Michael Martin Harvey

Biography

Michael Martin-Harvey was the only son of the celebrated Edwardian actor-manager Sir John Martin Harvey. Highly artistic his interests extended to dance, the stage, poetry, painting and pottery. Not blessed with the conventional good looks of his famous father, he merely paddled in the shallows of film, often cast in 'character' roles. He appeared in about a dozen films from the 20s - 50s with just one leading role, that of Charles Peace the eponymous Victorian criminal. Michael's first film appearance came in The Only Way (1925), an adaptation of Charles Dickens well known novel 'A Tale of Two Cities' Sir John played Sidney Carton re creating the role he first played on stage in 1899. The film was noteworthy as being the first film to attain a length of 10,000 feet. Michael was married to Hester Margetson a noted illustrator of children's books. Michael and Hester shared a love of dance and together formed a small ballet touring company - The Martin-Harvey Miniature Ballet, Michael having worked at one time or another with several key figures including Frederick Ashton, Sergei Diaghilev and Isadora Duncan. In the 50s Michael teamed with the composer Margaret More to form the Hans Andersen Players, performing selected works from the well known children's author. Michael died in 1974 and was much beloved by all who knew him.