“HOW STELLA GOT HER GROOVE BACK”

(Young Teen Talent Knows No Limits –

Accomplishes Amazing Feats in Acting, Athletics and Magic!!! )

Thirteen year old Michael J. Pagan lends new meaning to the words “child star.” His accomplishments in the world of entertainment are seemingly boundless. He is not only a talented actor, starring in “How Stella Got Her Groove Back,” with Angela Bassett and Whoopi Goldberg, he is also a gifted athlete, with some 90 medals and trophies acknowledging his accomplishments in the arenas of track and field, football and basketball. However, what is most astonishing is the fact that he is a self-taught magician who can levitate inches off the ground before your very eyes!

Since the age of five, his natural athletic ability has allowed him to excel in several sports at the national level, including two National Championship titles and ten national medals. The former Jr. Olympic National Champion was awarded the Peers Outstanding Male Athlete of the Year in 1993, 1994 and 1995, and he recently earned 3 more national medals in 1997 at the Disney Wide World of Sports complex in Orlando, Florida. With over 90 medals and trophies to date, Michael’s athletic successes are nothing short of mind blowing!

Nicknamed “Magic Mike” by one of his coaches, Michael began his acting career in 1995 when he was cast in his first commercial for Bank of America with NBA great, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. More commercial work followed leading to his feature film debut

with none other than Denzel Washington in the Warner Bros. film “Fallen.” Michael played Denzel’s nephew.

With “How Stella Got Her Groove Back,” Michael is headed for the big time. He plays Bassett’s son in the blockbuster release. Fans can look for him next in the USA Network movie, “Captivity,” where he stars along with Holly Robinson Peete and Mario Van Peebles.

With so much going for him, Michael remains a humble and kindhearted kid, grounded in spiritual beliefs that keep him guided and focused. Angela Bassett,

recognizing his strong sense of inner peace, presented him with two Bibles while taping on the set of “Stella.” Amid his busy schedule, Michael can often be seen at local charity events. In fact, his biggest dreams are to participate in Michael Jordan’s Basketball Camp and play a part in the annual Magic Johnson’s Mid-Summer Night fund raiser event for UNCF.

But what about the magic, you ask? Greatly influenced by his role model and mentor, his dad, Michael Pagan, Sr., Michael snuck into his dad’s private magic video collection. Michael, Sr., who has studied magic for the past five years, was greatly surprised one day when his son performed an impromptu magic show for him. It seems Michael had taught himself several magical feats. His dad then shared with him additional knowledge, and now, levitation is one of his favorite tricks.

How does it feel to be a kid with so much to choose from when deciding what to be when one “grows up”. Michael replies, “ I love doing it all. I don’t want to have to choose what I do.”

Be it acting, running track, playing ball or performing magic tricks, Michael J Pagan is ready to do it all. And luckily for us, we get to watch!