Michael Hurst

Michael Eric Hurst (born 20 September 1957, in Lancashire, England) is a New Zealand actor, director and writer. He works mostly on stage and television. He is probably best known for playing Iolaus in the television programs Hercules: The Legendary Journeys and Xena: Warrior Princess.

Michael Hurst
Born
Michael Eric Hurst

(1957-09-20) 20 September 1957 (age 66)
Known forPlaying Iolaus in Hercules: The Legendary Journeys
Spouse(s)Jennifer Ward-Lealand (1988–present)
Websitehttp://www.michaelhurst.co.nz/

Hurst is the oldest of three brothers. When he was seven his family moved to Christchurch, New Zealand. He studied at Papanui High School. After high school, he went to the 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 2003, Hurst received the Laureate Award from the Arts Foundation of New Zealand. He was later made 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 Aelus TV
1994 Hercules in the Maze of the Minotaur Iolaus TV
1995 "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys" Iolaus/Charon/Orestes/Dahak 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 Movie

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

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
2004 Treasure Island Kids: The Monster of Treasure Island
2007 Pumpkinhead:Blood feud

Writer

Year Title Other Notes
1994 I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry Screenplay

Other websites