By the age of 19, Michael Sundin won five British championship titles for his prowess on trampolines. Both athletic and photogenic, he transitioned into performing on stage in London “pantomimes” (elaborate Christmas shows) on the London West End. This led to a role in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Cats” in 1984 as the feline Bill Bailey.
After Cats, Sundin was hired as a co-host of the British children’s show Blue Peter. Sundin was kicked off the show after four months when a British tabloid revealed he had participated in a male strip show before joining the program. In an effort to salvage his career, he refuted the tabloid’s assertions that he was gay:
"I confess that when I was younger, I did have affairs with boys. I was just experimenting as teenagers do. But I am no longer gay. I can get sworn statements from girls I have slept with."
Sundin pivoted, focusing next on films. He got cast in Disney’s “Return to Oz” (1984) providing the movement for the short and rotund Tik-Tok, a robot Dorothy meets. He also played in March Hare in an Alice in Wonderland-inspired drama, “Dreamchild” (1985). He also appeared in “Lionheart” (1987), a film about the Children's Crusade in the early 13th century.
In 1987, he returned to another stage role - playing Flat Top in the Japan/Australia touring production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Starlight Express”.
In 1989, Sundin danced in the music video for “She Wants To Dance With Me” as Rick Astley’s club hopping pal.
Sadly, Michael Sundin’s health rapidly declined. He died at the age of 28. The cause of death was originally reported as due to liver cancer. Later, it was revealed the actual cause was due to AIDS.
Here’s a link to Rick Astley’s “She Wants To Dance With Me” video
