- Michael French
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For the Charleston SC firefighter, see Michael French (firefighter).
Michael French Born Michael Clark
17 September 1962
Bow, London, EnglandOccupation Actor Years active 1993–present Michael French (born 17 September 1962, Bow, London) is an English actor, most notable for his role as consultant Nick Jordan in Casualty and former cardiothoracic registrar in Holby City. He has also played the part of David Wicks on EastEnders.
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Early life
French was born Michael Clark to parents David (a greengrocer) and Sheila in East London, but grew up in Theydon Bois, Essex.[1] where he attended Theydon Bois County Primary School along with his older sister Helen.
He was soon appearing in school productions, while weekends and evenings were spent at dancing classes and rehearsals for shows put on by the local drama club.[1] He then attended West Hatch Technical High School in Chigwell, Essex where he was a main contributor to school plays.
At the age of 20, French landed a job as an entertainer ("blue coat") at the Holiday Club International in Majorca.[1]
When he returned to Britain, at the age of 22, French got his first acting break in the musical Godspell at the Kenneth More Theatre in Ilford, Essex. Bit parts on stage followed, including playing the Genie in Aladdin in a Christmas pantomime.[1]
He spent the next three years touring in small productions, before becoming disillusioned with his lack of success and taking a job as an Air Steward for British Airways.[1]
But, since he was unable to lose his desire to act, French quit his job as a steward and began taking acting lessons. He was trained at the Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts and graduated in 1992.[1]
Career
After graduating from acting school, French was primarily employed in West End musicals. He was in West Side Story, Chicago, Joseph — playing romantic juvenile leads — and then played Javert in Les Misérables.[2]
French became well known for appearing in the BBC soap opera EastEnders. French was spotted by an EastEnders casting agent whilst on stage in the musical Les Misérables.[3] He was subsequently offered a role in the popular soap opera and first appeared in 1993, playing the womanising car-dealer, David Wicks. French quit the soap in 1996 amid a press furore regarding his sexuality, which he allegedly felt compromised his position as the show's heart-throb.[4] 19 million viewers tuned in to watch the character's exit from Albert Square.[5]
Other regular TV roles include Nick Jordan in Casualty (1998, 2005, 2008 onwards) and its sister programme, Holby City (1999–2000; 2005–2006); The Fabulous Bagel Boys (2001); Gary Lescott in Dalziel and Pascoe (2005); Jeff Slade in Crime Traveller (1997) and Tom Gilder in Born and Bred (2001–2004).
Among his other stage credits include Art (2000) as Marc and Sacred Heart (1999) as Jerry. He also replaced John Barrowman as Billy Flynn in the London run of Chicago from 13 December 2004,[6] but resigned suddenly on 2 May 2005 amid rumours of differences with his co-star Brooke Shields.[7]
On 13 May 2008 it was confirmed Michael French would be returning to his role of Nick Jordan for a third stint, but this time as his role in Casualty.[8]
Personal life
In 1996 French was outed as being gay by the Sunday Mirror.[9] The article has been widely criticised by gay activists, including Peter Tatchell, who branded the Sunday Mirror's story "prejudiced and sensationalist" and accused the paper of "exposing his sexual orientation in a way that suggested being gay was sordid and shameful".[10]
In 2004 French was given a six-month driving ban after he was caught speeding.[11]
Filmography
Year Show Role Notes 1993–1996 EastEnders David Wicks Series regular 1997 Crime Traveller Detective Jeff Slade 8 part series 1998 Casualty Nick Jordan Series regular 1999–2000 Holby City Series regular 2001 The Fabulous Bagel Boys DS Alexander Murchison The Gentleman Thief Ellis Bride 2004 The Afternoon Play Hardy Rose 1 episode: Sons, Daughters and Lovers 2001–2005 Born and Bred Dr. Tom Gilder Series regular 2005 Casualty@Holby City Nick Jordan 1 episode: Deny Thy Father 2006 Dalziel and Pascoe Gary Lescott 1 episode: Wrong Place, Wrong Time Holby City Nick Jordan Recurring; 16 episodes 2008 - Casualty Series regular 2010 Holby City 1 episode: Casualty@Holby City: Downstairs, Upstairs 2012 EastEnders David Wicks Guest Return References
- General
- Specific
- ^ a b c d e f Sutton, Caroline (17 Mar 1996). "French connection". Sunday Mirror. http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4161/is_19960317/ai_n14449161. Retrieved 17 Oct 2011.
- ^ ""People would shout 'We love you'. But I didn't like myself". Evening Standard. http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4153/is_20000204/ai_n11919332.[dead link]
- ^ "Drama faces: Michael French actor profile", BBC. URL last accessed on 2007-02-13.
- ^ "French to quit", Sunday Mirror. URL last accessed on 2007-02-13.
- ^ "FRENCH AND JOHNSTON; PARTNERS IN TIME", Sunday Mirror. URL last accessed on 2007-02-13.
- ^ "Michael French Resigns From London", Playbill. URL last accessed on 2006-02-11.
- ^ "and co-star isn't a fan either", Evening Standard. URL last accessed on 2007-02-13.
- ^ "Role is deja vu for French". The Sun Online. 2008-05-13. http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/tv/soaps/article1155215.ece. Retrieved 2008-05-13.
- ^ "Star's lover is Mr Macho man", Sunday Mirror. URL last accessed on 2007-02-13.
- ^ "MEDIA MENDACITY OVER OUTING - THE TRUTH BEHIND THE HEADLINES", petertatchell.net. URL last accessed on 2011-09-12.
- ^ ""Ban for 'shy' Enders star". 21 January 2004. http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article82874.ece. Retrieved 21 September 2011.
External links
Categories:- 1962 births
- Alumni of the Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts
- British musical theatre actors
- British television actors
- English soap opera actors
- Living people
- Gay actors
- LGBT people from England
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