Michael Balk
{{short description|Australian actor and producer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Michael Balk
| image =
| nationality = Australian
| alma_mater = Queensland University of Technology
| occupation = Actor, Producer, Television Presenter
| years_active = 2000–present
}}
Michael Balk is an Australian actor, television presenter, radio announcer{{Cite web|title=Announcers|url=https://www.4mbs.com.au/broadcasting/4mbs/announcers/|access-date=2021-12-12|website=4MBS Classic FM 103.7|language=en-US}} and producer.{{Cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2118003/|title=Michael Balk|publisher=IMDb|access-date=2020-04-07}}
Personal life
Michael grew up in the Clarence Valley in Northern Rivers New South Wales.{{Cite web|url=https://www.northernstar.com.au/news/grafton-dirtgirlworld-afi-mcquillen/720320/|title=Dirtgirlworld creators win AFI|website=Northern Star|language=en|access-date=2020-04-12}} He attended primary and secondary school in Grafton{{Cite web|url=https://www.dailyexaminer.com.au/news/australia-going-bananas-for-dave/3055733/|title=Australia going bananas for Dave|last=Apps|first=Lesley|website=Daily Examiner|language=en|access-date=2020-04-12}} before moving to Brisbane to study Arts/Law at Queensland University of Technology.{{Cite web|url=https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-balk-95797b26/|title=Michael Balk: Education|via=LinkedIn}}
Balk is the nephew of acclaimed filmmaker Philip Hearnshaw,{{Cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/australian-films-right-hand-man-20120824-24rr2.html|title=Australian film's right-hand man|date=2012-08-24|website=The Sydney Morning Herald|language=en|access-date=2020-04-12}} and grandson of Australian Liberal Politician Eric Hearnshaw.
Career
Balk is best known for his original television roles, notably scrapboy in dirtgirlworld{{Cite web|url=https://www.coffscoastadvocate.com.au/news/logie-nom-for-dirtgirlworld/498099/|title=Logie nomination for dirtgirlworld|website=Coffs Coast Advocate|language=en|access-date=2020-04-07}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.coffscoastadvocate.com.au/news/valleys-dirt-girl-success/420685/|title=Valley's dirtgirlworld success|website=Coffs Coast Advocate|language=en|access-date=2020-04-07}} & Get Grubby TV,{{Cite web|url=https://www.northernstar.com.au/news/kids-will-get-grubby/2475355/|title=Local kids will Get Grubby in Dirtgirlworld spin-off|last=LukeMortimer|website=Northern Star|language=en|access-date=2020-04-07}} Glen Goosebump in SMASHHDOWN!,{{Cite web|url=https://tvtonight.com.au/2018/12/airdate-smashhdown.html|title=Airdate: Smashhdown!|date=2018-12-03|website=TV Tonight|language=en-AU|access-date=2020-04-07}} and various characters on BrainBuzz.{{Cite web|url=https://www.dailyexaminer.com.au/news/grafton-actors-newest-roles-of-a-lifetime/3337100/|title=Grafton actor's newest roles of a lifetime|last=Apps|first=Lesley|website=Daily Examiner|language=en|access-date=2020-04-07}}
Michael appears in musicals,{{Cite web|url=https://www.newcastleherald.com.au/story/3647943/making-her-own-breaks/|title=MAKING HER OWN BREAKS|last=Kellar|first=Jim|date=2016-01-09|website=Newcastle Herald|language=en|access-date=2020-04-07}} theatre productions{{Cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/opinion/costa-georgiadis-gets-grubby-on-stage-20160111-gm33e0.html|title=Costa Georgiadis gets grubby on stage|last=Blake|first=Elissa|date=2016-01-11|website=The Sydney Morning Herald|language=en|access-date=2020-04-07}} and television commercials.{{Cite web|url=https://www.dailyexaminer.com.au/news/apn-second-fiddle-to-a/132299/|title=Second fiddle to a whopper|website=Daily Examiner|language=en|access-date=2020-04-07}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.qt.com.au/news/Balk-hops-into-mockumentary/1091982/|title=Balk hops into mockumentary|website=Queensland Times|language=en|access-date=2020-04-07}}
Between 2006 and 2010 Michael was lead presenter and producer at Steve Irwin's Australia Zoo.{{Cite web|url=https://www.couriermail.com.au/ipad/tv-mouse-a-must-for-preschoolers/news-story/177cea945a16dba35dd2d16a8226b58f|title=TV: Mouse a must for preschoolers|date=2011-01-27|website=couriermail.com.au|language=en|access-date=2020-04-07}}
Michael is the president{{Cite web|url=https://inqld.com.au/culture/2020/04/27/fighting-for-actors-and-entertainers-before-the-curtain-rises-again/|title=Tough fight for actors and entertainers before the curtain rises again|date=2020-04-27|website=InQueensland|language=en|access-date=2020-04-27}} of the Australian charity the Actors & Entertainers Benevolent Fund of Queensland.{{Cite web|url=https://abfqld.com.au/our-committee/|title=Our Committee {{!}} Actors' & Entertainers' Benevolent Fund of QLD Inc|language=en-AU|access-date=2020-04-07}} He served as president of Actors Equity Queensland for many years, and as a board director for the MEAA.{{Cite web|url=http://www.equityfoundation.org.au/industrial-admin/about-us.html\|title=Equity Foundation}} Michael is currently the Federal President of the Media Entertainment Arts Alliance.{{Cite web |date=2024-04-15 |title=Michael Balk elected new MEAA Federal President |url=https://www.meaa.org/news/michael-balk-elected-new-meaa-federal-president/ |access-date=2024-07-05 |website=MEAA |language=en}}
Awards and nominations
Michael was nominated for Best Emerging Artist at the Matilda Awards in 2005 and 2006.
In 2010 dirtgirlworld was nominated for a Logie Award in the Outstanding Children's Program category.{{Cite web|url=https://www.dailyexaminer.com.au/news/logie-nom-for-dirtgirlworld/498099/|title=Logie nomination for dirtgirlworld|website=Daily Examiner|language=en|access-date=2020-04-12}} The creators of the show dedicated the nomination to key creatives on the team citing Michael Balk among them.{{Cite web|url=https://www.tweeddailynews.com.au/news/logie-nom-for-dirtgirlworld/498099/|title=Logie nomination for dirtgirlworld|website=Tweed Daily News|language=en|access-date=2020-04-12}}
The stars of dirtgirlworld were recognized with an AFI Award in Melbourne, Australia in 2010.{{Cite web|url=https://www.dailymercury.com.au/news/grafton-dirtgirlworld-afi-mcquillen/720320/|title=Dirtgirlworld creators win AFI|website=Daily Mercury|language=en|access-date=2020-04-12}}
dirtgirlworld also received nominations for a BAFTA{{Cite web|url=https://tvtonight.com.au/2010/11/dirtgirlworld-nominated-for-bafta.html|title=dirtgirlworld nominated for BAFTA|date=2010-11-11|website=TV Tonight|language=en-AU|access-date=2020-04-12}} and Prix Jeunesse Award{{Cite web|url=https://thewest.com.au/entertainment/tv/dirtgirlworld-a-celebration-of-outdoors-fun-for-children-ng-ya-211978|title=Dirtgirlworld a celebration of outdoors fun for children|date=2010-05-19|website=The West Australian|language=en|access-date=2020-04-12}} in 2010, and for Outstanding Preschool Programme at the 2011 JAPAN prize{{Cite web|url=https://screenworks.com.au/profile/cate-mcquillen/|title=Cate McQuillen|website=Screenworks|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-12}} in Tokyo.
In 2013, Balk and the team from the ABC went on to win the International Digital Emmy Award in Cannes for their work on dirtgirlworld.{{Cite web|url=http://about.abc.net.au/press-releases/dirtgirlworld-cleans-up-at-digital-emmys/|title=ABC TV's dirtgirlworld cleans up at Digital Emmys|website=About the ABC|language=en-AU|access-date=2020-04-12}}
Balk was voted in the Clarence Valley's Most Influential People of 2019.{{Cite web|url=https://www.dailyexaminer.com.au/news/power-30-clarence-valleys-most-influential-people-/3894790/|title=Clarence Valley's most influential people #18-15|last=Howard|first=Lesley Apps, Tim|website=Daily Examiner|language=en|access-date=2020-04-07}}
References
External links
- {{IMDb name|2118003|Michael Balk}}
- [https://www.michaelbalk.com Michael Balk Official Website]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Balk, Michael}}
Category:Year of birth missing (living people)
Category:Date of birth missing (living people)
Category:Australian male television actors