Michael Starke (actor)
Encyclopedia
Michael Starke is a British
actor
best known for his role as Thomas 'Sinbad' Sweeney
which he played for 16 years in the soap opera
Brookside
. Prior to that, he played several guest roles in the programme.
Starke then appeared in the ITV1
Sunday night drama, The Royal
as Kenneth Hopkirk, and as policeman Arthur in the film The 51st State
.
He appeared in the pantomime Cinderella
in Southport
over Christmas 2005, alongside Stuart Wade
from Emmerdale
, and in Aladdin
during Christmas 2006, along with comedian Syd Little
, in York
. He also appeared in the play No Holds Bard, alongside Andrew Schofield
.
In 2007 he joined the cast of Coronation Street
as the head of new family the Mortons as Jerry Morton
, who owns a kebab shop. He, along with the rest of the Morton family
, left the show in September 2008 due to a new producer wanting the show to go in a new direction.
His daughter Hayley Starke appeared on the ITV show Grease Is The Word
and made it onto the live shows; she finished in sixth place.
In recent years, he has starred in many touring productions of West End musicals, including playing the role of Edna Turnblad in the first UK tour of Hairspray
and originating the role of Monsignor Howard in the first UK tour of Sister Act the musical.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
best known for his role as Thomas 'Sinbad' Sweeney
Thomas 'Sinbad' Sweeney
Thomas Henry Edward Sweeney , commonly known as Sinbad is a character in Brookside from 1984 to 2000 played by Michael Starke.-Character:...
which he played for 16 years in the soap opera
Soap opera
A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...
Brookside
Brookside
Brookside is a defunct British soap opera set in Liverpool, England. The series began on the launch night of Channel 4 on 2 November 1982, and ran for 21 years until 4 November 2003...
. Prior to that, he played several guest roles in the programme.
Starke then appeared in the ITV1
ITV1
ITV1 is a generic brand that is used by twelve franchises of the British ITV Network in the English regions, Wales, southern Scotland , the Isle of Man and the Bailiwicks of Jersey and Guernsey. The ITV1 brand was introduced by Carlton and Granada in 2001, alongside the regional identities of their...
Sunday night drama, The Royal
The Royal
The Royal is a British medical drama series produced by ITV. The show comprises one hour episodes which were normally first aired on ITV in the Sunday early evening slot....
as Kenneth Hopkirk, and as policeman Arthur in the film The 51st State
The 51st State
The 51st State is a 2001 British action comedy film written by Stel Pavlou and directed by Ronny Yu. Produced by Focus Films Ltd. . The film stars Samuel L. Jackson, Robert Carlyle, Emily Mortimer, Ricky Tomlinson, Sean Pertwee, Rhys Ifans and Meat Loaf...
.
He appeared in the pantomime Cinderella
Cinderella
"Cinderella; or, The Little Glass Slipper" is a folk tale embodying a myth-element of unjust oppression/triumphant reward. Thousands of variants are known throughout the world. The title character is a young woman living in unfortunate circumstances that are suddenly changed to remarkable fortune...
in Southport
Southport
Southport is a seaside town in the Metropolitan Borough of Sefton in Merseyside, England. During the 2001 census Southport was recorded as having a population of 90,336, making it the eleventh most populous settlement in North West England...
over Christmas 2005, alongside Stuart Wade
Stuart Wade
Stuart Wade is a British actor, best-known for playing "Biff Fowler" on ITV's Emmerdale from 1994-99...
from Emmerdale
Emmerdale
Emmerdale, is a long-running British soap opera set in Emmerdale , a fictional village in the Yorkshire Dales. Created by Kevin Laffan, Emmerdale was first broadcast on 16 October 1972...
, and in Aladdin
Aladdin
Aladdin is a Middle Eastern folk tale. It is one of the tales in The Book of One Thousand and One Nights , and one of the most famous, although it was actually added to the collection by Antoine Galland ....
during Christmas 2006, along with comedian Syd Little
Syd Little
Syd Little is an English comedian and straight man in the double act Little and Large, with Eddie Large....
, in York
York
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
. He also appeared in the play No Holds Bard, alongside Andrew Schofield
Andrew Schofield
-Early life:Born in Kirkby, Merseyside, Schofield attended St Kevin's RC Comprehensive School. At 15 he was cast in Willy Russell's first Play for Today, Death of a Young, Young Man.-Stage:...
.
In 2007 he joined the cast of Coronation Street
Coronation Street
Coronation Street is a British soap opera set in Weatherfield, a fictional town in Greater Manchester based on Salford. Created by Tony Warren, Coronation Street was first broadcast on 9 December 1960...
as the head of new family the Mortons as Jerry Morton
Jerry Morton
Jerry Morton, played by Michael Starke, is a fictional character on the ITV soap opera Coronation Street. He was introduced in March 2007. It was announced in April 2008 that Jerry and the rest of the Mortons would leave the show later in 2008....
, who owns a kebab shop. He, along with the rest of the Morton family
Morton family
The Morton family were a fictional family in the British soap opera Coronation Street.-About the Mortons:The Morton family were introduced in 2007, automatically disturbed the neighbours notably Gail Platt, and quickly took over Diggory Compton's old bakery, but re-fitted it to form a kebab shop...
, left the show in September 2008 due to a new producer wanting the show to go in a new direction.
His daughter Hayley Starke appeared on the ITV show Grease Is The Word
Grease Is the Word
Grease Is the Word was the UK version of NBCs Grease: You're the One that I Want!. It aired during Spring/Summer 2007, and was produced by Syco TV ....
and made it onto the live shows; she finished in sixth place.
In recent years, he has starred in many touring productions of West End musicals, including playing the role of Edna Turnblad in the first UK tour of Hairspray
Hairspray (musical)
Hairspray is a musical with music by Marc Shaiman, lyrics by Scott Wittman and Shaiman and a book by Mark O'Donnell and Thomas Meehan, based on the 1988 John Waters film Hairspray. The songs include 1960s-style dance music and "downtown" rhythm and blues...
and originating the role of Monsignor Howard in the first UK tour of Sister Act the musical.