Michael Hurst
New Zealand actor, director and writer
title: "Michael Hurst" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["year-of-birth-missing-(living-people)", "english-male-film-actors", "english-male-television-actors", "english-male-stage-actors", "english-male-voice-actors", "new-zealand-male-film-actors", "new-zealand-male-television-actors", "new-zealand-male-stage-actors", "new-zealand-male-soap-opera-actors", "new-zealand-male-voice-actors", "male-actors-from-lancashire", "english-emigrants-to-new-zealand", "living-people", "officers-of-the-new-zealand-order-of-merit", "university-of-canterbury-alumni", "people-educated-at-papanui-high-school"] description: "New Zealand actor, director and writer" topic_path: "arts" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Hurst" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary New Zealand actor, director and writer ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox person"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Michael Hurst |
| honorific_suffix | ONZM |
| image | New Zealand director Michael Hurst.png |
| caption | Hurst in 2018 |
| birth_place | Lancashire, England |
| birth_name | Michael Eric Hurst |
| occupation | Actor, director, writer |
| yearsactive | 1976–present |
| spouse | Jennifer Ward-Lealand |
| children | 2 |
| website | |
| :: |
| name = Michael Hurst | honorific_suffix = ONZM | image = New Zealand director Michael Hurst.png | imagesize = | caption = Hurst in 2018 | birth_date = | birth_place = Lancashire, England | death_date = | birth_name = Michael Eric Hurst | occupation = Actor, director, writer | yearsactive = 1976–present | spouse = Jennifer Ward-Lealand | children = 2 | othername = | website =
Michael Eric Hurst ONZM is a British-born New Zealand actor, director, and writer. He is known as a theatre actor, especially in Shakespearean roles, and more widely known for his roles in the television series Hercules: The Legendary Journeys and Xena: Warrior Princess as Iolaus. He directed the Starz series Spartacus: Blood and Sand and Ash vs Evil Dead. He plays a lead role in the 2025 Australian satirical dark comedy film Birthright.
Early life and education
Michael Eric Hurst was born in Lancashire, England.
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.
Career
Stage
Hurst is known as a Shakespearean actor.
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. The performance gave the audience choices which could affect the outcome of scenes, then quite new.
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.
In 2023, he presented his solo show The Golden Ass at several locations around New Zealand. At the Stratford Shakespeare Festival in New Zealand in April, he performed The Golden Ass and No Holds Bard. In the same year, he directed the play Waiting for Waiting for Godot by Dave Hanson, and directed and starred in King Lear for Auckland Theatre Company.
Screen
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 1994 novel 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 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.
He plays a lead role of Richard, a baby boomer father, in Zoe Pepper's feature film directorial debut, the dark satirical comedy Birthright, which premiered at Tribeca Film Festival in New York City in June 2025.
Recognition and awards
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 October 2018, Hurst was presented with a Scroll of Honour from the Variety Artists Club of New Zealand for his contribution to New Zealand entertainment.
Personal life
Hurst married New Zealand actress Jennifer Ward-Lealand and they have two sons.
Filmography
Starring roles
::data[format=table]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Prisoners | Sciano | Film |
| 1982 | Casualties of Peace | Peter | TV movie |
| 1984 | Constance | Photographer (scenes deleted) | Film |
| Heroes | Dave Nelson | TV series | |
| Death Warmed Up | Michael Tucker | Film | |
| 1985 | Dangerous Orphans | Moir | |
| 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 |
| Desperate Remedies | Willam Poyser | Film | |
| 1994 | Hercules and the Amazon Women | Iolaus | TV movie |
| Hercules in the Underworld | Aelus/Charon | ||
| Hercules in the Maze of the Minotaur | Iolaus | ||
| 1995 | Hercules: The Legendary Journeys | Iolaus/Charon/Orestes/Dahak/Widow Twankey | TV series (79 episodes) |
| 1997 | A Moment Passing | Joey | Short Film |
| The Bar | |||
| Highwater | Hugh Chance | TV movie | |
| 1998 | Hercules and Xena - The Animated Movie: The Battle for Mount Olympus | Iolaus | Voice |
| Young Hercules | The Jeweler | Video | |
| 1999 | I'll Make You Happy | Lou | Film |
| 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 |
| Showstoppers | celebrity judge | TV series | |
| 2003 | Murder on the Blade? | Defence lawyer | TV movie |
| 2004 | Fracture | Athol Peet | Film |
| Hold the Anchovies | Manager & Old Iraqi | Video | |
| 2005 | The Magician | The Agent | Film |
| 2006 | Maddigan's Quest | Maska | TV series |
| Treasure Island Kids: The Monster of Treasure Island | ferry pilot | Film | |
| 2007 | Ask Your Uncles | Presenter | TV series |
| The Tattooist | Crash | Film | |
| We're Here To Help | Rodney Hide | ||
| The Last Magic Show | Trevor Norton | ||
| The Map Reader | Alison's father | ||
| 2009 | Bitch Slap | Gage | |
| 2012 | Inorganic | Brett | Short Film |
| 2014 | Death Walks into a Bar | God of War | |
| 2018 | Vermilion | Smoking Man | Film |
| Dead | Ross Marbeck | Film | |
| 2019 | Northspur | Green (lead) | Film |
| 2025 | Birthright | Richard | Film |
| :: |
Guest-starring roles
::data[format=table]
| Year | Title | Role | Episode |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | Thirty Minute Theatre | Jim | "Tinkling Brass" |
| 1983 | Both Sides of the Fence | Gary McNabb | 1.09 |
| Country GP | Mark Sloane | 1.32 | |
| 1985 | Hanlon | Elliott | 1.6 "In Defence of Shue Rock" |
| 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" |
| 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 | Charon | 1.16 "Mortal Beloved" | |
| 1997 | E! News Daily | Himself | |
| Entertainment Tonight | |||
| 1998 | Young Hercules | Charon | 1.20 "A Lady in Hades" |
| 1999 | Celebrity Profile | Himself | "Lucy Lawless" |
| Backch@t | 2.01 | ||
| Sunday News Give Us a Clue | |||
| Duggan | Michael Taylor | 1.3 "A Shadow of Doubt: Part 1" | |
| 1.4 "A Shadow of Doubt: Part 2" | |||
| 2000 | Topp Twins | celebrity golfer | 3.05 "Bowls and Golf" |
| Mai Time | Himself | ||
| Celebrity Profile | "Kevin Sorbo" | ||
| Jack of All Trades | Captain Nardo da Vinci | 2.2 "Shark Bait" | |
| 2001 | Love Mussel | Stephen Jessop | TV movie |
| Xena: Warrior Princess | Nigel | 6.13 "You Are There" | |
| 2002 | Andromeda | Ryan | 2.20 "The Knight, Death and the Devil" |
| Mataku | Dr. Forbes | 1.05 "The Final Plume" | |
| 2003 | Good Morning | Himself | |
| Shortland Street | Greg Vicelich | Recurring (10 episodes) | |
| Power Rangers: Ninja Storm | "D.J. Drummond" (voice) | 1.20 "Good Will Hunter" | |
| "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" |
| Frontseat | Himself | 2.24 | |
| 2007 | Here to Stay | 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" |
| The Almighty Johnsons | Kvasir | 2.01 "And She Will Come to You" | |
| 2.11 "The House of Jerome" | |||
| 2.12 "You Call This the Real World?" | |||
| 2.13 "Does this Look Like Asgard?" | |||
| Auckland Daze | Michael | 1.06 | |
| 2014 | 2.05 | ||
| 2.06 | |||
| 2016 | Terry Teo | Cornelius Jones | 1.04 "Head to Head" |
| Highroad | The Director | 3.04 "39 Lashes" | |
| 2020 | Dead | Ross Marbeck | |
| 2021 | My Life is Murder | Otto Klein | 2.10 "Pleasure & Pain" |
| Power Rangers: Dino Fury | Nibyro Guardian (voice) | 1.20 "Waking Nightmare" | |
| :: |
Director
The numbers in directing credits refer to the number of episodes. ::data[format=table]
| Title | Year | Credited as | Notes | Director | I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry | Hercules: The Legendary Journeys | A Silent Welcome | Amazon High | Xena: Warrior Princess | Jack of All Trades | Jubilee | Love Mussel | Treasure Island Kids 2: The Monster of Treasure Island | Treasure Island Kids 3: The Mystery of Treasure Island | Legend of the Seeker | Spartacus | The Almighty Johnsons | The Brokenwood Mysteries | Step Dave | Tatau | Ash vs Evil Dead | Balloons | Westside | 800 Words | The Dead Lands | Between Two Worlds | My Life is Murder | Power Rangers Dino Fury | Power Rangers Cosmic Fury |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Short film, also writer | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1996–99 | (6) | Television series | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1976 | Short film, also writer | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1997 | Unaired pilot | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1997–2001 | (6) | Television series | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2000 | (2) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2001 | Television film | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2006 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2009–10 | (7) | Television series | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2010–13 | (8) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2013 | (2) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2014 | (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2014–15 | (5) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2015 | (2) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (2) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2016 | Short film, also writer | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2016–present | (15) | Television series | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2016–17 | (10) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2020 | (4) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (2) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2021 | (2) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (6) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2023 | (6) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| :: |
Producer
::data[format=table]
| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Spartacus: War of the Damned | TV series |
| :: |
Writer
::data[format=table]
| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry | Screenplay |
| 1996 | Clown Story | Story |
| :: |
Footnotes
References
References
- (1998). "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys". Doubleday.
- (1 April 2023). "Home".
- Cheesman, Neil. (9 March 2015). "Interview with Michael Hurst".
- Simei-Barton, Paul. (30 May 2019). "Theatre review: Michael Hurst's and Shayne Carter's combined strengths makes for powerful epic". [[The New Zealand Herald]].
- "Death Warmed Up".
- McDonald, Dougal. (26 February 1994). "Unconventional opera a creative triumph". Canberra Times.
- (26 January 2020). "See the Cast of 'Hercules: The Legendary Journeys' Now!".
- (23 September 2025). "Birthright".
- Heller-Nicholas, Alexandra. (10 June 2025). "Birthright (Tribeca 2025) – Review".
- (6 June 2005). "Queen's Birthday honours list 2005". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.
- (6 July 2018). "Shakespearean bard Michael Hurst comes to town".
- Mann, Brit. (3 February 2019). "At home with actor and director Michael Hurst".
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