Ron Moody facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ron Moody
Moody in 1975
Born	Ronald Moodnick (1924-01-08)8 January 1924 Tottenham, Middlesex, England
Died	11 June 2015(2015-06-11) (aged 91) London, England
Occupation	Actor composer singer writer
Years active	1952–2012
Spouse(s)	Therese Blackbourn ​ (m. 1985)​
Children	6

Ron Moody, born Ronald Moodnick, was an English actor, composer, singer, and writer. He was born on January 8, 1924, and passed away on June 11, 2015. He became very famous for playing the character Fagin in the 1968 film Oliver!. This movie was based on the classic story Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens.

For his role as Fagin, Ron Moody won a Golden Globe Award. He was also nominated for an Academy Award, which is one of the highest honors in film. He also received a Tony Award nomination for playing Fagin on stage. Some of his other well-known movies include The Mouse on the Moon (1963) and The Twelve Chairs (1970).

Early Life and Education

Ron Moody was born in Tottenham, Middlesex, England. His parents were Kate and Bernard Moodnick. His family background was Jewish. In 1930, his family legally changed their last name to Moody.

He went to Southgate County School. After that, he studied at the London School of Economics. He trained to become an economist. During World War II, he joined the Royal Air Force (RAF). He worked as a radar technician.

Acting Career

Even though Ron Moody trained as an economist, he loved performing. He started acting in plays and decided to become a professional actor.

Playing Fagin in Oliver!

Ron Moody is most famous for his role as Fagin. Fagin is a character from Lionel Bart's musical Oliver!. Moody first played Fagin in the original stage show in London's West End in 1960. He played the role again in the 1984 Broadway revival. For this, he was nominated for a Tony Award.

His performance in the 1968 film Oliver! was a huge success. He won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy. He also received an Academy Award nomination. Ron Moody said that playing Fagin was "the part of a lifetime." He also played Fagin in a TV show called The Other Side of London in 1983. He performed as Fagin for Queen Elizabeth II in 1985.

Other Roles and Projects

Ron Moody appeared in many children's TV shows. He voiced characters like Badger and Toad in The Animals of Farthing Wood. He also lent his voice to Noah's Island and Telebugs. He was also in Into the Labyrinth.

In the comedy film The Mouse on the Moon (1963), he played Prime Minister Rupert Mountjoy. He also appeared with Margaret Rutherford in Murder Most Foul (1964). In 1963, he played a French mime artist named The Great Orlando in the film Summer Holiday. He worked again with his Oliver! co-star Jack Wild in the movie Flight of the Doves (1971).

In 1969, Ron Moody was offered the main role in the TV show Doctor Who. He turned down the part, which he later said he regretted. He also starred in Mel Brooks' film The Twelve Chairs (1970). In 2003, he was in the movie Paradise Grove. He also played Edwin Caldecott in the BBC soap opera EastEnders. In 2005, he voiced the Duke of Wellington in a Doctor Who audio play.

Ron Moody also wrote a novel called The Devil You Don't. It was published in 1980. In 2004, he appeared in a TV documentary about the cast of Oliver!. He and Jack Wild even recreated their dance from the film. In 2010, he appeared in an episode of the TV show Casualty. He also made a speech and performed "Pick a Pocket or Two" with the cast of Oliver! for its 50th anniversary.

Family and Death

Ron Moody married Therese Blackbourn, a Pilates teacher, in 1985. They had six children together.

Ron Moody passed away on June 11, 2015, in a London hospital. He was 91 years old.

Filmography

See also

In Spanish: Ron Moody para niños