Michael Arata: Actor, Film Producer and New Orleans Attorney

Michael Arata has built an unusual career at the intersection of entertainment and law. Born in New Orleans, he moved between theatre, Hollywood film sets, production offices and legal practice, developing a professional life that cannot be explained by acting credits alone.

His work includes appearances in Runaway Jury, Ray and Déjà Vu, along with producing independent films and supporting Louisiana’s entertainment industry. His story also includes a federal fraud conviction linked to film tax credits and a later return to the legal profession.

Michael Arata Quick Bio

Detail	Information
Full Name	Michael Peter Arata
Date of Birth	February 23, 1966
Age	60 (as of October 2026)
Birthplace	New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
Nationality	American
Professions	Actor, film producer and attorney
Education	Tulane University Law School, Juris Doctor
Known For	Runaway Jury, Ray, Déjà Vu, independent film production
Industry Connections	Le Petit Théâtre du Vieux Carré, Voodoo Production Services

Early Life and Education in New Orleans

Born on February 23, 1966, Arata comes from a city famous for live performance, music and distinctive storytelling.

His involvement in acting began when he was four years old. That early introduction developed into an interest in performing on stage and screen, although his education also led him in another direction.

He attended Tulane University, where he played college football, and subsequently earned a law degree from Tulane Law School. The combination of acting experience and legal training became a defining feature of his working life.

Arata also studied acting with established performers including Eli Wallach, Derek Jacobi, Rosemary Harris and Ben Kingsley.

How His Acting Career Developed

Arata’s screen career covers supporting parts across film and television rather than a single breakthrough starring role.

Among his earlier film appearances was Crazy in Alabama (1999). He later appeared in Runaway Jury (2003), a legal thriller featuring John Cusack, Gene Hackman and Dustin Hoffman.

In Ray (2004), the biographical drama starring Jamie Foxx, Arata played a small police officer role. He also worked on Glory Road (2006) and appeared in the Denzel Washington thriller Déjà Vu (2006), another production closely connected with Louisiana.

Television and Later Screen Roles

His television work includes the crime dramas Orleans and The Fugitive, along with appearances in television films. Credits such as Odd Girl Out and Remember Sunday show his involvement in projects outside theatrical cinema.

He also appeared in Carjacked (2011) and The Courier (2012), while the supernatural film Odd Thomas (2013) is associated with both his acting and producing credits. Some appearances were brief or uncredited, an important distinction when describing his filmography.

A Lasting Connection to Live Theatre

Long before film production became a major part of his career, theatre provided Arata with opportunities to act, produce and lead creative organisations. He worked on plays by writers including Tennessee Williams and William Shakespeare, maintaining a link to the stage throughout his entertainment career.

One notable performance came in a 1997 New Orleans production marking the fiftieth anniversary of A Streetcar Named Desire. Arata played Stanley Kowalski, a demanding role closely associated with the city’s theatrical heritage.

He also served as chairman of Le Petit Théâtre du Vieux Carré and helped present Shakespeare in City Park. His involvement with Art A La Carte, a theatre initiative designed to include performers with disabilities, illustrates another aspect of his local cultural work.

Moving Behind the Camera as a Producer

Arata began producing screen projects in the late 1980s. His early short film Looking for Someone (1989) received a Grand Jury Award for Best Narrative Short at the Utah Short Film Festival. That experience preceded a wider body of independent film work.

His producing credits are associated with projects including Deal, starring Burt Reynolds, New Orleans Mon Amour, The Courier and Odd Thomas. These films vary considerably in subject and style, ranging from a poker drama to a supernatural thriller.

Film Businesses and Louisiana Production

He has been associated with Voodoo Production Services, a New Orleans production business connected with fellow producer Jerry Daigle. His work took place during a period when Louisiana increasingly attracted filmmaking because of its locations, crews and financial incentives.

Legal Training and Entertainment Law

Arata’s legal career forms an equally significant part of his biography. He entered the Louisiana legal profession in 1992 and worked in areas associated with entertainment, financial arrangements and commercial matters.

Entertainment attorneys may advise on contracts, rights, production financing and transactions involving numerous participants.

His work as both attorney and producer distinguished him from many screen performers. Yet his involvement with film financing also led to the legal proceedings that became one of the most consequential episodes in his career.

The Film Tax Credit Case and Its Outcome

In 2014, federal prosecutors charged Arata and two co-defendants, Peter and Susan Hoffman, in connection with a Louisiana film infrastructure tax credit scheme. The case concerned claims linked to renovating a New Orleans property into a film post-production facility.

A federal jury returned guilty verdicts in April 2015. After post-trial rulings and appeals, Arata’s convictions included conspiracy, mail and wire fraud, and making false statements to the FBI. The proceedings were lengthy, with appellate judges reviewing both the verdicts and the sentencing decisions.

In February 2020, he received a sentence of five years’ probation, rather than imprisonment, along with a $15,000 fine and a special assessment. Court records also describe a forfeiture judgment and a later agreement limiting the amount the government would seek to collect from him.

The criminal case affected his standing as an attorney. Louisiana’s Supreme Court ordered his disbarment in April 2021, retroactive to a suspension that began in February 2016. The court subsequently readmitted him to the practice of law on March 22, 2022, after considering his application and the disciplinary record.

The conviction and the later readmission are both essential to an accurate account. Omitting either would leave a misleading impression of his legal history.

Personal Life, Net Worth and Recent Work

Arata’s New Orleans roots and professional history are much better documented than his private family life. Reliable public biographical material does not establish enough detail to provide a responsible account of his spouse, children or parents. Those matters are best left out rather than filled with speculation.

There is also no independently verified public figure for Michael Arata’s net worth. Film credits and legal qualifications do not establish personal wealth, particularly when earnings, business interests and liabilities are not publicly documented in full.

His established record includes decades of entertainment work and the Louisiana Supreme Court’s 2022 decision restoring his eligibility to practise law. Without a confirmed recent announcement, it would be misleading to assign him a specific current film project or business position.

Why His Career Stands Apart

Few entertainment professionals have participated in so many different parts of the same industry. Arata has experience appearing before a camera, producing work behind it, supporting local theatre and handling legal matters affecting entertainment businesses.

His professional history also demonstrates how closely filmmaking and public policy can interact. Tax incentives helped attract productions to Louisiana, but the controversy surrounding his case showed the importance of oversight and accountability when public financial programmes intersect with private projects.

Conclusion

Michael Arata’s biography extends beyond recognisable film appearances. He has worked as an actor, independent producer, theatre organiser and attorney, with New Orleans providing a consistent connection across those roles. His federal convictions remain an important part of that history, as does his subsequent readmission to the Louisiana bar. Considering the full record offers a more accurate understanding of his achievements, setbacks and place in the region’s entertainment industry.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Michael Arata?

Michael Arata is an American actor, film producer and attorney from New Orleans, Louisiana. He has appeared in major films and television productions, supported local theatre and worked on independent film projects. His career also includes legal practice and involvement with the business of film production.

How old is Michael Arata?

He was born on February 23, 1966, making him 60 years old as of October 2026. His birthplace is New Orleans, Louisiana. His early experience as an actor began in childhood, well before he completed the legal education that later became another part of his career.

Which movies is Michael Arata known for?

His acting credits include Runaway Jury, Ray, Glory Road and Déjà Vu. He is also associated with productions such as Deal, The Courier and Odd Thomas. His career includes both performances and producing responsibilities, so the nature of his involvement differs from one film to another.

Was Michael Arata convicted in the Louisiana film tax credit case?

Yes. A federal jury convicted him in 2015, and further proceedings established convictions involving conspiracy, fraud and false statements. He was sentenced to five years of probation in 2020. His legal licence was later affected, but the Louisiana Supreme Court granted his readmission to legal practice in March 2022.

What is Michael Arata’s net worth?

A trustworthy, independently verified estimate of his net worth is not publicly available. Although he has worked in film production, acting and law, these professional activities do not establish a reliable amount of personal wealth. Figures published without clear financial evidence should not be treated as confirmed.

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