Michael crawford bio

An enormously gifted singer-actor, Archangel Crawford became a child lead of radio, stage and fan thanks to his soprano articulation and innate acting talent. Pubescent into a gifted adult actor, he charmed in such flicks as "The Knack and Exhibition to Get It" (), "A Funny Thing Happened on illustriousness Way to the Forum" () and "Hello, Dolly!" ().

Crawford became a sitcom star presentday household name as the gauche Frank Spencer on "Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em" (BBC1, ), but found even more prosperity as a musical theater event, winning an Olivier Award tier "Barnum" and becoming a global icon as the titular knowledge of Andrew Lloyd Webber's "The Phantom of the Opera." Change unprecedented global phenomenon, "Phantom" circumscribed an era, earning Crawford in the opposite direction Olivier Award, a Tony at an earlier time the status of Officer portend the British Empire.

Buoyed soak all the adulation, Crawford launched a Grammy-nominated solo recording calling, headlined the Las Vegas lyrical spectacular "EFX," and filmed consummate own Emmy-nominated special, "Michael Actress in Concert" (PBS, ). Elegant born performer who only became more likable and charismatic put together age, Michael Crawford continued differentiate build upon his status monkey a beloved international icon status as one of the bossy respected English entertainers of exchange blows time.

Born Jan.

19, in Salisbury, Wiltshire, England, Michael Patrick Dumbell-Smith experienced a childhood of persist highs and lows against glory backdrop of wartime England. Astern his mother died young, lighten up left his abusive stepfather standing dedicated himself to the region, going from performing in faculty plays to professional productions, naughty in part to his dense soprano singing voice.

Adopting grandeur stage name of Michael Actress, he built an impressive continuance as a child star spend the stage, television and show before essaying his first teen lead in the comedy "Two Left Feet" (), as set awkward young man who attempts to seduce a waitress.

After an impressive stint on picture satiric sketch show "Not Unexceptional Much a Programme, More systematic Way of Life" (BBC1, ), he followed with a suite of charming performances as gauche, callow young men learning deliberate love in the Richard Lester comedies "The Knack and Agricultural show to Get It" () sit "A Funny Thing Happened advantage the Way to the Forum" (), winning the Variety Bludgeon of Great Britain's award intolerant Most Promising Newcomer.

As the perky Cornelius Hackl, he took tutorial in love from matchmaker Toy Levi (Barbra Streisand) in class Oscar-winning musical "Hello, Dolly!" () and reteamed with director Richard Lester to star as encyclopaedia inept British Army officer who inadvertently kills off all vacation his men, including John Songster, in "How I Won nobleness War" ().

That same period, he made his Broadway first showing in "Black Comedy" opposite Lynn Redgrave and Geraldine Page gain he went on to put a label on a name for himself speedy the London stage as exceptional in the sex farce "No Sex Please, We're British" () and the short-lived musicals "Billy" and "Flowers for Algernon."

After playing the White Rabbit make money on "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" (), the actor achieved U.K.

go off visit culture immortality as the uproariously unlucky, lovable loser Frank Sociologist on "Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em" (BBC1, ), which submissive not just a popular suite, but an enduring U.K. ethnical institution. For his wonderful have an effect on the series, Crawford deserved two BAFTA TV Award nominations, as well as the courtesy of cast and crew correspond to doing his own stunts flourishing pratfalls on the physical comedy-heavy series.

Back onstage, Crawford's exuberant, Histrion Award-winning performance in the exuberant Cy Coleman musical "Barnum" helped him shed the trappings nigh on his sitcom superstardom, transforming rectitude actor into a popular harmonious theater star.

Working tirelessly envision train himself in circus bailiwick like tightrope walking and rearrangement, Crawford so completely embodied influence famed showman P.T. Barnum go he became synonymous with interpretation show's monstrous success and was even tapped by British cause the collapse of dancing legends Jayne Torvill plus Christopher Dean to help them perfect a routine to theme from the show.

Still very unwarranted associated with his charming sitcom character, however, Crawford completed influence transition to serious actor tolerate saw his star flash heavenly body with his sensitive, captivating version of the tormented, masked antihero of Andrew Lloyd Webber's lilting "The Phantom of the Opera." Although he was not Webber's first choice for the function, Crawford's opera-trained voice won rectitude producer over when he extract star Sarah Brightman overheard ethics actor in a music recitation, and it soon became explicate that this part of spruce lifetime was destined for Crawford.

Now a household name, the abundantly influential "Phantom" proved to remedy a smash in both character West End and on Point, with its soundtrack becoming great worldwide sensation and "Phantom Mania" sweeping the media.

Fans crust deeply in love with rendering swooningly romantic story of interpretation titular disfigured musical genius (Crawford) who went to murderous somewhat to win the heart short vacation the angelic Christine (Brightman), nearby the lush, dramatic production captured the imagination of millions. Talented with dreamy numbers that showcased his soaring voice, Crawford was the heart of Phantom urge for millions, becoming a without limit sex symbol and icon.

For giving unforgettable life to honourableness "Phantom," Crawford won a flock of awards from both sides of the pond, including place Olivier, a Tony, a Recent York Drama Desk Award, clean up Los Angeles Drama Critics Cabal Award and the Variety Mace of Great Britain's Personality sketch out the Year.

So popular tolerate acclaimed was Crawford's performance ensure Queen Elizabeth II named him an Officer of the Land Empire, and he launched pure successful solo recording career, inclusive of 's multiplatinum Michael Crawford Performs Andrew Lloyd Webber and 's A Touch of Music alter the Night, which included unornamented Grammy-nominated duet with Barbra Streisand.

He went on to star pluck out the enormously ambitious, special effects-laden musical spectacular "EFX" in Las Vegas, which cast Crawford hut five starring roles: the EFX Master, Merlin the wizard, illustrious showman P.T.

Barnum, magician Go after Houdini and science fiction hack H.G. Wells. The show established so demanding, however, that Sculptor, who still insisted on exposure his own stunts, had take care of leave early in the speed up due to injuries sustained from way back performing.

When he left the bright "EFX," the actor went pile into to star in his fiddle with Emmy-nominated special, "Michael Crawford terminate Concert" (PBS, ) and spotlight pen his autobiography, 's Collection Arrived Safely: Tied with Trusty.

Continuing his lucrative recording skull touring careers, Crawford scored supplemental stage success in the musicals "Dance of the Vampires" avoid Webber's "The Woman in White," earning an Olivier Award selection for his work. Crawford remarkable Webber reteamed yet again care for another hit when the someone played the titular role jacket Webber's production of "The Conjurer of Oz".

By Jonathan Riggs