Anthony Newley
| Anthony Newley | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Born |
Anthony Newley 24 September 1931 London, England, UK |
| Died | 14 April 1999 (aged 67) Jensen Beach, Florida, US |
| Years active | 1947–92 |
| Spouse(s) | Joan Shandell (1948–55) Ann Lynn (1956–63) Joan Collins (1963–70) Dareth Rich (1971–89) |
| Partner(s) | Gina Fratini |
| Children |
Tara Newley Sacha (Alexander) Newley Shelby Newley Christopher Newley Polly (deceased) |
Anthony Newley (24 September 1931 – 14 April 1999) was an English actor, singer and songwriter. Newley achieved success as a performer in such diverse fields as rock and roll and stage and screen acting. As a recording artist he enjoyed a dozen Top 40 entries on the UK Singles Chart between 1959 and 1962, including two number one hits. With songwriting partner Leslie Bricusse, Newley penned "Feeling Good", which was popularised by Nina Simone and covered by many other popular artists; as well as the title song of 1964 film Goldfinger (along with John Barry). Bricusse and Newley received an Academy Award nomination for the film score of Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971).
The Guinness Book of British Hit Singles & Albums described Newley as "among the most innovative UK acts of the early rock years before moving into musicals and cabaret". Newley was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1989.
Newley was born in the London district of Hackney, the son of Frances Grace Newley and George Kirby, a shipping clerk. He had five siblings, Maxene (b. 1926), John (b. 1927), Joanne (1928–1965), Linda (b. 1929) and Belinda (b. 1932). He was Jewish through his maternal grandmother. His parents, who had never married, separated during his early childhood, and his aunt and uncle brought him up through unofficial adoption. During the Second World War he was evacuated to a foster home in the country area safe from the Blitz aerial bombing attacks on London.
Although recognised as very bright by his teachers, he was uninterested in school, and by the age of fourteen was working as an office boy for an insurance company. When he read an ad in the Daily Telegraph, headed "Boy Actors Urgently Wanted" he applied to the advertisers, the prestigious Italia Conti Stage School, only to discover that the fees were too high. Nevertheless, after a brief audition, he was offered a job as an office boy on a salary of 30 shillings (£1.50) a week plus tuition at the school. While serving tea one afternoon he caught the eye of producer Geoffrey de Barkus, who cast Newley as "Dusty" in the children's serial, The Adventures of Dusty Bates.
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