Michael lives in Los Angeles, but hails from Goodrich, Michigan, about an hour from Detroit. He started performing at Flint, Michigan’s automobile-themed amusement park, Autoworld, during his summer vacations. Since then, he has been an audience favorite, performing over 10,000 shows for personal and corporate clients, churches, comedy clubs, colleges and theme parks.
His show has been described as “preposterous brilliance” and “whacky jugglement,” a combination of hilarious tricks and stunts with uproarious stand-up and a bounty of improvised fun and zingers. He has been likened to Steve Martin and Robin Williams. You’re never sure what’s coming next! His signature trick is spinning a McDonald’s cheeseburger on an umbrella which garnered him an appearance on The David Letterman Show. Other TV appearances include Sesame Street, The Extreme Gong Show, Thirty Seconds to Fame and various local TV shows and TV commercials. He is a favorite of Nickelodeon Television having performed his antics on What Would You Do? and Nick Arcade, and has done warm-up for many sitcoms including That ‘70s Show, Reba, Dharma and Greg, Stark Raving Mad, Then Came You, Two of a Kind, Two Guys and a Girl and the specials Thou Shalt Laugh ll and Home for the Holidays.
Michael was a weird scientist for IBM and a dork washing a cardboard car for Saturn. He played a hapless gas station attendant who tries to take a photo of Elvis in an Energizer battery commercial and has appeared with Ringo Star, Jane Seymour, and Anthony Quinn promoting other worthwhile products. Maybe his proudest achievement was having Frank Sinatra personally approve him to promote his compilation CD for a Capitol Records commercial. Currently Michael can be seen in his own comedy special “Bananas”, hosted by Thor Ramsey, on syndicated television and Christian channels nationwide and available on DVD.
Michael Rayner is now married and has two little girls...These are the women who help him dress
Reviews:
Everybody loves the Michael Rayner show.
Aaron Shure, Executive Producer
Everybody Loves Raymond
The best way to sum up Michael's comedy is 'unpredictably funny.' Not only does he do amazing things with simple household objects, Michael is just a genuinely comical guy, without even trying. Even offstage, you can't keep a straight face when he's around.
Cory Edwards
Director of Hoodwinked
One of the funniest guys I’ve had the pleasure to see perform in the past few years is Michael Rayner. Michael mixes very unique and original physical comedy with a quick witted improv banter with his audience to provide a truly entertaining and hilarious show. He’s easy to work with. His comedy is completely clean. He’s able to make people bust a gut laughing no matter if they’re 7 or 70 years old. We’ve enjoyed his gigs at several different events and settings here at Bel Air, and each time, he’s knocked it out of the park. I wouldn’t hesitate to invite him back, or go see him wherever he’s booked.
Pastor Roger Dermody
Bel Air Presbyterian Church
Michael Rayner strides on stage toting a grocery bag of everyday objects, and in collaboration with the live audience; proceeds to create a swirling storm of hilarious fun! Recommended. Joel Hodgson
Creator of Mystery Science Theatre 3000
Thank you for an excellent show. The students loved it and so did the adults. Thanks again.
Steve Minton, Event Coordinator
Horizon High School