Editing Michael Hurst (section)

==Biography==
Hurst was born in [[Lancashire]], England, the eldest of three brothers. 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.{{citation needed|date=December 2019}}

He is married to New Zealand actress [[Jennifer Ward-Lealand]] and they have two sons.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/homed/houses/110193997/at-home-with-actor-and-director-michael-hurst|title=At home with actor and director Michael Hurst|last=Mann|first=Brit|date=3 February 2019|website=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |language=en|access-date=29 January 2020}}</ref>

In 1984, Hurst won the lead role of David Blyth's ''[[Death Warmed Up]]'', New Zealand's first splatter movie.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nzonscreen.com/title/death-warmed-up-1984|title=Death Warmed Up {{!}} Film {{!}} NZ On Screen|website=nzonscreen.com|language=en|access-date=29 January 2020}}</ref> 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 (film)|Desperate Remedies]]''<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/134305009|title=Unconventional opera a creative triumph|last=McDonald|first=Dougal|date=26 February 1994|work=Canberra Times|access-date=29 January 2020|via=Trove}}</ref> 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]].{{Citation needed|date=October 2021}}

Hurst went on to co-star in ''[[Hercules: The Legendary Journeys]]'' with [[Kevin Sorbo]], playing sidekick Iolaus to Sorbo's Hercules.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.closerweekly.com/posts/hercules-the-legendary-journeys-cast-then-and-now-photos/|title=See the Cast of 'Hercules: The Legendary Journeys' Now!|date=26 January 2020|website=Closer Weekly|language=en-US|access-date=29 January 2020}}</ref>

Hurst made his feature debut as a director with ''[[Jubilee (2000 film)|Jubilee]]'' (2000), based on the book 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 (2000 film)|Jubilee]]'' by directing ''Love Mussel'', a one off satire for television. Written by ''[[Braindead (film)|Braindead]]'''s [[Stephen Sinclair]] and starring [[Kevin Smith (New Zealand actor)|Kevin Smith]], ''Love Mussel'' is a [[mockumentary]] about a fictional township which erects a monument to a shellfish with [[Viagra]]-like properties.

In 2003, Hurst was awarded an [[Arts Foundation of New Zealand]] Laureate Award. In the [[2005 Birthday Honours (New Zealand)|2005 Queen's Birthday Honours]], he was appointed an [[Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit]], for services to film and the theatre.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://dpmc.govt.nz/publications/queens-birthday-honours-list-2005 |title=Queen's Birthday honours list 2005 |date=6 June 2005 |publisher=Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet |access-date=28 April 2020}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/news/hauraki-herald/105295493/shakespearean-bard-michael-hurst-comes-to-town|title=Shakespearean bard Michael Hurst comes to town|date=6 July 2018|website=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |language=en|access-date=29 January 2020}}</ref>

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. Hurst stated, "A lot of the reviews have said 'immersive theatre into overdrive'. 'Video game, only live.' It has those qualities. There are choices where the audience can affect the outcome of scenes which is quite a new thing. It flows very easily depending on which choice they make."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.londontheatre1.com/news/103933/interview-with-michael-hurst-director-of-the-generation-of-z-apocalypse/ |first=Neil |last=Cheesman |title=Interview with Michael Hurst |date=9 March 2015 |website=London Theatre}}</ref>

In October 2018, he was presented with a Scroll of Honour from the [[Variety Artists Club of New Zealand]] for his contribution to New Zealand entertainment.{{citation needed|date=December 2019}}

He has also appeared in several solo stage productions including ''No Holds Bard'' (based on several Shakespearian characters) in 2018,<ref name=":0" /> and ''An Illiad'' in 2019.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=12235768|title=Theatre review: Michael Hurst's and Shayne Carter's combined strengths makes for powerful epic|last=Simei-Barton|first=Paul|date=30 May 2019|work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |access-date=29 January 2020|language=en-NZ|issn=1170-0777}}</ref>