OCC's Mikey – American Chopper
Mikey Teutul, a central figure in the reality show *American Chopper*, is well known for his involvement in the Orange County Choppers family business. This article delves into his journey, from his early days to his pivotal role in the success of the show.
The reality programs *Orange County Choppers* and *American Chopper* paved the way for many motorcycle enthusiasts to enter the spotlight. Mikey, formally known as Michael Joseph Teutul, gained recognition through his participation in the show. Mikey also appeared in *Senior vs. Junior*, another chapter in the series.
Paul Teutul Sr. is the founder of Orange County Choppers. Mikey is his son, born to his first wife, Paula Teutul. Mikey is also the younger brother of Paul Teutul Jr. and Daniel Teutul. While Paul Teutul Jr. served as the chief fabricator on the show, Daniel was the owner and general manager of Orange County Ironworks LLC.
Initially, Daniel started working at Orange County Ironworks, and Mikey soon joined the company. Later, Paul Teutul Sr. and Paul Teutul Jr. established Orange County Choppers, where Mikey also became involved, working as an assistant general manager. His duties mainly included answering phone calls and emptying the trash, while his opportunities to help build choppers were rare. However, Mikey eventually built his own bike.
The Teutul family’s motorcycle business became the focus of the *American Chopper* reality show, which gained immense popularity in the motorcycle community. Mikey played a key role in providing comic relief and appeared at various promotional events. His growing fame led him to appearances on major TV shows like *Late Night with Conan O’Brien*, *Late Show with David Letterman*, and *The Tonight Show with Jay Leno*.
By late December, Mikey acknowledged his alcohol addiction and entered a rehabilitation center. This was documented in the *American Chopper* series. As tensions grew between Paul Sr. and Paul Jr., Mikey often found himself in the middle, trying to resolve their disputes. Despite numerous opportunities at OCC, Mikey struggled to follow through on them.
The strained relationship between Paul Sr. and Paul Jr. eventually led Paul Jr. to leave the company and start his own venture, *Paul Jr. Designs*. Mikey later joined his brother’s new company, marking a new chapter in his career.
