# Michael Welch (actor)
**Michael Alan Welch** (born 1987) is an American actor best known for playing the human high-schooler Mike Newton in the Twilight film series, Luke Girardi on the CBS drama [Joan of Arcadia](https://www.edgepedia.org/joan-of-arcadia), and Mack Thompson on Syfy's zombie series [Z Nation](https://www.edgepedia.org/z-nation).[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0919616/) Born in Los Angeles, he began working professionally as a child and has accumulated more than 100 film and television credits over roughly 25 years.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0919616/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1987, Los Angeles, California[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0919616/bio/) |
| Signature role | Mike Newton in the Twilight Saga (2008–2011), a franchise that grossed $3.3 billion worldwide[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0919616/) |
| Breakthrough television | Luke Girardi on Joan of Arcadia (2003–2005), for which he received his second Young Artist Award[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0919616/) |
| Other series regular role | Mack Thompson on Syfy's Z Nation, which ran for five seasons[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0919616/) |
| First feature film | Artim in Star Trek: Insurrection (1998), the ninth installment of the Star Trek franchise[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0919616/) |
| Start in acting | At age 10, playing a young Niles Crane on Frasier[3](https://www.twilightlexicon.com/2008/07/27/michael-welch/) |
| Awards | Two Young Artist Awards, in film and television; 2005 Star Innovative Award for environmental contributions[3](https://www.twilightlexicon.com/2008/07/27/michael-welch/) |
| Personal life | Married set dresser Samantha (Maggio) Welch on November 5, 2016; two children, including a daughter, Parker Ann[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0919616/) |
## Early work
Welch began acting at age 10 with a guest turn on Frasier, playing a young version of [Niles Crane](https://www.edgepedia.org/niles-crane).[3](https://www.twilightlexicon.com/2008/07/27/michael-welch/) In the same year he had his first feature film experience as Artim in [Star Trek: Insurrection](https://www.edgepedia.org/star-trek-insurrection) (1998), a performance for which he received a [Young Artist Award](https://www.edgepedia.org/young-artist-award).[4](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/michael-welch/) Through the late 1990s and early 2000s he took guest and recurring roles across a wide range of series, including The X-Files, 7th Heaven, Malcolm in the Middle, Chicago Hope, and Jesse.[4](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/michael-welch/)
From 2001 to 2002 he also did voice work, voicing the American voice of [Pinocchio](https://www.edgepedia.org/pinocchio) in Disney's House of Mouse; he left that role when puberty deepened his voice, and moved on to other animated series such as [Fillmore!](https://www.edgepedia.org/fillmore) and [Hey Arnold!](https://www.edgepedia.org/hey-arnold).[5](https://www.allocine.fr/personne/fichepersonne-104774/biographie/)
## Joan of Arcadia
In 2003 Welch landed a regular role as Luke Girardi, the younger brother of a teenage girl who talks to God, on the CBS series Joan of Arcadia, which ran from 2003 to 2005 and was Emmy-nominated.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0919616/) The role brought him further acclaim and his second Young Artist Award.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0919616/) After the series was canceled he returned to guest parts in shows including CSI, NCIS, and Cold Case.[5](https://www.allocine.fr/personne/fichepersonne-104774/biographie/)
## The Twilight Saga
In 2008 Welch was cast as Mike Newton, the friendly human classmate who holds an enduring crush on [Bella Swan](https://www.edgepedia.org/bella-swan) in Twilight, the first film of the adaptation of [Stephenie Meyer](https://www.edgepedia.org/stephenie-meyer)'s novels.[6](https://www.interviewmagazine.com/film/michael-welch-twilight) He had originally auditioned for the lead role of Edward, then for Eric, before landing Mike after several rounds of readings.[6](https://www.interviewmagazine.com/film/michael-welch-twilight) He appeared in all four films of the saga between 2008 and 2011, though the character's prominence diminished across the series.[5](https://www.allocine.fr/personne/fichepersonne-104774/biographie/) The franchise grossed $3.3 billion worldwide.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0919616/)
Welch said the success of Twilight lifted his public profile considerably, moving him from years of small, recognizable parts to widespread face recognition.[6](https://www.interviewmagazine.com/film/michael-welch-twilight) It also let him take on new independent projects, such as My Suicide (2008).[5](https://www.allocine.fr/personne/fichepersonne-104774/biographie/)
## Later career
After Twilight, Welch worked steadily in independent films and television movies. His credits include Boy Meets Girl (2014), in which he played Robby, a young man drawn to a transgender woman played by newcomer Michelle Hendley, a role he described as a positive and realistic exploration of young transgender life.[7](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1745865/news/) He became a series regular as Mack Thompson on Z Nation, Syfy's zombie series, which ran for five seasons.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0919616/)
His later work includes the horror film [The Final Wish](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-final-wish) (2019), released theatrically nationwide with [Lin Shaye](https://www.edgepedia.org/lin-shaye) and [Tony Todd](https://www.edgepedia.org/tony-todd), appearances in Shonda Rhimes's ABC drama Station 19 (2019), two Lifetime originals (Who's Stalking Me? and Erasing His Dark Past), Hot Seat (2022) with Mel Gibson and Kevin Dillon, and a guest role on the 2022 Quantum Leap revival.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0919616/) • [2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0919616/bio/)
## Personal life and charity
Welch is involved with The Thirst Project, a youth-oriented nonprofit that builds fresh-water wells in developing communities, and has been involved with the charity Kids with a Cause since 1999.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0919616/) • [3](https://www.twilightlexicon.com/2008/07/27/michael-welch/) He married set dresser Samantha Welch on November 5, 2016, and the couple have two children, including a daughter named Parker Ann.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0919616/)
## References
1. [Michael Welch (I) – IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0919616/)
2. [Michael Welch – Biography – IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0919616/bio/)
3. [Michael Welch – Twilight Lexicon (July 27, 2008)](https://www.twilightlexicon.com/2008/07/27/michael-welch/)
4. [Michael Welch – TV Insider](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/michael-welch/)
5. [Michael Welch : Sa biographie – AlloCiné](https://www.allocine.fr/personne/fichepersonne-104774/biographie/)
6. [Michael Welch on the Set of New Moon – Interview Magazine (June 25, 2009)](https://www.interviewmagazine.com/film/michael-welch-twilight)
7. [Mike Newton – News – IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1745865/news/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of the Anglosphere and Europe › American actors: 2000s onward › Surnames U to We*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license