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{{short description|English actor (b. 1962)}}
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⚫ {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2013}}
{{other people}} {{other people}}
⚫ {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{Infobox person {{Infobox person
| image = <!-- Only free images may be used in biographies of living people. Please do not add fair use images here. -->
| image =
| caption = | caption =
| name = Michael French | name = Michael French
| birth_date = {{birth-date and age|17 September 1962}}<ref name="BBC Drama">{{cite web |title=Michael French |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/drama/people/michael_french_person_page.shtml |publisher=BBC Drama |access-date=3 January 2020}}</ref>
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1962|09|17|df=y}}
| birth_place = ], England | birth_place = ], England
| death_date = | death_date =
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| birthname = Michael Clark | birthname = Michael Clark
| occupation = ] | occupation = ]
| yearsactive = 1993–present | yearsactive = 1983– <!--He still does stage acting-->
| website = | website =
}} }}
'''Michael French''' (born '''Michael Clark''', 17 September 1962, ]) is an English ], most notable for his role as consultant ] in '']'' and former cardiothoracic registrar in '']''. He also played the role of ] on '']''. He is due to return to '']'' in summer 2013 as French has agreed to return as a regular character. '''Michael French''' (born '''Michael Clark''', 17 September 1962) is an English ], known for his roles as ] in '']''; ], a consultant and Clinical Lead, Senior Consultant in emergency medicine in '']'' and former cardiothoracic registrar in its spin-off series '']''; and Jeff Slade in the BBC sci-fi crime series '']''.


==Early life== ==Biography==
French(took surname to get an Equity Card), was born Michael Clark to parents David (a ]) and Sheila in East ], but grew up in Theydon Bois, ].<ref name="connection">{{cite news |url=http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4161/is_19960317/ai_n14449161|title=French connection|work=]|date=17 March 1996|first=Caroline|last=Sutton|accessdate=17 October 2011}}</ref> where he attended Theydon Bois County Primary School. Michael French was born Michael Clark in ], on 17 September 1962.<ref name="BBC Drama" /><ref name="connection">{{cite news |url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/French+connection%3B+EASTENDER+MICHAEL+SHOWS+AN+EARLY+TOUCH+OF+GENIE-US.-a061179964 |title=French connection|work=]|date=17 March 1996|first=Caroline|last=Sutton|access-date=26 July 2014 |via=The Free Library}}</ref> He appeared in school productions and shows put on by a local drama club.<ref name="connection"/>
⚫ When he was 20, French worked as an entertainer at the Holiday Club International in ].<ref name="connection"/> When he returned to Britain, at the age of 22, French got his first ] break in the ] '']'' at the ] Theatre in ], east London.<ref name="connection"/> He spent the next three years touring in small productions before becoming disillusioned with his lack of success and taking a job as an ] for ].<ref name="connection"/> Later, French quit his job with British Airways, began studying acting at the ] and graduated in 1992.<ref name="connection"/> He chose to take his mother's maiden surname for professional purposes.
He was soon appearing in school productions, while weekends and evenings were spent at dancing classes and rehearsals for shows put on by the local drama club.<ref name="connection"/> He then attended West Hatch Technical High School in ], ] where he was a main contributor to school plays.


After his family moved to central ] and then ] when he was a child, his first stage experience was as a teenager when the mother of television presenter ] cast him in a production at the drama group that she ran in ].{{cn|date=November 2024}}
At the age of 20, French landed a job as an entertainer ("blue coat") at the Holiday Club International in ].<ref name="connection"/>


In 1993, an EastEnders casting agent saw him performing in '']'' in London's West End and he was cast as ] in the ] ] '']''.<ref name="BBC Drama" /><ref name="Benedict399">{{cite web |last1=Benedict |first1=David |title=Arts: French without tears |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/arts-french-without-tears-1083980.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220512/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/arts-french-without-tears-1083980.html |archive-date=12 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |website=The Independent |access-date=25 August 2020 |date=30 March 1999}}</ref> He appeared in ''EastEnders'' between 1993 and 1996, and later reprised his role in 2012 for the departure of ] who played his on-screen mother ], and again between 2013 and 2014.<ref name="BBC713">{{cite web |title=Michael French returns to EastEnders as David Wicks |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-23447306 |publisher=BBC News |access-date=23 August 2020 |date=25 July 2013}}</ref><ref name="RTimes713">{{cite web |last1=Brown |first1=David |title=EastEnders confirms Michael French to return as David Wicks later this year |url=https://www.radiotimes.com/news/2013-07-24/eastenders-confirms-michael-french-to-return-as-david-wicks-later-this-year/ |website=Radio Times |access-date=23 August 2020 |date=24 July 2013}}</ref><ref name="RTimes514">{{cite web |last1=Brown |first1=David |title=EastEnders: Michael French to bow out as David Wicks |url=https://www.radiotimes.com/news/2014-05-18/eastenders-michael-french-to-bow-out-as-david-wicks/ |website=Radio Times |access-date=23 August 2020 |date=18 May 2014}}</ref> Due to the high-profile role, he was ] as ] by tabloids in 1996.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.thepinknews.com/2024/10/04/remembering-when-michael-french-was-cruelly-outed-as-gay-by-tabloids-in-1996/ |title=Remembering when Michael French was cruelly outed by tabloids in 1996 as he returns to EastEnders |first=Michele |last=Theil |date=4 October 2024 |website=PinkNews |language=English |access-date=4 October 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241004220706/https://www.thepinknews.com/2024/10/04/remembering-when-michael-french-was-cruelly-outed-as-gay-by-tabloids-in-1996/ |archive-date=4 October 2024 }}</ref> He also appeared as ] in '']'' and its spin-off programme '']'', between 1998 and 2000, returning to the role in ''Casualty'' between 2006 and 2013.<ref name="DSpy508">{{cite web |last1=Reynolds |first1=Simon |last2=Green |first2=Kris |title=Michael French joins 'Casualty' |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/casualty/a95840/michael-french-joins-casualty/ |publisher=Digital Spy |access-date=23 August 2020 |date=13 May 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.atvtoday.co.uk/michael-french-to-leave-casualty-3463/ |title=Michael French To Leave Casualty |work=ATV Today |date=12 January 2013 |access-date=2 August 2014 |first=Doug |last=Lambert }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2013-02-01/casualty-michael-french-bows-out-as-nick-jordan---video-preview |title=Casualty: Michael French bows out as Nick Jordan – video preview |work=Radio Times |date=1 February 2013 |first=David |last=Brown |access-date=2 August 2014 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140808052216/http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2013-02-01/casualty-michael-french-bows-out-as-nick-jordan---video-preview | archive-date=8 August 2014}}</ref>
When he returned to ], at the age of 22, French got his first ] break in the ] '']'' at the ] Theatre in ], London. Bit parts on stage followed, including playing the Genie in '']'' in a Christmas ].<ref name="connection"/>


Other television work included '']'' (1997),<ref name="DGeek1116">{{cite web |last1=Stewart |first1=Alastair |title=Crime Traveller: celebrating an underappreciated 90s sci-fi |url=https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/crime-traveller-celebrating-an-underappreciated-90s-sci-fi/ |website=Den of Geek |access-date=25 August 2020 |date=21 November 2016}}</ref> and '']'' (2002-2004).<ref name="BBC1014">{{cite web |title=Born and Bred |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/drama/bornandbred/ |publisher=BBC Drama |access-date=25 August 2020 |date=28 October 2014}}</ref>
⚫ He spent the next three years touring in small productions, before becoming disillusioned with his lack of success and taking a job as an ] for ].<ref name="connection"/> However, he was unable to lose his desire to act and French quit his job as an air steward with British Airways and began taking acting lessons. He was trained at the ] and graduated in 1992.<ref name="connection"/>
His other theatre work included '']'' (1999),<ref name="Benedict399" /><ref name="EStandard399">{{cite web |title=Michael French on... Sacred Heart |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/go/london/theatre/michael-french-on-sacred-heart-7435254.html |website=Evening Standard|location=London |access-date=23 August 2020 |date=25 March 1999}}</ref> '']'' (2000),<ref name="Reuters100">{{cite web |title=United Kingdom: Fourteenth cast of theatre comedy "Art" speak about the hit play |url=https://reuters.screenocean.com/record/517811 |agency=Reuters|access-date=23 August 2020 |date=25 January 2000}}</ref> '']'' (2004),<ref>{{cite web |title="Chicago" cast changes from 13 Dec 2004 Michael French & Josefina Gabrielle join cast |url=https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/theatre-news/news/chicago-cast-changes-from-13-dec-2004-michael-french-josefina-gabrielle-join-cast |website=London Theatre |access-date=11 August 2020 |date=3 December 2004}}</ref> and '']'' (2014).<ref name="Hickling1214">{{cite web |last1=Hickling |first1=Alfred |title=The Sound of Music review – Paul Kerryson says so long with terrific show |url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2014/dec/08/the-sound-of-music-review-curve-leicester-paul-kerryson |website=The Guardian |access-date=25 August 2020 |date=8 December 2014}}</ref> In July 2024, it was announced that French would be reprising his role of David Wicks in ''EastEnders'' for a short stint later in the year.<ref>{{cite web |title=David Wicks returns to Eastenders as Michael French reprises the role later this year |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/2024/david-wicks-returns-to-eastenders |website=] |access-date=16 July 2024 |language=en}}</ref>

==Career==
After graduating from acting school, French was primarily employed in West End musicals. He was in '']'', '']'', '']'' — playing romantic juvenile leads — and then played Javert in '']''.<ref name="interview">"{{cite news|url=http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4153/is_20000204/ai_n11919332|title=People would shout 'We love you'. But I didn't like myself|work=]}}{{dead link|date=October 2011}}</ref>

French became well known for appearing in the ] ] '']''. French was spotted by an ''EastEnders'' casting agent whilst on stage in the musical ''Les Misérables''.<ref name="faces">"", '']''. URL last accessed on 2007-02-13.</ref> He was subsequently offered a role in the popular ] and first appeared in 1993, playing the womanising car-dealer, ]. French quit the soap in 1996. 19 million viewers tuned in to watch the character's exit from ].<ref name="sue">"", '']''. URL last accessed on 2007-02-13.</ref>

Other regular TV roles include ] in '']'' (1998, 2005, 2008-2013) and its sister programme, '']'' (1999–2000; 2005–2006); ''The Fabulous Bagel Boys'' (2001); Gary Lescott in '']'' (2005); Jeff Slade in '']'' (1997) and Tom Gilder in '']'' (2001–2004).

Among his other stage credits include '']'' (2000) as Marc and ''Sacred Heart'' (1999) as Jerry. He also replaced ] as Billy Flynn in the ] run of '']'' from 13 December 2004,<ref name="c">"", ''Playbill''. URL last accessed on 2006-02-11.</ref> but resigned suddenly on 2 May 2005 amid rumours of differences with his co-star ].<ref name="brooke">"", '']''. URL last accessed on 2007-02-13.</ref>

On 13 May 2008 it was confirmed Michael French would be returning to his role of Nick Jordan for a third stint, but this time in the ''Holby City'' parent programme ''Casualty''. French left Casualty in early February, for other television careers.
<ref>{{Cite web| title = Role is deja vu for French| publisher = The Sun Online| date = 13 May 2008| url = http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/tv/soaps/article1155215.ece|accessdate=2008-05-13}}</ref>

French returned to ''EastEnders'' as David Wicks in 2012 after more than 15 years away for the departure of ], who played his on-screen mother, ]. His return was aired on New Year's Day 2012 and he again departed the soap on 13 January 2012.

In 2013, it was revealed by the ] that French had agreed to terms to return to '']'' as a regular character. It was later revealed that French's character ] would return in summer 2013.{{citation needed|date=June 2013}}


==Filmography== ==Filmography==
{| class="wikitable"
{| border="2" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaa solid; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 90%;"
|- bgcolor="#B0C4DE" align="center" |- style="background:#b0c4de; text-align:center;"
! Year ! Year
! Show ! Show
Line 52: Line 36:
! Notes ! Notes
|- |-
|rowspan="1"| 1993–1996, 2012, 2013– || 1993–1996, 2012–2014, 2024
| '']'' | '']''
| ] | ]
| '''Series regular''' | '''Series regular''' (463 episodes)
|- |-
|rowspan="1"| 1997 || 1997
| '']'' | '']''
| Detective Jeff Slade | Detective Jeff Slade
| 8 part series | 8 part series
|- |-
|rowspan="1"| 1998 || 1998, 2008–2013
| '']'' | '']''
| rowspan="2"|] | rowspan="2"|]
⚫ | rowspan="2"| '''Series regular'''
| Series Regular
|- |-
|rowspan="1"| 1999–2000 || 1999–2000, 2006, 2010
| '']'' | '']''
⚫ | '''Series regular'''
|- |-
|rowspan="2"| 2001 |rowspan="2"| 2001
Line 80: Line 63:
| |
|- |-
|rowspan="1"| 2004 || 2004
| '']'' | '']''
| Hardy Rose | Hardy Rose
| 1 episode: ''Sons, Daughters and Lovers'' | 1 episode: "]"
|- |-
|| 2001–2004
|rowspan="1"| 2001–2005
| '']'' | '']''
| Dr. Tom Gilder | Dr. Tom Gilder
| '''Series regular''' | '''Series regular'''
|- |-
|rowspan="1"| 2005 || 2005
| '']'' | '']''
| rowspan="2"|Nick Jordan | rowspan="1"|Nick Jordan
| 2 episodes: '']'' | 2 episodes: "]" (Parts 1&])
|- |-
|rowspan="2"| 2006 || 2006
⚫ | '']''
⚫ | '']''
| Recurring; 16 episodes
|-
⚫ | '']''
| Gary Lescott | Gary Lescott
| 1 episode: ''Wrong Place, Wrong Time'' | 1 episode: "]"
|-
|rowspan="1"| 2008—2013
| '']''
| rowspan="2"|Nick Jordan
| '''Series regular'''
|-
|rowspan="1"| 2010
| '']''
| 1 episode: ''Downstairs, Upstairs''
|- |-
|| 2018
⚫ | '']''
| Self
|1 episode
|} |}


==References== ==References==
;General

;Specific
{{Reflist}} {{Reflist}}


==External links== ==External links==
*{{IMDb name|id=0294150|name=Michael French}} * {{IMDb name|id=0294150|name=Michael French}}

*{{dead link|date=October 2011}}
{{Authority control}}
*
*


{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see ] -->
| NAME = French, Michael
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION =
| DATE OF BIRTH = 17 September 1962
| PLACE OF BIRTH = ], England
| DATE OF DEATH =
| PLACE OF DEATH =
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:French, Michael}} {{DEFAULTSORT:French, Michael}}
⚫ ]
] ]
] ]
] ]
] ]
] ]
⚫ ]
]
]
]
]
]

Latest revision as of 16:20, 10 December 2024

English actor (b. 1962) For other people named Michael French, see Michael French (disambiguation).

Michael French
BornMichael Clark
17 September 1962 (1962-09-17) (age 62)
Bow, London, England
OccupationActor
Years active1983–

Michael French (born Michael Clark, 17 September 1962) is an English actor, known for his roles as David Wicks in EastEnders; Nick Jordan, a consultant and Clinical Lead, Senior Consultant in emergency medicine in Casualty and former cardiothoracic registrar in its spin-off series Holby City; and Jeff Slade in the BBC sci-fi crime series Crime Traveller.

Biography

Michael French was born Michael Clark in Bow, London, on 17 September 1962. He appeared in school productions and shows put on by a local drama club. When he was 20, French worked as an entertainer at the Holiday Club International in Majorca. When he returned to Britain, at the age of 22, French got his first acting break in the musical Godspell at the Kenneth More Theatre in Ilford, east London. He spent the next three years touring in small productions before becoming disillusioned with his lack of success and taking a job as an air steward for British Airways. Later, French quit his job with British Airways, began studying acting at the Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts and graduated in 1992. He chose to take his mother's maiden surname for professional purposes.

After his family moved to central London and then Essex when he was a child, his first stage experience was as a teenager when the mother of television presenter Ben Shephard cast him in a production at the drama group that she ran in Theydon Bois.

In 1993, an EastEnders casting agent saw him performing in Les Misérables in London's West End and he was cast as David Wicks in the BBC soap opera EastEnders. He appeared in EastEnders between 1993 and 1996, and later reprised his role in 2012 for the departure of Pam St Clement who played his on-screen mother Pat Butcher, and again between 2013 and 2014. Due to the high-profile role, he was outed as gay by tabloids in 1996. He also appeared as Nick Jordan in Casualty and its spin-off programme Holby City, between 1998 and 2000, returning to the role in Casualty between 2006 and 2013.

Other television work included Crime Traveller (1997), and Born and Bred (2002-2004). His other theatre work included Sacred Heart (1999), Art (2000), Chicago (2004), and The Sound of Music (2014). In July 2024, it was announced that French would be reprising his role of David Wicks in EastEnders for a short stint later in the year.

Filmography

Year Show Role Notes
1993–1996, 2012–2014, 2024 EastEnders David Wicks Series regular (463 episodes)
1997 Crime Traveller Detective Jeff Slade 8 part series
1998, 2008–2013 Casualty Nick Jordan Series regular
1999–2000, 2006, 2010 Holby City
2001 The Fabulous Bagel Boys DS Alexander Murchison
The Gentleman Thief Ellis Bride
2004 The Afternoon Play Hardy Rose 1 episode: "Sons, Daughters and Lovers"
2001–2004 Born and Bred Dr. Tom Gilder Series regular
2005 Casualty@Holby City Nick Jordan 2 episodes: "Deny Thy Father" (Parts 1&2)
2006 Dalziel and Pascoe Gary Lescott 1 episode: "Wrong Time, Wrong Place"
2018 Bargain Hunt Self 1 episode

References

  1. ^ "Michael French". BBC Drama. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
  2. ^ Sutton, Caroline (17 March 1996). "French connection". Sunday Mirror. Retrieved 26 July 2014 – via The Free Library.
  3. ^ Benedict, David (30 March 1999). "Arts: French without tears". The Independent. Archived from the original on 12 May 2022. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  4. "Michael French returns to EastEnders as David Wicks". BBC News. 25 July 2013. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
  5. Brown, David (24 July 2013). "EastEnders confirms Michael French to return as David Wicks later this year". Radio Times. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
  6. Brown, David (18 May 2014). "EastEnders: Michael French to bow out as David Wicks". Radio Times. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
  7. Theil, Michele (4 October 2024). "Remembering when Michael French was cruelly outed by tabloids in 1996 as he returns to EastEnders". PinkNews. Archived from the original on 4 October 2024. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
  8. Reynolds, Simon; Green, Kris (13 May 2008). "Michael French joins 'Casualty'". Digital Spy. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
  9. Lambert, Doug (12 January 2013). "Michael French To Leave Casualty". ATV Today. Retrieved 2 August 2014.
  10. Brown, David (1 February 2013). "Casualty: Michael French bows out as Nick Jordan – video preview". Radio Times. Archived from the original on 8 August 2014. Retrieved 2 August 2014.
  11. Stewart, Alastair (21 November 2016). "Crime Traveller: celebrating an underappreciated 90s sci-fi". Den of Geek. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  12. "Born and Bred". BBC Drama. 28 October 2014. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  13. "Michael French on... Sacred Heart". Evening Standard. London. 25 March 1999. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
  14. "United Kingdom: Fourteenth cast of theatre comedy "Art" speak about the hit play". Reuters. 25 January 2000. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
  15. ""Chicago" cast changes from 13 Dec 2004 Michael French & Josefina Gabrielle join cast". London Theatre. 3 December 2004. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
  16. Hickling, Alfred (8 December 2014). "The Sound of Music review – Paul Kerryson says so long with terrific show". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  17. "David Wicks returns to Eastenders as Michael French reprises the role later this year". BBC. Retrieved 16 July 2024.

External links

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