Michael Starke (actor)

Michael Starke (born 13 November 1957) is a British actor best known for his role as Thomas 'Sinbad' Sweeney which he played for 16 years in the soap opera Brookside. Starke then appeared in the ITV1 Sunday night drama The Royal as Kenneth Hopkirk, as policeman Arthur in the film The 51st State and as himself on Lily Savage's Blankety Blank.
He appeared in the pantomime Cinderella in Southport over Christmas 2005, alongside Stuart Wade from Emmerdale, and in Aladdin during Christmas 2006, along with comedian Syd Little, in York. He also appeared in the play No Holds Bard, alongside Andrew Schofield.
In 2007 he joined the cast of Coronation Street as the head of new family the Mortons as Jerry Morton, who owns a kebab shop. He, along with the rest of the Morton family, left the show in September 2008 due to a new producer wanting the show to go in a new direction.
His daughter Hayley Hampson appeared on the ITV show Grease Is the Word and made it onto the live shows; she finished in sixth place. His other daughter Jamie is an actress and appeared in an episode of The Royal.
In recent years, he has starred in many touring productions of West End musicals, including playing the role of Edna Turnblad in the first UK tour of Hairspray and originating the role of Monsignor Howard in the first UK tour of Sister Act the musical. He also made appearances in Anything Goes and Our Day Out.
He appeared in the action thriller film ″Jack Ryan : Shadow Recruit″ released in 2014, directed by Kenneth Branagh
In 2014, Starke starred in the soap opera Doctors.
He will soon be appearing at Liverpool Playhouse in the new musical 'The Star'