Noel Harrison facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Noel Harrison
Harrison in 1972
Born	Noel John Christopher Harrison (1934-01-29)29 January 1934 Kensington, London, England
Died	19 October 2013(2013-10-19) (aged 79) Exeter, Devon, England
Occupation	Actor, singer
Years active	1960–1999
Spouse(s)	Sara Lee Eberts Tufnell ​ ​ (m. 1959; div. 1969)​ Margaret Benson ​ ​ (m. 1972; div. 1989)​ Lori Chapman ​ ​ (m. 1991)​
Children	5, including Cathryn Harrison
Parent(s)	Rex Harrison Ethel Margery Noel Collette-Thomas
Relatives	Carey Harrison (paternal half-brother) Leslie Law (son-in-law)

Noel John Christopher Harrison (born 29 January 1934 – died 19 October 2013) was an English actor and singer. He was the son of the famous actor Rex Harrison. In the 1950s, Noel was a member of the British Olympic skiing team. Later, in 1968, he had a big hit song in the UK Singles Chart called "The Windmills of Your Mind".

Early Life and Skiing

Noel Harrison was born in Kensington, London, England. His mother, Ethel Margery Noel Collette-Thomas, was the first of his father's six wives. As a child, Noel went to Sunningdale School. When he was 15, his mother took him out of school to live in the Swiss Alps.

Becoming an Olympic Skier

Noel never went back to school after moving to Switzerland. Instead, he started ski-racing. He spent most of his free time skiing. He became a member of the British ski team at a young age. In 1953, he became the first British giant-slalom champion. He even represented Great Britain at the 1952 Winter Olympics in Oslo, Norway, and again at the 1956 Winter Olympics in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy.

Starting His Music Career

After leaving the army in the 1950s, Noel thought about becoming a journalist. But he decided to focus on playing his guitar instead. He got his first big chance on a BBC Television show called Tonight. On the show, he was part of a team that sang the day's news in a calypso style.

When Noel was 20, he started playing music professionally. He performed in bars and nightclubs across Europe. One of his shows at the Blue Angel nightclub in Mayfair, London, was even recorded for a live album.

Moving to America

Noel Harrison moved to the United States in 1965. Before that, he had small roles in British films like The Best of Enemies (1961). In America, he worked as a nightclub entertainer. His managers helped him get a record on the charts. This song was "A Young Girl".

Acting on TV and Film

In the 1966-67 TV season, Noel played Mark Slate in the NBC series The Girl from U.N.C.L.E.. He starred alongside Stefanie Powers. He also appeared on a TV show called To Tell the Truth in 1968.

His Hit Song: "The Windmills of Your Mind"

In 1966, Noel released his first album, also called Noel Harrison. Two years later, he recorded "The Windmills of Your Mind". This song was the theme tune for the film The Thomas Crown Affair. The song won an Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1968. It also became a Top 10 hit in the UK Singles Chart.

Even though his song won an Oscar, Noel did not sing it at the awards ceremony. He was busy working on another film in England at the time. Interestingly, his father, Rex Harrison, had sung the Oscar-winning song ("Talk to the Animals") just the year before.

Because of his TV series and hit song, Noel got a recording contract with Reprise. He released three more albums with them. He also went on tour with famous groups like the Beach Boys and Sonny and Cher. He appeared on popular TV shows such as The Ed Sullivan Show and The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.

Life in Canada

In 1972, Noel Harrison left the United States and moved to Nova Scotia, Canada. He bought a farmhouse with a lot of land. From there, he hosted a show for CBC Television called Take Time. In 1974, his house burned down in a fire. This inspired him to write a funny song called "The Middleton Fire Brigade". After the fire, he built a new house without electricity.

Back on Stage and Screen

During the 1970s, Noel toured the United States in stage shows like Camelot and The Sound of Music. He also played Henry Higgins in My Fair Lady. This was the same role his father had played in the original stage show and film version. Other roles he played included King Arthur in Camelot and Baron von Trapp in The Sound of Music.

Later, he started acting in films again. He appeared in movies such as Power and Déjà Vu. Noel was a big fan of the singer Jacques Brel. He created a one-man musical show about him called Adieu, Jacques. In 2002, he released an album of songs from this show.

Returning to the UK

In 2004, Noel Harrison moved back to the United Kingdom. He settled in the county of Devon. He kept singing and performing in concerts. In 2011, Noel played at the Glastonbury Festival. This was 40 years after he first performed at the festival. His performance was shown on TV by the British Broadcasting Corporation.

Family Life

Noel Harrison was married three times. He had five children, including his daughter Cathryn Harrison. He remained married to his third wife, Lori Chapman, until he passed away.

Noel died in a hospital on 19 October 2013. He had a heart attack at his home in Devon, just a few hours after performing a concert.

Music Albums and Singles

Albums

• Noel Harrison at the Blue Angel (1960)
• Noel Harrison at UnMusic (1960)
• Noel Harrison (1966)
• Collage (1967)
• Santa Monica Pier (1968)
• The Great Electric Experiment Is Over (1969)
• The World of Noel Harrison (1969 — a collection of his songs)
• Mount Hanley Song (1979)
• Live From Boulevard Music (2002 — a live album)
• Adieu, Jacques (2002 — songs from his show, sung in French)
• Hold Back Time (2003)
• Life Is a Dream (2003 compilation)
• From the Sublime to the Ridiculous (2010)

Singles

Films and TV Shows