Sandy Winton

Sandy Winton
Born (1970-12-18) 18 December 1970 (age 55)
Australia
EducationNewington College
NIDA
OccupationActor
Years active1996–present
SpouseTessa Winton
Children2

Alexander Gordon Winton (born 18 December 1970) is an Australian actor, known for his roles as Bruce in children's television series The Genie from Down Under and Michael Williams in the soap opera Neighbours from 2010 until 2012.

Career

Winton attended Newington College (1983–1988) and graduated from Australia's National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) with a Bachelor of Dramatic Art (Acting) in 1995. The following year, he appeared in an episode of Police Rescue, which marked his first screen role.

In 1998, Winton took over the main role of Bruce for the second series of the children's television comedy The Genie from Down Under. That same year, he guested in an episode of All Saints as cancer patient Greg. In 2000, Winton starred opposite Rachel Griffiths in the feature film Me Myself I.

In 2001, Winton appeared in the British television series Cold Feet after they filmed scenes in Australia. Winton played the guest role of Rex Avent in Home and Away in 2009. He also filmed a role in the American war drama miniseries The Pacific. Winton admitted to being "star-struck" upon meeting Tom Hanks who produced the series.

In March 2010, it was announced that Winton had joined the cast of Neighbours as new series regular Michael Williams. The character was introduced as the new principal of the local high school. He was also a single father raising a teenage daughter Natasha Williams (Valentina Novakovic). Winton admitted to sharing some similarities with his character, such as their love of the beach and surfing. On 7 November 2011, it was announced Winton would be leaving Neighbours the following year. Of Winton's departure, executive producer Susan Bower said "The Michael Williams character will be leaving Ramsay Street as part of a significant story coming up in April. Sandy's contribution to the show has been superb, enabling the character to be part of some milestone storylines."

Personal life

Winton is married and has two children. Upon landing the role of Michael Williams in Neighbours, Winton relocated to Melbourne from his home in Sydney for filming. He is a supporter of AFL team, Sydney Swans.

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1997 Oscar and Lucinda Expeditioner
1999 Me Myself I Ben Monroe
2005 Son of the Mask Chris
2006 Candy Candy's Doctor
2014 Unbroken Coach
2018 Sink Father Completed
2018 Fragmentary Glenn Sanderson

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1996 Police Rescue Senior Constable Episode: "The Only Constant"
1996 Twisted Episode: "A Sure Thing"
1997 Big Sky Richard / Rob Episode: "Sweet Revenge"
1997 The Devil Game Steve TV film
1998 All Saints Greg Newman Episode: "Night Shift"
1998 Good Guys, Bad Guys Walter McLeod Episode: "Blood Is Thicker Than Walter"
1998 Wildside Doug Zelka Episode: "1.31"
1998 The Genie from Down Under Bruce Main role (series 2)
1999 Murder Call Peter Sharp Episode: "Hide & Seek"
2000 Above the Law Zac Wernholdt Episodes: "Snapshots and Cottontails", "Send in the Clowns", "Chaos Theory"
2000 Dogwoman: Dead Dog Walking Jeremy Maitland TV film
2000 Something in the Air Matt Bateman Recurring role
2001 Xena: Warrior Princess Prince Morloch Episode: "Dangerous Prey"
2001 BeastMaster Navas Episode: "Mate for Life"
2001 Farscape Rinic Tolven Episode: "Thanks for Sharing"
2001 The Secret Life of Us Vincent Episodes: "The Unbelievable Truth", "Expect the Unexpected"
2001 Cold Feet Shawn Episode: "4.8"
2002 The Lost World Thomas Duckart Episode: "Phantoms"
2002 Counterstrike Hart TV film
2002 White Collar Blue Simon TV film
2002 McLeod's Daughters Daniel Lewis Season 2, Episode 13: "Steer Trek"
2002 Young Lions Capt. Ian Martin Episodes: "The Navy: Parts 1 & 2", "Bill's Death"
2003 White Collar Blue Simon Ball Guest role (series 1–2)
2004 The Alice Nicky Marione TV film
2006 Fatal Contact: Bird Flu in America Little League Father TV film
2006 Two Twisted Bill Banks Episode: "There's Something About Kyanna"
2006 Tripping Over Daniel Episodes: "1.3", "1.4", "1.5"
2007 McLeod's Daughters Heath Barrett Recurring (Season 7)
2009 Home and Away Rex Avent Guest role (Season 22)
2010 The Pacific Capt. Jameson Episode: "Guadalcanal/Leckie"
2010–2012 Neighbours Michael Williams Regular role (Seasons 26–28)
2012 Tricky Business Marcus Woodward Recurring role
2014 INXS: Never Tear Us Apart Det. Chambers TV miniseries
2015 Wonderland Liam Recurring role (series 3)
2016 The Code Michael McCray Episodes: "2.1", "2.2", "2.3"
2021 Harrow Ian Vanderhuust 1 episode
2022 Barons Bernie Hunter Snr 5 episodes
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References

  1. 1 2 3 Newington College Register of Past Students 1863–1998 (Syd, 1999) pp 218
  2. ↑ "Table". National Institute of Dramatic Art. Retrieved 3 November 2026.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "I'd love to play Paul Robinson!". Inside Soap. No. 13. 31 March – 6 April 2012. p. 49.
  4. ↑ Hughes, Simon (11 August 1998). "Highlights". The Age. Retrieved 8 November 2026 – via Newspapers.com.Limited access icon
  5. ↑ Browne, Rachel (15 March 1998). "This week". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 8 November 2026 – via Newspapers.com.Limited access icon
  6. ↑ Hall, Sandra (20 April 2000). "No 'what if' about the star of this fantasy". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 9 November 2026 – via Newspapers.com.Limited access icon
  7. ↑ Vnuk, Helen (8–14 August 2009). "Harry kidnapped!". TV Week. No. 32. p. 4.
  8. ↑ "New family for Ramsay Street". Holy Soap. 3 March 2010. Retrieved 1 July 2010.
  9. 1 2 Kilkelly, Daniel (7 November 2011). "'Neighbours' confirms Michael Williams exit". Digital Spy. Retrieved 21 December 2011.
  10. ↑ "Sandy Winton – Actor" (PDF). Shanahan Management. Retrieved 9 November 2026.