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Michael Des Barres Wiki: Parents, Nationality, Relationship

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Known for movies

Billy

Mulholland Dr. (2001)
as Billy

Brisbane

Catch That Kid (2004)
as Brisbane

Alex

Pink Cadillac (1989)
as Alex

Malcolm Graves

Ghoulies (1984)
as Malcolm Graves

Short Info

SpousePamela Des Barres, Wendy Hamilton
FactWas invited by Brian May, John Deacon and Roger Taylor to succeed Freddie Mercury as the lead singer of Queen. Des Barres turned them down because he wasn't sure he'd be right for the task.


Michael Des Barres is a British actor and musician, best known for his roles as the villainous Murdoc on the 1980s television series MacGyver and as the lead singer of the hard rock band Detective.

Des Barres was born in London, England, on January 24, 1948, the son of Doris (née Hemsley) and Gerald Des Barres. His father was a French-Canadian World War II veteran and his mother was English. He has two older sisters, Anne and Geraldine.

Des Barres was educated at St. Paul’s School in London and later attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. He began his acting career in the early 1970s, appearing in such films as The Man Who Would Be King (1975) and The Spy Who Loved Me (1977).

In 1980, Des Barres landed the role of Murdoc on the television series MacGyver. He would go on to appear in over 60 episodes of the show, becoming one of its most recognizable villains.

In 1984, Des Barres formed the hard rock band Detective with guitarist Tony Sales. The band released three albums between 1984 and 1987, before disbanding.

In recent years, Des Barres has appeared in such films as The Devil’s Rejects (2005) and Halloween (2007). He has also guest-starred on such television shows as Castle and NCIS: Los Angeles.

Des Barres has been married four times. His first marriage was to actress Pamela Hensley from 1977 to 1993. He has been married to actress Lisa Lyons since 2002. Together they have two sons, Maximilian and Alexander.

Des Barres has a net worth of $5 million.

General Info

Full NameMichael Des Barres
Height1.73 m
ProfessionActor, Singer
NationalityBritish

Family

SpousePamela Des Barres, Wendy Hamilton
ChildrenNicholas Dean Des Barres
ParentsMarquis Philip Des Barres, Marchioness Irene Des Barres

Accomplishments

Music GroupsThe Power Station, Detective, Chequered Past, The Knack
MoviesGhoulies, To Sir, with Love, Pink Cadillac, Diary of a Sex Addict, Catch That Kid, Mulholland Drive, The Man from Elysian Fields, Under Siege, California Solo, Waxwork II: Lost in Time, Midnight Cabaret, Sugar Town, A Simple Twist of Fate, I, Monster, The High Crusade, Widow's Kiss, Silk Degrees, Oc...
TV ShowsMy Guide to Becoming a Rock Star, The New WKRP in Cincinnati, MacGyver

Social profile links

Facebookhttp://www.facebook.com/MDesBarres
Twitterhttp://www.twitter.com/mdesbarres
Instagramhttp://www.instagram.com/mdesbarres
IMDBhttp://imdb.com/name/nm0220735

Quotes

#Quote
1[on turning down Queen's offer to have him as their new lead singer] Freddie Mercury's shoes are very hard to fill. What threw me off, more than anything else, were the high heels.

Facts

#Fact
1He appeared in both Superboy (1988) and Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (1993).
2Has a son, Nick Des Barres (born September 30, 1978), with ex-wife Pamela Des Barres.
3Des Barres formed his first band Silverhead in England in 1972. They recorded two albums and toured the U.S., Europe and Japan, before disbanding in 1974.
4Was invited by Brian May, John Deacon and Roger Taylor to succeed Freddie Mercury as the lead singer of Queen. Des Barres turned them down because he wasn't sure he'd be right for the task.
5His last name is pronounced "Deb-Barr".
6As a member of Power Station, Michael Des Barres co-wrote and co-performed "We Fight For Love", the end-title-song for Commando (1985). He did not, however, appear in the movie.
7He appeared on MacGyver (1985) as "Murdoc", an insane and ruthless villain who always seems to come back from the dead. His was originally slated to be a one-time appearance. Yet because he did such a good job, producers Henry Winkler and John Rich gave Michael Des Barres a recurring role.
8He wrote the lyrics to the song "Cleo Rocks" for MacGyver (1985), episode #4.9 of the same name.
9Replaced Robert Palmer as lead singer of Power Station when Robert Palmer was unable to tour with the group in 1985.
10Appeared on the original WKRP in Cincinnati (1978) as "Sir Charles 'Dog' Weatherbee," member of the fictional British hard-rock band "Scum of the Earth." Fourteen years later, he became a regular cast member of The New WKRP in Cincinnati (1991) as disc jockey Jack Allen.

Pictures

Michael Des Barres
Richard Bradford, Michael Des Barres, George Hickenlooper
Michael Des Barres, Megan Edwards
Michael Des Barres
Jaime Pressly, Michael Des Barres
Michael Des Barres, Catherine Mary Stewart
Beverly D
Michael Des Barres, Martin Kemp, John Taylor
Michael Des Barres
Michael Des Barres

All pictures

Movies

Actor

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Me2014/ISanford
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation2014TV SeriesMarty 'The Cat' Kirch
NCIS2012TV SeriesDel Finney
Suits2012TV SeriesSergei Baskov
The Finder2012TV SeriesIcepick
California Solo2012Wendell
Terra Incognita2010ShortTherapist
Bones2010TV SeriesSimon Graham
Nip/Tuck2007TV SeriesEverett Poe
Four Kings2006TV SeriesNick Dresden / Nick
Alias2005TV SeriesMiles Devereaux
Hawaii2004TV SeriesPreston Tucker
Dead Like Me2004TV SeriesGideon Jeffries
JAG1997-2004TV SeriesHowie Black / King Josif
Frasier2004TV SeriesGeorges
Catch That Kid2004Brisbane
Gilmore Girls2002TV SeriesClaude Clemenceau
My Guide to Becoming a Rock Star2002TV SeriesEric Darnell
She Spies2002TV SeriesDr. Zirby
Charmed2002TV SeriesDark Priest
Ocean Park2002Gower
Providence2002TV SeriesYule
Dead Last2001TV SeriesJ. L. Crawford
Diary of a Sex Addict2001VideoSammy Horn
The Man from Elysian Fields2001Nigel
Good Advice2001Michael Des Barres (as Michael DesBarres)
What They Wanted, What They Got2001ShortJimmy Cotton
Mulholland Dr.2001Billy
Poison2000TV MovieEvan Lazlo
Men Named Milo, Women Named Greta2000ShortChristian Bell
The Hungry Bachelors Club1999Harold Spinner
Nash Bridges1999TV SeriesNiles Maynard
Sugar Town1999Nick
Jungle Book: Lost Treasure1998Kohabeez
The Pretender1998TV SeriesDouglas Willard, The Blue Moon Killer
Just Shoot Me!1998TV SeriesNick Hewitt
Poison Ivy: The New Seduction1997VideoIvan Greer
Ellen1995-1997TV SeriesThe Patient / Nigel the Director
Roseanne1991-1997TV SeriesDr. Phillips / Steven / Jerry Gimbel
Adventures from the Book of Virtues1997TV SeriesHaman / Royal Guard
Melrose Place1996-1997TV SeriesArthur Field
Mortal Kombat: Defenders of the Realm1996TV SeriesKano Shao Kahn Captain
Sliders1996TV SeriesProf. Vincent Cardoza
The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest1996TV SeriesRodney / Merlin
Spider-Man1996TV SeriesJackson Weele
Widow's Kiss1996TV MovieSteven Rose
Limp Fangs1996Video
New York Daze1995TV Series
Freakazoid!1995TV SeriesMan In Hole
Renegade1995TV SeriesMichael St. John
The Commish1995TV SeriesAaron DeFord
Marker1995TV SeriesBeau
Northern Exposure1994TV SeriesFelix Edmundovich Dzerzhinsky
Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman1994TV SeriesLenny Stoke
A Simple Twist of Fate1994Bryce (as Michael des Barres)
Silk Degrees1994Degrillo
The High Crusade1994Monsieur du Lac
L.A. Law1994TV SeriesMr. Allesio
Deep Red1994TV MovieLew Ramirez
Seinfeld1993TV SeriesRestaurateur
The Jackie Thomas Show1993TV SeriesDocumentary Director
The Legend of Prince Valiant1992TV SeriesJohn / Black Rose Member
Under Siege1992Domiani
Batman: The Animated Series1992TV SeriesNostromos / Carl Fowler
The Hat Squad1992TV Series
The New WKRP in Cincinnati1991-1992TV SeriesJack Allen
Waxwork II: Lost in Time1992George
Superboy1991TV SeriesAdam Verrell
MacGyver1987-1991TV SeriesMurdoc
Midnight Cabaret1990Paul Van Dyke
Super Force1990TV SeriesJesse Caldwell
Father Dowling Mysteries1990TV SeriesAlex Sawyer
21 Jump Street1989TV SeriesGavin McHugh / Mr. Karst
Pink Cadillac1989Alex
Life on the Flipside1988TV MovieElliot Weedle
ALF1988TV SeriesEddie
Ohara1988TV SeriesRoderick McConnell
J.J. Starbuck1988TV SeriesBenny 'Ben Franklin' Bijou
Miami Vice1985-1988TV SeriesShane Dubois / Power Station Vocalist
Free Spirit1987TV MovieOliver Faraday
Nightflyers1987Jon Winderman
Sledge Hammer!1987TV SeriesSir Guy
Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color1987TV SeriesSimon
My Sister Sam1986TV SeriesEmmet Gentry
The Hitchhiker1986TV SeriesThe Wise Man
St. Elsewhere1985TV SeriesDonald
Ghoulies1984Malcolm Graves
Cagney & Lacey1983TV SeriesMalcolm Kingsley
Hart to Hart1980TV SeriesSyd Sado
The Rockford Files1979TV SeriesGordon Flack / Keith
WKRP in Cincinnati1978TV SeriesSir Charles 'Dog' Weatherby - member, Scum of the Earth
Six Days of Justice1972TV SeriesGlover
I, Monster1971Boy in alley
Dixon of Dock Green1968TV SeriesPhilip Baker
The First Lady1968TV SeriesBarry Wainwright
You and the World1968TV SeriesTim
To Sir, with Love1967Williams (as Micheal Des Barres)
Z Cars1967TV SeriesYoung Drunk
Mrs Thursday1967TV SeriesLaurence Mayne
Whack-O!1960TV SeriesFloyd

Soundtrack

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Dallas Buyers Club2013writer: "Obsession"
Psych2013TV Series writer - 1 episode
Quixote's Island2011writer: "Obsession" - as Des Barre
Hot Tub Time Machine2010writer: "Obsession"
Adventureland2009writer: "Obsession" - as Michael Phillip Des Barres
30 Rock2008TV Series writer - 1 episode
Midnight Heat2007writer: "Obsession"
The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters2007Documentary writer: "Obsession"
El cantante2006writer: "Obsession"
Adam & Steve2005writer: "Obsession"
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City2002Video Game writer: "Obsession" - as M. Des Barnes
Just Can't Get Enough2002writer: "Obsession"
Lucky Numbers2000writer: "Obsession"
Sugar Town1999"Gravy Stain Girl"
Edge of Seventeen1998writer: "Obsession" - as Michael Philip Des Barres
Writer's Block1990Short writer: "Obsession"
MacGyver1989TV Series lyrics - 1 episode
Distant Thunder1988as Michael DesBarres, "Too Far Too Fast"
World Gone Wild1987writer: "A World Gone Wild"
9½ Weeks1986producer: "I Do What I Do Theme from 9 1/2 Weeks" - as Michael DesBarres / writer: "I Do What I Do Theme from 9 1/2 Weeks" - as Michael DesBarres
Knight Rider1985TV Series writer - 1 episode
Commando1985lyrics: "WE FIGHT FOR LOVE"
The Boys Next Door1985writer: "Let Me Rock"
Saturday Night's Main Event1985TV Series writer: "Obsession" - as Rick DeBarres
Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment1985performer: "The Secret Is Safe" - as Michael Desbarres / writer: "The Secret Is Safe" - as Michael Desbarres
A Night in Heaven1983performer: "Obsession" / writer: "Obsession"
WKRP in Cincinnati1978TV Series writer - 1 episode

Writer

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Deathbed Salesman: My conversation with Kim Fowley2013Documentary short co-writer completed

Producer

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Deathbed Salesman: My conversation with Kim Fowley2013Documentary short producer completed

Self

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Deathbed Salesman: My conversation with Kim Fowley2013Documentary short completed
Allee Willis Loves DetroitDocumentary filming
AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to Steve Martin2015TV SpecialHimself (uncredited)
Ghoulies: From Toilets to Terror - The Making of Ghoulies2015Video documentary shortHimself
The Playboy Morning Show2015TV SeriesHimself
Michael Des Barres: Who Do You Want Me to Be?2014DocumentaryHimself
Inside Metal: The Pioneers of L.A. Hard Rock and Metal2014Documentary
Richard E. Grant's Hotel Secrets2012TV Series documentaryHimself
The Power of Wow2011Documentary short
Love Lounge2005TV SeriesHimself
Mayor of the Sunset Strip2003DocumentaryHimself - Silverhead
E! True Hollywood Story2002TV Series documentaryHimself
New American Bandstand 19651987TV SeriesHimself
The Bruce Forsyth Show1966TV SeriesHimself

Archive Footage

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Let's Spend the Night Together2010DocumentaryHimself
Superboy1992TV SeriesAdam Verrell
MacGyver1989-1991TV SeriesMurdoc

Awards

Won Awards

YearAwardCeremonyNominationMovie
2011Action on Film AwardAction on Film International Film Festival, USALegends Award
2002Feature Film AwardNew York International Independent Film & Video FestivalBest ActorOcean Park (2002)

Nominated Awards

YearAwardCeremonyNominationMovie
1987Razzie AwardRazzie AwardsWorst Original SongNine 1/2 Weeks (1986)

Source: IMDb, Wikipedia

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