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.
Michael York (born October 16, 1967 in Tamworth, NSW) is a former field hockey defender from Australia, who participated in four Summer Olympics for his native country, starting in 1988. From 1992 on, at each appearance the skilled veteran won a medal.
York, nicknamed Yorky by his team mates, was the captain of the team in the 1990s. During his international career, he read the play exceptionally well, according to the experts. He represented Australia furthermore at three Hockey World Cups (1990, 1994, and 1998) and in ten Champions Trophy tournaments. He retired after playing 279 international matches for his native country.
York is a life member of the Australian National University Field Hockey Team, the ANU Ratshttp://theratsnest.org.au/, and has coined the phrase "Its a simple game" generally yelling it in frustration at players. He famously went 'missing' from national hockey commitments for a couple of weeks following his attendance at an ANU Rats social function designed to expand club members understanding of the culture of Russia and the field hockey presence there.
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 Taming of the Shrew, The (1967) and his breakthrough role as Tybalt in Romeo and Juliet (1968/I). He achieved early TV acclaim for his portrayal of Jolyon in "Forsyte Saga, The" (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. He was in the hit Omega Code, The (1999) with Catherine Oxenberg and Casper Van Dien. He had a great part in all of the "Austin Powers" films.
