Michael C. Burgess (editor)

Michael Charles Burgess (born December 8, 1956) is a British actor, poet, activist and former editor of The Star-News who appeared in the films Twelve Views of Kensal House, Hacksaw and Friend of the World. 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.

Michael C. Burgess
Born
Michael Charles Burgess

(1956-12-08) December 8, 1956
NationalityBritish
Other namesMike Burgess
Alma materLondon College of Communication
Occupations
  • Actor
  • editor
  • poet
  • activist
Years active1978–present
EmployerThe Star-News
OrganizationOutRage!
Known for
  • Journalism
  • Political activism
Notable credits
Movement
Parent
  • Geoffrey Burgess (father)
RelativesHannah Burgess (great-great-great-grandmother)
Co-Treasurer of OutRage!
In office
May 1990  September 4, 1990
Editor of The Star-News
In office
March 29, 2002  September 23, 2004
Websitehttp://byronik.com

Personal life

Burgess was born to Geoffrey Burgess, an Oxford Times freelance writer. 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.[1]

In the 1980s, Burgess aided The Non-Stop Picket of South Africa House that called for Nelson Mandela's release from prison.[1] He described how the Picket became part of his daily routine and that he noticed early picketers lost their motivation and gave up.[2]

Career

1988-1990

In 1988, Burgess interviewed several British black gay men and women in an article he wrote for The Voice.[3] He is a Brixton bedsit poet[1] and his verse, Blue Rhapsody, was published in Once I Was a Washing Machine in 1989.[4] 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.[5] Another verse, The Victims, was published in the 1990 book The Cream of the Troubadour Poets by David Stuart Ryan.[6]

1990-2004

Burgess and Steve Stannard were elected co-treasurers for OutRage! in May, 1990 when it became a not-for-profit organization.[7] Stannard was ousted on September 4th.[8]

Burgess became Editor of The Star-News on March 29, 2002.[9] In 2003, he wrote a column about Steve Padilla, quoting him from a Mid-Bayfront speech at the San Diego Country Club.[10] Padilla claimed Burgess made wrong interpretations about his statement.[11][12] 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.[13] The next day, Burgess was removed from his duties as Editor.[14]

2004-2020

From 2004 to 2011, Burgess performed in plays in San Diego County such as Arcadia, The Engagement of Marjorie and Hay Fever.[15][16][17] In 2015, he was editor and publisher for Bailey Among The Angels and The Rican Eye Detective Agency by author Neil Raymond Ricco.[18][19] He acted in the films South of 8 (2016), Hacksaw (2020) and Friend of the World (2020).[20]

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
1984 Twelve Views of Kensal House Self [21][22]
2011 Stones of Fire Lance Altman Short film
2013 RAVEN: The American Dream Reginald Grimes Short film
2016 South of 8 Johannes Koppel [20]
2017 Insurance Jameson Short film
2018 Last Vacation Ron Short film
2020 Hacksaw [20]
Friend of the World Berenger [20][23]
2022 Mike & Fred vs The Dead Grandpa Ben [20]
2023 Penance Detective Mason Brannigan

Stage credits

Year Title Role Theater Notes
2004 Hay Fever David Bliss OnStage Playhouse [15]
The Engagement of Marjorie Carl Driskle Lamplighters Community Theater [16]
2005 Birthday Suite Dick OnStage Playhouse by Robin Hawdon, Aubrey Award nominee
2007 Arcadia Captain Brice Cygnet Theatre Company [17]
2011 The Cask of Amontillado Montressor Victory Theater Both part of DangerHouse Productions' Fear, Beautiful Fear
Crime in the Madhouse Dr. Caldwell

References

  1. Hardyment, Christina (1995-06-29). "Byron's lost family: a poetic mystery". The Daily Telegraph. p. 13. Retrieved 2023-08-26 via Newspapers.com.
  2. Brown, Gavin; Yaffe, Helen (2017-10-16). Youth Activism and Solidarity: The non-stop picket against Apartheid (1st ed.). Taylor & Francis. ISBN 9781138828865 via Google Books.
  3. Burgess, Michael (1988-01-19). "Why We're Proud to be Gay". The Voice. p. 19.
  4. Once I was a Washing Machine. Federation of Worker Writers and Community Publishers. 1989. p. 14. ISBN 0-906411-02-5.
  5. 'Once I was a Washing Machine'. London: Fight Racism! Fight Imperialism!. 1989. p. 14. ISSN 0143-5426 via Internet Archive.
  6. Ryan, David Stuart (1990-06-30). The Cream of the Troubadour Poets. Kozmik Press Centre. ISBN 0-905116-194.
  7. Lucas, Ian (1998). OutRage!: An Oral History. London: Cassell & Co. p. 22. ISBN 9780304333578 via Google Books.
  8. "OutRage!: An Oral History | OutRage!". 1999-02-06. Retrieved 2023-10-08.
  9. "Let's get fiscal". The Star-News. 2002-03-29. p. 6. Retrieved 2023-09-01.
  10. Burgess, Michael C. (2003-02-14). "Mid-Bayfront may be Padilla's legacy". The Star-News. p. 6. Retrieved 2023-08-24.
  11. Mallgren, Laura (2003-02-21). "Chula Vista mayor disowns country club quotes". The Star-News. p. 3. Retrieved 2023-08-24.
  12. Mallgren, Laura (2003-02-21). "Chula Vista mayor disowns country club quotes". The Star-News. p. 4. Retrieved 2023-08-24.
  13. Oakes, Amy (2004-09-22). "Financial dealings spotlighted in race". The San Diego Union Tribune. p. B-10:1. ProQuest 272353912. Retrieved 2023-08-26 via ProQuest.
  14. "SOUTH COUNTY OPINION | LETTERS". The San Diego Union Tribune (6th ed.). 2004-09-30. p. B-13. ProQuest 272372291. Retrieved 2023-08-26 via ProQuest.
  15. Dupuis, Kelley (2004-05-28). "Noel Coward comedy a hit at OnStage". The Star-News. p. 9. Retrieved 2023-09-01.
  16. Saenger, Diana (2004-12-15). "'The Engagement of Marjorie' winsome and fun". East County Gazette. p. 18.
  17. Welsh, Anne Marie (2007). "Cygnet's revival of Stoppard classic combines wit, warmth". San Diego Union Tribune. Archived from the original on 2010-09-19 via Cygnet Theatre Company.
  18. Ricco, Neil Raymond (2015). Burgess, Michael (ed.). Bailey Among The Angels. San Diego, California: Byronik. ASIN B01A2NGDBE.
  19. Ricco, Neil Raymond (2015). Burgess, Michael (ed.). The Rican Eye Detective Agency. San Diego, California: Byronik. ASIN B019R5RYKC.
  20. "Michael C. Burgess - Rotten Tomatoes". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 2023-10-08.
  21. "12 Views of Kensal House". BFI Southbank Programme Notes. 2022-08-18. Retrieved 2023-09-01.
  22. "Michael Burgess | BFI". British Film Institute. 2023-08-29. Archived from the original on 2023-08-29. Retrieved 2023-10-08.
  23. Noonan, John (2023-04-21). "Friend of the World". FilmInk. Retrieved 2023-09-01.
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