Michael Forest
Encyclopedia
Gerald Michael Charlebois, better known as Michael Forest (born April 17, 1929 in Harvey, North Dakota
) is an American actor who provides the voices for many animated titles. At the age of 71, he provided the voice of Prince Olympius in Power Rangers: Lightspeed Rescue
. In his earlier years, Forest was a film and television actor, notably playing the part of Apollo
in the 1967 Star Trek
episode Who Mourns for Adonais?. Forest was also a rugged-looking addition to Roger Corman
's list of leading men during their 1950s heyday.
In some of his roles he does for non-union animation dubbing he is known as Mike Forest, Michael Forrest, Mike Forrest, Alfred Thor, Russell Thor, and Russel Thor.
, he moved with his family at a very early age to Seattle, Washington
where he attended the University of Washington
for a year and then made his way south to the sunnier campuses of San Jose State University
. He graduated with a B.A. in English and drama.
Forest, excelled in athletics in his school years, and was training to be a boxer when his coach suggested he choose between boxing
and acting
, since he could possibly have his face smashed in the ring, and that could end any acting career to which he might be aspiring. Michael decided to choose acting.
, he began to study with veteran actor/acting teacher Jeff Corey
where he first met Roger Corman
who asked him to be in The Saga of the Viking Women (1957), a film he was directing. His brother, Gene Corman, then cast him to co-star in Beast from Haunted Cave, followed by Roger’s Ski Troop Attack
(1959) and then Atlas
(1960), which was filmed in Greece
. In between these movies, Mike continued as a stage actor in Shakespearean plays and other legitimate productions. For the next ten years, he juggled his theatre career and his starring roles in hundreds of television shows. He played Othello
three times at the San Diego Old Globe Theatre
where he also appeared as Petruchio
in Taming of the Shrew.
Forest was cast as ‘Apollo’ in the famous episode of Star Trek
, entitled "Who Mourns For Adonais?
" There was a call out for an actor who could handle Shakespeare’s dialogue and had the stature necessary for the character. At the time, Mike was appearing at the Old Globe and was the one actor they recommended. Throughout the late ‘50s and ‘60s, Michael went from one television show to another. He was under contract to Warner Brothers and Universal
and it was at the height of westerns, cops and robbers and other episodic shows. Michael starred or co-starred in most of them, all the while appearing on stage in regional theatres around the country.
, but made films throughout Spain
, France
and England
. While Forest was living there he learned to speak fluent Italian. When he arrived, he was immediately cast in “100 Rifles
,” went on to make 26 films and dubbed over 500 films while he was in Rome. His last feature overseas was Mohammad, Messenger of God (known also as The Message) on which he worked for a year all over North Africa
. Forest did almost all of his own stunts over there. In 1979, just after Michael returned to Los Angeles, he was asked to co-star in a film with Franco Nero
, Shark Fighters, which was made in Cozumel
. When he returned from location, Michael was contracted to play a leading role on As The World Turns
. He relocated to New York City
where he lived for the length of his contract playing Nick Andropolous and even traveled to Greece
to film segments of the soap opera.
, he started flying Ultralights and that led to the realization of his boyhood dream. Mike now holds a pilot’s license and goes flying as often as time allows. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife and a cat named “Puffy.”
Harvey, North Dakota
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,989 people, 926 households, and 529 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,031.8 people per square mile . There were 1,056 housing units at an average density of 547.8 per square mile...
) is an American actor who provides the voices for many animated titles. At the age of 71, he provided the voice of Prince Olympius in Power Rangers: Lightspeed Rescue
Power Rangers: Lightspeed Rescue
Power Rangers Lightspeed Rescue is the 2000 incarnation of the Power Rangers TV franchise, based on the Super Sentai series Kyuukyuu Sentai GoGoFive....
. In his earlier years, Forest was a film and television actor, notably playing the part of Apollo
Apollo
Apollo is one of the most important and complex of the Olympian deities in Greek and Roman mythology...
in the 1967 Star Trek
Star Trek
Star Trek is an American science fiction entertainment franchise created by Gene Roddenberry. The core of Star Trek is its six television series: The Original Series, The Animated Series, The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager, and Enterprise...
episode Who Mourns for Adonais?. Forest was also a rugged-looking addition to Roger Corman
Roger Corman
Roger William Corman is an American film producer, director and actor. He has mostly worked on low-budget B movies. Some of Corman's work has an established critical reputation, such as his cycle of films adapted from the tales of Edgar Allan Poe, and in 2009 he won an Honorary Academy Award for...
's list of leading men during their 1950s heyday.
In some of his roles he does for non-union animation dubbing he is known as Mike Forest, Michael Forrest, Mike Forrest, Alfred Thor, Russell Thor, and Russel Thor.
Early life
Born in Harvey, North DakotaHarvey, North Dakota
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,989 people, 926 households, and 529 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,031.8 people per square mile . There were 1,056 housing units at an average density of 547.8 per square mile...
, he moved with his family at a very early age to Seattle, Washington
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
where he attended the University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
for a year and then made his way south to the sunnier campuses of San Jose State University
San José State University
San Jose State University is a public university located in San Jose, California, United States...
. He graduated with a B.A. in English and drama.
Forest, excelled in athletics in his school years, and was training to be a boxer when his coach suggested he choose between boxing
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
and acting
Acting
Acting is the work of an actor or actress, which is a person in theatre, television, film, or any other storytelling medium who tells the story by portraying a character and, usually, speaking or singing the written text or play....
, since he could possibly have his face smashed in the ring, and that could end any acting career to which he might be aspiring. Michael decided to choose acting.
Career
In 1955, Michael arrived in Los AngelesLos Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, he began to study with veteran actor/acting teacher Jeff Corey
Jeff Corey
Jeff Corey was an American stage and screen actor and director who became a well-respected acting teacher after being blacklisted in the 1950s.-Biography:...
where he first met Roger Corman
Roger Corman
Roger William Corman is an American film producer, director and actor. He has mostly worked on low-budget B movies. Some of Corman's work has an established critical reputation, such as his cycle of films adapted from the tales of Edgar Allan Poe, and in 2009 he won an Honorary Academy Award for...
who asked him to be in The Saga of the Viking Women (1957), a film he was directing. His brother, Gene Corman, then cast him to co-star in Beast from Haunted Cave, followed by Roger’s Ski Troop Attack
Ski Troop Attack
Ski Troop Attack is a 1960 American war film directed by Roger Corman.- Plot summary :A group of ski troopers behind German lines during World War II disrupts Nazi plans and blow up an important bridge.- Production :...
(1959) and then Atlas
Atlas (film)
Atlas is a 1961 action-adventure film directed by Roger Corman, filmed in Greece....
(1960), which was filmed in Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
. In between these movies, Mike continued as a stage actor in Shakespearean plays and other legitimate productions. For the next ten years, he juggled his theatre career and his starring roles in hundreds of television shows. He played Othello
Othello
The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written in approximately 1603, and based on the Italian short story "Un Capitano Moro" by Cinthio, a disciple of Boccaccio, first published in 1565...
three times at the San Diego Old Globe Theatre
Old Globe Theatre
The Old Globe is a professional theatre company located in Balboa Park in San Diego, California. It produces about 15 plays and musicals annually in summer and winter seasons...
where he also appeared as Petruchio
Petruchio
Petruchio is the male romantic lead in Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew . Petruchio is a fortune seeker who enters into a marriage with a strong-willed young woman named Kate and then proceeds to "tame" her temperamental spirit...
in Taming of the Shrew.
Forest was cast as ‘Apollo’ in the famous episode of Star Trek
Star Trek
Star Trek is an American science fiction entertainment franchise created by Gene Roddenberry. The core of Star Trek is its six television series: The Original Series, The Animated Series, The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager, and Enterprise...
, entitled "Who Mourns For Adonais?
Who Mourns for Adonais? (TOS episode)
"Who Mourns for Adonais?" is a second season episode of Star Trek: The Original Series. It is episode #31, production #33, first broadcast September 22, 1967, and repeated May 10, 1968. The allusion is to the 1821 elegy Adonais by Percy Bysshe Shelley. It was written by Gilbert Ralston and Gene L...
" There was a call out for an actor who could handle Shakespeare’s dialogue and had the stature necessary for the character. At the time, Mike was appearing at the Old Globe and was the one actor they recommended. Throughout the late ‘50s and ‘60s, Michael went from one television show to another. He was under contract to Warner Brothers and Universal
Universal Studios
Universal Pictures , a subsidiary of NBCUniversal, is one of the six major movie studios....
and it was at the height of westerns, cops and robbers and other episodic shows. Michael starred or co-starred in most of them, all the while appearing on stage in regional theatres around the country.
Living in Rome
From 1968 to 1978, Michael lived in RomeRome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, but made films throughout Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. While Forest was living there he learned to speak fluent Italian. When he arrived, he was immediately cast in “100 Rifles
100 Rifles
100 Rifles is a 1969 western directed by Tom Gries. The film stars Jim Brown, Burt Reynolds, Raquel Welch, and Fernando Lamas. The original music score was composed by Jerry Goldsmith.-Plot:...
,” went on to make 26 films and dubbed over 500 films while he was in Rome. His last feature overseas was Mohammad, Messenger of God (known also as The Message) on which he worked for a year all over North Africa
North Africa
North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, linked by the Sahara to Sub-Saharan Africa. Geopolitically, the United Nations definition of Northern Africa includes eight countries or territories; Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, and...
. Forest did almost all of his own stunts over there. In 1979, just after Michael returned to Los Angeles, he was asked to co-star in a film with Franco Nero
Franco Nero
Franco Nero is an Italian actor.-Early life:Nero was born Francesco Sparanero in San Prospero Parmense , the son of a sergeant in the...
, Shark Fighters, which was made in Cozumel
Cozumel
Cozumel is an island in the Caribbean Sea off the eastern coast of Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, opposite Playa del Carmen, and close to the Yucatan Channel. Cozumel is one of the ten municipalities of the state of Quintana Roo...
. When he returned from location, Michael was contracted to play a leading role on As The World Turns
As the World Turns
As the World Turns is an American television soap opera that aired on CBS from April 2, 1956 to September 17, 2010. Irna Phillips created As the World Turns as a sister show to her other soap opera Guiding Light...
. He relocated to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
where he lived for the length of his contract playing Nick Andropolous and even traveled to Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
to film segments of the soap opera.
Living in New York
While living in New York, he even ended up in a Broadway Show, Breakfast With Les and Bes, back on stage. After a few years on another soap, The Catlins, shooting in Atlanta, He is a member of an Equity-Waiver theatre company, and was nominated for an award for Outstanding Male Actor in a Drama for his performance in Painting Churches.Personal life
Since Mike was a teenager, he had a fascination with airplanes. In fact, he was learning to fly seaplanes in Washington. When he moved, all that was put on hold. However, while he was living in New YorkNew York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, he started flying Ultralights and that led to the realization of his boyhood dream. Mike now holds a pilot’s license and goes flying as often as time allows. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife and a cat named “Puffy.”
Anime
- The Big OThe Big Ois a Japanese animated television series created by director Kazuyoshi Katayama and designer Keiichi Sato for Sunrise Studios. The writing staff was assembled by the series' head writer, Chiaki J. Konaka....
- Alex Rosewater - Eureka SevenEureka SevenEureka Seven, known in Japan as , is a mecha anime TV series by Bones. Eureka Seven tells the story of Renton Thurston and the outlaw group Gekkostate, his relationship with the enigmatic mecha pilot Eureka, and the mystery of the Coralians....
- Braya - WXIII: Patlabor the Movie 3WXIII: Patlabor the Movie 3is a 2001 Japanese animated science-fiction/thriller film chief directed and storyboarded by Fumihiko Takayama, directed by Takuji Endō, written by Miki Tori based on the concept by Headgear, animated by Madhouse and produced by Bandai Visual and Tohokushinsha....
- Detective Takeshi Kusumi - Gatchaman (1994) - Chief
- Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone ComplexGhost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complexis an anime television series produced by Production I.G and based on Masamune Shirow's manga Ghost in the Shell. It was written and directed by Kenji Kamiyama, with original character design by Hajime Shimomura and a soundtrack by Yoko Kanno...
- Kubota - Mars Daybreak - EF Commander
- Ettore lo fusto - Achille
- Scrapped PrincessScrapped Princessis a Japanese light novel series by Ichiro Sakaki and illustrated by Nakayohi Mogudan, a popular adult dōjin artist. In 2003, it was adapted into an anime series produced by Bones...
- King Balteric - Street Fighter II VStreet Fighter II V, is an anime series based on the fighting game Street Fighter II. Directed by Gisaburo Sugii , the series first aired in Japan in 1995, from April 10 to November 27, on YTV...
- Captain Dorai (Animaze Dub) - Teknoman - Commander Jamison
- Wings of Honneamise - Dr, Gnomm
- Mobile Suit Gundam: The 08th MS TeamMobile Suit Gundam: The 08th MS Teamis an original video animation anime series in the Gundam franchise. Released from January 25, 1996, to April 25, 1999, the 11-episode series details the adventures of an Earth Federation Space Force ground unit during the One Year War - specifically before the original 1979 Gundam series and into...
- Commander Kojima - The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya - Arakawa
- Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit - Balsa'a friend, the Swordsmith /Blacksmith
Live action
- Masked RiderMasked Rider (TV series)Masked Rider is an American adaptation of the Japanese television series Kamen Rider Black RX, the ninth in a line of series in the popular Kamen Rider Series franchise. It was produced by Saban and aired on FOX part of the Fox Kids program block from September 16, 1995 to August 31, 1996 and then...
- Lavasect (voice, credited as Alfred Thor) - Power Rangers: Lightspeed RescuePower Rangers: Lightspeed RescuePower Rangers Lightspeed Rescue is the 2000 incarnation of the Power Rangers TV franchise, based on the Super Sentai series Kyuukyuu Sentai GoGoFive....
- Olympius (voice)
TV roles
- Dick Van Dyke Show - Father Joe Coogan
- The Outer Limits - Stuart Peters
- The Man from U.N.C.L.E.The Man from U.N.C.L.E.The Man from U.N.C.L.E. is an American television series that was broadcast on NBC from September 22, 1964, to January 15, 1968. It follows the exploits of two secret agents, played by Robert Vaughn and David McCallum, who work for a fictitious secret international espionage and law-enforcement...
- Lt. Fest - Gilligan's IslandGilligan's IslandGilligan's Island is an American television series created and produced by Sherwood Schwartz and originally produced by United Artists Television. The situation comedy series featured Bob Denver; Alan Hale, Jr.; Jim Backus; Natalie Schafer; Tina Louise; Russell Johnson; and Dawn Wells. It aired for...
- Ugundi - Star TrekStar TrekStar Trek is an American science fiction entertainment franchise created by Gene Roddenberry. The core of Star Trek is its six television series: The Original Series, The Animated Series, The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager, and Enterprise...
-Apollo - Get SmartGet SmartGet Smart is an American comedy television series that satirizes the secret agent genre. Created by Mel Brooks with Buck Henry, the show starred Don Adams , Barbara Feldon , and Edward Platt...
- Basil
Film roles
- Mohammad, Messenger of God - Khalid bin Walid
- Cast AwayCast AwayCast Away is a 2000 drama film directed by Robert Zemeckis and starring Tom Hanks as a FedEx employee stranded on an uninhabited island after his plane crashes in the South Pacific. The film depicts his successful attempts to survive on the island using remnants of his plane's cargo, as well as his...
- Pilot Jack - Cowboy Bebop: The MovieCowboy Bebop: The Movie, known internationally as Cowboy Bebop: The Movie, is a 2001 animated film directed by Shinichirō Watanabe. The screenplay was written by Keiko Nobumoto, based on the Cowboy Bebop television series created by Sunrise. The plot centers on Spike Spiegel and his crew as they find a criminal who is...
- Ticket - Mobile Suit Gundam F91Mobile Suit Gundam F91is a 1991 anime film, which was Gundam creator Yoshiyuki Tomino's attempt to launch a new Gundam saga, set thirty years after Char's Counterattack and twenty seven years after Gundam Unicorn. He re-teamed with character designer Yoshikazu Yasuhiko and mecha designer Kunio Okawara for the occasion....
- Theo Fairchild - The Scarlet Worm as Judge Hanchett
- King Kong LivesKing Kong LivesKing Kong Lives is a 1986 American monster movie produced by DEG Studios. Directed by John Guillermin and featuring special effects by Carlo Rambaldi, the film starred Linda Hamilton and Brian Kerwin. The film was a belated sequel to King Kong...
- Vance - Lupin III: The Mystery of MamoMystery of MamoThe Secret of Mamo, or The Mystery of Mamo, is the most common English name for the 1978 first animated feature film based on the Lupin III character created by Monkey Punch, originally released in Japan as simply and now known there as in order to differentiate it from the four others that...
- Agent Gordon (Streamline) - The Castle of CagliostroThe Castle of Cagliostrois a 1979 Japanese animated film co-written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki. It is one of the films featuring master thief Arsène Lupin III.The second animated Lupin III movie and arguably the best known, Castle of Cagliostro was written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki, who also co-directed the first...
- Additional Voices - Ninja ScrollNinja Scrollis a 1993 Japanese animated action thriller film set in feudal Japan, written and directed by Yoshiaki Kawajiri who was best known for his previous thriller Wicked City . The character designs were done by Yutaka Minowa. The movie is in homage to the Ninpōchō series, ninja novels by Futaro Yamada...
- 100 Rifles100 Rifles100 Rifles is a 1969 western directed by Tom Gries. The film stars Jim Brown, Burt Reynolds, Raquel Welch, and Fernando Lamas. The original music score was composed by Jerry Goldsmith.-Plot:...
as Humara
Video games roles
- Beat Down: Fists of Vengeance - Zanetti (uncredited)
- Dynasty Warriors 5Dynasty Warriors 5is a Hack and slash video game set in China and the fifth installment in the Dynasty Warriors series, developed by Omega Force and published by Koei. The game was released on the PlayStation 2 and Xbox. It is based on the Chinese novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms by Luo Guanzhong.-Gameplay:The...
- Zuo CiZuo CiZuo Ci is a legendary personage of the late Han Dynasty and Three Kingdoms periods of Chinese history. Though he is known as a local of Lujiang, the years of his birth and death are unknown. It is believed that he had existed before the collapse of the Han Dynasty, and it is claimed that he lived...
(uncredited) - Dynasty Warriors 5: Empires - Zuo CiZuo CiZuo Ci is a legendary personage of the late Han Dynasty and Three Kingdoms periods of Chinese history. Though he is known as a local of Lujiang, the years of his birth and death are unknown. It is believed that he had existed before the collapse of the Han Dynasty, and it is claimed that he lived...
(uncredited) - Dynasty Warriors 5: Xtreme Legends - Zuo CiZuo CiZuo Ci is a legendary personage of the late Han Dynasty and Three Kingdoms periods of Chinese history. Though he is known as a local of Lujiang, the years of his birth and death are unknown. It is believed that he had existed before the collapse of the Han Dynasty, and it is claimed that he lived...
(uncredited) - Gundam Side Story 0079: Rise From the AshesGundam Side Story 0079: Rise From the AshesMobile Suit Gundam Side Story 0079: Rise From the Ashes, also known in Japan by the alternate title of is a video game that was released for the Dreamcast. It is based in the Universal Century timeline of the popular Mobile Suit Gundam franchise. It was developed and published by Bandai...
- Additional Voices - Operation DarknessOperation DarknessOperation Darkness is a tactical role-playing game for the Xbox 360 developed and published by Japanese studio Success on October 11, 2007 in Japan. A North American version was released on June 24, 2008 by Atlus...
- Lieutenant-Colonel James Gallant (uncredited) - Romancing SaGaRomancing SaGais a role-playing video game originally developed and published by Square as the fourth game of their SaGa series. Initially made available in January 1992 for the Super Famicom, the game was later ported to the WonderSwan Color handheld system in December 2002, with both releases being exclusive...
- Theodore (uncredited) - The BouncerThe Bounceris a beat 'em up for the Sony PlayStation 2 video game console. It was co-developed by Square and DreamFactory. The game features character designs by Tetsuya Nomura and music by Noriko Matsueda and Takahito Eguchi....
- Master Mikado (uncredited) - Warriors OrochiWarriors Orochi, is a PlayStation 2 and Xbox 360 hack and slash video game developed by Koei and Omega Force. It is a crossover of two of Koei's popular video game series, Dynasty Warriors and Samurai Warriors...
- Zuo CiZuo CiZuo Ci is a legendary personage of the late Han Dynasty and Three Kingdoms periods of Chinese history. Though he is known as a local of Lujiang, the years of his birth and death are unknown. It is believed that he had existed before the collapse of the Han Dynasty, and it is claimed that he lived...
(uncredited)
External links
- Michael Forest at the English Voice Actor & Production Staff Database