Revision 796701932 of "Michael J. Lyons" on enwiki

{{Orphan|date=August 2017}}

<!-- Article Title:  Michael J. Lyons (professional speaker) -->

{{Infobox person 
| name= Michael J. Lyons 
|image =Michael_J._Lyons.jpg
| residence= [[Philadelphia]], [[Pennsylvania]] 
| nationality =American
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1951|08|10|mf=y}} 
| birth_place = [[Darby, Pennsylvania]]
| occupation = Professional [[motivational speaker]], actor, author, entrepreneur.
| known_for = Actor in [[Netflix]] [[List of American television series|US TV series]]
| television =
| years_active = 1973 - present
| spouse   =   Loraine B. Lyons   
| children       =   3  ( grandchildren 7) 
| website= {{url|http://www.lyonsspeaker.com}} 
}}

'''Michael J. Lyons''' (born  August 10, 1951; [[Darby, Pennsylvania]]) is an American professional [[motivational speaker]], actor and entrepreneur.<ref name="phillcbs">{{cite news|last1= |first1= |title=Positively Philadelphia: Actor, Promoter, Businessman, Salesman And Local |url=http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2012/06/17/positively-philadelphia-actor-promoter-businessman-salesman-and-local/ |accessdate=  |publisher=[[KYW-TV|CBS Philly]]  |date=June 17, 2012}}</ref> He is best known for his roles in the  Netflix [[Television series|TV series]] [[House of Cards (U.S. TV series)|House of Cards]], [[Outsiders (U.S. TV series)|Outsiders]], [[What Would You Do? (ABC News series)|What Would You Do?]], and [[Veep]].<ref name="montgogaz">{{cite news|last1= |first1= |title=Whitpain actor to star in Friday's 'What Would You Do?' episode |url= http://www.montgomerynews.com/amblergazette/news/whitpain-actor-to-star-in-friday-s-what-would-you/article_8d2374d9-444f-5280-bd28-5eaa24154b05.html |accessdate=  |publisher= The Ambler Gazette |date=Aug 14, 2015}}</ref><ref name="timesherald">{{cite news|last1= |first1= |title=Whitpain actor to star in Friday’s "What Would You Do?" episode |url= http://www.timesherald.com/article/JR/20150812/BUSINESS/150819931 |accessdate=  |publisher= |date=February 28, 2011}}</ref>

== Life ==
Lyons is a native and current resident of  [[Philadelphia]]. He was born to Frances Katherine Lyons (née Wiethoff), a painter, former model and actress; and John T. Lyons Jr., an advertising executive and member of the 1940 U.S. Olympic Rowing team. Lyons and his five siblings grew up in [[Havertown, Pennsylvania]], a suburb of Philadelphia. In June 1960, his father moved the family to [[Paris]], [[France]] for a new business opportunity. In 1963, when Lyons was twelve years old, his family returned to Philadelphia. Then, he attended [[Cardinal O'Hara High School (Springfield, Pennsylvania)|Cardinal O’Hara High School]] in Springfield, Pennsylvania. Later, Lyons attended the University of Notre Dame and graduated with a [[Bachelor of Arts]] in 1973. He is married to Loraine Lyons since 1974, has three children and seven grandchildren.

== Career ==
Lyons spent 40 years as an executive in the [[travel industry]]<ref name="meetex">{{cite web|last1= |first1= |title= Town Hall Meeting |url= http://www.meetconference.com/session/town-hall-meeting |accessdate=  |website= Town Hall Meeting |date=September 8, 2016}}</ref> and served on the boards of the Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau (PCVB)<ref name="philmag">{{cite news|last1= |first1= |title=HughE Dillon: PCVB Annual Luncheon  |url= http://www.phillymag.com/the-scene/2011/11/28/hughe-dillon-pcvb-annual-luncheon/ |accessdate=  |publisher=[[Philadelphia (magazine)|Philadelphia]] |date=November 28, 2011}}</ref> and Association of Destination Management Executives (ADME).<ref name="hospitality">{{cite web|last1= |first1= |title=Michael Lyons Appointed AIBTM Exhibition Director At Reed Travel Exhibitions (RTE) |url= https://www.hospitalitynet.org/appointment/79003883.html |accessdate=  |website= HospitalityNet |date=27 September 2012}}</ref> Lyons is actively involved in [[hospitality industry]] organizations such as Meeting Professionals International (MPI) and Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA).<ref name="pcma">{{cite web|last1= |first1= |title=Michael J. Lyons: Industry Leader Turned Leading Man |url= http://www.pcmaconvene.org/plenary/michael-j-lyons-industry-leader-turned-leading-man/ |accessdate=  |website= PCMA Convene |date=April 1, 2013}}</ref> He was exhibition Director of  Americas Meetings and Events Exhibition (AIBTM), America, a trade show organized by [[Reed Exhibitions]], an international event organizer.<ref name="tsnn">{{cite news|last1= |first1= |title=Lyons Tapped as New AIBTM Director; Krouse Named President & CEO Ontario (Calif.) CVB   |url=http://www.tsnn.com/news-blogs/lyons-tapped-new-aibtm-director-krouse-named-president-ceo-ontario-calif-cvb   |accessdate=  |publisher=  |date=September 26, 2012}}</ref><ref name="confnews2">{{cite web|last1= |first1= |title=Mike Lyons new Exhibition Director for AIBTM |url=http://www.conference-news.co.uk/2012/09/mike-lyons-new-exhibition-director-for-aibtm/ |accessdate=  |website=Conference News |date=2012}}</ref><ref name="cmw">{{cite web|last1= |first1= |title=AIBTM attracts top association leaders for Education Day roundtable |url=http://www.c-mw.net/aibtm-attracts-top-association-leaders-for-education-day-roundtable/ |accessdate=  |website=Conference and Meetings World |date=June 5, 2013}}</ref>

As a professional speaker, Lyons delivers talks in the US and abroad on how to achieve goals, pursue a passion, and improve personality.<ref>{{cite news|last1= |first1= |title= Michael Lyons - Professional Speaker, Actor and Hospitality Industry Consultant  |url= http://executivespeakers.com/speaker/Michael_Lyons |accessdate=  |publisher=Executive Speakers Bureau |date= }}</ref><ref name="confnews5">{{cite web|last1= |first1= |title=Zac Goldsmith to support events industry, says campaign manager Nick de Bois |url=http://www.conference-news.co.uk/2016/03/zac-goldsmith-to-support-events-industry-says-campaign-manager-nick-de-bois/ |accessdate=  |website= Conference News - UK |date=March 3, 2016}}</ref>

As an actor,  Lyons contributed to major films, TV shows, [[Television advertisement|TV commercials]]. He made his commercial debut for [[Honey Bunches of Oats]] cereals, contributed to [[Advil]], [[AT&T]], [[Doritos]] ([[Frito-Lay]]).<ref name="phillcbs"/><ref name="adweek">{{cite news|last1= |first1= |title=Doritos Pepsi Max "Feed the Flock"  |url=http://www.adweek.com/brand-marketing/doritos-pepsi-max-feed-flock-130444/ |accessdate=  |publisher=[[Adweek]]  |date=January 4, 2011}}</ref><ref name="freerep">{{cite news|last1= |first1= |title=Doritos, Pepsi Max and Religion: An Unholy Mix in Super Bowl Ad Contest |url= http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2661775/posts |accessdate=  |publisher=Free Republic |date=January 23, 2011}}</ref> and hundreds of live appearances on the [[shopping channel]] [[QVC]] as a product host.<ref name="phillcbs"/>  He played roles in the popular [[Netflix]] series “House of Cards”, “The Sixth Sense”,<ref name="citynews">{{cite web|last1= |first1= |title= The Sixth Sense  |url=https://www.rochestercitynewspaper.com/rochester/the-sixth-sense/Film?oid=2614307  |accessdate=  |website=Rochester City Newspaper   |date= }}</ref> “All My Children”, “Veep,” “What Would You Do?”<ref name="abc6">{{cite news|last1= |first1= |title=Local actor reflects on 'What Would You Do?' appearance |url= http://6abc.com/entertainment/local-actor-reflects-on-what-would-you-do-appearance/926705/ |accessdate=  |publisher= |date=August 13, 2015}}</ref> “Arrest and Trial”, and “Outsiders”.

==Works==

===Book===
In 2017,   Lyons published "Set Yourself Free: Daydream it... Believe it... Achieve it!", a practical guide for achieving success and happiness.<ref>{{cite book  | title= Set Yourself Free: Daydream it...Believe it...Achieve it!   |url=  | location = |last=Lyons   |first =Michael J. | date =February 11, 2017  | publisher =Outskirts Press |page=146 |isbn= 978-1478770206 }}</ref> In this book, he teaches how to conquer procrastination, stay focused on goals, turn negative influencers into positive action steps,  get organized and pursue one's daydreams.<ref name="playerfm">{{cite news |last1= |first1= |title= Michael Lyons: Set Yourself Free!  |url=https://player.fm/series/power-your-life/michael-lyons-set-yourself-free   |accessdate=  |publisher=Player FM |date=March 2017}}</ref><ref name="pivot">{{cite web|last1= |first1= |title= Popular Actor, Motivational Speaker from Newtown Square Releases Self-Help Book |url= https://pivot.today/2017/04/popular-actor-motivational-speaker-newtown-square-releases-self-help-book/ |accessdate=  |website= Pivot Today |date= April 21, 2017}}</ref>

===Filmography===
{| class="wikitable" style="width: 770px; margin-right: 0;"
|-
! style="background: #E8E8E8;width:65px; "| Year(s)
! style="background: #f5f5f5; width:250px; "| Title
! style="background: #E8E8E8; width:100px; "| Role
|-
| 2018
| Untouchable
| Actor (opera patron)
|-
| 2011 - 2016
| What Would You Do? (TV series)
| Actor (father, diner manager) 
|-
| 2015 - 2016
| House of Cards (TV Series)
| Actor (speaker - senator)
|-
| 2016
| Outsiders (TV Series)
| Actor (lawyer)
|-
| 2012
| Veep (TV Series)  
| Actor (Jim Wiseman)
|-
| 2010
| Outlaw (TV Series) 
| Actor (defense lawyer)
|-
| 2006
| Annapolis  
| Actor (shipyard supervisor)
|-
| 2000
| Arrest & Trial (TV series documentary)  
| Actor (Scanlon)
|-
| 2000
| Animal Factory 
| Actor (prison guard)
|-
| 1999
| The Sixth Sense 
| Actor (visitor)
|-
| 1991
| All My Children (TV series)  
| Actor (Rex)
|-
| 1989
| A Fool and His Money 
| Actor (Businessman)
|}

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* [http://www.lyonsspeaker.com/  Michael J. Lyons website]
* {{IMDb name|id=0529130}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lyons, Michael J.}}
[[Category:1951 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American motivational speakers]]
[[Category:American motivational writers]]
[[Category:American male actors]]
[[Category:People from New York City]]
[[Category:People from Darby, Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Male actors from Philadelphia]]