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.

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 


 Michael Hurst's Official Website with his curriculum vitae
 Michael Hurst Now: Michael Hurst's Projects Since Hercules The Legendary Journeys
 Maddigan's Quest: Official Site 

Category:1957 births
Category:Living people
Category:New Zealand movie actors
Category:New Zealand television actors
Category:Xenaverse actors