Michael Van Wijk
Encyclopedia
Michael van Wijk is a professional sportsman, bodybuilder, actor and TV presenter in the United Kingdom
. van Wijk is most well known for his role as Wolf on British TV endurance sports game show Gladiators, a role he held for seven years, eight series (1992-1999). Van Wijk now owns a gym in Henderson, Auckland
, New Zealand
called "Wolf's Gym," where he now resides.
He was also known to video game players for appearing on the cover of the computer game Barbarian. Michael van Wijk was spotted by a member of the Gladiators production team shortly before filming began on the first television series in 1992. He once stated on Gladiators that his favourite television show was Star Trek
.
Van Wijk used to run a gym in Hayes in Bromley
, London
called 'Wolf's Gym'. It was open until the late nineties and included facilities geared towards body builders, boxers and general fitness. In October 1994 he played one match for the reserve team
of Gillingham F.C.
, playing for 73 minutes in a match against Cambridge United
's reserves before going off injured. The match attracted a crowd ten times the average for the club's reserve team games.
In 1988, van Wijk appeared in a small, featured role in Ken Russell
's film Salome's Last Dance.
Van Wijk, second wife, Paula, and their three children (Nico 13, Gina 7, and Elena 5) live in Auckland
, New Zealand
. According to a report in the Sunday Mirror
, his wife once owned "Chipmunks Playground and Cafe", an indoor adventure playground for 3-12 year olds, now sold.
magazine in April 2008, "I want to come back, I want to be a Gladiator again." Loaded sent a journalist from London to Wolf's home in Henderson
, Auckland
, to persuade the actor to return to England
to appear in the new series. According to the Loaded article, today, van Wijk, 59, is a regular on the Kiwi Cage Fighting scene, and used to compete nationally in Ju Jitsu championships. He is a twice silver medallist competing against fighters half of his age for the New Zealand title.
Most recently he appeared on the Gladiators Legends Special
where he took part in alongside Ace, Hunter and Trojan.
But the standing ovation Wolf received when he reappeared in the Gladiator arena was said to have lasted for five minutes, holding up filming of the show and forcing producers to quieten the crowd. Sky could not deny any further the British public's desire for Wolf's return, and after Loaded magazine's campaign to bring the character back, Sky
announced on August 29, 2008 that Wolf would return in the second series."It was like I'd never been away." said van Wijk. "The audience was explosive and phenomenal and clearly wanted more of the Wolfman." However, he was to be a team captain rather than an actual Gladiator. The revived Gladiators
was axed by Sky in May 2009.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. van Wijk is most well known for his role as Wolf on British TV endurance sports game show Gladiators, a role he held for seven years, eight series (1992-1999). Van Wijk now owns a gym in Henderson, Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
called "Wolf's Gym," where he now resides.
Career
Before his rise to fame he owned several gyms until he secured his first contract with his long term employer 'Gladiators'.. According to a Sky One interview, producers refused to allow van Wijk to be mean as a Gladiator, but he soon persuaded them to let him try it. This distinctive persona led him to be the most popular Gladiator in the history of the show, although he courted controversy.He was also known to video game players for appearing on the cover of the computer game Barbarian. Michael van Wijk was spotted by a member of the Gladiators production team shortly before filming began on the first television series in 1992. He once stated on Gladiators that his favourite television show was Star Trek
Star Trek
Star Trek is an American science fiction entertainment franchise created by Gene Roddenberry. The core of Star Trek is its six television series: The Original Series, The Animated Series, The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager, and Enterprise...
.
Van Wijk used to run a gym in Hayes in Bromley
Bromley
Bromley is a large suburban town in south east London, England and the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Bromley. It was historically a market town, and prior to 1963 was in the county of Kent and formed the administrative centre of the Municipal Borough of Bromley...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
called 'Wolf's Gym'. It was open until the late nineties and included facilities geared towards body builders, boxers and general fitness. In October 1994 he played one match for the reserve team
Reserve team
Large professional sports clubs often have far more players under contract than could possibly play in a match. As a result, many of these clubs create second teams composed of players who need playing time, but have little hope of playing on the first team. The players on this second team are...
of Gillingham F.C.
Gillingham F.C.
Gillingham Football Club is an English professional football club based in the town of Gillingham, Kent. The only Kent-based club in the Football League, they play their home matches at the Priestfield Stadium...
, playing for 73 minutes in a match against Cambridge United
Cambridge United F.C.
Cambridge United Football Club is a professional football club from Cambridge, England. They are currently playing the 2011-2012 season in the Conference National, the fifth tier of the English league system, where they have competed since 2005 following their relegation from the Football League...
's reserves before going off injured. The match attracted a crowd ten times the average for the club's reserve team games.
In 1988, van Wijk appeared in a small, featured role in Ken Russell
Ken Russell
Henry Kenneth Alfred "Ken" Russell was an English film director, known for his pioneering work in television and film and for his flamboyant and controversial style. He attracted criticism as being obsessed with sexuality and the church...
's film Salome's Last Dance.
Van Wijk, second wife, Paula, and their three children (Nico 13, Gina 7, and Elena 5) live in Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. According to a report in the Sunday Mirror
Sunday Mirror
The Sunday Mirror is the Sunday sister paper of the Daily Mirror. It began life in 1915 as the Sunday Pictorial and was renamed the Sunday Mirror in 1963. Trinity Mirror also owns The People...
, his wife once owned "Chipmunks Playground and Cafe", an indoor adventure playground for 3-12 year olds, now sold.
Wolf's return to Gladiators
After being missing from British Television screens for nine years, van Wijk told LoadedLoaded (magazine)
Loaded, first published in 1994, is a British magazine for men that is considered to be the "original lads' mag". Its motto is "For men who should know better".-History:...
magazine in April 2008, "I want to come back, I want to be a Gladiator again." Loaded sent a journalist from London to Wolf's home in Henderson
Henderson, New Zealand
Henderson is a major suburb of Auckland, in the North Island of New Zealand. It is located 13 kilometres to the west of Auckland city centre, and two kilometres to the west of the Whau River, a southwestern arm of the Waitemata Harbour.-Description:...
, Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
, to persuade the actor to return to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
to appear in the new series. According to the Loaded article, today, van Wijk, 59, is a regular on the Kiwi Cage Fighting scene, and used to compete nationally in Ju Jitsu championships. He is a twice silver medallist competing against fighters half of his age for the New Zealand title.
Most recently he appeared on the Gladiators Legends Special
Gladiators UK (Legends Special)
Gladiators: The Legends Return was a special edition of the 2008 UK series of Gladiators which aired on 31 August 2008 on Sky One. The special one and a half hour finale to the successful first season of the Gladiators revival pitted the Gladiators of the new series against the original Gladiators...
where he took part in alongside Ace, Hunter and Trojan.
But the standing ovation Wolf received when he reappeared in the Gladiator arena was said to have lasted for five minutes, holding up filming of the show and forcing producers to quieten the crowd. Sky could not deny any further the British public's desire for Wolf's return, and after Loaded magazine's campaign to bring the character back, Sky
Sky
The sky is the part of the atmosphere or outer space visible from the surface of any astronomical object. It is difficult to define precisely for several reasons. During daylight, the sky of Earth has the appearance of a pale blue surface because the air scatters the sunlight. The sky is sometimes...
announced on August 29, 2008 that Wolf would return in the second series."It was like I'd never been away." said van Wijk. "The audience was explosive and phenomenal and clearly wanted more of the Wolfman." However, he was to be a team captain rather than an actual Gladiator. The revived Gladiators
Gladiators (2008 UK TV series)
Gladiators was a British television series which aired on Sky1 from 11 May 2008 to 25 October 2009. It was filmed in Shepperton Studios and was produced by Shine Limited. It was a revival of the earlier series of the same name and based on the American version of the show. The US, UK and...
was axed by Sky in May 2009.