From Pre-Med to Prime Time: Michael Evans Behling on Identity, Acting, and the Power of Reinvention
Sweater & Denim Missoni, Shoes Jimmy Choo.
Talent’s own watch & jewelry worn throughout.
Michael Evans Behling is many things—an actor, model, and creator with over 2.4 million TikTok followers who’ve come to love his goofy charm, his tiny Yorkie sidekick, and his willingness to devour a burger or cholate-covered strawberries on camera without shame. He’s stylish enough to experiment with haircuts and handsome enough to pull off a full Homme Plissé Issey Miyake --like the all-black one he wore to set. But beneath the curated clips and flawless fits, Michael is a Black man in America with a layered identity, a deep sense of self, and a voice worth hearing.
“Jordan’s identity crisis in the early seasons—feeling like he wasn’t ‘Black enough’ or ‘white enough’—that hit home,” he shares, reflecting on his experience growing up adopted in a conservative, predominantly white town. As Jordan on All American, Michael has navigated everything from locker room drama to emotional family arcs, all while quietly folding pieces of himself into the character. “There were seasons where more of me was in him,” he says, “but now... Jordan’s more fully his own.” In this exclusive conversation for our “Holla If You Hear Me” issue, Michael opens up about finding purpose after injury, the healing power of storytelling, and how he’s learned to celebrate the wins and sit with the losses. As he puts it: “Thanks for giving us a chance.”
Shirt & Pants Tommy Hilfiger.
Q: Where are you from originally?
I was born in Columbus, Ohio, but I grew up in Columbus, Indiana.
Q: What was Michael like as a kid?
Michael was full of life. Very joyful, always smiling—kind of the class clown, if you will. Just a happy-go-lucky kid.
Q: How did you first get into modeling? Weren’t you a pre-med student at one point?
Yeah, I was. I was in my senior year of high school when we did senior photos—just your standard yearbook portraits for the family. At the time, I wasn’t running track because I had broken my foot and had surgery over the summer, so I was rehabbing. Mentally, I wasn’t in the best space and was kind of searching for something new.
I remember asking my mom if I could get a tattoo. She said, “Before you do that, why don’t you look into modeling?” She had mentioned it before when I was growing up, but I never took it seriously until then. So I submitted some of my senior photos to agencies in Indianapolis. A few of them reached out and said they were interested.
Back then, because I was still tied to the NCAA, I couldn’t do campaigns with brands like Finish Line or athleisure companies—which ironically became my bread and butter once I left college. I was on the biology/pre-med track at Indiana State, which was fine—it was a good school—but I just wasn’t happy there.
Sweater & Pants Vowels Shoes Jimmy Choo.
Q: What helped the modeling career take off?
Well, after breaking my foot again, I left Indiana State and moved back home. I was taking community college classes and coaching track, but the modeling gigs picked up. I was booking three or four jobs a day in Indianapolis. I worked with Finish Line regularly, occasionally Macy’s, and even brands like Smoothie King and Procter & Gamble.
That led to auditions for live-action commercials where I had to speak, and eventually into VO work. My agent in Louisville encouraged me to take acting classes, and that opened up a whole new path. Around September of 2017, I came to New York and took an improv course at UCB for a couple of months. After that, I went home and landed a role as “Handsome Dude” on Empire, which helped me sign with my current manager.
Q: Let’s talk about All American. If you could rewrite one of Jordan’s major decisions, what would it be?
Honestly? I wouldn’t change anything. Jordan has his flaws, sure, and he’s made choices I’d never make in real life, but all of those things shaped who he is. The writers did a great job over the years building that arc. He is who he is today because of those good and bad decisions.
Q: How much of you ends up in Jordan?
It depends on the scene. In lighter or comedic moments, I bring more of myself into the role. But Jordan’s naturally more combative than I am—he’s always ready to fight, and I’m more of a “let’s talk this out” kind of guy. Early on, it was tough playing someone so reactive. I think over time, we’ve met in the middle—there were seasons where more of me was in him, but now, in season seven, Jordan’s more fully his own character.
Q: You were an athlete yourself. Was it easy to tap into the athlete mindset for Jordan?
Oh, absolutely. Playing a quarterback on TV is probably the closest I’ll ever get to being a professional athlete, so that was exciting. I recently talked about it with a former NFL quarterback—it’s just fun to pretend, to tap into that world. My athletic background definitely helped me bring confidence to the role.
Jacket, Shirt, Pants, Bag, Socks & Sneakers Coach.
Q: Were there any All American storylines that hit close to home?
Yeah, a couple. One was an adoption storyline. I’m adopted myself, and I remember the showrunner asking me if I was okay with the material. I said absolutely. She’s adopted too, actually. I wasn’t heavily involved in that particular arc, but just seeing it on screen meant a lot.
The one that resonated, though, was Jordan’s identity crisis in the early seasons—feeling like he wasn’t “Black enough” or “white enough.” I grew up in a predominantly white, conservative city in Indiana, and I got called an Oreo a lot. That hurt. So, experiencing that journey through Jordan was therapeutic—it helped me process some of those lingering feelings.
Q: You’ve spoken openly about being adopted. How has your understanding of identity evolved?
It’s been a journey. My birth parents aren’t in the picture, but I don’t tie my identity to them. I am who I am because of my upbringing, my friends, and the people I work with. I don’t spend much time wondering “Who am I?” anymore. In my late 20s now, I feel pretty grounded.
Q: Where do you feel the most at home? Where do you find your community?
At work. Definitely on set. When I’m alone, my thoughts start to spiral a bit—my mom has a funny word for it, but yeah, scatterbrained. So being on set or with fellow artists in fashion or film—that’s where I feel most alive.
Q: Was there a moment you felt like, “Okay, I’m an actor now”?
Yeah. I shot an indie film last summer, where I was the lead opposite Michael Madsen. It was a ‘60s Western mafia kind of vibe—really gritty, really fun. I had to work on an accent, really dive into the character. There was this one scene where we both went off-book and just kept playing with it—it felt electric. I came home from set that day like, “Okay. We’re in this now. I’m really doing this.”
Shirt, Shirt worn under & Shorts Homme Plissé Issey Miyake.
Q: If you had a year off with unlimited time and resources, what would you do?
I might start another clothing line—I did that once and enjoyed it. But I think I’d focus on writing. I’m working on two shows right now—one comedy, one superhero-based. I’d spend that year building those out.
Q: What’s on your “Recently Played” playlist?
“The Spins” by Mac Miller, “Drunk in Love” by Beyoncé, and “Nosebleeds” by Don Toliver.
Q: Comfort shows?
Modern Family, Family Guy, BoJack Horseman, and Rick and Morty.
Q: How do you take care of your mental health?
Checking in with myself regularly. We move so fast and forget to celebrate wins, mourn losses, or breathe. I meditate most mornings—five or ten minutes—and that helps. Staying grounded isn’t something I actively think about, but I stay connected with my childhood friends. That keeps me centered.
Shirt & Denim Missoni.
Q: If you could thank your younger self for one thing, what would it be?
I’d say, “Thanks for giving us a chance.”
Q: What would your younger self apologize for?
Probably for not taking care of my body as well as I should have in those early years. But I’d forgive him—because we made it through, and I learned from those moments.
Q: What are you looking forward to next in life, and career?
Continued peace. Continued work. Whether that’s All American season 8 or a new project, I want to keep doing what I love. My grandma turns 90 this year, so I’m excited to go home and celebrate her. And over the next five years? Just keep working. Keep creating. Keep inspiring people through the characters I play.
Art Director & Photographer: Ammar Thomas @iam.ammarjamal | Fashion Director & Interview: Nigel Isaiah @nigel_isaiah | Grooming: Walton Nunez @waltonsworld for See Management @seemanagement | Location: The 9 Studios | Special Thanks: Erica Tucker, AMPRGroup & Warner Bros.
Shirt, Pants & Sneakers Tommy Hilfiger.
