Michael Patrick Boatman was born on October 25, 1964 in Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA. While growing up in the Chicago, Illinois area, Boatman developed an interest in acting that led him to enroll in Western Illinois University's theatre program. After performing in a variety of plays that included A Midsummer Night's Dream, Purlie Victorious, and The Seagull, Boatman earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1986. Prior to graduation, Boatman showed great potential when he won the Best Supporting Actor Award for a performance in the Irene Ryan National Competition at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. He started his professional career by working for a casting agent, which eventually led him to the role of Motown in Hamburger Hill. From here, he moved to New York City to perform in a series of off-Broadway productions. This in turn, led to the role of Pvt. Samuel Beckett in ABC's drama China Beach. Boatman spent the next several years in a variety of film and television projects prior to being cast along side Michael J. Fox as Carter in ABC's Spin City. Currently, Boatman resides in New York with his wife Myrna and their four children.