# Arky Michael

Arky Michael is an Australian actor and writer, who is best known for his role as Fulvio Frangellomini in the television drama series Rafferty's Rules.

## Early life

Michael studied acting at National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) and graduated with a Bachelor of Dramatic Art (Acting) in 1982.

## Career

Michael's first starring role was as George Poulopoulos in the television series Sweet and Sour (1984). A recurring role on drama series A Country Practice followed (1986–1987), before he took on his best known role as Fulvio Frangellomini in Rafferty's Rules (1987–1991). He then featured in the Australian children's series Johnson and Friends, as the costume actor for the titular character in the second series.
Michael also had numerous guest roles on television series through this career, such as Mother and Son, E Street, Wildside, Water Rats, Grass Roots and All Saints.
Michael is part of a screenwriting team together with Kym Vercoe, with whom he wrote the feature film, Mrs Burswood, recipient of the 2017 Monte Miller Award for Best Unproduced Screenplay. They have collaborated on independent theatre projects for Theatre Kantanka and version 1. Michael has also written a number of short films, including Australian Summer, which won Best Film at Tropfest in 2005.
Michael has also worked extensively in theatre for many of the major Australian companies including Sydney Theatre Company, Melbourne Theatre Company, Queensland Theatre and Bell Shakespeare.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Type |
| 1984 | 2084 (aka Starship or Lorca and the Outlaws) | Dylan | Feature film |
| 1985 | After Hours | Lorraine's Boyfriend | Short film |
| 1989 | Candy Regentag | Franky | Feature film |
| 1990 | The Ham Funeral | Fourth Relative | TV movie |
| 1997 | Sanctuary | John Alderston | Feature film |
| 2001 | Jet Set | Sanitation Engineer | Feature film |
| 2004 | The Mime Artist | Bill | Short film |
| 2005 | Australian Summer | Joe | Short film |
| 2011 | Animal Love | Garry | Short film |
| 2012 | Last Christmas | Man | Short film |
| 2013 | For Those Who Can Tell No Tales | Arky | Short film |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Type |
| 1984 | City West | Alec Pontes | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1984 | Sweet and Sour | George Poulopoulos | TV series, 20 episodes |
| 1986 | Mother and Son | Constable | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1986 | Call Me Mister | Barman | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1986–87 | A Country Practice | Kenny Mitchell | TV series, 10 episodes |
| 1987–91 | Rafferty's Rules | Fulvio Frangellomini | TV series, 86 episodes |
| 1990 | Col’n Carpenter | Mr Cole | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1990–91 | Johnson and Friends | Johnson | TV series, season 2, 15 episodes |
| 1992 | E Street | Albie Johnson | TV series, 4 episodes |
| 1993 | Hey Dad..! | Neville Short | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1993–95 | G.P. | Doug Hardin / Arnie | TV series, 2 episodes |
| 1994 | The Fox Cubhouse | Johnson | TV series, segment: "Johnson and Friends" |
| 1995 | Johnson and Friends: Songs from the Toybox | Johnson | Video |
| 1997 | Water Rats | Dave Fremont | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1999 | Wildside | Gordy Gilmour | TV series, 1 episode |
| 2000 | Grass Roots | Des | TV series, 1 episode |
| 2008 | All Saints | Doug Silverman | TV series, 1 episode |
| 2008 | My Place | Mr Josephides | TV series, 1 episode |
| 2016 | Janet King | George Healy | TV series, 2 episodes |
| 2017 | House of Bond | Paint Boss | Miniseries, 2 episodes |
| 2022 | It's Fine, I'm Fine | Aziz | TV series |
| 2023 | NCIS: Sydney | Russian Orthodox Priest | TV series, 1 episode |

### Video game

| Year | Title | Role | Type |
| 1999 | M.U.G.E.N | | Video game |

## Theatre
### As actor

| Year | Title | Role | Venue / Co. |
| 1981 | All's Well That Ends Well | | Jane Street Theatre, Sydney |
| 1982 | Nervous System | | NIDA Parade Theatre |
| 1982 | Camino Real | The Bum | NIDA Parade Theatre |
| 1982 | The Crucible | Ezekiel Cheever | NIDA Parade Theatre, Playhouse, Canberra, University of Newcastle |
| 1982 | Bitter Sweet | Mr Proutie / Herr Schtick | NIDA Parade Theatre |
| 1984 | Il Magnifico | Michaelangelo | Seymour Centre, Sydney |
| 1985 | A Midsummer Night’s Dream | | Seymour Centre, Sydney with Nimrod Theatre Company |
| 1987 | The Heartbreak Kid | Con / Nicky's Father / Deputy Headmaster | Stables Theatre, Sydney with Griffin Theatre Company |
| 1988 | Interplay '88 | | Sydney Opera House |
| 1989 | The Ham Funeral | | Wharf Theatre with STC |
| 1990 | The Venetian Twins | Brighella | Suncorp Theatre, Brisbane with Queensland Theatre |
| 1990 | The Tempest | | Belvoir Street Theatre, Sydney |
| 1991 | Writers | | Riverina Playhouse, Wagga Wagga |
| 1991 | The Boys Next Door | | Ensemble Theatre, Sydney |
| 1992 | The Shrinking Ledge | | SWY Theatre, Perth |
| 1992–94 | Two Weeks With the Queen | Luke / Alistair / Stideht Doctor / others | Australian national tour |
| 1993 | A Midsummer Night’s Dream | | Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne, Royal Botanic Garden, Sydney |
| 1995 | Sydney Stories 2: The Blessing / Two Wongs / In the Club / The Way I Was | | Wharf Theatre with STC for Sydney Festival |
| 1995 | Pierrot and Columbine | | Wharf Theatre, Sydney with Kim Carpenter's Theatre of Image & STC |
| 1996 | As You Like It | Silvius | Sydney Opera House with STC |
| 1996 | Playgrounds | | Wharf Theatre with STC |
| 1996 | The Alchemist | | Belvoir Street Theatre, Sydney |
| 1996 | Coralie Lansdowne Says No | | Stables Theatre, Sydney with Griffin Theatre Company |
| 1997 | The Comedy of Errors | Dromio of Ephesus | Sydney Opera House with STC for Sydney Festival |
| 1997 | Don's Party | | Playhouse Adelaide with STCSA |
| 1997 | The Promised Land: Tinsel and Ashes / Feast | | Bondi Pavilion, Sydney |
| 1999 | The Taming of the Shrew | | Royal Botanic Garden, Sydney with Australian Shakespeare Company |
| 1999 | The Merchant of Venice | Salerio | Australian national tour with Bell Shakespeare |
| 2000 | The Small Poppies | Menacing Bully / Greek Immigrant Dad | Belvoir Street Theatre, Sydney, Playhouse, Melbourne, The Butter Factory Theatre, Wodonga, Sydney Opera House |
| 2000; 2001 | Much Ado About Nothing | | The Capital, Bendigo, IMB Theatre, Wollongong with Bell Shakespeare & Merrigong Theatre Company |
| 2001 | Ubu | Qasim | Belvoir Street Theatre, Sydney |
| 2002 | A Man With Five Children | | Wharf Theatre with STC |
| 2002 | Macbeth | | Wharf Theatre, Sydney with STC |
| 2002; 2003 | The Book Keeper of Rua Dos Douradores | Soares | Sidetrack Theatre, Sydney, Seymour Centre, Sydney |
| 2002 | The Boys Next Door | | Ensemble Theatre, Sydney |
| 2003 | The Underpants | Theo | NSW & VIC tour |
| 2003–05 | The Servant of Two Masters | Brighella | Australian national tour with Bell Shakespeare |
| 2005 | Kiss of the Alien | | Newtown Theatre, Sydney for Short+Sweet |
| 2005 | The Two Gentlemen of Verona | Antonio | Australian national tour with Bell Shakespeare |
| 2006 | Romeo and Juliet | Peter | Playhouse, Canberra, Playhouse, Melbourne, Sydney Opera House, Frankston Arts Centre, Clocktower Centre, Melbourne with Bell Shakespeare |
| 2007 | Pearlie in the Park | | Her Majesty’s Theatre, Ballarat, Darebin Arts and Entertainment Centre with Monkey Baa Productions |
| 2009 | Baghdad Wedding | Kathum | Belvoir Street Theatre, Sydney |
| 2009–10 | This Kind of Ruckus | | Carriageworks, Sydney, Norwood Concert Hall, Adelaide, Lismore City Hall, Fairfax Studio, Melbourne with Version 1.0, Performance Space & Full Tilt |
| 2009–11 | Missing the Bus to David Jones | Old Man | Campbelltown Arts Centre, Carriageworks, Sydney, Seymour Centre, Sydney with Kantanka Theatre Company |
| 2010 | Love Me Tender | Chorus | Perth Cultural Centre, Belvoir Street Theatre, Sydney with Griffin Theatre Company |
| 2010 | Measure for Measure | Pompey | Belvoir Street Theatre, Sydney |
| 2011 | Much Ado About Nothing | Antonio | Sydney Opera House, Playhouse, Canberra, Playhouse, Melbourne with Bell Shakespeare |
| 2011; 2013 | The Table of Knowledge | Frank Vellar | Bruce Gordon Theatre, Wollongong, Hopgood Theatre, Adelaide, Lennox Theatre, Parramatta, The Butter Factory Theatre, Wodonga with Merrigong Theatre Company & Version 1.0 |
| 2013 | Henry IV | Silence / various roles | Playhouse, Canberra, Playhouse, Melbourne, Heath Ledger Theatre, Perth, Sydney Opera House with Bell Shakespeare |
| 2013 | Penelope | Dunne | Tap Gallery Theatre, Sydney with Siren Theatre Company |
| 2013 | Counting and Cracking | Ismet | Ridley Centre, Adelaide Showgrounds with Belvoir Theatre Company fir Adelaide Festival |
| 2014 | Clubsingularity | Chairman | National Art School, Sydney with Performance Space |
| 2015 | Mother Courage and Her Children | | Belvoir Street Theatre, Sydney |
| 2015 | The Tempest | Sebastian / Trinculo | Sydney Opera House with Bell Shakespeare |
| 2015 | ReLoad | | 107 Projects, Sydney with Theatre Kantanka & Intimate Spectacle |
| 2018 | Sami in Paradise | Father Arky | Belvoir Street Theatre, Sydney |
| 2018 | Permission to Spin | Martin | Old Fitzroy Theatre, Sydney |
| 2018 | The Humans | Erik | Old Fitzroy Theatre, Sydney |
| 2018 | Obscene Madame D | Ehud | Theatre Kantanka |
| 2022 | Gods and Little Fishes | Guy the Strongman | New Theatre, Sydney |
| 2023 | Amadeus | Guiseppe Bonno | Sydney Opera House |

### As crew

| Year | Title | Role | Venue / Co. |
| 2006 | The Example | Director | Seymour Centre, Sydney for Short+Sweet |
| 2009–10 | This Kind of Ruckus | Devisor | Carriageworks, Sydney, Norwood Concert Hall, Adelaide, Lismore City Hall, Fairfax Studio, Melbourne with Version 1.0, Performance Space & Full Tilt |
| 2011; 2013 | The Table of Knowledge | Devisor | Bruce Gordon Theatre, Wollongong, Hopgood Theatre, Adelaide, Lennox Theatre, Parramatta, The Butter Factory Theatre, Wodonga with Merrigong Theatre Company & Version 1.0 |
| 2015 | Cowboy Mouth | Director | Hibernian House, Sydney |
| 2018 | Sami in Paradise | Adaptor | Belvoir Street Theatre, Sydney |

## Awards

| Year | Work | Award | Category | Result |
| 2005 | Australian Summer | Tropfest | Best Actor Award | Won |
| 2010 | Love Me Tender (Belvoir) | Helpmann Award | Best Male Actor in a Supporting Role in a Play | Nominated |
| 2017 | Mrs Burswood | Monte Miller Award | Best Unproduced Screenplay | Won |
| 2021 | Songbird | SBS Emerging Writers' Competition | | Runner Up |