Michael York
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For other people named Michael York, see Michael York (disambiguation).
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| Michael York | |
|---|---|
York in 2008
| |
| Born | Michael Hugh Johnson 27 March 1942 Fulmer, Buckinghamshire,England, UK |
| Education | Bromley Grammar School for Boys, Hurstpierpoint College |
| Alma mater | University College, Oxford |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1946–present |
| Spouse(s) | Patricia McCallum (m. 1968) |
| Website | www |
Michael York, OBE (born Michael Hugh Johnson; 27 March 1942) is a British actor.
Contents
[hide]Personal life[edit]
York was born in Fulmer, Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire, the son of Florence Edith May (née Chown), a musician; and Joseph Gwynne Johnson, a Llandovery-born Welsh ex-Royal Artillery British Army officer and executive with Marks & Spencer department stores.[1] York has an older sister, Penelope Anne (born 1940) and younger twin sisters, Caroline and Bridget (born 1947); Bridget died a few hours after birth, according to his autobiography. He was brought up in Burgess Hill, Sussex.[2]
During his teenage years, York was educated at Bromley Grammar School for Boys, Hurstpierpoint College and University College, Oxford. He began his career in a 1956 production of The Yellow Jacket. In 1959 he made his West End début with a small part in a production of Hamlet.[citation needed] York was a member of National Youth Theatre
He met photographer Patricia McCallum in 1967 when she was assigned to photograph him, and they married on 27 March 1968, York's 26th birthday. His stepson is Star Wars producer Rick McCallum. York was named to the International Best Dressed List Hall of Fame in 1977.[3]
In 2013, York announced he was suffering from the rare disease amyloidosis.[4] Doctors initially thought he had bone cancer.[5] In 2012, he had undergone a stem cell transplant, which can alleviate symptoms.[6]
Career[edit]
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Prior to graduating with a degree in English from the University of Oxford in 1964, York had toured with the National Youth Theatre, also performing with the Oxford University Dramatic Society and the University College Players. After some time with the Dundee Repertory Theatre, where he played in Brendan Behan's The Hostage, York joinedNational Theatre under Laurence Olivier where he worked with Franco Zeffirelli during the 1965 staging of Much Ado About Nothing. Following his role on British TV as Jolyon (Jolly) in The Forsyte Saga (1967), York made his film debut as Lucentio in Zeffirelli's The Taming of the Shrew (1967), then was cast as Tybalt in Zeffirelli's 1968 film adaptation of Romeo and Juliet. He starred in The Guru (1969), played an amoral bisexual drifter in Something for Everyone (1970) and portrayed the bisexual Brian Roberts in Bob Fosse's film version of Cabaret (1972). In 1977, he reunited with Zeffirelli as John the Baptist in Jesus of Nazareth.
York starred as D'Artagnan in the 1973 adaptation of The Three Musketeers and he made his Broadway début in the original production of Tennessee Williams's Out Cry. One year later the sequel to The Three Musketeers was released (roughly covering events in the second half of the book) titled The Four Musketeers. .[7] Fifteen years later, most of the cast (and crew) joined together in a third film titled The Return of the Musketeers based on the Dumas novel Twenty Years After. He played the title character in the film adaptation of Logan's Run (1976). The following year, he starred in The Island of Dr. Moreau opposite Burt Lancaster.
Since his auspicious early work, York has enjoyed a busy and varied career in film, television and on the stage. He appeared in two episodes in the second season of the Road to Avonlea series as Ezekiel Crane, the lighthouse keeper of Avonlea and foster father of Gus Pike. His Broadway theatrecredits include Bent (1980), The Crucible (1992), Someone Who'll Watch Over Me (1993) and the ill-fated musical The Little Prince and the Aviator(1982), which closed during previews. He also has made many sound recordings as a reader, including Harper Audio's production of C. S. Lewis' The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.
York appeared in the Babylon 5 episode "A Late Delivery from Avalon" as a delusional man who believed himself to be King Arthur returned. He also appeared as Professor Asher Fleming, a 60-year-old Yale professor and boyfriend of Yale student Paris Geller (Liza Weil) during the fourth season ofGilmore Girls. He performed the voice of the character Ares in the Justice League Unlimited episode "Hawk & Dove", as well as Dr. Montague Kane in the Batman: The Animated Series episode "Zatanna" and Kanto in the Superman: The Animated Series episode "Tools of the Trade". York starred in both The Omega Code and its sequel, Megiddo: The Omega Code 2, as Stone Alexander, the Antichrist from Christian eschatology.
He played President Alexander Bourne of Macronesia on seaQuest 2032. He played Basil Exposition in all three of the Austin Powers films. He has made an appearance on The Simpsons as Mason Fairbanks, Homer Simpson's possible father, in "Homer's Paternity Coot". In 2006, York played the character Bernard Fremont (inspired by real life serial killer Charles Sobhraj) in the Law & Order: Criminal Intent episode "Slither". He also appeared as a fictionalised version of himself in several episodes of the third season of Curb Your Enthusiasm as an investor in Larry's new restaurant 'BoBo's. In 2009, he lent his voice to Star Wars: The Clone Wars.
York voiced Petrie's uncle Pterano in The Land Before Time VII: The Stone of Cold Fire. York was the narrator in the audio New Testament project, Word of Promise, produced by Jim Caviezel. York again played King Arthur in a revival of Lerner and Loewe's Camelot, which began its run at the La Mirada Theatre in Southern California, and toured nationally in 2006 and 2007.
York portrays Luke in The Truth & Life Dramatised Audio New Testament Bible, a 22-hour audio dramatisation of the New Testament, which uses the Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition translation. In 2008, York took part in the BBC Wales programme Coming Home about his Welsh family history. In September 2013, York played Albany in the Gala Performance of William Shakespeare's King Lear at the Old Vic in London.[8]
Filmography[edit]
Television[edit]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1967 | The Forsyte Saga | Jolyon "Jolly" Forsyte | |
| 1974 | Great Expectations | Pip | TV Film |
| 1977 | Jesus of Nazareth | John the Baptist | |
| 1977 | BBC2 Play of the Week: True Patriot | Dietrich Bonhoeffer | TV Film |
| 1978 | Much Ado About Nothing | Benedick | TV Film |
| 1979 | A Man Called Intrepid | Evan Michaelian | Miniseries |
| 1981 | Vendredi ou la Vie sauvage | Robinson Crusoe | TV Film |
| 1983 | The Phantom of the Opera | Michael Hartnell | TV Film |
| 1983 | The Weather in the Streets | Rollo Spencer | TV Film |
| 1984 | The Master of Bllantrae | James Durie | TV Film |
| 1984 | The Return of The Musketeers | D'Artagnan | TV Film |
| 1985 | Space | Dieter Kolff | Miniseries |
| 1986 | Storybook Series, Vol. 4 | The Beast | Voice Role |
| 1986 | Tall Tales & Legends: Ponce de Leon and the Fountain of Youth | Ponce de Leon | |
| 1986 | Sword of Gideon | Robert | TV Film |
| 1986 | Dark Mansions | Jason Drake | TV Film |
| 1986 | Nevil Shute's The Far Country | Carl Zlinter | TV Film |
| 1987-1988 | Knots Landing | Charles Scott | 8 Episodes |
| 1988 | The Secret of the Sahara | Desmond Jordan | Miniseries |
| 1988 | The Four Minute Mile | Franz Stampfl | Miniseries |
| 1989 | The Lady and the Highwayman | King Charles II | TV Film |
| 1989 | Judith Krantz's Till We Meet Again | Paul de Lancel | Miniseries |
| 1990 | The Heat of the Day | Robert Kelway | TV Film |
| 1990 | Night of the Fox | Field Marshal Rommel | TV Film |
| 1991 | Road to Avonlea | Ezekiel Crane | 2 Episodes |
| 1991 | Duel of Hearts | Gervaise Warlingham | TV Film |
| 1992 | The Legend of Prince Valiant | Owen | Voice Role, 3 Episodes |
| 1992, 1993 | Batman: The Animated Series | Count Vertigo Montague Kane | Voice Role, 2 Episodes |
| 1993 | Gardens of the World with Audrey Hepburn | Narrator | TV Documentary |
| 1993 | Tracey Ullman Takes On New York | Central Park Acquaintance | Comedy Special |
| 1994 | TekLab | Prince Richard | 1 Episode |
| 1994 | Fall from Grace | Hans-Dieter Stromelburg | TV Film |
| 1994 | Rochade | Paul Grumbach | TV Film |
| 1995 | Shadow of a Kiss | Albert | TV Film |
| 1995-1996 | seaQuest DSV | President Alexander Bourne | 3 Episodes |
| 1995 | The Magic School Bus | Harry Herp | Voice Role |
| 1996 | La Nouvelle tribu | Ilya | Miniseries |
| 1996 | September | Edmund | TV Film |
| 1996 | The Ring | Walmar von Gotthard | TV Film |
| 1996 | Babylon 5: A Late Delivery from Avalon | David "King Arthur" McIntyre | |
| 1996 | Un coup de baguette magique | Ilya | TV Film |
| 1997 | Superman: The Animated Series | Kanto | Voice Role |
| 1997 | Sliders | Dr. Vargas | |
| 1997 | True Women | Lewis Lawshe | Miniseries |
| 1997 | The Ripper | Charles Warren | TV Film |
| 1998 | Glory, Glory | Rev. Hopewell | Pilot |
| 1998 | A Knight in Camelot | King Arthur | TV Film |
| 1998 | Perfect Little Angels | Dr. Calvin Lawrence | TV Film |
| 2000 | Founding Fathers | Alexander Hamilton | TV Documentary |
| 2002 | Liberty's Kids | Admiral Lord Howe | Voice Role |
| 2002 | Founding Brothers | Alexander Hamilton | TV Doumentary |
| 2003 | La Femme Musketeer | D'Artagnan | TV Film |
| 2003-2004 | Gilmore Girls | Professor Asher Fleming | 4 Episodes |
| 2004 | Crusader | McGovern | TV Film |
| 2004 | Justice League Unlimited | Ares | Voice Role |
| 2005 | Icon | Nigel Irvine | TV Film |
| 2006 | Law & Order: Criminal Intent | Bernard Fremont | |
| 2008 | Four Seasons | Stephen Combe | Miniseries |
| 2009 | Star Wars: The Clone Wars | Dr. Nuvo Vindi | Voice Role |
| 2015 | Galaxy World of Alisa | Dr. Sapojkov | British English dub |
Film[edit]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1967 | The Taming of the Shrew | Lucentio | |
| 1967 | Liefdesbekentenissen | Peter, English photographer | |
| 1967 | Accident | William | |
| 1967 | Red and Blue | Short Film | |
| 1967 | Smashing Time | Tom Wabe | |
| 1968 | Romeo and Juliet | Tybalt Capulet | |
| 1968 | The Strange Affair | Peter Strange | |
| 1969 | The Guru | Tom Pickle | |
| 1969 | Alfred the Great | Guthrum | |
| 1969 | Justine | Darley | |
| 1970 | Something for Everyone | Konrad Ludwig | |
| 1971 | Zeppelin | Geoffrey Richter-Douglas | |
| 1971 | La Poudre d'escampette | Basil | |
| 1972 | Cabaret | Brian Roberts | |
| 1973 | Lost Horizon | George Conway | |
| 1973 | England Made Me | Anthony Farrant | |
| 1973 | The Three Musketeers | D'Artagnan | |
| 1974 | The Four Musketeers | D'Artagnan | |
| 1974 | Murder on the Orient Express | Count Rudolf Andrenyi | |
| 1975 | Conduct Unbecoming | Lieutenant Arthur Drake | |
| 1976 | Logan's Run | Logan 5 | |
| 1976 | Seven Nights in Japan | Prince George | |
| 1977 | The Island of Dr. Moreau | Andrew Braddock | |
| 1977 | The Last Remake of Beau Geste | Beau Geste | |
| 1978 | Fedora | himself | |
| 1979 | The Riddle of the Sands | Charles Carruthers | |
| 1980 | Final Assignment | Lyosha Petrov | |
| 1981 | The White Lions | Chris McBride | |
| 1983 | For Those I Loved | Martin Gray | |
| 1984 | Success Is the Best Revenge | Alex Rodak | |
| 1985 | British Rock: The First Wave | Documentary | |
| 1986 | L'Aube | John Dawson | |
| 1987 | Spaceballs | Ape | Uncredited |
| 1987 | Lethal Obsession | Dr. Proper, "the Ace" | |
| 1988 | Phantom of Death | Robert Dominici | |
| 1988 | Midnight Cop | Karstens | |
| 1989 | The Return of the Musketeers | D'Artagnan | |
| 1990 | Come See the Paradise | cameo | |
| 1991 | Eline Vere | Lawrence St. Clare | |
| 1992 | The Long Shadow | Gabor Romandy | |
| 1993 | Wide Sargasso Sea | Paul Mason | |
| 1994 | Discretion Assured | Trevor McCabe | |
| 1995 | Gospa | Milan Vukovic | |
| 1995 | A Young Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court | Merlin | |
| 1995 | Not of This Earth | Paul Johnson | |
| 1997 | Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery | Basil Exposition | |
| 1997 | Goodbye America | Senator Bladon | |
| 1997 | Dark Planet | Capt. Winter | |
| 1997 | The Long Way Home | Narrator | Documentary |
| 1997 | A Christmas Carol | Bob Cratchit | Voice Role |
| 1998 | Merchants of Venus aka A Dirty Little Business | Alex Jakoff | |
| 1998 | Wrongfully Accused | Hibbing Goodhue | |
| 1998 | 54 | Ambassador | |
| 1998 | The Treat | Simon | |
| 1998 | Lovers & Liars aka Criminal Desire | Dick Bunche | |
| 1998 | One Hell of a Guy | Devil | |
| 1999 | Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me | Basil Exposition | |
| 1999 | Puss in Boots | Puss in Boots | Voice Role |
| 1999 | The Omega Code | Stone Alexander | |
| 1999 | The Haunting of Hell House aka Henry James' The Ghostly Rental | Professor Ambrose | |
| 2000 | The Land Before Time VII: The Stone of Cold Fire | Pterano (voice) | |
| 2000 | Borstal Boy | Joyce | |
| 2000 | A Monkey's Tale | The Lankoo king (voice) | |
| 2001 | Megiddo: The Omega Code 2 | Stone Alexander | |
| 2002 | Austin Powers in Goldmember | Basil Exposition | |
| 2002 | A Very Merry Pooh Year | Narrator | |
| 2004 | Moscow Heat | Roger Chambers | |
| 2007 | Flatland: The Movie (short) | Spherius (voice) | |
| 2008 | Testimony: The Untold Story of Pope John Paul II | Narrator | Documentary |
| 2009 | Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen | Prime #1 | Voice Role |
| 2010 | Pravosudiye volkov | Mikhail Polyakov | |
| 2010 | The Mill and the Cross | Nicolaes Jonghelinck | |
| 2010 | Tom and Jerry Meet Sherlock Holmes | Sherlock Holmes (voice) | |
| 2011 | Glad Christmas Tidings | Narrator |
Autobiography[edit]
- Accidentally on Purpose (US), Pocket Books. ISBN 0-671-79591-0.
- Traveling Player (UK), Headline. ISBN 0-7472-3306-3.
- Also available in other editions
Other works[edit]
- York is also the co-author, with director Adrian Brine, of A Shakespearean Actor Prepares, Smith & Kraus, ISBN 1-57525-189-2.
- York portrayed the character J. Saint Gideon in the Tex Murphy: Overseer computer game.