Michele Pawk

Pawk attended the College Conservatory of Music in Cincinnati, where she received her BFA in musical theater. After graduation, she spent a year working in a musical revue at Disney World. In 1988, she made her Broadway debut in a short-lived musical entitled Mail, but it wasn't until 1992 that she made her mark with her performance in the Ira and George Gershwin-inspired production Crazy for You, for which she was nominated for a Drama Desk Award as Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical. From there she went on to three successful revivals, Merrily We Roll Along (1994), Chicago (1996), and Cabaret (1998), and an original musical, Seussical (2000), based on the works of Dr. Seuss.

In 2002, Pawk earned critical raves for her performance in Hollywood Arms, the Carrie Hamilton, Carol Burnett play adapted from Burnett's memoir, One More Time. Her portrayal of an alcoholic who dreams of success as a movie magazine writer, a character based on Burnett's mother, won her the Tony Award as Best Featured Actress in a Play. She was featured in Hairspray as Velma Von Tussle, after appearing in Mamma Mia! as "Donna" (October 19, 2005, February 20, 2006).

Pawk's television credits include L.A. Law, The Golden Girls, and all three editions of the Law & Order franchise. She appeared in small roles in the films Jeffrey (1995) and Cradle Will Rock (1999). She also guest starred on an episode of Quantum Leap (1990) and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (2020).

Pawk was featured alongside Victoria Clark and Jonathan Groff in the New York premiere of "Prayer for My Enemy" by Craig Lucas at the Playwrights Horizons Theater. The play touches on several topics including the Iraq War (Groff plays a young veteran), homosexuality, alcoholism, and the definition of family. The play ran from November 14, 2008, through December 21, 2008. In December 2022, Pawk took over the role of Madame Morrible in the Broadway production of Wicked. She played her final performance on March 3, 2024. Beginning in April 2025, Pawk was featured alongside Jonathan Groff again when she opened in Just in Time as Bobby Darin's "mother", Polly. She received a Grammy nomination for Best Musical Theater Album for the show's cast album.

Teaching

Pawk has been a full-time faculty member at Wagner College, Staten Island, New York, since 2010, teaching advanced acting, directing and film studies.

She is married to actor John Dossett. They have a son, Jack, born in February 2000.

Two of Michele's uncles, Johnny Pawk and Steve Pawk, were early professional basketball players in the 1930s.