--- name: "Michael York" canonical: "https://film.one/person/michael-york" roles: ["Actor"] born: "27 March 1942" reviewed_on_fi1m: 3 average_fi1m_score: 79 average_as: "actor" average_over: 3 updated: "2026-09-20T05:28:59.496753+00:00" licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Michael York Actor. Born 27 March 1942 in Fulmer, England, UK. ## Details - **Work:** Actor - **Born:** 27 March 1942, Fulmer, England, UK - **Active:** 1968–1994 - **Also known as:** Maykl York, مایکل یورک, Michael Hugh Johnson - **Average Fi1m score:** 79, as actor, over 3 titles - **Fi1m score by decade:** 1960s 75 (1), 1970s 88 (1), 1990s 74 (1) - **Score spread:** 1 at 80+, 2 at 60–79, 0 under 60 - **Lead roles:** 1 of 2 acting credits billed first or second - **Genres:** Drama 3, Romance 2, Action & Adventure 1, Music 1, Sci-Fi & Fantasy 1 - **Screen time:** 4 hours of reviewed films - **Box office:** $82m across 2 films with figures - **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_York, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q298777, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001868/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/13919 ## Streaming the US now - **Tubi:** [*Cabaret*](https://film.one/film/cabaret.md) (88) For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country. ## Fi1m on Michael York > A classically trained Englishman at his best in motion, with a sword or a temper, and at his least when asked to hold a film's centre politely. His Tybalt is all heat; his Brian in *Cabaret* is a well-mannered blank. Watch the duel in the square in Zeffirelli's *Romeo and Juliet* (1968). Michael York's Tybalt arrives all hair and heat, a boy who fights because it is the one thing he does well, and the fight starts as two men showing off and ends with both of them meaning it. That is York as we like him: moving, hot-blooded, slightly too pleased with himself. It was the part that made his name, and it told the truth about him early. He had come from the stage, the National Youth Theatre and then Olivier's National Theatre Company, and Zeffirelli had already given him his film debut as Lucentio in *The Taming of the Shrew* (1967). The 1970s made him a lead: Brian Roberts in *Cabaret* (1972), D'Artagnan for Richard Lester in *The Three Musketeers* (1973) and its sequels, Logan 5 in *Logan's Run* (1976). Then the leads thinned out, and the rest of the career is supporting parts, television, voice work and, from 1997, Basil Exposition in the *Austin Powers* films, a part whose name tells you what he is there to do. Zeffirelli and Lester each directed him three times. *Cabaret* is the film he will be remembered for, and it is the one where we are least sure he is doing anything. Fosse keeps the songs on the club stage and the plot in the boarding house, and Jay Presson Allen's screenplay gives Brian little to want. York plays him at a slight remove, so that we sometimes wonder why he is in Berlin at all. York has himself described the part as a vague centre with extroverts revolving round it, and that is a fair account of the design and of the problem. Watching him in the boarding-house scenes, we grew impatient for Minnelli and Grey to come back, and felt a little unfair about it, because he is doing exactly what the script asks. It just does not ask much. He knew the danger. "I like a sort of swashbuckling role like the one in the musketeers films, because I think there's a danger if you're seen as just one type of British actor," he said in the 1970s. The type was the clean-cut, well-spoken gentleman, and it is what he was handed for two decades in period pieces and adventures; the complaint that it narrowed him is fair. His early parts were less tidy than that, in *Cabaret* and in *Something for Everyone*, and we wish more directors had noticed. The gentleman was a costume he wore well, not the whole man. See him with a sword or a grievance. Asked to stand politely in the middle of a film, he does it beautifully, and the film walks past him. ## Biography Michael York, OBE (born Michael Hugh Johnson) is an English actor. He trained at the University of Oxford, where he graduated with a degree in English in 1964, and performed with the National Youth Theatre and the Oxford University Dramatic Society. Early stage work included the Dundee Repertory Theatre and Laurence Olivier's National Theatre Company. York made his film debut as Lucentio in Franco Zeffirelli's *The Taming of the Shrew* (1967) and had a breakthrough as Tybalt in Zeffirelli's *Romeo and Juliet* (1968). He played leading roles in 1970s films including *Cabaret* (1972), *The Three Musketeers* (1973) and its sequels, *Murder on the Orient Express* (1974) and *Logan's Run* (1976). In later career he portrayed Basil Exposition in the *Austin Powers* films (1997–2002). York received the OBE in the 1997 Birthday Honours and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2002. He is married to photographer Patricia McCallum. *Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.* ## On Fi1m (3) - *Babylon 5* (1994), Fi1m 74, as David 'Arthur' McIntyre — [page](https://film.one/tv/babylon-5.md) - *Cabaret* (1972), Fi1m 88, as Brian Roberts — [page](https://film.one/film/cabaret.md) - *Romeo and Juliet* (1968), Fi1m 75, as Tybalt — [page](https://film.one/film/romeo-and-juliet-1968.md) ## Complete filmography (166) Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page. - *The Crystal Planet* (2026), as The Patriarch (voice) - *Dreams* (2025), as Private Agent - *Sleeping Beauty* (2014), as The Narrator - *Flatland²: Sphereland* (2012), as Spherius (voice) - *Earth Songs* (2012), as Narrator - *The Mill and the Cross* (2011), as Nicolaes Jonghelinck - *The Justice of Wolves* (2010), as Mika - Adult - *Tom and Jerry Meet Sherlock Holmes* (2010), as Sherlock Holmes (voice) - *A Tale of Two Cities: In Concert* (2009), as Narrator - *Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen* (2009), as Prime #1 (voice) — Fi1m 34, [page](https://film.one/film/transformers-revenge-of-the-fallen.md) - *Rosamunde Pilcher's Four Seasons* (2008), series, as Stephen Combe - *Świadectwo* (2008), Actor - *Star Wars: The Clone Wars* (2008), series, as Dr. Nuvo Vindi (voice) - *Ben 10: Alien Force* (2008), series, as Patrick (voice) - *Flatland* (2007), as Spherius (voice) - *Cuba: A Lifetime of Passion* (2006), as Narrator - *Vanishing Cultures: Bushmen of the Kalahari* (2006), Actor - *How I Met Your Mother* (2005), series, as Jefferson Van Smoot - *Crusader* (2005), as McGovern - *William Powell: A True Gentleman* (2005), as Narrator - *Alias Nick and Nora* (2005), as Narrator - *Frederick Forsyth's Icon* (2005), series, as Sir Nigel Irvine - *Icon* (2005), as Sir Nigel Irvine - *Moscow Heat* (2004), as Roger Chambers - *Freedom from Despair* (2004), as Voice Over - *Justice League Unlimited* (2004), series, as Ares / Mr. Sera (voice) - *The Lady Musketeer* (2004), series, as D'Artagnan - *Winnie the Pooh: A Very Merry Pooh Year* (2002), as Narrator (voice) - *Presidio Med* (2002), series, as George Slingerland - *Austin Powers in Goldmember* (2002), as Basil Exposition - *Law & Order: Criminal Intent* (2001), series, as Bernard Fremont - *In Search of Peace* (2001), as Chaim Herzog (voice) - *Megiddo: The Omega Code 2* (2001), as Stone Alexander · Co-Producer - *Borstal Boy* (2001), as Joyce - *The Land Before Time VII: The Stone of Cold Fire* (2000), as Pterano (voice) - *Founding Fathers* (2000), series, as Alexander Hamilton (voice) / Thomas Paine (voice) - *One Hell of a Guy* (2000), as The Devil - *Curb Your Enthusiasm* (2000), series, as Michael York — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/curb-your-enthusiasm.md) - *Gilmore Girls* (2000), series, as Asher Fleming — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/tv/gilmore-girls.md) - *The Haunting of Hell House* (1999), as Professor Ambrose - *Madonna: The Video Collection 93:99* (1999), as Basil Exposition (segment "Beautiful Stranger") - *The Omega Code* (1999), as Stone Alexander - *The Lot* (1999), series, as Colin Rhome - *Puss in Boots* (1999), as Puss In Boots (voice) - *Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me* (1999), as Basil Exposition - *Magic and Beyond* (1999), series, as Host - *Lovers and Liars* (1998), as Dick - *A Knight in Camelot* (1998), as King Arthur - *The Treat* (1998), as Simon - *54* (1998), as Ambassador - *Wrongfully Accused* (1998), as Hibbing Goodhue - *Perfect Little Angels* (1998), as Calvin Lawrence - *Merchants of Venus* (1998), as Alex Jakoff - *Babylon 5: In the Beginning* (1998), as David 'Arthur' McIntyre (arcive footage, uncredited) - *The Ripper* (1997), as Sir Charles Warren - *A Christmas Carol* (1997), as Bob Cratchit (voice) - *The Long Way Home* (1997), as (voice) - *Un coup de baguette magique* (1997), as Ilya - *Dark Planet* (1997), as Winter - *True Women* (1997), series, as Lewis Lawshe - *Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery* (1997), as Basil Exposition - *Austin Powers' Electric Psychedelic Pussycat Swingers Club* (1997), as The Swingers Club - *Goodbye America* (1997), as Senator Bladon - *The Great War and the Shaping of the 20th Century* (1996), series, as Robert Graves / Harold Owen (voice) - *The Ring* (1996), as Walmar von Gotthard - *The Ring* (1996), series, as Walmar von Gotthard - *Superman: The Animated Series* (1996), series, as Kanto (voice) - *September* (1996), series, as Edmund - *Basketball Mozart* (1996), as Narrator (voice) - *The Miracle of Medjugorje* (1995), as Milan Vukovic - *The Naked Truth* (1995), series, as Leland Banks - *Not of This Earth* (1995), as Paul Johnson - *Shadow of a Kiss* (1995), as Albert - *A Young Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court* (1995), as Merlin - *Sliders* (1995), series, Actor - *The Magic School Bus* (1994), series, as Harry Herpst (voice) - *Discretion Assured* (1994), as Trevor - *Fall from Grace* (1994), as Hans-Dieter Stromelburg - *The Magic Flute* (1994), as King Sarastro - *TekWar: TekLab* (1994), as Richard Stewart - *Babylon 5* (1994), series, as David 'Arthur' McIntyre — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/tv/babylon-5.md) - *David Copperfield* (1993), as Edward Murdstone (voice) - *seaQuest DSV* (1993), series, as President Alexander Bourne - *The Magic Paintbrush* (1993), as The King (voice) - *Wide Sargasso Sea* (1993), as Paul Mason - *Gardens of the World with Audrey Hepburn* (1993), series, as Narrator - *Batman: The Animated Series* (1992), series, as Dr. Montague Kane (voice), Vertigo (voice) - *Rochade* (1992), as Paul Grumbach - *The Long Shadow* (1992), Actor - *Duel of Hearts* (1992), as Gervaise Warlingham - *Eline Vere* (1991), as Lawrence St. Clare - *The Wanderer* (1991), as Saxon Warrior - *Night of the Fox* (1990), as Field Marshal Erwin Rommel / Caporal Berger - *Come See the Paradise* (1990), as Dance Hall Band - *The Simpsons* (1989), series, as Clayton (voice), Mason Fairbanks (voice), Dr. Lionel Budgie (voice), Nigel (voice) — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-simpsons.md) - *Judith Krantz's Till We Meet Again* (1989), series, Actor - *Till We Meet Again* (1989), as Paul de Lancel - *The Heat of the Day* (1989), as Robert - *The Return of the Musketeers* (1989), as D'Artagnan - *The Lady and the Highwayman* (1988), as King Charles II - *The Four Minute Mile* (1988), as Franz Stampfl - *Midnight Cop* (1988), as Karstens - *Phantom of Death* (1988), as Robert Dominici - *The Secret of the Sahara* (1988), series, as Desmond Jordan - *Lethal Obsession* (1987), as Dr. Proper - *The Far Country* (1987), series, as Carl Zlinter - *The Dawn* (1986), as John Dawson - *Ponce de Leon* (1986), as Ponce de Leon - *Sword of Gideon* (1986), as Robert - *Dark Mansions* (1986), as Jason Drake - *Are You My Mother?* (1986), as Chet Gordon - *Tall Tales & Legends* (1985), series, as Ponce de Leon - *Space* (1985), series, as Dieter Kolff - *Au nom de tous les miens* (1985), series, as Martin Gray - *The Bengal Lancers!* (1984), as Captain Walberton - *Success Is the Best Revenge* (1984), as Alex Rodak - *The Master of Ballantrae* (1984), as James Durie - *The Weather in the Streets* (1983), as Rollo Spencer - *For Those I Loved* (1983), as Martin's Father / Martin Gray (age 40) - *Vendredi ou la vie sauvage* (1983), Actor - *The Phantom of the Opera* (1983), as Michael Hartnell - *Twilight Theatre* (1982), Actor - *The White Lions* (1981), as Chris McBride - *Golden Book Video - Beauty and the Beast* (1981), as Beast (voice) - *Beauty and the Beast* (1981), as The Beast (voice) - *Final Assignment* (1980), as Lyosha Petrov - *Knots Landing* (1979), series, as Charles Scott - *The Riddle of the Sands* (1979), as Charles Carruthers - *A Man Called Intrepid* (1979), series, as Evan Michaelian - *True Patriot* (1977), as Dietrich Bonhoeffer - *BBC2 Play of the Week* (1977), series, as Dietrich Bonhoeffer - *ABC Weekend Specials* (1977), series, as King Sarastro (voice) - *The Island of Dr. Moreau* (1977), as Andrew Braddock - *The Last Remake of Beau Geste* (1977), as Beau Geste - *Jesus of Nazareth* (1977), series, as John the Baptist - *Seven Nights in Japan* (1976), as Prince George - *Logan's Run* (1976), as Logan - *Conduct Unbecoming* (1975), as 2nd Lieutenant Arthur Drake - *Murder on the Orient Express* (1974), as Count Andrenyi - *The Four Musketeers* (1974), as D'Artagnan - *Great Expectations* (1974), as Pip - *The Three Musketeers* (1973), as D'Artagnan - *England Made Me* (1973), as Anthony Farrant - *Lost Horizon* (1973), as George Conway - *Tennessee Williams' South* (1973), Actor - *Cabaret* (1972), as Brian Roberts — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/film/cabaret.md) - *Touch and Go* (1971), as Basil - *Zeppelin* (1971), as Geoffrey Richter-Douglas - *Something for Everyone* (1970), as Konrad Ludwig - *Alfred the Great* (1969), as Guthrum - *Justine* (1969), as Darley - *The Guru* (1969), as Tom Pickle - *The Strange Affair* (1968), as Peter Strange - *Red and Blue* (1968), as Acrobat - *Romeo and Juliet* (1968), as Tybalt — Fi1m 75, [page](https://film.one/film/romeo-and-juliet-1968.md) - *Red, White, and Zero* (1968), as Acrobat - *Smashing Time* (1967), as Tom Wabe - *The Taming of the Shrew* (1967), as Lucentio - *Confessions of Loving Couples* (1967), as Peter - *Accident* (1967), as William - *The Forsyte Saga* (1967), series, as Jolly Forsyte - *The Wild Wild West* (1965), series, as Gupta - *Gidget* (1965), series, Actor - *The Wednesday Play* (1964), series, as Roger Porlock - *Arrest and Trial* (1963), series, Actor - *Hallmark Hall of Fame* (1951), series, as James Durie, Henry's older brother ## Gallery - ![Michael York, taken photographer;s studio London (1973)](https://film.one/media/person/476041/gallery-7ee34676b285.jpg) Michael York, taken photographer;s studio London (1973) — Allan warren, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/db/Michael_York_33_Allan%2BWarren.jpg/1280px-Michael_York_33_Allan%2BWarren.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Michael York](https://film.one/media/person/476041/gallery-f8ac1f1e18b3.jpg) Michael York — Jeremiah Garcia, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9c/Michael_York_crop.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![Michael York](https://film.one/media/person/476041/gallery-7338514d46d8.jpg) Michael York — Allan warren, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/75/Michael_York_8_Allan_Warren.jpg/1280px-Michael_York_8_Allan_Warren.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Michael York in photograper's garden in Los Angeles](https://film.one/media/person/476041/gallery-61a10763cf5b.jpg) Michael York in photograper's garden in Los Angeles — Allan warren, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/39/Michael_York_%26_york_roses_Allan_Warren.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![Michael York](https://film.one/media/person/476041/gallery-d1f5977b4158.jpg) Michael York — Image via TMDB - ![Michael York](https://film.one/media/person/476041/gallery-394c5e07eee9.jpg) Michael York — Image via TMDB - ![Michael York](https://film.one/media/person/476041/gallery-967c668ce86c.jpg) Michael York — Image via TMDB - ![Michael York taken in Los Angeles.](https://film.one/media/person/476041/gallery-cc422ac5f029.jpg) Michael York taken in Los Angeles. — Allan warren, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5b/Michael_York_6_Allan_Warren.jpg/1280px-Michael_York_6_Allan_Warren.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Michael York (1986)](https://film.one/media/person/476041/gallery-df73950c5f48.jpg) Michael York (1986) — Allan warren, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b0/Michael_York_black_white.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/michael-york