Michael McCarty was a character actor and Broadway veteran. His tenure in theater included parts in productions of To Be or Not to Be, Mary Poppins, Oklahoma!, Sweeney Todd and 42nd Street, among many other shows.

His work in television was also expansive. The actor appeared in more than 200 commercials and many classic television series. He had mostly small parts on programs such as ER, Quantum Leap, Dream On, Murder One, Bob — starring Bob Newhart — 3rd Rock from the Sun, Providence, Crossing Jordan and Eastwick. He had minor roles in the television movies Dead Man on the Run, Orpheus Descending and Where Are My Children?

McCarty also appeared in the films The Legend of Bagger Vance, Casper and Dudley Do-Right.

McCarty died September 26, 2014, in Santa Barbara, California. He was 68.