{{Short description|New Zealand actor, singer and playwright}} {{for|the U.S. Army general and politician|Michael J. Galvin}} {{EngvarB|date=November 2015}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2015}} {{Infobox person | name = Michael Galvin | image = Michael Galvin 2014.jpg | caption = Galvin in Fiji filming Shortland Street, 2014 | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=y|1967|3|27}} | birth_place = New Zealand | occupation = Television actor | spouse = Melissa Dines (m. 2004; sep. 2009) | children = 1 }}
'''Michael Galvin''' (born 27 March 1967) is a New Zealand actor, singer and playwright, well known for his role as Chris Warner on the soap opera Shortland Street, a character he has played almost since the show's debut in 1992 until 1996 and again from 2000 to present, and remains as of 2025, the only original cast member. He is the longest serving television soap opera actor in New Zealand.
==Early life== Galvin attended and graduated both Victoria University and Toi Whakaari: New Zealand Drama School.<ref>{{cite web|title=Michael Galvin|url=http://www.playmarket.org.nz/playwrights/michael-galvin|website=Playmarket|accessdate=3 March 2017|archive-date=3 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170303201211/http://www.playmarket.org.nz/playwrights/michael-galvin|url-status=live}}</ref> He graduated from Toi Whakaari in 1989 with a Diploma in Acting.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Graduate|url=https://www.toiwhakaari.ac.nz/graduate|access-date=2021-08-09|website=www.toiwhakaari.ac.nz|archive-date=10 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210710042217/https://www.toiwhakaari.ac.nz/graduate|url-status=live}}</ref>
==Career==
===Shortland Street=== In 1992 Galvin, a theatre actor at the time, auditioned for a role as Chris Warner in the upcoming Television New Zealand soap opera, ''Shortland Street'' alongside his flatmate Marton Csokas.<ref name=audition>{{cite web|title=Star likes Dr Warners medicine|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/473514/Star-likes-Dr-Warners-medicine|work=Stuff|date=May 2010|access-date=13 September 2011|archive-date=25 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121025004516/http://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/473514/Star-likes-Dr-Warners-medicine|url-status=live}}</ref> Galvin won the role, with Csokas later going on to play Leonard Dodds. Galvin predicted the show would only last 12 months.<ref name=birthday>{{cite web|title=Shortie's old enough to vote|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/television-industry/news/article.cfm?c_id=260&objectid=10646999|work=The New Zealand Herald|date=May 2010|access-date=13 September 2011|archive-date=25 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121025232710/http://www.nzherald.co.nz/television-industry/news/article.cfm?c_id=260&objectid=10646999|url-status=live}}</ref> Galvin portrayed Chris for four years, with the character picking up the nickname "Dr. Love" for the numerous love affairs he participated in. Galvin soon grew sick of portraying Chris, being quoted as saying "after four years on Shortland Street there was so much of me in Dr Warner I wasn't sure where he ended and I began."<ref name=feeney>{{cite web|title=Peter Feeney on Michael Galvin|url=https://quoteunquotenz.blogspot.com/2011/01/peter-feeney-on-michael-galvin.html|date=January 2011|access-date=13 September 2011|archive-date=8 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111008214106/http://quoteunquotenz.blogspot.com/2011/01/peter-feeney-on-michael-galvin.html|url-status=live}}</ref> He quit and went travelling to seek further job opportunities.
===Theatre===
He played Raoul in the 1993 New Zealand tour of Ken Hill's Phantom of the Opera.
===Overseas and return to Shortland Street=== During this time, he had roles in the television productions Highwater and Coverstory, and feature film The Climb, which starred John Hurt. Galvin was asked to return to Shortland Street in 2000 following a revamp of the show. He returned in the season final much to the delight of his fans. Since returning, Galvin has written many plays including the successful "Station to Station"{{cn|date=May 2026}} and in 2007 Galvin was recognised as an outstanding emerging playwright, winning New Zealand's most significant national theatre award, the Bruce Mason Playwriting Award.<ref>[http://www.thebigidea.co.nz/node/30120 "Shortland Street star picks up national playwriting award"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120401133950/http://www.thebigidea.co.nz/node/30120 |date=1 April 2012 }}, thebigidea.co.nz</ref> His play "War Hero" about pacifist Archibald Baxter was performed in Wellington in 2026.<ref>{{cite news |author=<!-- not stated --> |date= April 21, 2026|title=Conscience over compliance |url=https://www.flipsnack.com/regionalnews/regional-news-issue-266-april-21st-2026 |work=Regional News |location=Wellington |publisher= |access-date=May 10, 2026}}</ref>
In October 2019 he was presented with a Scroll of Honour from the Variety Artists Club of New Zealand for his contribution to New Zealand entertainment.
==Personal life== Galvin is married to Melissa Galvin with whom he shares a daughter named Lily. The couple married in 2004, but separated 5 years later.<ref name=warnerman>{{cite web|title=Michael Galvin: the man behind Chris Warner|url=http://nz.lifestyle.yahoo.com/new-idea/star-watch/article/-/13750956/michael-galvin-the-man-behind-chris-warner/|work=New Idea|date=22 May 2012|publisher=Yahoo! New Zealand|access-date=12 July 2013|archive-date=22 June 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120622051623/http://nz.lifestyle.yahoo.com/new-idea/star-watch/article/-/13750956/michael-galvin-the-man-behind-chris-warner/|url-status=live}}</ref> He was introduced to Melissa through on screen girlfriend Angela Bloomfield (Rachel McKenna).
==Filmography== {| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 90%;" ! colspan="4" style="background: LightSteelBlue;" | Film |- ! Year ! Film ! Role ! Other notes |- | 1989 | Ray Bradbury Theatre | Runner | TV series |- | rowspan="3"|1990 | ''Shark in the Park'' | Alistair | TV series |- | ''Neighbourhood Watch'' | Dennis | TV series |- | ''Safe Sex'' | Simon | TV series |- | 1991 | ''Coverstory'' | Mark Churchill | TV series |- | rowspan="2"|1992 | ''Highwater'' | Jeremy | TV series |- | ''Charity Queens'' | Jonty | TV series |- | 1992–1996<br>2000–present | ''Shortland Street'' | Dr. Chris Warner | TV series<br>''Nominated'' – Qantas TV and Film awards 2008 Best Actor |- | 1997 | ''Highwater'' | Jeremy | TV movie |- | 1998 | ''The Climb'' | Father Cronin | |- | 2001 | ''What Now! 20th Birthday Special'' | Himself | TV series |- | 2002 | ''Strassman'' | Himself | TV series |- | 2007 | ''The Devil Dared Me To'' | Good Looking Actor | |- |2025 |The Brokenwood Mysteries |James Hathaway |TV series |}
==External links== *{{IMDb name|1121416}}
==References== {{reflist|colwidth=30em}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Galvin, Michael}} Category:1967 births Category:20th-century New Zealand male actors Category:21st-century New Zealand male actors Category:Living people Category:New Zealand male soap opera actors Category:New Zealand male television actors Category:New Zealand people of Irish descent Category:People educated at St Patrick's College, Wellington Category:Toi Whakaari alumni Category:Victoria University of Wellington alumni