

Victoria Principal, Barbara Bel Geddes, Patrick Duffy, Larry Hagman, Charlene Tilton, Jim Davis, Linda Gray, and Steve Kanaly in Dallas (1978)

Dallas

TV Series

1987

1 episode

 

North & South: Book 2, Love & War (1986)

North & South: Book 2, Love & War

Detective Haller

TV Mini Series

1986

2 episodes

 

Richard Dean Anderson in MacGyver (1985)

MacGyver

Larson

TV Series

1985

1 episode

 

Riptide (1984)

Riptide

Arnold Skullen

TV Series

1985

1 episode

 

Crime of Innocence (1985)

Crime of Innocence

Jailor

TV Movie

1985

 

Robert Clohessy, Michael Warren, and Bruce Weitz in Hill Street Blues (1981)

Hill Street Blues

Pistol Whipped Cabbie

TV Series

1985

1 episode

 

Stark (1985)

Stark

Sam

TV Movie

1985

 

Beverly Hills Cop (1984)

Beverly Hills Cop

Casey

1984

 

V (1984)

V

Garrison

TV Series

1984

1 episode

 

David Hasselhoff in Knight Rider (1982)

Knight Rider

MonkWade Fontaine

TV Series

1982–1984

2 episodes

 

Big Ball

Sandy

Short

1983

 

Simon & Simon (1981)

Simon & Simon

Ted Ostrow

TV Series

1983

1 episode

 

T.J. Hooker (1982)

T.J. Hooker

Fleming

TV Series

1983

1 episode

 

The Woman Inside (1981)

The Woman Inside

Nolan

1981

 

History of the World: Part I (1981)

History of the World: Part I

Prehistoric Man

1981

 

Wholly Moses! (1980)

Wholly Moses!

Sodom Sentry

1980

 

Salvage 1 (1979)

Salvage 1

Rory

TV Series

1979

1 episode

 

The Rockford Files (1974)

The Rockford Files

Dwight Deleau

TV Series

1979

1 episode

 

Bo Derek and Dudley Moore in 10 (1979)

10

Party Guest

1979

 

When a Stranger Calls (1979)

When a Stranger Calls

Bill

1979

 

Lou Ferrigno and Bill Bixby in The Incredible Hulk (1977)

The Incredible Hulk

Del

TV Series

1979

1 episode

 

Edward Asner in Lou Grant (1977)

Lou Grant

Red Keough

TV Series

1979

1 episode

 

Greg Evigan in B.J. and the Bear (1978)

B.J. and the Bear

Banjo

TV Series

1979

1 episode