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Michael Hurst

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Actor, director, writer

1976–present

Jennifer Ward-Lealand (1988–present)

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 PrincessasIolaus. Most recently, he is known for his role in directing the Starz series Spartacus: Blood and Sand and Ash vs Evil Dead.

Biography[edit]

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'sStephen 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[edit]

Starring roles[edit]

Notes

Prisoners

Sciano

Film

Casualties of Peace

Peter

TV movie

Constance

Photographer (scenes deleted)

Film

Heroes

Dave Nelson

TV series

Death Warmed Up

Michael Tucker

Film

Dangerous Orphans

Moir

Film

Heroes II

Dave Nelson

TV series

The Shadow Trader

Bob Hoyle

TV mini-series

The Footstep Man

Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec

Film

Typhon's People

Constantine

TV movie

Desperate Remedies

Willam Poyser

Film

Hercules and the Amazon Women

Iolaus

TV movie

Aelus/Charon

Iolaus

Hercules: The Legendary Journeys

Iolaus/Charon/Orestes/Dahak/Widow Twankey

TV series (79 episodes)

A Moment Passing

Joey

Short Film

The Bar

Short Film

Highwater

Hugh Chance

TV movie

Hercules and Xena - The Animated Movie: The Battle for Mount Olympus

Iolaus

Voice

Young Hercules

The Jeweler

Video

I'll Make You Happy

Lou

Film

This Is It

Narrator, host, and various historical figures

TV special

The Man Who Has Everything

George Allwell

TV movie

Honey

Nic

Short Film

Showstoppers

celebrity judge

TV series

Murder on the Blade?

Defence lawyer

TV movie

Fracture

Athol Peet

Film

Hold the Anchovies

Manager & Old Iraqi

Video

Maddigan's Quest

Maska

TV series

Treasure Island Kids: The Monster of Treasure Island

ferry pilot

Film

Ask Your Uncles

Presenter

TV series

The Tattooist

Crash

Film

We're Here To Help

Rodney Hide

Film

The Last Magic Show

Trevor Norton

Film

The Map Reader

Alison's father

Film

Bitch Slap

Gage

Film

Inorganic

Brett

Short Film

Death Walks into a Bar

God of War

Short Film

Guest-starring roles[edit]

Episode

Thirty Minute Theatre

Jim

"Tinkling Brass"

Both Sides of the Fence

Gary McNabb

1.09

Country GP

Mark Sloane

1.32

Hanlon

Elliott

1.6 "In Defence of Shue Rock"

Hanlon

Defence Lawyer

1.7 "In Defence"

Shark in the Park

David Jennings

2.8 "Acting Sergeant"

The New Adventures of Black Beauty

Kurt

1.08 "The Birdman"

The Ray Bradbury Theater

Roger Shumway

4.08 "The Toynbee Convector"

For the Love of Mike

Laurie

1.06

The Ray Bradbury Theater

Lt. Simmons

6.06 "The Long Rain"

Xena: Warrior Princess

Iolaus

1.08 "Prometheus", 2.13 "The Quest"

Charon

1.16 "Mortal Beloved"

E! News Daily

Himself

Entertainment Tonight

Himself

Young Hercules

Charon

1.20 "A Lady in Hades"

Celebrity Profile

Himself

"Lucy Lawless"

Backch@t

Himself

2.01

Sunday News Give Us a Clue

Himself

Duggan

Michael Taylor

1.3 "A Shadow of Doubt: Part 1"

Duggan

Michael Taylor

1.4 "A Shadow of Doubt: Part 2"

Topp Twins

celebrity golfer

3.05 "Bowls and Golf"

Mai Time

Himself

Celebrity Profile

Himself

"Kevin Sorbo"

Jack of All Trades

Captain Nardo da Vinci

2.2 "Shark Bait"

Love Mussel

Stephen Jessop

TV movie

Xena: Warrior Princess

Nigel

6.13 "You Are There"

Andromeda

Ryan

2.20 "The Knight, Death and the Devil"

Mataku

Dr. Forbes

1.05 "The Final Plume"

Good Morning

Himself

Shortland Street

Greg Vicelich

Recurring (10 episodes)

Power Rangers: Ninja Storm

"D.J. Drummond" (voice)

1.20 "Good Will Hunter"

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"

Power Rangers: S.P.D.

Silverhead (voice)

1.28 "Robotpalooza"

Frontseat

Himself

2.24

Here to Stay

Himself

1.03 "The English"

Legend of the Seeker

Amfortas

1.13 "Revenant"

The Jono Project

"Michael Hurst"

1.12 "Sir Butch"

Spartacus: Vengeance

Roman soldier – uncredited

2.09 "Monsters"

The Almighty Johnsons

Kvasir

2.01 "And She Will Come to You"

The Almighty Johnsons

Kvasir

2.11 "The House of Jerome"

The Almighty Johnsons

Kvasir

2.12 "You Call This the Real World?"

The Almighty Johnsons

Kvasir

2.13 "Does this Look Like Asgard?"

Auckland Daze

Michael

1.06

Auckland Daze

Michael

2.05

Auckland Daze

Michael

2.06

Terry Teo

Cornelius Jones

1.04 "Head to Head"

Highroad

The Director

3.04 "39 Lashes"

Dead

Ross Marbeck

My Life is Murder

Otto Klein

2.10 "Pleasure & Pain"

Power Rangers: Dino Fury

Nibyro Guardian (voice)

1.20 "Waking Nightmare"

Director[edit]

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

Notes

1994

Yes

Short film, also writer

1996–99

Yes (6)

Television series

1976

Yes

Short film, also writer

1997

Yes

Unaired pilot

1997–2001

Yes (6)

Television series

2000

Yes (2)

Television series

2000

Yes

2001

Yes

Television film

2006

Yes

2006

Yes

2009–10

Yes (7)

Television series

2010–13

Yes (8)

Television series

2013

Yes (2)

Television series

2014

Yes (1)

Television series

2014–15

Yes (5)

Television series

2015

Yes (2)

Television series

2015

Yes (2)

Television series

2016

Yes

Short film, also writer

2016–present

Yes (15)

Television series

2016–17

Yes (10)

Television series

2020

Yes (4)

Television series

2020

Yes (2)

Television series

2021

Yes (2)

Television series

2021

Yes (6)

Television series

2023

Yes (6)

Television series

Producer[edit]

Spartacus: War of the Damned

TV series

Writer[edit]

I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry

Screenplay

Clown Story

Story

References[edit]

External links[edit]

• Michael HurstatIMDb
• Official website with 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