Michael Shea

Michael Shea is an American former child actor and law enforcement officer. Born on November 4, 1952, in Glendale, New York, he is best known for portraying the title character in the NBC children's television series The New Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Throughout his acting career, Shea was primarily cast in wholesome, small-town roles and appeared in feature films such as Namu, the Killer Whale, Welcome to Hard Times, and Ride a Northbound Horse.

Shea was raised in New York with two brothers and two sisters as the son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Shea. At nine years old, a neighbor suggested he enter show business, though he initially was frightened by the idea. By age ten, Shea reconsidered and was introduced to a New York talent agent through his neighbor, Liam Dunn, a casting director for The Ed Sullivan Show. Shea soon began working as a child model and actor, appearing in television commercials for brands including Campbell's Soup and Scooter Pies.

Shea made his theatrical debut in two off-Broadway productions by Edward Albee and his television debut on The Bell Telephone Hour Christmas special. In 1965, he was signed to play the title role in a proposed western series titled Joshua, prompting his family to relocate to California, though the show never aired. Remaining in California, Shea landed guest roles on series such as Blue Light, Camp Runamuck, and The Fugitive. He made his feature film debut in 1966 in Namu, the Killer Whale, playing Nick. He subsequently guest-starred on Mission: Impossible, Bewitched, and The Virginian before co-starring as the orphan Jimmy in the 1967 western film Welcome to Hard Times.

Shea achieved his breakthrough in 1968 after being selected from over 1,300 candidates to portray Huck Finn in Hanna-Barbera's series The New Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Premiering on NBC on September 16, 1968, it was the first weekly television series to combine live-action performers with animation. Shea starred alongside LuAnn Haslam and Kevin Schultz, becoming a prominent teen idol during the show's original run. Although the series lasted for only one season, it gained long-term recognition in syndication as part of The Banana Splits package.

Following Huckleberry Finn, Shea starred as Cav Rand in the 1969 Disney presentation Ride a Northbound Horse. In the early 1970s, he appeared on Headmaster, played Lucas Preston on The New Dick Van Dyke Show, and guest-starred on Room 222 and Insight, making his final television appearance in July 1973. During his acting career, Shea attended Van Nuys High School, graduating in 1971.

After leaving show business in 1973, Shea worked at a patio furniture shop in Studio City, Los Angeles. In 1979, he joined the Los Angeles Police Department, where he served for 31 years before retiring as a Senior Lead Officer. His police duties included managing security for celebrities in the Hollywood Christmas Parade, an event he had attended as a guest of honor during his acting career. Shea married and settled in Castaic, California, and is the father of Paralympic snowboarder Mike Shea.