Michael Pearlman is one of those guys who shows up, leaves a weirdly indelible mark on a random slice of your childhood, and then disappears into the ether like he never existed in the first place. You know who I’m talking about. He was on Charles in Charge—that inexplicably popular sitcom where Scott Baio was essentially a teenage nanny, yet still somehow cooler than anyone else on the planet.
Pearlman played Jason Pembroke, the nerdy, precocious younger brother for exactly one season before the whole family got swapped out, and then, poof, he vanished. But what happens to a kid actor after his brief moment in the spotlight fades? That’s where it gets interesting.
Background Info
Michael Pearlman was born on September 2, 1972, in New York City. Little is known about his background, prior to his acting career.
Pearlman began his acting career at 8 years old when hes secured a role in the 1980 film “One-Trick Pony,” where he played Matty Levin.
In 1982, he appeared in two projects: “Soup for One,” portraying Young Allan, and a TV movie titled “Muggable Mary, Street Cop,” where he played Eric Glatzle. The following year, in 1983, he was featured in two TV movies. A year later he would secure his most notable role that television fans would fondly remember him for.
Charles in Charge
In 1984, Pearlman landed the role of Jason Pembroke in the hit sitcom “Charles in Charge”. The show revolved around a college student named Charles, who works as a live-in babysitter in exchange for room and board.
Pearlman, who was 11 turning 12 during the filming of the show, played the character Jason Pembroke. He describes Jason as a precocious and intelligent character, similar to Danny Partridge but more likable and sympathetic to the audience. His character was intelligent, witty, and often provided comic relief in the series. He would star in the show alongside, April Lerman, Julie Cobb, Jennifer Runyon, Ellen Travolta and Jonathan Ward.
Pearlman shares that at his young age, the casting process was more about finding a child who was close to the character being written, and who could handle working in an adult environment. He suggests that the best child actors are those who are mature for their age and comfortable working around adults. He also mentions that while he didn’t have much opportunity to put his own touch on the character due to the show’s short run, he believes he could have improved his performances if the show had continued for more seasons.
Why was Michael Pearlman in only season 1?
“Charles in Charge” underwent a significant change between its first and second seasons. The show was initially canceled after the first season by CBS, but it was revived in syndication. When the show was brought back, it came with a new premise and a new cast, except for Scott Baio who played Charles and Willie Aames who played Buddy.
In the first season, Charles was a college student working as a live-in babysitter for the Pembroke family. When the show was revived for the second season, Charles was now working for the Powell family. The original actors who played the Pembroke family, including Michael Pearlman, were not part of the new cast.
Pearlman appeared in one season and 22 episodes of the show.
Michael Pearlman reflected on the positive experience he had on the set of “Charles in Charge” in a interview. He recalls having a great time, often smiling while delivering his lines, and being swept away by the audience’s enjoyment of the show. He attributes the positive experience to the respectful and family-like environment on the set, as well as the presence and support of his mother.
What did Michael Pearlman do after ‘Charles in Charge’?
After his role in “Charles in Charge,” Michael Pearlman decided to step away from acting. He attended the University of Southern California from 1990 to 1993, where he studied Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication and then moved on to New York University, where he earned his Bachelor’s degree in Journalism from 1994 to 1995.
Following his education, Pearlman began his career in journalism as a Sports Editor at the Jackson Hole News and Guide, a position he held for over six years from April 2002 to September 2008. He then moved on to The Sheridan Press, where he worked as a Reporter from December 2008 to March 2011.
In March 2011, Pearlman transitioned into the role of a Copywriter at Sierra Trading Post, where he worked for nearly seven years until October 2017. His responsibilities then expanded when he joined Align in October 2017 as a Marketing and Public Relations Coordinator.
What is Michael Pearlman doing now?
In 2019 Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon appointed Michael Pearlman as his new communications director, a position he holds to this day.