{{short description|English actor (born 1986)}} {{EngvarB|date=December 2017}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2017}} {{For|the Australian performance artist and printmaker|Mike Parr}} {{Infobox person | name = Michael Parr | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1986|08|06|df=y}} | birth_place = [[St Helens, Merseyside]], England | occupation = Actor | alma_mater = [[East 15 Acting School]] | years_active = 2008–present | children = 1 }}
'''Michael Parr''' (born 6 August 1986{{cn|date=December 2025}}) is an English actor. He is known for his role as [[Ross Barton]] in the [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]] soap opera ''[[Emmerdale]]''. He initially appeared in the soap from 2013 to 2018, returning in 2024.
==Early life== Parr was born in [[St Helens, Merseyside]]. His mother is American and he holds dual U.S. and British nationality, enabling him to work in the U.S. without the need of a [[United States Permanent Resident Card|Green Card]] if he wished.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://liverpoolinnews.com/emmerdale-star-michael-parr-8-things-you-didnt-know-about-the-St-helens-actor/|title=Emmerdale star Michael Parr: 8 things you didn't know about the St Helens actor|work=Liverpool Echo|accessdate=14 June 2015}}</ref> He trained at the Elizabeth Hill School of Dance and Drama in St Helens and the [[East 15 Acting School]] in [[Essex]], graduating in 2008.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2015-01-13/emmerdale-michael-parr---i-watch-ross-and-think-is-my-forehead-really-that-big/|title=Emmerdale: Michael Parr – I watch Ross and think, 'Is my forehead really that big?|work=Radio Times|date=13 January 2015|accessdate=9 May 2015}}</ref>
Prior to being cast in ''Emmerdale'', Parr worked between acting jobs as a learning support assistant in a [[Special education in the United Kingdom|special educational needs]] school. He also worked as a barman.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://smartteachersblog.wordpress.com/2013/05/03/teaching-assistant-vs-actor-how-can-i-do-both/|title=Teaching Assistant vs Actor: How can I do both?|publisher=Posted by Smart Teachers' Blog|date=3 May 2013|accessdate=27 October 2013}}</ref> In September 2025, Parr had his first child, a daughter, with girlfriend Isabelle Du Plessis.<ref>{{cite news |title=Emmerdale star Michael Parr becomes first time dad welcoming baby daughter |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/emmerdale-star-michael-parr-becomes-35937596 |access-date=21 September 2025 |work=[[Daily Mirror]]}}</ref>
==Career==
Parr made his first appearance in the ITV soap opera ''Emmerdale'' in July 2013, playing an unnamed man who [[carjacked]] regular character [[Laurel Thomas]] ([[Charlotte Bellamy]]). It was only after his return to the show in October 2013 that his true identity was revealed.<ref name="digitalspy">{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s12/emmerdale/news/a526260/emmerdale-unveils-new-regular-ross-barton-in-storyline-twist.html0|title='Emmerdale' unveils new regular Ross Barton in storyline twist|date=24 October 2013|work=[[Digital Spy]]|accessdate=27 October 2013}}</ref> His character, [[Ross Barton]], is one of three sons of [[James Barton (Emmerdale)|James Barton]] ([[Bill Ward (actor)|Bill Ward]]), as well as the nephew of [[Moira Barton]] ([[Natalie J Robb]]).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.itv.com/emmerdale/news/casting-news-meet-the-barton-boys|title=Meet the Barton Boys|publisher=itv.com|accessdate=10 November 2013}}</ref> During his first stint in ''Emmerdale'', Parr was involved in a number of high-profile storylines, including an affair with policewoman [[Donna Windsor]] ([[Verity Rushworth]]); taking part in a violent robbery at Home Farm; an illicit affair with his brother's fiancée (later wife), [[Debbie Dingle]] ([[Charley Webb]]); and secretly fathering a child with Debbie's mother [[Charity Macey]] ([[Emma Atkins]]). In 2018, Ross Barton was the victim of an [[acid attack]], leaving the character badly scarred. Parr described the storyline as challenging.<ref name="Irish News">{{cite news |title='Time to move on': Michael Parr is leaving Emmerdale |url=https://www.irishnews.com/magazine/entertainment/2018/05/24/news/-time-to-move-on-michael-parr-is-leaving-emmerdale-1337703/ |accessdate=1 July 2018 |work=The Irish News |date=24 May 2018}}</ref><ref name="Maxwell">{{cite news |last1=Maxwell |first1=Kelsey |title=Mike Parr: I'm leaving Emmerdale to follow American dream |url=http://www.sthelensstar.co.uk/news/16264790.mike-parr-im-leaving-emmerdale-to-follow-american-dream/ |accessdate=1 July 2018 |date=2 June 2018}}</ref>
In October 2015, Parr won awards for Best Actor, Best Bad Boy and Sexiest Male at the 2015 [[Inside Soap Awards|''Inside Soap'' Awards]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s12/emmerdale/news/a672083/emmerdale-and-michael-parr-storm-the-inside-soap-awards.html#~pqsuMw0G3daaq7|title=Emmerdale and Michael Parr storm the ''Inside Soap'' Awards|work=Digital Spy|accessdate=7 October 2015|date=5 October 2015}}</ref> In early 2018, it was announced that Parr would be leaving ''Emmerdale'' later that year.<ref name="Irish News"/> Parr has also appeared on stage in various roles, including Justin in ''Studies for A Portrait'' at the [[Oval House Theatre]] and Danny in ''Twothousandandsex'' at the [[Drill Hall]] in London.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://actors.mandy.com/uk/actor/profile/michael-parr/|title=Michael Parr at Mandy Actors|accessdate=27 October 2013}}</ref> In September 2023, Parr appeared as Paul Hughes in the ITV1 drama ''[[The Long Shadow (TV series)|The Long Shadow]]'', alongside [[Katherine Kelly (actress)|Katherine Kelly]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://metro.co.uk/2023/09/20/emmerdale-michael-parr-the-long-shadow-19526972/|title=Emmerdale star returns to TV in new role|website=Metro|last=Spackman|first=Maisie|date=21 September 2023|access-date=7 October 2023}}</ref>
In September 2024, ''Emmerdale'' confirmed that Parr would return to the role of Ross later that year, following a six-year absence.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/emmerdale/a62238458/emmerdale-spoilers-ross-barton-return-teased/|title=Emmerdale teases Ross Barton return in on-set video|work=Digital Spy|accessdate=17 September 2024|date=17 September 2024}}</ref>
==Filmography== ===Film=== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |- | 2009 || ''No Way Through'' || Soldier || |- | 2011 || ''Queensbury Rules'' || Liam || |- | 2011 || ''A Beautiful Impurity'' || Gobba || |- | 2013 || ''Brothers in Arms'' || Chris || |- | 2014 || ''Territory'' || Keiren || |- | 2016 || ''Cain Hill'' || Arnie || |- | 2017 || ''Dark Ascension '' || 'G' || |- | 2019 || ''The Eighty Fourth'' || Narrator || |- | 2021 || ''Our Home'' || Adam Wood || |- | 2021 || ''Mister Mayfair: Serena's Game'' || Lister || |- | 2023 || ''Ocean Deep'' || Adrian || |- | 2025 || ''Single People at the End of the World'' || Mike || |}
===Television=== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |- | 2011 || ''[[Inside Men]]'' || PC Mayfair || 1 episode |- | 2012 || ''[[Doctors (2000 TV series)|Doctors]]'' || Kyle West || Episode: "Echo Chamber" |- | 2012 || ''[[Good Cop]]'' || Adam Riley || 1 episode |- | 2012 || ''[[Casualty (TV series)|Casualty]]'' || Mark Satchmore || Episode: "The Kindness of Strangers" |- | 2012 || ''[[Hollyoaks]]'' || [[List of Hollyoaks characters (2012)#Billy Parker|Billy Parker]] || 1 episode |- | 2013–2018, 2024–present ||''[[Emmerdale]]'' || [[Ross Barton]] || Regular role |- | 2020 ||''[[Bulletproof (TV series)|Bulletproof]]'' || Ben Woodall || 1 episode |- | 2022 || ''Colosseum'' || Senator Olybruis || Episode: "The Pagan" |- | 2023 ||''[[The Long Shadow (TV series)|The Long Shadow]]'' || Paul Hughes || 1 episode |- | 2024 || ''[[Douglas Is Cancelled]]'' || Sebastian || 1 episode |- |}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{IMDb name|3477466}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Parr, Michael}} [[Category:1986 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:21st-century English male actors]] [[Category:Actors from St Helens, Merseyside]] [[Category:Alumni of East 15 Acting School]] [[Category:English male film actors]] [[Category:English male soap opera actors]] [[Category:English male stage actors]] [[Category:English people of American descent]] [[Category:Male actors from Merseyside]]