ActorsTina TurnbowOctober 08, 2025michael cyril creighton, Only Murders in the Building, actor, style, glasses, Steve Martin, comedy, sitcom, The Bare Magazine, Tina Turnbow

Michael Cyril Creighton

ActorsTina TurnbowOctober 08, 2025michael cyril creighton, Only Murders in the Building, actor, style, glasses, Steve Martin, comedy, sitcom, The Bare Magazine, Tina Turnbow

Michael Cyril Creighton brilliantly portrays Howard Morris alongside Steve Martin, Selena Gomez and Martin Short in the hit Hulu comedy Only Murders in the Building. he shines in person as lumiously as he does on screen. he is so down to earth, personable, curious, fun and authentic. he is an INCREDIBLE host of the Only Murders in the Building podcast you must check it! so scroll on down and follow along on our Brooklyn stroll and chat about Howard Morris, his career path, scream queen goals, Moscot love, astrology, art appreciation and a bare essential of 90’s Female-led Indie Rock & Riot Grrrl music. yes please!

the bare magazine: you seem to be a fan of your character Howard Morris ...can you share qualities you are most drawn to about him and what aspects make him challenging to play?

Michael Cyril: I love that he’s both sweet and sour, depending on the day. I love how tenacious and resilient he is. He’s constantly trying to be part of the group—to create a community for himself—and he won’t take no for an answer. He’s not sure what he’s good at, other than gossip and loving his animals, so he tries it all: yodeling, puzzles, documentary filmmaking, podcasting, technology. He’s willing to commit and fail, which I find admirable. I don’t find it challenging, per se, but it does take a lot of energy to keep up with his emotional shifts, which sometimes happen several times within a single line. I never get bored playing him, because the writers are constantly giving me new challenges and hilarious scenarios. I have a deep, deep love for Howard Morris.

bare: as we near the finale are there any alluring teasers you can share?

MC: I think the writers really stuck the landing this year. There are lots of surprises, tons of heart, and some terrific resolution—and then, maybe, a few more twists! As far as Howard goes, I’m thrilled with how his storyline plays out. I was a little nervous about his robot romance storyline, because in many ways it felt like a loss of his humanity, but by the end of the season, I think the audience will understand why Howard has been acting the way he has—and see that he’s more self-aware than we ever imagined.

bare: please take us through a quick history of events/jobs that led you to where you are today in your career?

MC: I went to school for acting at Emerson College and worked in box offices well into my 30s. In my 20s, I was part of a theatre company called the New York Neo-Futurists, which is where I started writing for myself. I also did theatre with a terrific devised downtown company, The Debate Society.

Eventually, I wrote, created, and starred in a web series called JACK IN A BOX, about a struggling actor who worked in a box office (it was fictional, okay!?). That’s how I learned to act on camera, which led to small roles on 30 Rock, Orange Is the New Black, and others. I played a lot of snarky guys, but a career highlight was working on the series High Maintenance, which was originally a web series and then moved to HBO. I played “Patrick,” an agoraphobic with a Helen Hunt obsession and a crush on his weed dealer. I was able to show a different side of myself, the softer more vulnerable side and I think that helped move my career in a more interesting direction.

It wasn’t until I left the box office—only to be cast in a play at that same theatre five months later—that my career really took off. The play was Stage Kiss by Sarah Ruhl, and someone saw me in it and recommended me to the casting directors of Spotlight. That film went on to win Best Picture and led to a lot of other work.

There have been peaks and valleys, but I feel very grateful to have been part of so many projects I truly love. And even though I’m very specific, I’ve been lucky enough to play so many different types of characters within that specificity.

bare: what dream genre or project would you love to be a part of in the future?

MC: Oh, I feel like I’m just getting started so there is so much I’d like to do and explore. I’d love to be part of an ensemble in a darkly comic TV drama—something like Severance or The White Lotus—or a gentle, quiet, deeply human character study like Somebody Somewhere.

When it comes to film, I love a good drama. I’d not-so-secretly love to be a scream queen in a horror movie. And I’m eager to return to the theatre for the right project. I’m also actively writing and developing vehicles for myself because, well, I hate free time.

bare: you brought some of your favorite pieces to spotlight your personal style on our shoot. we loved your eyeglass collection! what brand do you love and do you enjoy how they accent your wardrobe/mood?

MC: I've shopped at Moscot for over 20 years—I love them. I used to wear the Nebb exclusively, but as I’ve gotten older, I’ve gotten more adventurous. I love how bold the frames are, how well made they are, and how terrific the staff is at all their stores (especially the Union Square location I go to). Now I have several different styles—Rizik, Dudel, Smendrik, and Bjorn—in different colors. I mix and match depending on my mood, my clothes, or how much of my big red face I feel like covering up that day.

bare: do you have any favorite clothing brands that align with your style?

MC: Yes! I really love Descendant of Thieves, Billy Reid, Corridor, Grei New York, JCRT, Zero Waste Daniel and Alex Mill.

bare: looove the podcast!! can you share who is coming up? or some favorite guests/chats?

MC: I absolutely love hosting and executive producing the Only Murders in the Building Official Podcast. I get to talk with our terrific cast and crew, and truly, there’s nothing I’d rather spend hours discussing than this job and show that I love so much.

I've had so many great chats—it’s hard to pick a favorite—but I especially loved interviewing our production assistant Bernardo, who is just hilarious. And Zooming with Christoph Waltz was a hoot!

Coming up, we have the return of some of our cast members, including our iconic trio: Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez.

bare: are you a dog lover? and an astrology lover?

MC: I am bananas about dogs—specifically my dog, Sharon. She’s a rescue from Muddy Paws. She came from Kentucky but lost her accent along the way. She’s aloof, stubborn, sweet, and judgmental—and she makes me a better (and certainly more sane) human being.

I do follow astrology and genuinely enjoy it. I believe in Mercury in retrograde—possibly to a fault. I’m always afraid to make decisions or plans during that time, and I’m hyper-aware of communication breakdowns. I try to steer clear of new technology… you know, all the Mercury-in-retrograde tropes. I believe them and blame everything on them.

bare: can you share some favorite things you and your husband like to do when you have some down time? cooking? shopping? going to theatre?

MC: We both love museums. We’re also big fans of contemporary art, so we check out galleries and art fairs as often as we can. Theatre is the whole reason I fell in love with NYC, so we see a lot of shows—and really, any kind of live performance. Dinners, drinks, friends, and time with our dog Sharon round it all out.