Michael C. Matthews was born in Chicago Illinois on May 2, 1962. He grew up on Chicago's South Side, nicknamed The Wild 100s, aka Chiraq. Michael was surrounded by violence, poverty, and crime. In spite of his circumstances, Michael had an intense love and burning desire for acting, singing, dancing, and performing. Michael performed and competed in plays, several talent shows, and debate tournaments, often taking first place.

He studied Drama at Chicago Vocational High School, inspired by artists like Jackie Wilson, James Brown, Mohammad Ali, and Billy Dee Williams. In the early 1980s, he moved to Los Angeles, California to pursue his dream to become a actor. He studied acting at the Beverly Hills Playhouse alongside Jamie Lee Curtis, Tom Selleck, Priscilla Presley, and Jermaine Jackson.

In 1986, Michael landed a lead role in a television movie, "The George McKenna Story", opposite Denzel Washington and Lynn Whitfield, later re-released as "Hard Lessons". The film topped television's Nielsen ratings and also won the The Christopher Award in a category of television specials. It was a game changer. Critics' reviews said newcomer Michael Matthews was compelling and gave a powerful performance. Michael gained instant notoriety. In 1987, Michael demonstrated his versatility in playing multiple roles as a guest star in "Hollywood Shuffle", directed and produced by his fellow Chicagoans, Robert Townsend, Keenen Ivory Wayans, and Damon Wayans. The film received a Golden Unicorn Award and other nominations. Michael quickly caught the attention of television producer Steven Bochco, and was cast as a guest star on "Hill Street Blues". Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, he continued to work in several television productions and feature films. He appeared in "Superior Court" by Ralph Edwards Productions, in Dick Clark's "Trial by Jury", "The Hogan Family", and "Matlock".

As television worked continue to pour in, Michael longed for the big screen. In 1990, he starred in a television special of "America's Most Wanted", covering the notorious LA street gangs, Bloods and Crips. His unique and original gangsta persona had a major impact. His powerful portrayal of Long Beach Crip gang member Kool-Aid inspired 2Pac & Snoop Dogg's song, "2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted". The song peaked at #46 on the Billboard music charts. Michael appeared in a television horror mystery movie, "Donor", co-starring Melissa Gilbert. Throughout the 1990s, he co-starred in features, including "Shocker", produced by Wes Craven, "Crack House", co-starring Jim Brown and Richard Roundtree, and a starring role in "Night Children" opposite David Carradine and Griffin O'Neal. In the late 1990s, Michael starred as The Cab Driver in Foster Farms commercials.

After a nearly 25 year hiatus, Michael starred in the short comedy film, "Ghetto Counselors" as Maniac . In 2017, he made a memorable guest appearance as Roy Larue in the hit television series "Decker", starring and produced by Tim Heidecker. He later gained notoriety for his appearance in the television special, "The New On Cinema Oscar Special". In 2019, Michael returned to the "On Cinema at the Cinema" series in S11E4. He also appeared in "On Cinema at the Cinema" S11E7. He made a special appearance in "The Seventh Annual 'On Cinema' Oscar Special". In 2020, Michael impressed his fans by demonstrating his versatility as the voice of CIA Agent Jeremy Coleman in the animated pilot of "Decker Classified" on Adult Swim. He most recently starred in a commercial as Flex Man for Flex Tape, produced by Flip Phone Productions.

Throughout Michael's career, he's been featured in radio and television interviews as well as several newspapers and magazines, including Jet Magazine, Chicago Sun-Times, Chicago Tribune, TV Guide, Backstage West, The LA Times, and United Vision.