MICHAEL YORK
Name: Michael York
Birth name: Michael Hugh Johnson
Born: 27 March 1942 Fulmer, Buckinghamshire, United Kingdom
Michael York, OBE (born Michael Hugh Johnson on March 27, 1942) is a British
actor. He is more recently known among mainstream audiences for his role as
Basil Exposition in the Austin Powers series of comedy films.
York was born Michael Hugh Johnson in Fulmer, Buckinghamshire, the son of
Florence Edith May (née Chown), a musician, and Joseph Gwynne Johnson, an ex-army
officer and executive with Marks and Spencer department stores. During his
teenage years, York was educated at Bromley Grammar School for Boys, Bromley,
Kent. He began his career in a 1956 production of The Yellow Jacket. In 1959 he
made his West End debut with a brief part in a production of Hamlet.
Prior to graduating with a degree in English from University College, 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, York joined the National Theatre
where he worked with Franco Zeffirelli during the 1965 staging of Much Ado About
Nothing.
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
with Leonard Whiting and Olivia Hussey. He also starred in an early Merchant
Ivory Productions film, The Guru (1969). In Cabaret (1972) York played Brian
Roberts, and in 1979 reunited with Zeffirelli as a fiery John the Baptist in
Jesus of Nazareth.
York starred as D'Artagnan in the 1973 adaptation of The Three Musketeers. One
year later the sequel was released (roughly covering events in the second half
of the book) titled The Four Musketeers. These two films are still popular and
generally accepted as the best film version of the famous Dumas adventure story.
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.
York had already been on British TV as Jolyon (Jolly) in The Forsyte Saga (1967).
He also played the title character in the film adaptation of Logan's Run (1976).
He appeared in Jesus of Nazareth as the prophet and cousin of Jesus, John The
Baptist (1977).
Since his auspicious early work, York has enjoyed a busy and varied career in
film, television, and on the stage. His Broadway theatre credits include Bent,
The Crucible, and the ill-fated musical The Little Prince and the Aviator, which
closed during previews. He also has made many sound recordings as a reader,
including Harper Audio's production of C. S. Lewis's The Lion, the Witch, and
the Wardrobe.
York as David McIntyre in the Babylon 5 episode A Late Delivery from Avalon.
He appeared in the Babylon 5 episode A Late Delivery From Avalon as the mentally
disturbed and guilt-ridden David McIntyre, the Earthforce gunner who obeyed his
Captain's orders to open fire on a Minbari vessel, which started the war between
Minbar and Earth that would ultimately kill over 250,000 humans. He also
appeared as Professor Asher Fleming, a 60 year-old Yale professor and boyfriend
of Yale student Paris Geller (Liza Weil) in the fourth season of Gilmore Girls.
He did the voice of the character Ares in the Justice League Unlimited episode "Hawk
& Dove". York stared in both The Omega Code and its sequel, Megiddo: The Omega
Code 2, as Stone Alexander, portraying the Antichrist of Christian eschatology.
York also played President Alexander Bourne of Macronesia (formerly New
Australia) on seaQuest 2032, a role that was quickly fleshed out and would have
remained a major player in the series had it lasted past the thirteen episodes
it was ordered for in its third season before ultimately being canceled. He has
played Basil Exposition in all three of the Austin Powers movies. He has made an
appearance on The Simpsons as Mason Fairbanks, Homer's possible father in "Homer's
Paternity Coot." He was also in the third season finale of Sliders as a
character reminiscent of Dr. Moreau. In 2006, York played the Charles Sobhraj-like
character, Bernard Fremont, on Law & Order: Criminal Intent. He has also
appeared in Curb Your Enthusiasm.
York also voiced Petrie's uncle Pterano in The Land Before Time VII: The Stone
of Cold Fire. It was once rumored that Pterano would return in The Land Before
Time XII: The Great Day of the Flyers, but York confirmed that he isn't
appearing. York has also recently been featured as the narrator in the audio New
Testament project, the Word of Promise, which is being produced by Jim Caviezel.
He is currently playing King Arthur in a revival of Lerner and Loewe's Camelot,
which began its run at the La Mirada Theatre in Southern California, and is on a
national tour with hopes of reaching New York.
Name: Michael York
Birth name: Michael Hugh Johnson
Born: 27 March 1942 Fulmer, Buckinghamshire, United Kingdom
Michael York, OBE (born Michael Hugh Johnson on March 27, 1942) is a British
actor. He is more recently known among mainstream audiences for his role as
Basil Exposition in the Austin Powers series of comedy films.
York was born Michael Hugh Johnson in Fulmer, Buckinghamshire, the son of
Florence Edith May (née Chown), a musician, and Joseph Gwynne Johnson, an ex-army
officer and executive with Marks and Spencer department stores. During his
teenage years, York was educated at Bromley Grammar School for Boys, Bromley,
Kent. He began his career in a 1956 production of The Yellow Jacket. In 1959 he
made his West End debut with a brief part in a production of Hamlet.
Prior to graduating with a degree in English from University College, 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, York joined the National Theatre
where he worked with Franco Zeffirelli during the 1965 staging of Much Ado About
Nothing.
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
with Leonard Whiting and Olivia Hussey. He also starred in an early Merchant
Ivory Productions film, The Guru (1969). In Cabaret (1972) York played Brian
Roberts, and in 1979 reunited with Zeffirelli as a fiery John the Baptist in
Jesus of Nazareth.
York starred as D'Artagnan in the 1973 adaptation of The Three Musketeers. One
year later the sequel was released (roughly covering events in the second half
of the book) titled The Four Musketeers. These two films are still popular and
generally accepted as the best film version of the famous Dumas adventure story.
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.
York had already been on British TV as Jolyon (Jolly) in The Forsyte Saga (1967).
He also played the title character in the film adaptation of Logan's Run (1976).
He appeared in Jesus of Nazareth as the prophet and cousin of Jesus, John The
Baptist (1977).
Since his auspicious early work, York has enjoyed a busy and varied career in
film, television, and on the stage. His Broadway theatre credits include Bent,
The Crucible, and the ill-fated musical The Little Prince and the Aviator, which
closed during previews. He also has made many sound recordings as a reader,
including Harper Audio's production of C. S. Lewis's The Lion, the Witch, and
the Wardrobe.
York as David McIntyre in the Babylon 5 episode A Late Delivery from Avalon.
He appeared in the Babylon 5 episode A Late Delivery From Avalon as the mentally
disturbed and guilt-ridden David McIntyre, the Earthforce gunner who obeyed his
Captain's orders to open fire on a Minbari vessel, which started the war between
Minbar and Earth that would ultimately kill over 250,000 humans. He also
appeared as Professor Asher Fleming, a 60 year-old Yale professor and boyfriend
of Yale student Paris Geller (Liza Weil) in the fourth season of Gilmore Girls.
He did the voice of the character Ares in the Justice League Unlimited episode "Hawk
& Dove". York stared in both The Omega Code and its sequel, Megiddo: The Omega
Code 2, as Stone Alexander, portraying the Antichrist of Christian eschatology.
York also played President Alexander Bourne of Macronesia (formerly New
Australia) on seaQuest 2032, a role that was quickly fleshed out and would have
remained a major player in the series had it lasted past the thirteen episodes
it was ordered for in its third season before ultimately being canceled. He has
played Basil Exposition in all three of the Austin Powers movies. He has made an
appearance on The Simpsons as Mason Fairbanks, Homer's possible father in "Homer's
Paternity Coot." He was also in the third season finale of Sliders as a
character reminiscent of Dr. Moreau. In 2006, York played the Charles Sobhraj-like
character, Bernard Fremont, on Law & Order: Criminal Intent. He has also
appeared in Curb Your Enthusiasm.
York also voiced Petrie's uncle Pterano in The Land Before Time VII: The Stone
of Cold Fire. It was once rumored that Pterano would return in The Land Before
Time XII: The Great Day of the Flyers, but York confirmed that he isn't
appearing. York has also recently been featured as the narrator in the audio New
Testament project, the Word of Promise, which is being produced by Jim Caviezel.
He is currently playing King Arthur in a revival of Lerner and Loewe's Camelot,
which began its run at the La Mirada Theatre in Southern California, and is on a
national tour with hopes of reaching New York.