Michael Preston

Michael Preston (born Jack Davies; 14 May 1938)[1] is an English international film and television actor, and singer, sometimes credited as Mike Preston.

For other people named Michael Preston, see Michael Preston (disambiguation).

Michael Preston
Born
Jack Davies

(1938-05-14) 14 May 1938
Hackney, London, England
OccupationActor, singer
Years active1959–present

Life and career

Preston was born in Hackney, London, England.[2] He was a boxer and then became a singer. He appeared on Oh Boy! and his third record, "Dirty Old Town" (1959) was produced by Joe Meek.[3] He had three Top 40 hits in the UK Singles Chart, including reaching No. 12 with his cover version of "Mr. Blue" in November 1959, before emigrating to Australia where he worked as a nightclub singer.

He then became a host on television, and also an actor. He was a regular host on In Melbourne Tonight in 1968, and in 1969 was a guest celebrity on the game show The Celebrity Game and went on to host the revival in 1976–1977. His first ongoing starring role on television was in the long-running police drama series Homicide as Sen. Det. Bob Delaney from 1972 to 1973. He then had a recurring role in the soap opera Bellbird as Fr. John Kramer between 1974 and 1976. He later took a lead role in the prison-based soap opera Punishment (1981) but this series was short-lived. In 1984 he had an ongoing role in Hot Pursuit as Alec Shaw.

Preston has made numerous guest appearances in television series, including The A-Team, Max Headroom, Airwolf, Scarecrow and Mrs. King, Alien Nation, Ellen and Highlander: The Series. He also made an appearance in the series Baywatch Nights (season 1 episode 9 – Blues Boy).

Preston has also acted in films. His first feature film was Surabaya Conspiracy (1969); other film roles included playing Pappagallo in Road Warrior (1981), his best-known role, and Jared-Syn in the science fiction B-movie Metalstorm: The Destruction of Jared-Syn (1983).

Selected TV and filmography

Discography
  • "A House, A Car And A Wedding Ring" / "My Lucky Love" (1958) – (US No. 93, Aust No. 18) (Decca)
  • "Why, Why Why" / "Whispering Grass" (1958)
  • "In Surabaya" / "Dirty Old Town" (1959)
  • "Mr. Blue" / "Just Ask Your Heart" (1959) (UK No. 12)
  • "Too Old" / "A Girl Like You" (1960)
  • "I'd Do Anything" / "Where Is Love" (1960) (UK No. 23)
  • "Togetherness" / "Farewell My Love" (1960) (UK No. 41)
  • "Marry Me" / "Girl Without a Heart" (1961) (UK No. 14)
  • "Punish Her" / "From the Very First Rose" (1963)
  • "Dear Heart" / "Wonderful, Wonderful World" (1968) (Aust No. 20 Kent chart, No. 34 Go-Set chart) (Spin Records)
  • "Christmas Alphabet" (1968) (Aust No. 71 Kent chart) (Spin Records)
  • "Buona Sera Mrs. Campbell" (1969) (Aust No. 64 Kent chart) (Spin Records)
  • "Why" (1972) (Aust No. 70)[4] (Fable Records)[5]

See also
  • List of artists under the Decca Records label

References
  1. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 15 December 2017. Retrieved 31 March 2009.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. "Michael Preston". IMDb.com. Retrieved 4 February 2020.
  3. "Fortunecity. com – accessed March 2009". Archived from the original on 7 March 2009.
  4. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 238. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  5. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 437. ISBN 978-1-904994-10-7.
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