Mike Schank: Movies & Box Office

Mikel Joseph Schank (born March 1, 1966 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin) was an American actor and musician best remembered for his endearing presence in the cult documentary American Movie (1999). A childhood friend of independent filmmaker Mark Borchardt, Schank helped produce Borchardt’s low‑budget horror short Coven and appeared on‑screen as both a collaborator and a performer. In the documentary, his dead‑pan humor, blind‑folded guitar playing, and willingness to share his home phone number turned him into an inadvertent scene‑stealer, earning accolades from critics at Sundance and cementing his status as a beloved minor celebrity on the festival circuit. Beyond the documentary, Schank acted in Storytelling (2001) and Hamlet A.D.D. (2014), and even cameoed as himself on shows such as Family Guy and Greg the Bunny, demonstrating a versatility that blended his off‑beat personality with genuine artistic talent. Outside of film, Schank was a prolific DIY musician, self‑releasing three homemade CDs—Songs I Know (2000), Classical Songs I Know (2008) and Dreams I Know—Yesternight (2009)—which combined acoustic guitar, drum loops, and spoken recollections of his dreams. A former alcoholic and drug addict, he found lasting sobriety through the Milwaukee Alano Club, often speaking publicly about his recovery and encouraging others to choose healthier paths. He lived on Milwaukee’s East Side with his wife, Kate Schank (Toohey), and maintained a close daily contact with Borchardt until his final months. In June 2022 he announced a stage‑four cancer diagnosis affecting his esophagus, liver, lungs and other organs, and despite aggressive radiation and chemotherapy he passed away on October 13, 2022 at the age of 56. Tributes poured in from filmmakers and actors such as Edgar Wright, Patton Oswalt, and Taika Waititi, underscoring the lasting impact of his gentle humor, musical spirit, and unwavering authenticity on both peers and fans worldwide.