Michael Jeter (August 26, 1952 - March 30, 2003) was an American actor.

Born in Lawrenceburg, Tennessee, Jeter was a student at Memphis State University when his interests changed from medicine to acting. He pursued his initial stage career in Baltimore, Maryland, as he had heard it was hard to get work in New York without an equity card.

His woebegone look, extreme flexibility and high energy led Tommy Tune to cast him in the Off-Broadway Cloud 9 and, on Broadway, in a memorable role in the musical Grand Hotel, for which he won a Tony Award in 1990.

He was open about his homosexuality and troubles with drug and alcohol addiction, and for a time decided to retire from entertainment, but was eventually enticed back with roles on television and in movies.

When he was diagnosed with HIV, he discussed it openly at a time when there was still much unreasoned fear about the disease.

He had been thought to be in good health, but was found dead in his home in Los Angeles, California, aged 50, in 2003.

Numerous websites have indicated that the cause of death was AIDS-related, but these were based on his HIV status.

He is survived by his partner, Sean Blue.

Theatre

• Once in a Lifetime
• G. R. Point
• Cloud 9
• Grand Hotel (Tony award for his portrayal of Otto Kringelein, a dying man with a thirst for life, his song "We'll Take a Glass Together" was revelatory.)

Television

• Evening Shade
• Tales of the City (1994 PBS miniseries)
• Gypsy (1993 TV version)
• Sesame Street: as Elmo's friend "Mr. Noodle's Brother, Mr. Noodle"
• Hothouse
• From Here to Eternity
• Taken

Movies

• The Polar Express (2004), Smokey/Steamer (released posthumously)
• Open Range (2003), Percy
• Welcome to Collinwood (2002), Toto
• Jurassic Park III (2001), Mr. Udesky
• The Green Mile (1999), Eduard Delacroix
• Jakob the Liar (1999), Avron
• True Crime (1999), Dale Porterhouse
• Patch Adams (1998), Rudy
• Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998), L. Ron Bumquist
• Mouse Hunt (1997), Quincy Thorpe
• Air Bud (1997), Norman F. 'Norm' Snively/Clown the Hound
• The Boys Next Door (1996), Arnold Wiggins
• Waterworld (1995), Old Gregor
• Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit (1993), Father Ignatius
• The Fisher King (1991), homeless cabaret singer
• Tango & Cash (1989), Skinner
• Dead Bang (1989), Dr. Krantz
• The Money Pit (1986), Arnie
• Zelig (1983), Freshman #2
• Ragtime (1981), Special Reporter
• Hair (1979), Sheldon