Michael Hurst

Last updated

Michael Hurst
Born
Michael Eric Hurst

(1957-09-20) 20 September 1957 (age 67)
Lancashire, England
Occupation(s)Actor, director, writer
Years active1976–present
Spouse Jennifer Ward-Lealand (1988–present)
Website michaelhurst.co.nz

Michael Eric Hurst ONZM (born 20 September 1957) is a British-born New Zealand actor, director and writer. He is known internationally for acting in the television programs Hercules: The Legendary Journeys and companion series Xena: Warrior Princess as Iolaus. Most recently, he is known for his role in directing the Starz series Spartacus: Blood and Sand and Ash vs Evil Dead .

Contents

Biography

Hurst was born in Lancashire, England, the eldest of three brothers. When he was seven his family moved to Christchurch, New Zealand. He enrolled at Papanui High School, then University of Canterbury, but for only one year.[ citation needed ]

He is married to New Zealand actress Jennifer Ward-Lealand and they have two sons. [1]

In 1984, Hurst won the lead role of David Blyth's Death Warmed Up , New Zealand's first splatter movie. [2] The plot saw Hurst's character weathering institutionalisation, sundry wackos, and a motorcycle chase in the tunnels below Waiheke Island. The film won the grand prize at a fantasy film festival in Paris. The same year Hurst began playing drummer Dave Nelson over two series of Heroes, about a band searching for fame.

Crime thriller Dangerous Orphans (1986) is the first film in which Hurst co-starred with real-life partner Jennifer Ward-Lealand (he had already acted with her on-stage). Hurst's role was one of three grown orphans caught up in a mission to one-up various criminal figures; Ward-Lealand played romantic interest to one of the other orphans. Hurst would work with Ward-Lealand again on his next three features, 1992's The Footstep Man, 1993's Desperate Remedies [3] and 1999's I'll Make You Happy.

In 1993, he starred alongside Australian Sophie Lee and Brit Greg Wise in the TV thriller Typhon's People . Hurst played a European mystery man uncovering the truth behind corporate genetic meddling. The script was by author Margaret Mahy.[ citation needed ]

Hurst went on to co-star in Hercules: The Legendary Journeys with Kevin Sorbo, playing sidekick Iolaus to Sorbo's Hercules. [4]

Hurst made his feature debut as a director with Jubilee (2000), based on the book by Nepi Solomon. The film stars Cliff Curtis as a kind-hearted procrastinator who gets the chance to prove himself by organising a 75th jubilee. Hurst followed Jubilee by directing Love Mussel, a one off satire for television. Written by Braindead's Stephen Sinclair and starring Kevin Smith, Love Mussel is a mockumentary about a fictional township which erects a monument to a shellfish with Viagra-like properties.

In 2003, Hurst was awarded an Arts Foundation of New Zealand Laureate Award. In the 2005 Queen's Birthday Honours, he was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to film and the theatre. [5] [6]

In 2015, after runs in New Zealand and at the 2014 Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Hurst directed The Generation of Z: Apocalypse at a purpose-built venue in East London between 4 April 2015 to July 2015. Hurst stated, "A lot of the reviews have said 'immersive theatre into overdrive'. 'Video game, only live.' It has those qualities. There are choices where the audience can affect the outcome of scenes which is quite a new thing. It flows very easily depending on which choice they make." [7]

In October 2018, he was presented with a Scroll of Honour from the Variety Artists Club of New Zealand for his contribution to New Zealand entertainment.[ citation needed ]

He has also appeared in several solo stage productions including No Holds Bard (based on several Shakespearian characters) in 2018, [6] and An Illiad in 2019. [8]

Filmography

Starring roles

YearTitleRoleNotes
1981 Prisoners ScianoFilm
1982Casualties of PeacePeterTV movie
1984 Constance Photographer (scenes deleted)Film
HeroesDave NelsonTV series
Death Warmed Up Michael TuckerFilm
1985 Dangerous Orphans Moir
1986Heroes IIDave NelsonTV series
1989The Shadow TraderBob HoyleTV mini-series
1992The Footstep ManHenri de Toulouse-LautrecFilm
1993Typhon's PeopleConstantineTV movie
Desperate Remedies Willam PoyserFilm
1994 Hercules and the Amazon Women Iolaus TV movie
Hercules in the Underworld Aelus/Charon
Hercules in the Maze of the Minotaur Iolaus
1995 Hercules: The Legendary Journeys Iolaus/Charon/Orestes/Dahak/Widow Twankey TV series (79 episodes)
1997A Moment PassingJoeyShort Film
The Bar
HighwaterHugh ChanceTV movie
1998 Hercules and Xena - The Animated Movie: The Battle for Mount Olympus IolausVoice
Young Hercules The JewelerVideo
1999I'll Make You HappyLouFilm
This Is ItNarrator, host, and various historical figuresTV special
2001The Man Who Has EverythingGeorge AllwellTV movie
2002HoneyNicShort Film
Showstopperscelebrity judgeTV series
2003Murder on the Blade?Defence lawyerTV movie
2004 Fracture Athol PeetFilm
Hold the AnchoviesManager & Old IraqiVideo
2005The MagicianThe AgentFilm
2006 Maddigan's Quest MaskaTV series
Treasure Island Kids: The Monster of Treasure Islandferry pilotFilm
2007Ask Your UnclesPresenterTV series
The Tattooist CrashFilm
We're Here To Help Rodney Hide
The Last Magic ShowTrevor Norton
The Map Reader Alison's father
2009 Bitch Slap Gage
2012InorganicBrettShort Film
2014Death Walks into a BarGod of War
2018VermilionSmoking ManFilm
DeadRoss MarbeckFilm
2019NorthspurGreen (lead)Film

Guest-starring roles

YearTitleRoleEpisode
1976Thirty Minute TheatreJim"Tinkling Brass"
1983Both Sides of the FenceGary McNabb1.09
Country GPMark Sloane1.32
1985HanlonElliott1.6 "In Defence of Shue Rock"
Defence Lawyer1.7 "In Defence"
1989 Shark in the Park David Jennings2.8 "Acting Sergeant"
1990 The New Adventures of Black Beauty Kurt1.08 "The Birdman"
The Ray Bradbury Theater Roger Shumway4.08 "The Toynbee Convector"
1991For the Love of MikeLaurie1.06
1992The Ray Bradbury TheaterLt. Simmons6.06 "The Long Rain"
1995, 1997 Xena: Warrior Princess Iolaus1.08 "Prometheus", 2.13 "The Quest"
1996Charon1.16 "Mortal Beloved"
1997E! News DailyHimself
Entertainment Tonight
1998 Young Hercules Charon1.20 "A Lady in Hades"
1999Celebrity ProfileHimself"Lucy Lawless"
Backch@t2.01
Sunday News Give Us a Clue
Duggan Michael Taylor1.3 "A Shadow of Doubt: Part 1"
1.4 "A Shadow of Doubt: Part 2"
2000Topp Twinscelebrity golfer3.05 "Bowls and Golf"
Mai TimeHimself
Celebrity Profile"Kevin Sorbo"
Jack of All Trades Captain Nardo da Vinci2.2 "Shark Bait"
2001Love MusselStephen JessopTV movie
Xena: Warrior PrincessNigel6.13 "You Are There"
2002 Andromeda Ryan2.20 "The Knight, Death and the Devil"
MatakuDr. Forbes1.05 "The Final Plume"
2003Good MorningHimself
Shortland Street Greg VicelichRecurring (10 episodes)
Power Rangers: Ninja Storm "D.J. Drummond" (voice)1.20 "Good Will Hunter"
"Vexacus" (voice)1.27 "Shane's Karma: Part 2", 1.30 "The Wild Wipeout", 1.31 "Double-Edged Blake", 1.33 "General Deception, Part I", 1.34 "General Deception, Part II", 1.35 "A Gem of a Day", 1.36 "Down and Dirty", 1.37 "Storm Before the Calm, Part I", 1.38 "Storm Before the Calm, Part II"
2005 Power Rangers: S.P.D. Silverhead (voice)1.28 "Robotpalooza"
FrontseatHimself2.24
2007Here to Stay1.03 "The English"
2009 Legend of the Seeker Amfortas1.13 "Revenant"
2010The Jono Project"Michael Hurst"1.12 "Sir Butch"
2012 Spartacus: Vengeance Roman soldier – uncredited2.09 "Monsters"
The Almighty Johnsons Kvasir2.01 "And She Will Come to You"
2.11 "The House of Jerome"
2.12 "You Call This the Real World?"
2.13 "Does this Look Like Asgard?"
Auckland DazeMichael1.06
20142.05
2.06
2016Terry TeoCornelius Jones1.04 "Head to Head"
HighroadThe Director3.04 "39 Lashes"
2020 Dead Ross Marbeck
2021 My Life is Murder Otto Klein2.10 "Pleasure & Pain"
Power Rangers: Dino Fury Nibyro Guardian (voice)1.20 "Waking Nightmare"

Director

The numbers in directing credits refer to the number of episodes.

TitleYearCredited asNotes
Director
I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry1994YesShort film, also writer
Hercules: The Legendary Journeys 1996–99Yes (6)Television series
A Silent Welcome1976YesShort film, also writer
Amazon High1997YesUnaired pilot
Xena: Warrior Princess 1997–2001Yes (6)Television series
Jack of All Trades 2000Yes (2)
JubileeYes
Love Mussel2001YesTelevision film
Treasure Island Kids 2: The Monster of Treasure Island2006Yes
Treasure Island Kids 3: The Mystery of Treasure IslandYes
Legend of the Seeker 2009–10Yes (7)Television series
Spartacus 2010–13Yes (8)
The Almighty Johnsons 2013Yes (2)
The Brokenwood Mysteries 2014Yes (1)
Step Dave 2014–15Yes (5)
Tatau 2015Yes (2)
Ash vs Evil Dead Yes (2)
Balloons2016YesShort film, also writer
Westside 2016–presentYes (15)Television series
800 Words 2016–17Yes (10)
The Dead Lands 2020Yes (4)
Between Two Worlds Yes (2)
My Life is Murder 2021Yes (2)
Power Rangers Dino Fury Yes (6)
Power Rangers Cosmic Fury 2023Yes (6)

Producer

YearTitleNotes
2012 Spartacus: War of the Damned TV series

Writer

YearTitleNotes
1994I'm So Lonesome I Could CryScreenplay
1996Clown StoryStory

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References

  1. Mann, Brit (3 February 2019). "At home with actor and director Michael Hurst". Stuff. Retrieved 29 January 2020.
  2. "Death Warmed Up | Film | NZ On Screen". nzonscreen.com. Retrieved 29 January 2020.
  3. McDonald, Dougal (26 February 1994). "Unconventional opera a creative triumph". Canberra Times. Retrieved 29 January 2020 via Trove.
  4. "See the Cast of 'Hercules: The Legendary Journeys' Now!". Closer Weekly. 26 January 2020. Retrieved 29 January 2020.
  5. "Queen's Birthday honours list 2005". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 6 June 2005. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
  6. 1 2 "Shakespearean bard Michael Hurst comes to town". Stuff. 6 July 2018. Retrieved 29 January 2020.
  7. Cheesman, Neil (9 March 2015). "Interview with Michael Hurst". London Theatre.
  8. Simei-Barton, Paul (30 May 2019). "Theatre review: Michael Hurst's and Shayne Carter's combined strengths makes for powerful epic". NZ Herald. ISSN   1170-0777 . Retrieved 29 January 2020.