- Michael's family includes his parents, Dr. William and Virginia Jeter, his brother William, and his four sisters, Virginia, Amanda, Emily, and Larie.
- When Michael first started working on stage, he began in Baltimore, Maryland because he had heard it was hard to work in New York City without an equity card.
- Michael's longtime boyfriend was Sean Blue. The two were together until Michael's death.
- Michael was 5'4"(1.524 meters) tall.
- Several Hollywood stars attended Michael's funeral,including Robin Williams, Tom Hanks and Kevin Costner.
- During the 1980's, Michael struggled with alcohol and drug abuse.
- Michael actually quit the film business in 1983 to become a legal secretary, but returned when he was asked to perform the role of Herman Stiles in Evening Shade.
- Right before he died, Michael completed his last movie, which was The Polar Express.
- Michael appeared in the plays Ragtime, Hair, Once in a Lifetime, Cloud 9, and Grand Hotel.
- In 1990, Michael was featured in the Broadway play Grand Hotel, and won a Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical. He also won the Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Actor in a Musical, the Clarence Derwent Prize for Most Promising Actor On The Metropolitan Scene, and a Drama Desk Award for Featured Actor in a Musical.
- In 1992, Michael was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for TV for Evening Shade.
- In 2000, Michael was nominated for a SAG Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Theatrical Motion Picture for The Green Mile.
- Michael won an Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series in 1992 for his role on a sitcom called Evening Shade. He was nominated for the same award in 1991 and 1993. In 1993, Michael was also nominated for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series for Picket Fences. In 1996, he was nominated for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series for Chicago Hope.
- Michael was a student at Memphis State University. He enrolled, intending to study medicine, but soon switched his major to acting and theater. He graduated in 1974.
- Michael: (On growing up in a conservative community while knowing he was gay) I knew instinctually that I had to get out of there if I was ever going to understand what [my] difference was and get comfortable with it.
- Michael: I know that I am not what one normally thinks of as, let's say, fit for fantasy. I am not a romantic lead, and that's fine....There was a time in my life when I hated myself for being so sort of squirrelly looking and odd.
- Michael: (On his character, Herman Stiles, from Evening Shade) He is not perfect in any sense of the word. Everyone is Herman on some level.
- Michael: (During his acceptance speech at the 1990 Tonys) If you've got a problem with alcohol and drugs and think you can't stop, I stand here as living proof.
