Michael Preston (born Jack C. Davis; 14 May 1933 – 8 June 2026) was an English-born singer and television and film character actor who worked in his native United Kingdom, Australia, and the United States. He is sometimes credited as Mike Preston.
Contents
Life and career
Early life
Preston was born in what was then the Metropolitan Borough of Hackney in the County of London, England on 14 May 1933. He was a boxer and cartoon cameraman and then became a singer.
Music career
Preston launched a career as a singer after being discovered in the West End by agent record producer Denis Preston and appeared on the Oh Boy! television series, he released his first single on Decca Records A House, A Car And A Wedding Ring, by Jerry Lordan and his third record, Dirty Old Town (1959) was produced by Joe Meek. He had three Top 40 hits in the UK Singles Chart, including reaching No. 12 with his cover version of The Fleetwoods "Mr. Blue" in November 1959, before emigrating to Australia, where he worked as a nightclub singer.
Television and film
Preston later became a host on television, and also an actor. He was a regular host on In Melbourne Tonight in 1968, and in 1969 was a guest celebrity on the game show The Celebrity Game and went on to host the revival in 1976–1977.
His first ongoing starring role on television was in police drama series Homicide as Sen. Det. Bob Delaney from 1972 to 1973. He then had a recurring role in the soap opera Bellbird as Fr. John Kramer between 1974 and 1976.
He later took a lead role in the prison-based soap opera Punishment (1981) but this series was short-lived. In 1984, he had an ongoing role in Hot Pursuit, as the character Alec Shaw.
He made numerous guest appearances in television series both locally and internationally , including The A-Team, Max Headroom, Airwolf, Scarecrow and Mrs. King, Alien Nation, Ellen, and Highlander. He also made an appearance in the series Baywatch Nights.
Preston acted in films. His first feature was Surabaya Conspiracy (1969); other film roles included playing Pappagallo in Mad Max 2 (1981), his best-known role, and Jared-Syn in the science fiction B-movie Metalstorm: The Destruction of Jared-Syn (1983). H
He was nominated for the 1979 AACTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role for his role in The Last of the Knucklemen and he won two Logies for most popular male personality in Victoria.
Death
Preston died in Florida, USA on 8 June 2026, at the age of 93.
Selected filmography
Climb Up the Wall (1960) – Himself (singing next to the Albert Memorial)
Surabaya Conspiracy (1969) – Steven Blessing
Homicide (1972–73) – Bob Delaney
Barney (1976) – O'Shaughnessy
The Last of the Knucklemen (1979) – Pansy
Maybe This Time (1981) – Paddy
Mad Max 2 (1981) – Pappagallo
Duet for Four (1982) – Ray Martin
Metalstorm: The Destruction of Jared-Syn (1983) – Jared-Syn
A Caribbean Mystery (1983, TV movie) – Arthur Jackson
Blade in Hong Kong (1985, TV movie) – Charters
J.O.E. and the Colonel (1985, TV movie) – Schaefer
The Return of Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer (1986, TV movie) – David 'Dak' Anson Kola
Hunter (1987) – Evans (as Mike Preston)
Airwolf (1987, TV series) – Jack Ware
Fame (1987, TV series) – Jack Ware
Harry's Hong Kong (1987, TV movie) – Max Trumble
The Long Journey Home (1987, TV movie) – Frank Mota
Discography
"A House, A Car And A Wedding Ring" / "My Lucky Love" (1958) – (US No. 93, Aust No. 18) (Decca)
"Why, Why Why" / "Whispering Grass" (1958)
"In Surabaya" / "Dirty Old Town" (1959)
"Mr. Blue" / "Just Ask Your Heart" (1959) (UK No. 12)
"Too Old" / "A Girl Like You" (1960)
"I'd Do Anything" / "Where Is Love" (1960) (UK No. 23)
"Togetherness" / "Farewell My Love" (1960) (UK No. 41)
"Marry Me" / "Girl Without a Heart" (1961) (UK No. 14)
"Punish Her" / "From the Very First Rose" (1963)
"Dear Heart" / "Wonderful, Wonderful World" (1968) (Aust No. 20 Kent chart, No. 34 Go-Set chart) (Spin Records)
"Christmas Alphabet" (1968) (Aust No. 71 Kent chart) (Spin Records)
"Buona Sera Mrs. Campbell" (1969) (Aust No. 64 Kent chart) (Spin Records)
"Why" (1972) (Aust No. 70) (Fable Records)
