Gray became a household name for a generation of Saturday morning viewers as the young Billy Batson, who, by uttering the magic word 'shazam,' transformed into the superhero Captain Marvel (played by Jackson Bostwick and later John Davey). The live-action show, which aired for three seasons from 1974 to 1976, became a cultural touchstone, recognized for its moral lessons and adventurous spirit.

Born in Chicago on September 2, 1951, Gray spent his formative years in Miami Beach before heading to Hollywood to hone his craft at the Pasadena Playhouse. His career began with appearances in popular shows like 'Room 222' in 1969, followed by roles in 'The Flying Nun,' 'Marcus Welby, M.D.,' and 'The Brady Bunch,' where he played Marcia's boyfriend. He also featured in films such as 'Beyond the Valley of the Dolls' and 'Myra Breckinridge,' and the telefilm 'Run, Simon, Run' alongside Burt Reynolds.

Before landing the lead in 'Shazam!,' Gray had already gained significant traction as a teen idol, frequently gracing the covers of magazines like Tiger Beat. His manager, Tiger Beat publisher Charles Laufer, played a key role in maintaining his public profile. However, the intense scrutiny that came with teen stardom proved challenging for Gray. He once remarked on the pressures of that period, noting that the desire for him to be "the next David Cassidy" meant he "couldn’t leave my house. It got pretty ugly sometimes."

After his stint as a superhero, Gray felt increasingly typecast and eventually stepped away from acting. He transitioned into other fields, including children's theater education, men's fashion, and co-owning a floral business in West Hollywood with his wife, Stacy.

The release of 'Shazam!' on DVD in 2012 sparked a career resurgence for Gray, allowing him to reconnect with fans at conventions. He expressed profound appreciation for the show's lasting impact, telling Fanboy Planet at the time, "I didn’t know how much I would like Shazam! until years later when I found out how much of an influence my character and the show was on people’s lives... There were such good moral values to the show."

In recent years, Gray enjoyed a return to the screen and voice acting. He made a cameo appearance in the 2023 film 'Shazam! Fury of the Gods,' interacting with Zachary Levi's Captain Marvel in a poignant nod to his original role. He also lent his voice to 'TV’s Michael Gray' on four episodes of the FX comedy 'Archer' between 2015 and 2019, and to Will E. Bee in the AMC franchise 'Surge of Power' from 2016 to 2020.

John Davey, who also portrayed Captain Marvel in the original series, remembered Gray fondly in a statement: "Mike was just a loving, sweet guy with a great sense of humor... He really enjoyed meeting and chatting with the fans. Mike was a wonderful man — I don’t think he ever stopped smiling."

Gray is survived by his wife, Stacy, whom he married in 1994, his stepchildren Ryan and Cooper, and his son-in-law Lee.