Michael Crawford facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Michael Crawford CBE
Crawford in Sydney, Australia, in 2012
Born	Michael Patrick Smith (1942-01-19) 19 January 1942 (age 83) Salisbury, Wiltshire, England
Occupation	Actor comedian singer stuntman
Years active	1955–present
Known for	Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em, The Phantom of the Opera, Hello, Dolly!
Spouse(s)	Gabrielle Lewis ​ ​ (m. 1965; div. 1975)​
Partner(s)	Natasha MacAller (1996‍–‍present)
Children	3

Michael Patrick Smith (born 19 January 1942), known to the world as Michael Crawford, is a famous English actor, comedian, and singer. He is loved for his work in television, movies, and on stage.

Crawford is most famous for playing the clumsy but lovable Frank Spencer in the TV show Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em. He also starred as Cornelius Hackl in the movie musical Hello, Dolly!. His most celebrated stage role was playing the main character in the musical The Phantom of the Opera.

His amazing performance as the Phantom won him major awards, including the Laurence Olivier Award in London and the Tony Award on Broadway in New York. Throughout his long career, he has earned many awards and praise from critics around the world.

Since 1987, Crawford has also been the leader of the the Sick Children's Trust, a British charity that helps families with seriously ill children.

Early Life

Michael Crawford was born in Salisbury, Wiltshire, England. He was raised by his mother, Doris, and his maternal grandparents. His grandmother was born in Ireland and lived to be 99 years old. Crawford described his childhood as being part of a "close-knit Roman Catholic family."

During his early years, he lived at an army camp in Wiltshire and on the Isle of Sheppey in Kent. He attended St Michael's, a Catholic school in Bexleyheath. After the Second World War, his mother remarried, and the family moved to London.

Acting Career

First Steps on Stage

Crawford's first time on stage was in a school play of Benjamin Britten's opera Let's Make an Opera. Britten, a famous composer, was so impressed that he hired Crawford for a professional production of the same opera in London in 1955.

In 1958, Crawford worked with Britten again in the opera Noye's Fludde. It was during this show that he knew he wanted to be an actor. He was advised to change his last name from Ingram (his stepfather's name) to Crawford to avoid being confused with a TV newsman.

He then appeared in many plays, radio shows, and early TV series. He made his movie debut in 1958 in two children's films, Blow Your Own Trumpet and Soapbox Derby.

Becoming a Star

When he was 19, Crawford acted in the movie The War Lover (1962) with the famous actor Steve McQueen. He then starred in the hit 1965 British film The Knack ...and How to Get It.

Director Richard Lester cast him in two more films: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum and How I Won the War, which also starred John Lennon of The Beatles.

In 1967, Crawford made his debut on Broadway in New York City in the play Black Comedy. He was known for his amazing physical comedy, like falling down stairs on purpose. His talent got him noticed by the legendary dancer and director Gene Kelly.

Kelly cast him in the movie musical Hello, Dolly! (1969) alongside Barbra Streisand and Walter Matthau. The movie was a huge hit and is now considered a classic.

The Hilarious Frank Spencer

In 1973, Crawford's career soared when he began starring in the BBC TV comedy Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em. He played Frank Spencer, a well-meaning but incredibly clumsy man who causes chaos wherever he goes.

The show became one of Britain's most popular TV series. Crawford was a fan of silent film comedians like Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton, and he used that style of physical comedy for Frank. He famously performed all his own dangerous stunts, never using a stunt double.

Success on the London Stage

While still on TV, Crawford starred in the musical Billy in 1974. It was his first lead role in a big West End musical in London. The show was a huge success, running for 904 performances.

In 1981, he starred in the musical Barnum as the famous American showman P. T. Barnum. To prepare, he learned to walk a tightrope, juggle, and do other circus stunts. His performance won him his first Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical.

The Phantom of the Opera

In 1984, composer Andrew Lloyd Webber was creating a new musical based on the novel The Phantom of the Opera. He was looking for the perfect actor to play the mysterious Phantom.

Lloyd Webber happened to hear Crawford singing an opera song while he was taking a voice lesson. He was so impressed that he asked Crawford to audition. Crawford got the part almost immediately.

Many people were surprised. They only knew him as the funny Frank Spencer and wondered if he could handle such a serious and difficult role.

The Phantom of the Opera opened in London in 1986. Crawford's performance was a massive success. He received amazing reviews for both his powerful singing and his emotional acting. He won a second Olivier Award for the role.

He later took the show to Broadway in 1988, where he won a Tony Award. He played the Phantom for over 1,300 performances in London, New York, and Los Angeles.

Later Career and Music

Movies and Stage Shows

After Phantom, Crawford continued to work in movies and on stage. He was the voice of Cornelius in the animated film Once Upon a Forest (1993). In 1995, he starred in the huge Las Vegas show EFX.

In 2004, he returned to the London stage in Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Woman in White. In 2011, he played the Wizard in the musical The Wizard of Oz at the London Palladium.

In 2016, he returned as Frank Spencer for a special one-off episode of Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em for the Sport Relief charity event.

Recording Artist

Crawford has also had a successful career as a singer. He has released many albums that have sold millions of copies worldwide.

His 1991 album, Michael Crawford Performs Andrew Lloyd Webber, was a number one hit in Australia and a top seller in the UK and the US. He also recorded a famous duet of "The Music of the Night" with Barbra Streisand.

Awards and Honors

Michael Crawford has received many awards for his work.

• He was named Show Business Personality of the Year by the Variety Club of Great Britain.
• In a 2002 BBC poll, he was voted number 17 in the list of the 100 Greatest Britons.
• He was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1988.
• He was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 2014 for his services to charity.

Selected Works

Famous Theatre Roles

Popular Films

Television Highlights