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
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
|
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