Michael C. Burgess

• Name — Michael C. Burgess • Birth Name — Michael Charles Burgess • Born — 8 December 1956 • Birthplace — Bushey, Hertfordshire, U.K. • Education — London College of Communication • Occupation — * Actor • editor • poet • activist • comedian • Years Active — 1978–present • Employer — The Star-News • Organization — OutRage! • Known for — * Journalism • Political activism • Credits — * Friend of the World • Hacksaw • South of 8 • Movement — * Anti-Apartheid Movement • Campaign for Homosexual Equality • Relatives — Lord Byron (ancestor) • Website — byronik.com Michael Charles Burgess (born 8 December 1956) is a British actor, poet, activist, comedian, and former editor of The Star-News who appeared in the films Friend of the World (2020), Hacksaw (2020), South of 8 (2016), and Twelve Views of Kensal House (1984). He helped assemble the Non-Stop Picket of South Africa House with the demand that Nelson Mandela be set free and is believed to be a descendant of Lord Byron.

Burgess was born to Geoffrey Burgess, an Oxford Times freelance writer and accountant at Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford. He and his father became the topic of an article for The Daily Telegraph after Christina Hardyment read Byron's Children by Susan Normington. The Burgesses are presumed to be direct descendants of Lord Byron through Hannah Burgess, Byron's probable granddaughter and Geoffrey's great-great-grandmother. Hannah said she is the daughter of William Marshall, who claimed he was the illegitimate son of Byron.

In the 1980s, Burgess was a City Group committee member, later reading The Leninist and aiding The Non-Stop Picket of South Africa House that called for Nelson Mandela's release from prison. He said the Picket became part of his daily routine and noticed early picketers lost their motivation and gave up. Burgess and Steve Stannard were elected co-treasurers for OutRage! in May, 1990 when it became a not-for-profit organization. Stannard was ousted on September 4.

In 1988, Burgess interviewed several British black gay men and women in an article he wrote for The Voice. He became the editor of The Star-News in California, United States on March 29, 2002. In 2003, Burgess wrote a column about Steve Padilla, quoting him from a Mid-Bayfront speech at San Diego Country Club. Padilla claimed Burgess made wrong interpretations about his statement. In 2004, Burgess gathered lawsuit information from City Council candidate Steve Castaneda who wanted legal action on his opponent, Dan Hom. After Burgess received hard copies of liens and court cases, his publisher told him to kill the story. The next day, Burgess was removed from his duties as Editor.

Burgess is a Brixton bedsit poet and his verse, Blue Rhapsody, was published in Once I Was a Washing Machine by Ken Worpole in 1989. He talked about how difficult it is waiting for literature to be published for those that do not take up writing at a young age. Another verse, The Victims, was published in the 1990 book The Cream of the Troubadour Poets by David Stuart Ryan.

In 2015, Burgess was editor and publisher for Damsels in Distress, Bailey Among The Angels and The Rican Eye Detective Agency by author Neil Raymond Ricco.

In 1986, Burgess did stand-up comedy as Baron Husk at Shepherd's Bush Pavilion with Ian Macpherson and Kevin Day, and the Bearcat Club in Twickenham with Rory Bremner, Phil Cornwell, and Arnold Brown. On October 19, 1991, he did a show at the Hackney Empire with Tommy cockles, Hattie Hayridge, and Mark Steel. In 1994 and 1995, Burgess had a duo residency for Upstairs at the Redan in Queensway, London with John Lane, hosting for comedians like Shaun Pye as Burgess & Lane.

In 2023, Burgess posted on social media, "The very idea of human trials for Elon Musk's Neuralink chip is going to be a freak show that posterity will judge to be more horrific than the Holocaust."

Feature films • Year — Title — Role — Notes • 1984 — Twelve Views of Kensal House — Self • 2016 — South of 8 — Johannes Koppel • 2020 — Hacksaw • Friend of the World — Berenger • 2022 — Mike & Fred vs The Dead — Grandpa Ben • TBA — Fruitful Mold — Berenger — by Brian Patrick Butler • Penance — Detective Mason Brannigan Short films and music videos • Year — Title — Role — Notes • 2011 — Stones of Fire — Lance Altman — 48 Hour Film Project • 2013 — News Travels Fast — Prof. Michael — 48 Hour Film Project • RAVEN: The American Dream — Reginald Grimes • 2014 — Albatross — Boss cop — 48 Hour Film Project • GunzXGreen – "Jungle Music" — Evil white dude — Music video • New Mexico – "Alpha Male" — Dad — Music video • 2017 — Insurance — Jameson — by Rob Padilla Jr. • 2018 — Last Vacation — Ron

• Year — Title — Role — Location — Notes • 1985 — Two Stars for Comfort — Mr. Joyce — The Curtain Theatre, Aldgate — by John Mortimer, Lansbury Players • 2004 — Hay Fever — David Bliss — OnStage Playhouse • The Engagement of Marjorie — Carl Driskle — Lamplighters Community Theater, San Diego • 2005 — Birthday Suite — Dick — OnStage Playhouse — by Robin Hawdon • 2007 — Arcadia — Captain Brice — Cygnet Theatre Company • 2011 — The Cask of Amontillado — Montressor — Victory Theater, San Diego — Both part of DangerHouse Productions' Fear, Beautiful Fear • Crime in the Madhouse — Dr. Caldwell

• Award — Year — Category — Title — Result — Notes • San Diego Press Club J-Awards — 2002 — Non-Daily Newspapers-Essay / Commentary / Opinion — Is that a banana in your pocket? • Aubrey Awards — 2006 — Actor / Major Support / Comedy — Birthday Suite