Biography for
Michael York

Birth name
Michael York-Johnson
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Height
5' 11" (1.80 m)
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Mini biography
Michael York was born in Fulmer, England, 27 March 1942. He performed on stage with the National Youth Theatre in London's East End and on international tour. Other early acting experience came through the Oxford University Dramatic Society (he graduated Oxford 1964), the Dundee Repertory, and Laurence Olivier's National Theater Company - where he worked with Franco Zeffirelli, who gave him his film debut as Lucentio in The Taming of the Shrew (1967) and his breakthrough role as Tybalt in Romeo and Juliet (1968/I). He achieved early TV acclaim for his portrayal of Jolyon in "The Forsyte Saga" (1967) (mini). Other notable early movie roles include Brian Roberts in Cabaret (1972), Count Andrenyi in Murder on the Orient Express (1974) and D'Artagnan in several Musketeers films. He has starred in over 50 TV movies, continued stage work, starring on Broadway, made many spoken word recordings, written and lectured internationally. His autobiography (1993) was issued as "Accidentally on Purpose" in the U.S. and "Travelling Player" in Britain.


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IMDb mini-biography by
Ed Stephan <stephan@cc.wwu.edu>
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Spouse
Patricia McCallum (27 March 1968 - present)

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Trivia
Stepfather to producer Rick McCallum

He was awarded the O.B.E. (Officer of the British Empire).

Good friend and mentor to actor Casper Van Dien. Lifelong friend to Casper's wife Catherine Oxenberg.
Personal quotes
"Cinema, it has always seemed to me, is essentially a filmed thought."

"If you want to do it, then forget about it. If you have to do it, then no one you talk to or seek advice from will make any difference," (when told by Angelo Evangelatos that he wanted to be an actor). (February 5, 2005)


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He was a boyish, impetuous D'Artagnan in The Three Musketeers (1974) and The Four Musketeers (1975), and when a second sequel was filmed 14 years later (Return of the Musketeers audiences saw that the prolific British leading man had changed very little. Particularly adept in lighthearted adventure films, York has also excelled in the portrayal of bored or dissipated aristocrats. This slim, blond actor, his almostpretty face marred by a broken nose, began acting on the London stage while still in his teens, and as a young man joined Laurence Olivier's National Theatre in London. He first appeared onscreen in The Mind Benders (1962), and got his first good film role in Accident (1967); then Franco Zeffirelli, who'd directed him on stage, offered him key roles in The Taming of the Shrew (1967) and Romeo and Juliet (1968, as Tybalt.) A cultured, dashing young lead, he kept busy from then on, in Alfred the Great, The Guru, Justine (all 1969), Something for Everyone (1970), Zeppelin (1971), Cabaret (1972, one of his best), England Made Me, Lost Horizon (both 1973), Murder on the Orient Express (1974), Conduct Unbecoming (1975), Logan's Run (1976), "Jesus of Nazareth" (1977, a miniseries for Franco Zeffirelli in which he played John the Baptist), The Island of Dr. Moreau, The Last Remake of Beau Geste (both 1977), Fedora (1978, as himself), The Riddle of the Sands (1979), and Final Assignment (1980). His output fell off during the 1980s, both in quantity and quality; by the end of the decade he was appearing in such lesser films as Phantom of Death (1988) and Midnight Cop (1989). York enjoyed something of a renaissance in the 1990s, however, publishing an autobiography, "Accidentally on Purpose," in 1991 (which discussed the vicissitudes of an actor's life), appearing on Broadway in "Someone Who'll Watch Over Me," and in the 1993 movie Wide Sargasso Sea.



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2004: A Light Knight's Odyssey (2006) (filming) (voice) .... The Core


Moscow Heat (2004) .... Roger Chambers
"La Femme Musketeer" (2004) (mini) TV Series .... D'Artagnan
Crusader (2004) (TV) .... McGovern
Superman: Shadow of Apokolips (2002) (VG) .... Kanto
"Liberty's Kids: Est. 1776" (2002) TV Series (voice) .... Adm. Lord Howe
Austin Powers in Goldmember (2002) .... Basil Exposition
... aka Austin Powers: Goldmember (USA)
"Orson Welles Tales from the Black Museum" (2002) TV Series .... Inspector Russell
Megiddo: The Omega Code 2 (2001) .... Stone Alexander
... aka Megiddo (USA: short title)
Borstal Boy (2000) .... Joyce
The Land Before Time VII: The Stone of Cold Fire (2000) (V) (voice) .... Pterano


The Haunting of Hell House (1999) .... Professor Ambrose
... aka Henry James' The Haunting of Hell House (USA)
... aka The Ghostly Rental (USA)
Madonna: The Video Collection 93:99 (1999) (V) (uncredited) .... Basil Exposition (segment "Beautiful Stranger")
The Omega Code (1999) .... Stone Alexander
Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999) .... Basil Exposition
... aka Austin Powers 2: The Spy Who Shagged Me (USA: video title)

... aka A Monkey's Tale (UK)

Puss in Boots (1999) .... Puss In Boots
A Knight in Camelot (1998) (TV) .... King Arthur
Perfect Little Angels (1998) (TV) .... Dr. Calvin Lawrence
The Treat (1998) .... Simon
54 (1998) .... Ambassador
... aka Fifty-Four
Wrongfully Accused (1998) .... Hibbing Goodhue


... aka Unter falschem Verdacht (Germany: alternative title)
Die by the Sword (1998) (VG) (voice) .... Instructor
Glory, Glory (1998) (TV) .... Rev. Hopewell
Lovers and Liars (1998) .... Dick
... aka Criminal Desire (USA: video title)
Merchants of Venus (1998) .... Alex
... aka A Dirty Little Business (USA: MIFED title)
One Hell of a Guy (1998) (V) .... The Devil
Tex Murphy: Overseer (1998) (VG) .... J. Saint Gideon
... aka Overseer (USA: short title)
The Ripper (1997) (TV) .... Sir Charles Warren
Un coup de baguette magique (1997) (TV) .... Ilya
Goodbye America (1997) .... Senator Bladon
True Women (1997) (TV) .... Lewis Lawshe
Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997) .... Basil Exposition

A Christmas Carol (1997) (voice) .... Bob Cratchit
The Ring (1996/I) (TV) .... Walmar von Gotthard
... aka Danielle Steel's 'The Ring'
September (1996) (TV) .... Edmund
... aka Rosamunde Pilcher's September
"Nouvelle tribu, La" (1996) (mini) TV Series .... Ilya
Dark Planet (1996) .... Capt. Winter, Alpha
Gospa (1995) .... Milan Vukovic
Ombra abitata, L' (1995) (TV) .... Albert

Not of This Earth (1995) .... Paul Johnson
A Young Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court (1995) .... Merlin

Fall from Grace (1994) (TV) .... Stromelburg
... aka Fortitude (France)
The Magic Flute (1994) (TV) (voice) .... King Sarastro
TekWar: TekLab (1994) (TV) .... Richard Stewart
David Copperfield (1993) (TV) (voice) .... Murdstone
... aka Charles Dickens' David Copperfield (USA: complete title)
Wide Sargasso Sea (1993) .... Paul Mason
Discretion Assured (1993) .... Trevor
The Magic Paintbrush (1992) (voice) .... Greedy King
Duel of Hearts (1992) (TV) .... Gervaise Warlingham


Eline Vere (1991) .... Lawrence St. Clare
Rochade (1991) (TV) .... Paul Grumbach
The Wanderer (1991) .... The Wanderer
Night of the Fox (1990) (TV) .... Field Marshal Erwin Rommel/Caporal Berger
... aka Complot du renard, Le (France)
Come See the Paradise (1990) .... Dance Hall Band


"Till We Meet Again" (1989) (mini) TV Series .... Paul de Lancel
... aka Judith Krantz's 'Till We Meet Again' (USA: complete title)
The Return of the Musketeers (1989) .... D'Artagnan
... aka Regreso de los mosqueteros, El (Spain)
... aka Retour des mousquetaires, Le (France)
The Lady and the Highwayman (1989) (TV) .... King Charles II
The Heat of the Day (1989) (TV) .... Robert
Killing Blue (1988) .... Karstens
... aka Midnight Cop
Delitto poco comune, Un (1988) .... Robert Dominici
... aka Casa di Via Rubens, La (Italy)
... aka Off Balance
... aka Phantom of Death
... aka Squilibrio (Italy: video title)
The Four Minute Mile (1988) (TV) .... Franz Stampfl
"Knots Landing" (1979) TV Series .... Charles Scott (1987-1988)
Joker, Der (1987) .... Dr. Proper
... aka Lethal Obsession
"The Secret of the Sahara" (1987) (mini) TV Series .... Desmond Jordan
... aka Geheimnis der Sahara, Das (West Germany)
... aka Secreto del Sahara, El (Spain)
... aka Segreto del Sahara, Il (USA)
Dark Mansions (1986) (TV) .... Jason Drake
Are You My Mother? (1986) (TV)
The Far Country (1986) (TV) .... Carl Zlinter
... aka Nevil Shute's The Far Country
Sword of Gideon (1986) (TV) .... Robert
"Space" (1985) (mini) TV Series .... Dieter Kolff
... aka James A. Michener's Space
"Au nom de tous les miens" (1985) (mini) TV Series .... Martin Gray at 40/Martin's father
Aube, L' (1985) .... John Dawson
... aka A Hajnal (Hungary)
... aka Dawn
... aka Hashahar (Israel: Hebrew title)
Success Is the Best Revenge (1984) .... Alex Rodak

The Master of Ballantrae (1984) (TV) .... James Durrie
Au nom de tous les miens (1983) .... Martin's Father/Martin Gray (age 40)
... aka For Those I Loved (USA)
The Phantom of the Opera (1983) (TV) .... Michael Hartnell
The Weather in the Streets (1983) (TV) .... Rollo
Vendredi ou la vie sauvage (1981) (TV) .... Robinson
... aka Robinson Crusoe and Man Friday
The White Lions (1981) .... Chris McBride
Final Assignment (1980) .... Lyosha Petrov
... aka Moscow Chronicle (USA: video title)


"A Man Called Intrepid" (1979) (mini) TV Series .... Evan Michaelian
The Riddle of the Sands (1979) .... Charles Carruthers
Much Ado About Nothing (1978) (TV) .... Benedick
The Last Remake of Beau Geste (1977) .... Beau Geste
The Island of Dr. Moreau (1977) .... Andrew Braddock
"Jesus of Nazareth" (1977) (mini) TV Series .... John the Baptist

Logan's Run (1976) .... Logan 5, Sandman
Seven Nights in Japan (1976) .... Prince George
Conduct Unbecoming (1975) .... 2nd Lt. Arthur Drake
The Four Musketeers (1974) .... D'Artagnan
... aka The Four Musketeers: Milady's Revenge (USA)
... aka The Return of the Three Musketeers (UK: video title)
... aka The Revenge of Milady
Murder on the Orient Express (1974) .... Count Andrenyi
Great Expectations (1974) (TV) .... Pip
The Three Musketeers (1973) .... D'Artagnan
... aka The Three Musketeers: The Queen's Diamonds (USA)
England Made Me (1973) .... Anthony Farrant
Lost Horizon (1973) .... George Conway
Cabaret (1972) .... Brian Roberts
Poudre d'escampette, La (1971) .... Basil
... aka Darsela a gambe (Italy)
... aka French Leave
... aka Touch and Go (USA)
Zeppelin (1971) .... Geoffrey Richter-Douglas
Something for Everyone (1970) .... Konrad Ludwig
... aka Black Flowers for the Bride (UK)
... aka The Rook


Justine (1969/I) .... Darley
Alfred the Great (1969) .... Guthrum
The Guru (1969) .... Tom Pickle
Romeo and Juliet (1968/I) .... Tybalt
... aka Romeo e Giulietta (Italy)
The Strange Affair (1968) .... Peter Strange
Smashing Time (1967) .... Tom Wabe
Accident (1967) .... William
The Taming of the Shrew (1967) .... Lucentio
... aka Bisbetica domata, La (Italy)
... aka The Taming of the Shrew (USA)
Liefdesbekentenissen (1967) .... Peter, Engelse fotograaf
"The Forsyte Saga" (1967) (mini) TV Series .... Jolyon 'Jolly' Forsyte
Red and Blue (1967)



Filmography as: Actor, Producer, Miscellaneous Crew, Himself, Archive Footage, Notable TV Guest Appearances

Producer - filmography
(2000s) (1970s)

Megiddo: The Omega Code 2 (2001) (co-producer) (executive producer)
... aka Megiddo (USA: short title)


The Riddle of the Sands (1979) (associate producer)



Filmography as: Actor, Producer, Miscellaneous Crew, Himself, Archive Footage, Notable TV Guest Appearances

Miscellaneous Crew - filmography

The Guru (1969) (singer: "Tom's Boat Song")



Filmography as: Actor, Producer, Miscellaneous Crew, Himself, Archive Footage, Notable TV Guest Appearances

Himself - filmography
(2000s) (1990s) (1970s)

Why Shakespeare? (2005) (V) .... Himself
Freedom From Despair (2004) .... Narration/Voice Over
Making 'Murder on the Orient Express' (2004) (V) .... Himself
The 100 Greatest Musicals (2003) (TV) .... Himself
Reel Comedy: Austin Powers in Goldmember (2002) (TV) .... Himself
Founding Brothers (2002) (TV) (voice) .... Alexander Hamilton
Screen Tests of the Stars (2002) (TV) .... Himself - Interviewee
"Emberi kaland, Az" (2001) TV Series .... Narrator
... aka The Human Adventure (USA)
In Search of Peace (2001) (voice)
"Founding Fathers" (2000) (mini) TV Series (voice) .... Thomas Paine/Alexander Hamilton


Intimate Portrait: Cheryl Ladd (1999) (TV) .... Himself
Behind the Scenes of 'Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me' (1999) (V) .... Himself
The Long Way Home (1997) (voice)
Ira Gershwin at 100: A Celebration at Carnegie Hall (1997) (TV) .... Himself (Host)
... aka Great Performances: Ira Gershwin at 100 - A Celebration at Carnegie Hall (USA: series title)
"The Great War and the Shaping of the 20th Century" (1996) (mini) TV Series (voice) .... Robert Graves
... aka 1914-1918 (UK)
The American Film Institute Salute to Elizabeth Taylor (1993) (TV) .... Himself
"Gardens of the World with Audrey Hepburn" (1993) (mini) TV Series .... Narrator
... aka Gardens of the World (USA: short title)


Fedora (1978) .... Himself
... aka Fedora (West Germany)

... aka Speed Fever (USA)
Circus of the Stars #2 (1977) (TV) .... Host/Ringmaster
Logan's Run: A Look Into the 23rd Century (1976) .... Logan 5
The 44th Annual Academy Awards (1972) (TV) .... Himself - Co-Presenter: Best Sound



Filmography as: Actor, Producer, Miscellaneous Crew, Himself, Archive Footage, Notable TV Guest Appearances

Archive Footage


The Wandering Company (1984) (TV) (uncredited) .... Actor of 'The Guru'
Filmography as: Actor, Producer, Miscellaneous Crew, Himself, Archive Footage, Notable TV Guest Appearances

Notable TV Guest Appearances

"This Morning" playing "Himself" 8 October 2004
"Justice League" playing "Ares/Mr. Sera" (voice) in episode: "Hawk & Dove" (episode # 3.4) 21 August 2004
"Gilmore Girls" playing "Asher Fleming" in episode: "Luke Can See Her Face" (episode # 4.20) 4 May 2004
"Gilmore Girls" playing "Asher Fleming" in episode: "Afterboom" (episode # 4.19) 27 April 2004
"Gilmore Girls" playing "Asher Fleming" in episode: "The Nanny and the Professor" (episode # 4.10) 20 January 2004
"Gilmore Girls" playing "Asher Fleming" in episode: "Ted Koppel's Big Night Out" (episode # 4.9) 18 November 2003
"Curb Your Enthusiasm" playing "Himself" in episode: "The Grand Opening" (episode # 3.10) 17 November 2002
"Curb Your Enthusiasm" playing "Himself" in episode: "The Corpse-Sniffing Dog" (episode # 3.7) 27 October 2002
"Presidio Med" in episode: "Secrets" (episode # 1.5) 16 October 2002
"Curb Your Enthusiasm" playing "Himself" in episode: "The Nanny From Hell" (episode # 3.4) 6 October 2002
"Open Mike with Mike Bullard" playing "Himself" 2 October 2002
"Curb Your Enthusiasm" playing "Himself" in episode: "Chet's Shirt" (episode # 3.1) 15 September 2002
"The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn" playing "Himself" 29 July 2002
"Praise the Lord" playing "Himself" 6 September 2001
"The Lot" playing "Colin Rhome" in episode: "Stiffed" (episode # 2.8) 4 March 2001
"The Lot" playing "Colin Rhome" in episode: "Daddy Dearest" (episode # 2.7) 25 February 2001
"Dead Man's Gun" playing "Herr Friederich Von Huber/Collector" in episode: "The Collector" (episode # 2.7) 25 September 1998
"Sliders" playing "Dr. Vargas" in episode: "This Slide of Paradise" (episode # 3.25) 16 May 1997
"Superman" playing "Kanto" (voice) in episode: "Tools of the Trade" (episode # 1.12) 1 February 1997
"Babylon 5" playing "David 'Arthur' McIntyre" in episode: "A Late Delivery from Avalon" (episode # 3.13) 22 April 1996
"SeaQuest DSV" playing "President Alexander Bourne" in episode: "Brainlock" (episode # 3.11) 12 January 1996
"The Magic School Bus" playing "Harry Herp" (voice) in episode: "Cold Feet" (episode # 2.12) 25 November 1995
"SeaQuest DSV" playing "President Alexander Bourne" in episode: "Spindrift" (episode # 3.6) 8 November 1995
"The Naked Truth" playing "Leland Banks" in episode: "Woman Jokes While Husband Croaks!" (episode # 1.4) 4 October 1995
"SeaQuest DSV" playing "President Alexander Bourne" in episode: "Brave New World" (episode # 3.1) 20 September 1995
"Batman" playing "Dr. Montague Kane" (voice) in episode: "Zatanna" (episode # 1.50) 2 February 1993
"Batman" playing "Count Vertigo" (voice) in episode: "Off Balance" (episode # 1.44) 23 November 1992
"Road to Avonlea" playing "Captain Ezekiel Crane" in episode: "All That Glitters" (episode # 2.9) 27 January 1991
"Road to Avonlea" playing "Captain Ezekiel Crane" in episode: "Sea Ghost" (episode # 2.8) 20 January 1991
"Wetten, dass..?" playing "Himself" in episode: "Wetten, dass..? aus Duisburg" (episode # 1.50) 5 November 1988
"Twilight Theater" (episode # 1.1) 13 February 1982
"The Wild Wild West" playing "Cupta" in episode: "The Night of the Golden Cobra" (episode # 2.2) 23 September 1966
"Arrest and Trial" playing "Pete" in episode: "A Circle of Strangers" (episode # 1.24) 8 March 1964