# Michael C. Burgess (editor)

Michael Charles Burgess (born 8 December 1956) is a British actor, poet, activist and former editor of The Star-News who appeared in the films Friend of the World (2020), Hacksaw (2020), South of 8 (2016), and Twelve Views of Kensal House (1984). He helped assemble the Non-Stop Picket of South Africa House with the demand that Nelson Mandela be set free and is believed to be a descendant of Lord Byron.

## Personal life

Burgess was born to Geoffrey Burgess, an Oxford Times freelance writer and accountant at Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford. He and his father became the topic of an article for The Daily Telegraph after Christina Hardyment read Byron's Children by Susan Normington. The Burgesses are presumed to be direct descendants of Lord Byron through Hannah Burgess, Byron's probable granddaughter and Geoffrey's great-great-grandmother. Hannah said she is the daughter of William Marshall, who claimed he was the illegitimate son of Byron.
In the 1980s, Burgess aided The Non-Stop Picket of South Africa House that called for Nelson Mandela's release from prison. He described how the Picket became part of his daily routine and that he noticed early picketers lost their motivation and gave up.

## Career
### 1988–1990

In 1988, Burgess interviewed several British black gay men and women in an article he wrote for The Voice. He is a Brixton bedsit poet and his verse, Blue Rhapsody, was published in Once I Was a Washing Machine in 1989. He talked about how difficult it is waiting for literature to be published for those that do not take up writing at a young age. Another verse, The Victims, was published in the 1990 book The Cream of the Troubadour Poets by David Stuart Ryan.

### 1990–2004

Burgess and Steve Stannard were elected co-treasurers for OutRage! in May, 1990 when it became a not-for-profit organization. Stannard was ousted on September 4.
Burgess became the editor of The Star-News in California, United States on 29 March 2002. In 2003, he wrote a column about Steve Padilla, quoting him from a Mid-Bayfront speech at San Diego Country Club. Padilla claimed Burgess made wrong interpretations about his statement. In 2004, Burgess gathered lawsuit information from City Council candidate Steve Castaneda who wanted legal action on his opponent, Dan Hom. After Burgess received hard copies of liens and court cases, his publisher told him to kill the story. The next day, Burgess was removed from his duties as Editor.

### 2004–2020

From 2004 to 2011, Burgess performed in plays in San Diego County such as Arcadia, The Engagement of Marjorie and Hay Fever. In 2015, he was editor and publisher for Bailey Among The Angels and The Rican Eye Detective Agency by author Neil Raymond Ricco. He acted in the films South of 8 (2016), Hacksaw (2020) and Friend of the World (2020).

## Filmography

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1984 | Twelve Views of Kensal House | Self | |
| 2011 | Stones of Fire | Lance Altman | Short film |
| 2013 | RAVEN: The American Dream | Reginald Grimes | Short film |
| 2016 | South of 8 | Johannes Koppel | |
| 2017 | Insurance | Jameson | Short film |
| 2018 | Last Vacation | Ron | Short film |
| 2020 | Hacksaw | — | |
| 2020 | Friend of the World | Berenger | |
| 2022 | Mike & Fred vs The Dead | Grandpa Ben | |
| 2023 | Penance | Detective Mason Brannigan | |

## Stage credits

| Year | Title | Role | Theater | Notes |
| 2004 | Hay Fever | David Bliss | OnStage Playhouse | |
| 2004 | The Engagement of Marjorie | Carl Driskle | Lamplighters Community Theater | |
| 2005 | Birthday Suite | Dick | OnStage Playhouse | by Robin Hawdon, Aubrey Award nominee |
| 2007 | Arcadia | Captain Brice | Cygnet Theatre Company | |
| 2011 | The Cask of Amontillado | Montressor | Victory Theater | Both part of DangerHouse Productions' Fear, Beautiful Fear |
| 2011 | Crime in the Madhouse | Dr. Caldwell | Victory Theater | Both part of DangerHouse Productions' Fear, Beautiful Fear |