# Michael Hurst

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

## 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 is married to New Zealand actress Jennifer Ward-Lealand and they have two sons.
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'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 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.
Hurst went on to co-star in Hercules: The Legendary Journeys with Kevin Sorbo, playing sidekick Iolaus to Sorbo's Hercules.
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'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. 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.
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."
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.
He has also appeared in several solo stage productions including No Holds Bard (based on several Shakespearian characters) in 2018, and An Illiad in 2019.

## Filmography
### Starring roles

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1981 | Prisoners | Sciano | Film |
| 1982 | Casualties of Peace | Peter | TV movie |
| 1984 | Constance | Photographer (scenes deleted) | Film |
| 1984 | Heroes | Dave Nelson | TV series |
| 1984 | Death Warmed Up | Michael Tucker | Film |
| 1985 | Dangerous Orphans | Moir | Film |
| 1986 | Heroes II | Dave Nelson | TV series |
| 1989 | The Shadow Trader | Bob Hoyle | TV mini-series |
| 1992 | The Footstep Man | Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec | Film |
| 1993 | Typhon's People | Constantine | TV movie |
| 1993 | Desperate Remedies | Willam Poyser | Film |
| 1994 | Hercules and the Amazon Women | Iolaus | TV movie |
| 1994 | Hercules in the Underworld | Aelus/Charon | TV movie |
| 1994 | Hercules in the Maze of the Minotaur | Iolaus | TV movie |
| 1995 | Hercules: The Legendary Journeys | Iolaus/Charon/Orestes/Dahak/Widow Twankey | TV series (79 episodes) |
| 1997 | A Moment Passing | Joey | Short Film |
| 1997 | The Bar | | Short Film |
| 1997 | Highwater | Hugh Chance | TV movie |
| 1998 | Hercules and Xena - The Animated Movie: The Battle for Mount Olympus | Iolaus | Voice |
| 1998 | Young Hercules | The Jeweler | Video |
| 1999 | I'll Make You Happy | Lou | Film |
| 1999 | This Is It | Narrator, host, and various historical figures | TV special |
| 2001 | The Man Who Has Everything | George Allwell | TV movie |
| 2002 | Honey | Nic | Short Film |
| 2002 | Showstoppers | celebrity judge | TV series |
| 2003 | Murder on the Blade? | Defence lawyer | TV movie |
| 2004 | Fracture | Athol Peet | Film |
| 2004 | Hold the Anchovies | Manager & Old Iraqi | Video |
| 2005 | The Magician | The Agent | Film |
| 2006 | Maddigan's Quest | Maska | TV series |
| 2006 | Treasure Island Kids: The Monster of Treasure Island | ferry pilot | Film |
| 2007 | Ask Your Uncles | Presenter | TV series |
| 2007 | The Tattooist | Crash | Film |
| 2007 | We're Here To Help | Rodney Hide | Film |
| 2007 | The Last Magic Show | Trevor Norton | Film |
| 2007 | The Map Reader | Alison's father | Film |
| 2009 | Bitch Slap | Gage | Film |
| 2012 | Inorganic | Brett | Short Film |
| 2014 | Death Walks into a Bar | God of War | Short Film |
| 2018 | Vermilion | Smoking Man | Film |
| 2018 | Dead | Ross Marbeck | Film |
| 2019 | Northspur | Green (lead) | Film |

### Guest-starring roles

| Year | Title | Role | Episode |
| 1976 | Thirty Minute Theatre | Jim | "Tinkling Brass" |
| 1983 | Both Sides of the Fence | Gary McNabb | 1.09 |
| 1983 | Country GP | Mark Sloane | 1.32 |
| 1985 | Hanlon | Elliott | 1.6 "In Defence of Shue Rock" |
| 1985 | Hanlon | Defence Lawyer | 1.7 "In Defence" |
| 1989 | Shark in the Park | David Jennings | 2.8 "Acting Sergeant" |
| 1990 | The New Adventures of Black Beauty | Kurt | 1.08 "The Birdman" |
| 1990 | The Ray Bradbury Theater | Roger Shumway | 4.08 "The Toynbee Convector" |
| 1991 | For the Love of Mike | Laurie | 1.06 |
| 1992 | The Ray Bradbury Theater | Lt. Simmons | 6.06 "The Long Rain" |
| 1995, 1997 | Xena: Warrior Princess | Iolaus | 1.08 "Prometheus", 2.13 "The Quest" |
| 1996 | Xena: Warrior Princess | Charon | 1.16 "Mortal Beloved" |
| 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 | 2.01 |
| 1999 | Sunday News Give Us a Clue | Himself | |
| 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 | 3.05 "Bowls and Golf" |
| 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 | TV movie |
| 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 | 1.05 "The Final Plume" |
| 2003 | Good Morning | Himself | |
| 2003 | Shortland Street | Greg Vicelich | Recurring (10 episodes) |
| 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", 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" |
| 2005 | Power Rangers: S.P.D. | Silverhead (voice) | 1.28 "Robotpalooza" |
| 2005 | Frontseat | Himself | 2.24 |
| 2007 | Here to Stay | Himself | 1.03 "The English" |
| 2009 | Legend of the Seeker | Amfortas | 1.13 "Revenant" |
| 2010 | The Jono Project | "Michael Hurst" | 1.12 "Sir Butch" |
| 2012 | Spartacus: Vengeance | Roman soldier – uncredited | 2.09 "Monsters" |
| 2012 | The Almighty Johnsons | Kvasir | 2.01 "And She Will Come to You" |
| 2012 | The Almighty Johnsons | Kvasir | 2.11 "The House of Jerome" |
| 2012 | The Almighty Johnsons | Kvasir | 2.12 "You Call This the Real World?" |
| 2012 | The Almighty Johnsons | Kvasir | 2.13 "Does this Look Like Asgard?" |
| 2012 | Auckland Daze | Michael | 1.06 |
| 2014 | Auckland Daze | Michael | 2.05 |
| 2014 | Auckland Daze | Michael | 2.06 |
| 2016 | Terry Teo | Cornelius Jones | 1.04 "Head to Head" |
| 2016 | Highroad | The Director | 3.04 "39 Lashes" |
| 2020 | Dead | Ross Marbeck | |
| 2021 | My Life is Murder | Otto Klein | 2.10 "Pleasure & Pain" |
| 2021 | Power Rangers: Dino Fury | Nibyro Guardian (voice) | 1.20 "Waking Nightmare" |

### Director

The numbers in directing credits refer to the number of episodes.
| Title | Year | Credited as | Notes |
| Title | Year | Director | Notes |
| I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry | 1994 | Yes | Short film, also writer |
| Hercules: The Legendary Journeys | 1996–99 | Yes (6) | Television series |
| A Silent Welcome | 1976 | Yes | Short film, also writer |
| Amazon High | 1997 | Yes | Unaired pilot |
| Xena: Warrior Princess | 1997–2001 | Yes (6) | Television series |
| Jack of All Trades | 2000 | Yes (2) | Television series |
| Jubilee | 2000 | Yes | |
| Love Mussel | 2001 | Yes | Television film |
| Treasure Island Kids 2: The Monster of Treasure Island | 2006 | Yes | |
| Treasure Island Kids 3: The Mystery of Treasure Island | 2006 | Yes | |
| Legend of the Seeker | 2009–10 | Yes (7) | Television series |
| Spartacus | 2010–13 | Yes (8) | Television series |
| The Almighty Johnsons | 2013 | Yes (2) | Television series |
| The Brokenwood Mysteries | 2014 | Yes (1) | Television series |
| Step Dave | 2014–15 | Yes (5) | Television series |
| Tatau | 2015 | Yes (2) | Television series |
| Ash vs Evil Dead | 2015 | Yes (2) | Television series |
| Balloons | 2016 | Yes | Short film, also writer |
| Westside | 2016–present | Yes (15) | Television series |
| 800 Words | 2016–17 | Yes (10) | Television series |
| The Dead Lands | 2020 | Yes (4) | Television series |
| Between Two Worlds | 2020 | Yes (2) | Television series |
| My Life is Murder | 2021 | Yes (2) | Television series |
| Power Rangers Dino Fury | 2021 | Yes (6) | Television series |
| Power Rangers Cosmic Fury | 2023 | Yes (6) | Television series |

### Producer

| Year | Title | Notes |
| 2012 | Spartacus: War of the Damned | TV series |

### Writer

| Year | Title | Notes |
| 1994 | I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry | Screenplay |
| 1996 | Clown Story | Story |