You may remember Michael Jace as the actor who played a cop on the FX series The Shield or as the leader of the Black Panthers in Forrest Gump.
But you may not know that he is also a convicted murderer who shot his wife in front of their children.
In this article, we will reveal the shocking details of Michael Jace’s life, career, and crime.
Michael Jace Wife
Michael Jace was married twice in his life.
His first wife was Jennifer Bitterman, whom he married in 1996.
They had a son together, but their marriage was abusive and violent.
Bitterman accused Jace of choking her, slamming her against a wall, and threatening to kill her.
They divorced in 2002.
His second wife was April Laune, whom he married in 2003.
They had two sons together, but their marriage was also troubled by financial difficulties and marital problems.
Jace suspected that April was having an affair and became obsessed with jealousy.
On May 19, 2014, he shot her three times in their home, killing her instantly.
Michael Jace Today
Michael Jace is currently serving a 40-year-to-life sentence at Corcoran State Prison in California.
He was convicted of second-degree murder on May 31, 2016, after a jury rejected his claim of self-defence and heat of passion.
Michael Jace was also ordered to pay $41,000 in restitution to April’s family.
He has not expressed any remorse or apology for his crime.
He has also lost contact with his children, who are now living with relatives.
Michael Jace 2023
Michael Jace will be 61 years old in 2023.
He will still be behind bars, with no chance of parole until at least 2034.
Michael Jace will also face several lawsuits from his victims’ families, who are seeking damages for wrongful death and emotional distress.
He will likely spend the rest of his life in prison unless he wins an appeal or a pardon.
Michael Jace Wiki
Michael Jace was born on July 13, 1962, in Paterson, New Jersey.
He began his acting career in 1992, appearing in an episode of Law & Order.
Michael Jace then appeared in several TV shows and movies, such as:
- Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
- Clear and Present Danger
- Forrest Gump
- Strange Days
- The Replacements
- The Great White Hype
- Boogie Nights
- The Fan
- Planet of the Apes
- Tyson, Cold Case
- Michael Jordan: An American Hero
- The Shield,
- State of Play
- Southland
He was best known for his role as Officer Julien Lowe on The Shield, which ran from 2002 to 2008.
Michael Jace The Wire
Michael Jace never appeared on The Wire, another popular crime drama series that aired on HBO from 2002 to 2008.
However, some people may confuse him with Jamie Hector, who played Marlo Stanfield on The Wire.
Hector and Jace have some physical resemblance and both played characters involved in law enforcement or crime.
However, they are not related and have different backgrounds and careers.
Michael Jace in Forrest Gump
Michael Jace had a small but memorable role in Forrest Gump, the 1994 Oscar-winning film starring Tom Hanks.
He played the leader of the Black Panthers, a radical political group that advocated for black power and revolution.
Michael Jace had a confrontation with Forrest Gump and Jenny Curran at a rally in Washington DC.
He slapped Jenny when she tried to stop him from hitting Forrest.
He then yelled at Forrest: “Who are you? You’re no brother! You ’re no friend! You’re nothing!”
Forrest then punched him and knocked him down.
Michael Jace’s Net Worth
He had a net worth of $400 thousand at the time of his arrest.
He earned most of his money from his acting career, especially from his role on The Shield.
However, he also had a lot of debts and expenses that drained his finances.
He owed $411 thousand on his home mortgage and $22 thousand in state and federal income taxes.
Michael Jace also had to pay child support and alimony to his ex-wife Jennifer Bitterman.
He claimed that he only earned $80 thousand per year after The Shield ended.
What happened to Michael Jace?
Michael killed his wife April Jace on May 19, 2014.
He shot her three times with a revolver in their home in Hyde Park, Los Angeles.
He did it in front of their two young sons, who were then aged 8 and 5.
Michael Jace then called 911 and confessed to the shooting.
He said he shot her because she wanted a divorce and he was angry.
Michael Jace was arrested and charged with murder.
He was convicted of second-degree murder on May 31, 2016, and sentenced to 40 years to life in prison on June 10, 2016.
What role did Michael Jace have in Forrest Gump?
Jace had a minor role in Forrest Gump as the leader of the Black Panthers.
He appeared in one scene where he had a fight with Forrest Gump and Jenny Curran at a rally in Washington DC.
He slapped Jenny and insulted Forrest, who then punched him and knocked him down.
Did Michael Jace star in Forrest Gump?
No, Michael Jace did not star in Forrest Gump.
He had a small role as the leader of the Black Panthers.
The stars of Forrest Gump were Tom Hanks, Robin Wright, Gary Sinise, Sally Field, and Mykelti Williamson.
How old is Michael Jace?
Michael is 59 years old as of 2021.
He was born on July 13, 1962, in Paterson, New Jersey.
Conclusion
Michael Jace is a former actor who became a murderer.
He shot his wife April Jace in 2014 and was sentenced to 40 years to life in prison.
Michael was known for his role as Officer Julien Lowe on The Shield and as the leader of the Black Panthers in Forrest Gump.
He had a troubled personal life and a violent temper that led him to commit a horrific crime.
He is now one of the most notorious celebrities in Hollywood history.
