Moran was born in Yuba City, California, but his family moved frequently because his father was a United States Army officer.

While his family was living in Cedar Grove, New Jersey, he graduated in 1962 from Passaic Valley Regional High School in Little Falls.

Moran's roles at Seton Hall included Sir Toby Belch in William Shakespeare's Twelfth Night[3] and "Mortimer, the Man Who Dies" in The Fantasticks by Harvey Schmidt and Tom Jones.

[4] He also appeared in several productions for the New York Shakespeare Festival, and in off-Broadway productions including Sheridan's The Rivals (1984, Lion Theatre, 422 West 42nd Street), of which one critic wrote, "Michael P. Moran, built like a barrel, comes close to stealing the show as he roars and blusters through the role of Sir Anthony.

"[5] Moran appeared in several plays by Horton Foote at the Ensemble Studio Theatre: The Prisoner's Song (2002),[1][6] Everything That Rises Must Converge,[1] and The Belmont Avenue Social Club.