Freddie Starr facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Freddie Starr
Starr in 1976
Born	Frederick Leslie Fowell (1943-01-09)9 January 1943 Huyton, England
Died	9 May 2019(2019-05-09) (aged 76) Mijas, Spain
Occupation	Comedian impressionist singer actor
Years active	1958–2015
Comedy career
Medium	Stand up, television
Genres	Observational comedy, musical comedy, physical comedy, insult comedy

Freddie Starr (born Frederick Leslie Fowell; 9 January 1943 – 9 May 2019) was a famous English comedian, impressionist, singer, and actor. He was known for his energetic and often wild performances. In the early 1960s, Freddie was the lead singer of a Merseybeat rock and roll band called the Midniters. He became very well known in the 1970s after appearing on TV shows like Opportunity Knocks. During the 1990s, he starred in his own TV shows, including Freddie Starr and The Freddie Starr Show.

Early Life and Beginnings

Freddie Starr was born in Huyton, England. He was one of seven children. His father worked as a bricklayer and was often out of work. Freddie's mother, Hilda, was from Germany and was Jewish. Sadly, his twin brother died at birth.

When Freddie was 12, his mother encouraged him to perform. He started working in local clubs and pubs. For five years, he was part of the Hilda Fallon Roadshow. This show toured community halls and hospitals, giving Freddie early experience.

Becoming a Star Performer

Freddie Starr first appeared in a film called Violent Playground in 1958 when he was a teenager. In 1961, he joined a band called Derry and the Seniors. They spent a lot of time playing music in Germany. This group was the first Liverpool beat group to record an LP, which came out in 1962.

After that band broke up, Freddie became the lead singer of The Midniters. This pop group was managed by Brian Epstein, who also managed the Beatles. The Midniters recorded three singles, but they didn't become big hits. During this time, Freddie's group performed in Hamburg's nightclubs, just like the Beatles.

TV Fame and Impersonations

Freddie Starr became famous on TV through the talent show Opportunity Knocks in 1967. He appeared with his comedy and music act, Freddie Starr and the Delmonts. They won the audience vote for six weeks in a row!

In 1970, he performed at the Royal Variety Performance. He did funny impressions of famous singers like Cliff Richard and Tom Jones. He was also known for impersonating Adolf Hitler in Wellington boots. Throughout his career, he also did impressions of Elvis Presley and Ray Charles.

Freddie Starr released several music albums. One of his songs, "It's You", reached the top 10 in the UK in 1974. Two of his albums, After the Laughter and The Wanderer, also made it onto the music charts.

From 1972, he was a main performer on the TV show Who Do You Do?. He also appeared regularly on the TV panel show Jokers Wild. His humor often involved silly slapstick comedy.

The Famous Hamster Story

Freddie Starr was involved in one of Britain's most famous newspaper headlines. On 13 March 1986, The Sun newspaper ran the headline: "Freddie Starr Ate My Hamster".

The story claimed that Freddie Starr had eaten his friend's pet hamster, Supersonic, between two slices of bread. However, Freddie Starr later said in his autobiography that this story was completely made up. He wrote, "I have never eaten or even nibbled a live hamster."

This story was actually a prank created by his publicist, Max Clifford. Even though it wasn't true, the headline made Freddie Starr even more famous. It helped sell more tickets for his shows and boosted his career. Years later, Max Clifford confirmed it was a joke and said it greatly helped Freddie's career.

Freddie Starr sometimes got tired of people asking him about the hamster. He would joke, "Give me £1 and I'll tell you." Then, if they gave him the money, he'd say "No" and walk away.

Later Career Highlights

Freddie Starr continued to appear in TV shows like Freddie Starr (1993–94) and The Freddie Starr Show (1996–98). He also had two special TV shows called An Audience with Freddie Starr in 1996 and 1997. During these shows, he did some unusual things, like throwing maggots or hitting eggs into the audience with a golf club.

Freddie Starr owned a racehorse named Miinnehoma. This horse won the famous 1994 Grand National race! Freddie couldn't be there in person, but he gave a funny interview over the phone live on TV.

In 2009, Freddie appeared in a reality TV show called Living with the Dead. He claimed his house was haunted by a ghost. Freddie said he had always believed in ghosts since he was a boy.

In 2010, Freddie Starr had a serious heart attack. He needed major heart surgery. This caused him to cancel his tour dates, but he rescheduled them for 2011 after he recovered.

He also took part in the TV show I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here in 2011. However, he had to leave the show early due to health reasons. His last tour was in 2015.

Personal Interests

Freddie Starr was a big fan of the football team Everton F.C.. He was also a vegetarian from his teenage years. He even gave a funny performance to the Everton football players before their big game in the 1984 FA Cup Final.

Death

Freddie Starr passed away at his home in Mijas, Spain, on 9 May 2019. He was 76 years old. A medical examination showed that he died from a natural heart condition.

At the time of his death, Freddie Starr was not in good financial shape. An undertaker from Sheffield kindly covered the costs of his funeral. His funeral was held in Prescot Parish Church in England on 13 June 2019. He was buried in a family grave in a cemetery in Huyton.

Selected Credits

DVD Releases

Musical Discography

See also

• Rock Star Ate My Hamster, a management strategy computer game (1988)