As a child, Michael James Bell spent most of his time reading books. Eventually, he moved to Los Angeles, where he became a professional actor and a narrator. He narrates romance under the pseudonym Espen Cooper.

Michael appears regularly on TV and in film, frequently with an accent that isn't his own. He is a dialect specialist.

Michael was a professional fisherman for two months, a child expat for two years, and a backend programmer for two decades. He serves on the board of directors of The Center for Election Science, a nonprofit that strives to make democracy work for everyone.