- Michael Hurst
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Michael Hurst Born Michael Eric Hurst
20 September 1957
Lancashire, EnglandOccupation Actor, director, writer Years active 1976–present Spouse Jennifer Ward-Lealand (1988-present) Website http://www.michaelhurst.co.nz/ 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.
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.
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 I'll Make You Happy in 1999. 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 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".
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/The Twanky Widow 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" 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 2007 Pumpkinhead:Blood feud 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") Writer
Year Title Other Notes 1994 I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry Screenplay 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
Categories:- New Zealand television actors
- New Zealand stage actors
- New Zealand people of British descent
- 1957 births
- Living people
- Officers of the New Zealand Order of Merit
- University of Canterbury alumni
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