Wissenswertes

Claims his biggest career mistake was turning down the lead in Love Story. The producers offered him a scale rate to star together with 10% of the gross. York felt the movie would not make any money so passed. This decision cost him well over 10 million in 1970's dollars.

At age three, he broke his nose when he jumped off the roof of a coal house while trying to fly.

Graduate of Oxford University.

He was awarded the OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) in the 1996 Queen's Birthday Honours List for his services to drama.

Contrary to a common rumor, he didn't either play or provide a voice-over for one of the apes in Spaceballs - Mel Brooks' verrückte Raumfahrt (1987). In 2016, at a National Press Club, he said that he has tried to get the credit off his online résumés, but has since given up on that.

Stepfather of producer Rick McCallum.

Was the original choice to play Sgt. Howie in The Wicker Man (1973) but was unavailable for the part. The part went to Edward Woodward.

His father was an army officer turned businessman and his mother a musician.

Good friend and mentor to actor Casper Van Dien. Lifelong friend to Casper's wife Catherine Oxenberg.

Co-wrote a book with Adrian Brine called 'A Shakesperean actor prepares.'

Member of the jury at the Venice Film Festival in 1987.

He has two roles in common with both Malcolm McDowell and John Gielgud: (1) McDowell played King Arthur in Merlin und das Schwert (1985), York played him in Ein Ritter in Camelot (1998) and Gielgud played him in Dragonheart (1996) and (2) McDowell played Merlin in Alex und das Zauberschwert (1995), York played him in Mit Vollgas in King Arthurs Tafelrunde (1995) and Gielgud played him in Das magische Schwert - Die Legende von Camelot (1998).

His wife, Pat, is an American photographer.

He played Merlin in Mit Vollgas in King Arthurs Tafelrunde (1995) and King Arthur in Ein Ritter in Camelot (1998) as well as David McIntyre, a man who believed himself to be King Arthur, in A Late Delivery from Avalon (1996).

Appears in Romeo und Julia (1968) and Die drei Musketiere (1973)/Die vier Musketiere (1974). Both of the literary works on which these were based were later satirized in the play Cyrano de Bergerac, which makes use of the balcony scene from the former and the character of d'Artagnan from the latter.

Some sources give his birth name as Michael York-Johnson, but this is incorrect. Birth records show he was originally named Michael Hugh Johnson. He is said to have taken the name York from a popular brand of English cigarette.

Was attached to Tod auf dem Nil (1978) at one stage.

Joined the National Theatre in January of 1965.

Has publicly given support for Michael Drosnin's idea that there is a "Bible Code".

Is sometimes incorrectly thought to be related to fellow British actress Susannah York (whom he did co-star with in Die Schande des Regiments (1975)). In fact neither one of them were born with the name York.

Appeared in Das Gesetz des Terrors (1986), based on the book "Vengeance" by George Jonas. In Austin Powers in Goldständer (2002), he appears with Steven Spielberg, who directed the remake, München (2005).

He has two roles in common with Joss Ackland: (1) Ackland played d'Artagnan in The Further Adventures of the Musketeers (1967) while York played him in Die drei Musketiere (1973) (in which Ackland played his father), Die vier Musketiere (1974), Die Rückkehr der Musketiere (1989) and Lady Musketier - Alle für eine (2004) and (2) Ackland played King Arthur in Knightskater - Ritter auf Rollerblades (1995) while York played him in Ein Ritter in Camelot (1998).

Appeared in two films nominated for Best Picture Oscar: Romeo und Julia (1968) and Cabaret (1972).

He has three roles in common with Jeremy Brett: (1) Brett played d'Artagnan in The Three Musketeers (1966) while York played him in Die drei Musketiere (1973), Die vier Musketiere (1974), Die Rückkehr der Musketiere (1989) and Lady Musketier - Alle für eine (2004), (2) Brett played Sherlock Holmes in Sherlock Holmes (1984), Die Wiederkehr von Sherlock Holmes (1986), The Sign of Four (1987), The Hound of the Baskervilles (1988), The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes (1991) and The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes (1994) while York played in Tom and Jerry Meet Sherlock Holmes (2010) and (3) Brett played King Arthur in Morte d'Arthur (1984) while York played him in Ein Ritter in Camelot (1998).

Got first acting experience with the National Youth Theatre.

No relation to Susannah York (Lara in the "Superman" movies), despite a popular misconception.

Educated at Oxford.

Supports the Californian Youth Theatre.

Since 2013, York has suffered from a rare disease called amyloidosis, which required in 2012 a stem cell transplant to alleviate symptoms. In 2022, he and his wife moved to Rochester, Minnesota to be closer to the Mayo Clinic.