Michael Hurst
| Michael Hurst | |
|---|---|
| Born |
Michael Eric Hurst 20 September 1957 Lancashire, England |
| Occupation | Actor, director, writer |
| Years active | 1976–present |
| Spouse(s) | Jennifer Ward-Lealand (1988–present) |
| Website |
www |
Michael Eric Hurst, ONZM (born 20 September 1957) is a New Zealand actor, director and writer, mostly on stage and television. He is probably best known internationally for playing Iolaus in the television programs Hercules: The Legendary Journeys and companion series Xena: Warrior Princess. Most recently, he is known for his role in directing the popular Starz series Spartacus: Blood and Sand and Ash vs Evil Dead.
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.
He married New Zealand actress Jennifer Ward-Lealand in 1988. They have two sons: Jack Louis Ward Hurst, born in 1997, and Cameron Lane Ward Hurst, born in 1999.
In 1984, Hurst won the lead role of David Blyth's Death Warmed Up, New Zealand's first splatter movie. 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 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, and 1999's I'll Make You Happy. In 1993, he starred alongside Australian Sophie Lee and Brit Greg Wise in 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.
Hurst went on to co-star in Hercules: The Legendary Journeys with Kevin Sorbo, playing nimble sidekick Iolaus to Sorbo's Hercules.
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, an acclaimed 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. He was later designated an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2005 "for services to film and the theatre".
In 2015, after critically acclaimed runs in New Zealand and at the 2014 Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Michael Hurst is Director of The Generation of Z: Apocalypse which is a high-velocity theatre experience being brought to a purpose-built venue in East London from 4 April 2015 to July 2015. "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." Interview with LondonTheatre1 [1]
Filmography
Starring roles
| Year | Title | Role | Other Notes |
| 1981 | Prisoners | Sciano | |
| 1982 | Casualties of Peace | Peter | TV |
| 1984 | Constance | Photographer (scenes deleted) | |
| 1984 | "Heroes" | Dave Nelson | TV Series |
| 1985 | Hanlon: In Defence of Minnie Dean | Elliott | TV |
| 1985 | Death Warmed Up | Michael Tucker | |
| 1985 | Dangerous Orphans | Moir | |
| 1986 | "Heroes II" | Dave Nelson | TV Series |
| 1989 | The Shadow Trader | Bob Hoyle | TV |
| 1992 | The Footstep Man | Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec | |
| 1993 | Typhon's People | Constantine | TV |
| 1993 | Desperate Remedies | Willam Poyser | |
| 1994 | Hercules and the Amazon Women | Iolaus | TV |
| 1994 | Hercules in the Underworld | Iolaus | TV |
| 1994 | Hercules in the Maze of the Minotaur | Iolaus | TV |
| 1995 | "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys" | Iolaus/Charon/Orestes/Dahak/Widow Twankey | TV Series |
| 1997 | A Moment Passing | Joey | |
| 1997 | The Bar | ||
| 1997 | Highwater | Hugh Chance | TV |
| 1998 | Hercules and Xena - The Animated Movie: The Battle for Mount Olympus | Iolaus (voice) | Video |
| 1998 | Young Hercules | The Jeweler | Video |
| 1999 | I'll Make You Happy | Lou | |
| 1999 | This Is It | Narrator, host, and various historical figures | TV |
| 2001 | The Man Who Has Everything | George Allwell | TV |
| 2002 | Honey | Nic | |
| 2002 | Showstoppers | celebrity judge | TV Series |
| 2003 | Murder on the Blade | Defence lawyer | TV |
| 2004 | Fracture | Athol Peet | |
| 2004 | Hold the Anchovies | Manager & Old Iraqi | Video |
| 2006 | "Maddigan's Quest" | Maska | TV Series |
| 2007 | "The Tattooist" | Crash | Film |
| 2007 | "We're Here To Help" | Rodney Hide | Film |
| 2009 | "Bitch Slap" | Gage | Film |
Guest-starring roles
| Year | Title | Role | Episode |
| 1976 | "Thirty Minute Theatre" | Jim | "Tinkling Brass" |
| 1983 | "Both Sides of the Fence" | Gary McNabb | 1.9 |
| 1989 | "Shark In the Park" | David Jennings | "Acting Sergeant" |
| 1990 | "The New Adventures of Black Beauty" | Kurt | 1.8 "The Birdman" |
| 1990 | "The Ray Bradbury Theater" | Roger Shumway | 4.8 "The Toynbee Convector" |
| 1991 | "For the Love of Mike" | Laurie | 1.6 |
| 1992 | "The Ray Bradbury Theater" | Lt. Simmons | 6.6 "The Long Rain" |
| 1995 | "Xena: Warrior Princess" | Iolaus | 1.8 "Prometheus" |
| 1996 | "Xena: Warrior Princess" | Charon | 1.16 "Mortal Beloved" |
| 1997 | "Xena: Warrior Princess" | Iolaus | 2.13 "The Quest" |
| 1997 | "E! News Daily" | Himself | |
| 1997 | "Entertainment Tonight" | Himself | |
| 1998 | "Young Hercules" | Charon | 1.20 "A Lady in Hades" |
| 1999 | "Celebrity Profile" | Himself | "Lucy Lawless" |
| 1999 | "Backch@t" | Himself | 2.1 |
| 1999 | "Sunday News Give Us a Clue" | ||
| 1999 | "Duggan" | Michael Taylor | 1.3 "A Shadow of Doubt: Part 1" |
| 1999 | "Duggan" | Michael Taylor | 1.4 "A Shadow of Doubt: Part 2" |
| 2000 | "Topp Twins" | celebrity golfer | |
| 2000 | "Mai Time" | Himself | |
| 2000 | "Celebrity Profile" | Himself | "Kevin Sorbo" |
| 2000 | "Jack of All Trades" | Captain Nardo da Vinci | 2.2 "Shark Bait" |
| 2001 | "Love Mussel" | Stephen Jessop | |
| 2001 | "Xena: Warrior Princess" | Nigel | 6.13 "You Are There" |
| 2002 | "Andromeda" | Ryan | 2.20 "The Knight, Death and the Devil" |
| 2002 | "Mataku" | Dr. Forbes | 1.5 "The Final Plume" |
| 2003 | "Good Morning" | Himself | |
| 2003 | "Shortland Street" | Greg Vicelich | |
| 2003 | "Power Rangers: Ninja Storm" | "D.J. Drummond" (voice) | 1.20 "Good Will Hunter" |
| 2003 | "Power Rangers: Ninja Storm" | "Vexacus" (voice) | 1.27 "Shane's Karma: Part 2" |
| 2003 | "Power Rangers: Ninja Storm" | "Vexacus" (voice) | 1.30 "The Wild Wipeout" |
| 2003 | "Power Rangers: Ninja Storm" | "Vexacus" (voice) | 1.31 "Double-Edged Blake" |
| 2003 | "Power Rangers: Ninja Storm" | "Vexacus" (voice) | 1.33 "General Deception, Part I" |
| 2003 | "Power Rangers: Ninja Storm" | "Vexacus" (voice) | 1.34 "General Deception, Part II" |
| 2003 | "Power Rangers: Ninja Storm" | "Vexacus" (voice) | 1.35 "A Gem of a Day" |
| 2003 | "Power Rangers: Ninja Storm" | "Vexacus" (voice) | 1.36 "Down and Dirty" |
| 2003 | "Power Rangers: Ninja Storm" | "Vexacus" (voice) | 1.37 "Storm Before the Calm, Part I" |
| 2003 | "Power Rangers: Ninja Storm" | "Vexacus" (voice) | 1.38 "Storm Before the Calm, Part II" |
| 2005 | "Power Rangers: S.P.D." | Silverhead (voice) | 1.28 "Robotpalooza" |
| 2005 | "Frontseat" | Himself | 2.24 |
| 2009 | "Legend of the Seeker" | Amfortas | 1.13 "Revenant" |
| 2012 | "Spartacus: Vengeance" | Roman soldier - uncredited | "episode 9" |
Director
| Year | Title | Other Notes |
| 1994 | I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry | |
| 1996 | "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys" | (TV Series) (episode 3.01 "Mercenary") |
| 1997 | Amazon High | TV |
| 1997 | "Xena: Warrior Princess" | (TV Series) (episode 2.15 "A Day in the Life") |
| 1997 | "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys" | (TV Series) (episode 4.08 " . . . And Fancy Free") |
| 1998 | "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys" | (TV Series) (episode 4.17 "One Fowl Day") |
| 1998 | "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys" | (TV Series) (episode 5.01 "Faith") |
| 1998 | "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys" | (TV Series) (episode 5.07 "Somewhere Over the Rainbow Bridge") |
| 1998 | "Xena: Warrior Princess" | (TV Series) (episode 4.06 "A Tale of Two Muses") |
| 1999 | "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys" | (TV Series) (episode 5.15 "Greece is Burning") |
| 2000 | "Jack of All Trades" | (TV Series) episode 2.04 "The Morning After" |
| 2000 | "Jack of All Trades" | (TV Series) episode 2.06 "One, Two, Three, Give Me Lady Liberty" |
| 2000 | "Xena: Warrior Princess" | (TV Series) (episode 5.16 "Life Blood") |
| 2000 | "Xena: Warrior Princess" | (TV Series) (episode 5.18 "Anthony & Cleopatra") |
| 2000 | "Xena: Warrior Princess" | (TV Series) (episode 6.04 "Who's Gurkhan") |
| 2000 | Jubilee | |
| 2001 | "Xena: Warrior Princess" | (TV Series) (episode 6.15 "To Helicon and Back") |
| 2001 | Love Mussel | TV |
| 2004 | Treasure Island Kids: The Mystery of Treasure Island | |
| 2006 | The Darkroom | |
| 2009 | Legend of the Seeker | (TV Series) (episode 1.08 "Denna") |
| 2009 | Legend of the Seeker | (TV Series) (episode 1.10 "Sacrifice") |
| 2009 | Legend of the Seeker | (TV Series) (episode 1.22 "Reckoning") |
| 2010 | Legend of the Seeker | (TV Series) (episode 2.17 "Vengeance") |
| 2010 | Legend of the Seeker | (TV Series) (episode 2.21 "Unbroken") |
| 2010 | Spartacus: Blood and Sand | (TV Series) (episode 1.05 "Shadow Games") |
| 2010 | Spartacus: Blood and Sand | (TV Series) (episode 1.09 "Whore") |
| 2010 | Spartacus: Blood and Sand | (TV Series) (episode 1.12 "Revelations") |
| 2011 | Spartacus: Gods of the Arena | (TV Series) (episode 1.03 "Paterfamilias") |
| 2012 | Spartacus: Vengeance | (TV Series) (episode 2.01 "Fugitivus") |
| 2012 | Spartacus: Vengeance | (TV Series) (episode 2.06 "Chosen Path") |
| 2013 | Spartacus: War of the Damned | (TV Series) (episode 3.04 "Decimation") |
| 2013 | Spartacus: War of the Damned | (TV Series) (episode 3.09 "The Dead and the Dying") |
| 2015 | Ash vs Evil Dead | (TV Series) (episode 1.06 "The Killer of Killers") |
Writer
| Year | Title | Other Notes |
| 1994 | I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry | Screenplay |
References
External links
- Michael Hurst at the Internet Movie Database
- Michael Hurst's Official Website with his curriculum vitae
- Michael Hurst interview with his wife Jennifer Ward-Lealand for the Cultural Icons project. Audio and video.
- Michael Hurst Now: Michael Hurst's Projects Since Hercules The Legendary Journeys
- Maddigan's Quest: Official Site
- Michael Hurst on Twitter
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