Michael Jace: Actor who allowed controversy to confine him behind bars forever

Michael Jace was an American actor who worked in the country’s film and television sector for over two decades. He is perhaps best known for his role in the FX drama series, The Shield. However, his acting career was overshadowed by the tragic events surrounding his personal life, including his arrest and conviction for the murder of his wife, April Jace.

This piece explores Michael Jace’s life, career, and the controversies that ultimately defined his legacy.

Michael Jace biography

Michael Jace was born on July 13, 1962, in Paterson, situated in the U.S. state of New Jersey.

He is an American actor best known for his role as “police officer Julien Lowe: in the FX television drama series The Shield.

In May 2014, Jace was arrested and charged with the murder of his wife, April Jace. He was convicted of second-degree murder in May 2016 and sentenced to 40 years to life in prison.

Michael Jace career

Jace had a career as an actor in film and television that spanned over two decades. He began his career in the early 1990s, with guest roles in television shows such as “Law & Order”, “NYPD Blue” and “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air”. He also appeared in films like “Forrest Gump” and “Boogie Nights”.

In 2002, Jace landed the role of “Officer Julien Lowe” in the FX drama series, The Shield” His performance in the series was praised by critics, and in 2007, he was nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award for “Best Performance by an Ensemble” in a Drama Series.

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After “The Shield” ended, Jace continued to work in television, appearing in shows such as “Southland,” “Private Practice,” and “Burn Notice”. He also had roles in TV series and films such as “The Replacements”, “State of Play”, “The Terminal”, “Private Practice” and “Planet of the Apes.”

Jace’s acting career was, unfortunately, overshadowed by his personal life and legal troubles, at a time when he was becoming more prominent in Hollywood.

Michael Jace movies

Jace appeared in several movies during his career as an actor. Some of his notable movie roles include:

• Forrest Gump (1994): He played the role of a “Black Panther member” in this Academy Award-winning film directed by Robert Zemeckis.
• Boogie Nights (1997): Jace played the role of “Jerome” in this film, which was directed by Paul Thomas Anderson.
• The Replacements (2000): He played the role of “Earl Wilkinson”, a football player, in this sports comedy directed by Howard Deutch.
• State of Play (2009): Jace appeared in this political thriller directed by “Kevin Macdonald”. He played the role of a police officer.
• The Terminal (2004): He was cast as a “TSA officer” in this action movie directed by Steven Spielberg.

It is important to note that Jace is, however, more well-known for work on his television, particularly for his role as Officer Julien Lowe on the FX drama series “The Shield.”

Michael Jace’s net worth

Jace’s net worth is estimated to be $400,000, according to media reports.

Michael Jace controversies

Jace’s most significant controversy was the murder of his wife, April Jace, in 2014. The high-profile case was widely covered in the media, and Jace’s subsequent trial and conviction for second-degree murder drew further attention.

On May 19, 2014, Jace called 911 and reported that he had shot his wife. When police arrived at the couple’s home in Los Angeles, they found April Jace dead from multiple gunshot wounds.

During his trial, Jace’s defence team argued that he had been suffering from mental health issues, including depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder, at the time of the shooting. They also claimed that Jace had been under stress due to financial difficulties and marital problems.

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However, the prosecution argued that the shooting was premeditated and that Jace had been angry with his wife over their ongoing divorce and custody battle. They presented evidence that Jace had purchased a gun two months before the shooting and had been practising at a shooting range.

According to the Los Angeles Times, Jace’s ex-wife, Jennifer Bitterman, claimed in a divorce file from November 1997 that he had threatened to murder her if they engaged in a “fight over his visiting rights to their kid.”

In May 2016, Jace was convicted of second-degree murder in the death of his wife, April Jace. He was sentenced to 40 years to life in prison.

Michael Jace family

Jace was previously married to Jennifer Bitterman, but they divorced in 2002. He then got married to April Jace in 2003, and they were together for 11 years before he killed her.

He had a son with his former wife named Jordan, and he also had two sons with his late wife.

April Jace, who was identified as a teacher in a bankruptcy filing, once worked as a financial aid advisor at Biola University, a private Christian university, in March 2013. She had a radiant personality, according to Geoff Marsh, senior director of financial assistance at Biola University.

Michael Jace age

Jace was born on July 13, 1962. He is currently 61 years old and will be 62 in 2023.

For readers, the tragic events surrounding Michael Jace’s actions are a sobering reminder of the importance of seeking help for mental health issues and the dangers of unresolved conflict in a marital relationship.

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