Michael Crawford

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
For other people named Michael Crawford, see Michael Crawford (disambiguation).

Michael Crawford

CBE
Crawford in Sydney, 2012
Born
Michael Patrick Smith

(1942-01-19) 19 January 1942 (age 82)
Salisbury, Wiltshire, England
Occupations
  • Actor
  • singer
  • comedian
  • stuntman
  • voice actor
Years active1955–present
Known for
Spouse
Gabrielle Lewis
​
​
(m. 1965; div. 1975)​
PartnerNatasha MacAller (1996‍–‍present)
Children3
Websitemcifa.com

Michael Patrick Smith

CBE (born 19 January 1942),[1]
known professionally as Michael Crawford, is an English actor, comedian, and singer.

Crawford is best known for playing the hapless

Frank Spencer in the sitcom Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em and the title role in the musical The Phantom of the Opera. His acclaimed performance in the latter earned him both the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical and Tony Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical.[2] He has received international critical acclaim and won numerous awards during his acting career, which has included many film and television performances as well as stage work on both London's West End and on Broadway
.

Crawford has also published the autobiography Parcel Arrived Safely: Tied With String. Since 1987, he has served as the leader and public face for the British social cause organization the Sick Children's Trust.[2]

Early life and education

Crawford was brought up by his mother, Doris Agnes Mary Pike, and her parents, Montague Pike and his wife, Edith (née Keefe or O'Keefe), in what Crawford described as a "close-knit

Roman Catholic family". His maternal grandmother was born in County Londonderry, Ireland, and lived to be 99 years old.[3] His mother's first husband, Arthur Dumbell "Smudge" Smith,[4] who was not his biological father, was killed, aged 22, on 6 September 1940 during the Battle of Britain, less than a year after they married.[5][6]
Sixteen months after Smith's death, Crawford was born, the result of a short-lived relationship, and given his mother's surname, which was that of her first husband.

During his early years, Crawford divided his time between the army camp in

Second World War, his mother remarried, this time to a grocer, Lionel Dennis "Den" Ingram. The couple moved to Herne Hill[7] in London, where Crawford attended Oakfield Preparatory School, Dulwich, where he was known as Michael Ingram. His mother's second marriage was abusive, according to Crawford.[3]

Acting career

Career beginnings

Crawford made his first stage appearance in the role of Sammy the Little Sweep in his school production of

Let's Make an Opera, conducted by Donald Mitchell,[8] which was then transferred to Brixton Town Hall in London. He auditioned, unsuccessfully, for the role of Miles in Britten's The Turn of the Screw – the role being given to another boy soprano, David Hemmings; but it appears that Crawford's audition sufficiently impressed Britten as in 1955 he hired him to play Sammy, alternating with David Hemmings, in another production of Let's Make an Opera, this time at the Scala Theatre in London.[9] He also participated in the recording of that opera (as Michael Ingram, singing the role of Gay Brook) made that same year, conducted by the composer.[9][10]

In 1958 he was hired by the

British Equity".[11]

He went on to perform in a wide repertoire. Among his stage work, he performed in

Sir Francis Drake, a 26-part adventure series made by ITC starring Terence Morgan and Jean Kent. He made his film debut in 1958 with leading roles in two children's films, Blow Your Own Trumpet and Soapbox Derby, for The Children's Film Foundation in Britain.[12]

In 1961 Michael Crawford appeared in an episode of

Police Surgeon alongside Ian Hendry. This series would spawn the much better-known The Avengers
.

Early adult career

At age nineteen, he was approached to play an American, Junior Sailen, in the film

Steve McQueen. To prepare for the role, he would spend hours listening to Woody Woodbury, a famous American comedian of the time, to try to perfect an American accent. After The War Lover, Crawford briefly returned to the stage and, after playing the lead role in the 1963 British film Two Left Feet, was offered a role in the British television series, Not So Much a Programme, More a Way of Life, as the Mod-style, tough-talking, motorbike-riding Byron. It was this character that attracted film director Richard Lester to hire him for the role of Colin in The Knack ...and How to Get It
in 1965. The film was a huge success in the UK.

Lester also cast him in the film adaptation of Stephen Sondheim's musical A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, and How I Won the War, which starred Roy Kinnear and John Lennon (during the filming of which he lived in London with Lennon and his first wife Cynthia, and Gabrielle Lewis).[13] Crawford starred in The Jokers (directed by Michael Winner) with Oliver Reed in 1967.

Broadway debut

In 1967, Crawford made his Broadway début in Peter Shaffer's Black Comedy with Lynn Redgrave (making her début as well) in which he demonstrated his aptitude and daring for extreme physical comedy, such as walking into walls and falling down staircases. While working in the show, he was noticed by Gene Kelly and was called to Hollywood to audition for him for a part in the film adaptation of the musical Hello, Dolly!. He was cast and shared top billing with Barbra Streisand and Walter Matthau. Despite becoming one of the highest-grossing films of 1969, it failed to recoup its $25 million budget at the box office. It went on to win three Academy Awards, was nominated for a further four (including Best Picture), and is now considered to be one of the greatest musical films ever.[14][15][16]

Crawford's later films fared less successfully, although Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, in which he played the White Rabbit, enjoyed moderate success in the UK. After performing in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, and with offers of work greatly reduced and much of his salary from Hello, Dolly! lost, reportedly due to underhanded investments by his agent,[11] Crawford faced a brief period of unemployment, in which he helped his wife stuff cushions (for their upholstery business) and took a job as an office clerk in an electric company to pass the time between. During this difficult time, his marriage fell apart and divorce followed in 1975.[11]

Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em

Crawford's acting career took off again after he appeared on the London stage in the farce No Sex Please, We're British, in which he played the part of frantic chief cashier Brian Runnicles. His performance led to an invitation to star in a BBC television comedy series about a childlike and eternally haphazard man who causes disaster everywhere he goes. Crawford was not the first choice for the role of Frank Spencer in Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em. Originally, the part had been offered to comedy actor Ronnie Barker but after he and Norman Wisdom had turned it down, Crawford took on the challenge, adopting a similar characterisation to that which he used when playing Brian Runnicles. Cast alongside him was actress Michele Dotrice in the role of Frank's long-suffering wife, Betty, and the series premiered in 1973.

Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em soon became one of the BBC's most popular television series. Initially, only two series were produced, from 1973 to 1975, while the show's creators felt that it should stop while at its peak. There was a brief hiatus until popular demand saw it revived for a final series in 1978. The immense popularity that followed the sitcom was due perhaps to the unusual amount of physical comedy involved. Crawford said he had always been a fan of comedians such as Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton and Laurel and Hardy, as well as the great sight gags employed in the days of silent film, and saw Some Mothers as the ideal opportunity to use such humour himself. He performed all of his own stunts during the show's run, and never used a double.[11]

1970s

While he was playing in Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em, Crawford was approached to star in the musical Billy (based on the novel Billy Liar), which opened in 1974 at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in London. This was his first leading man role on the West End stage and helped to cement his career as both a singer and showman. The part was demanding, requiring proficiency in both song and dance, and in preparation for the role, Crawford began taking both more seriously, studying singing under the tutelage of vocal coach Ian Adam and spending hours perfecting his dancing capabilities with choreographer Onna White.[11]

Billy gave the many fans of Crawford's portrayal of Frank Spencer an opportunity to see him in a broadly similar role on the stage, and was a considerable hit (904 West End performances). After the closing of Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em, Crawford continued to perform in plays and musicals, starring in

typecast, to the extent that they could not accept his very different role as Dave Finn. Crawford abandoned the show during its first series and returned to theatre work.[11]

1980s

Condorman

Crawford starred in the 1981 Disney comedy/adventure film

Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert featured the film in their round-up of the year's worst films pointing out the less-than-special effects such as the visible harness and cable used to suspend Condorman in the air and the obvious bluescreen effect. The film performed poorly at the box office but years later gained a cult following among Disney fans.[11]

Barnum

Also in 1981, Crawford starred in the original London production of Cy Coleman's Barnum (1981) as the illustrious American showman P. T. Barnum. He trained at the Big Apple Circus School in New York City to prepare for the ambitious stunts, learning to walk the tight-rope, juggle and slide down a rope from the rafters of the theatre. After further training for the second opening of Barnum, he was awarded a British Amateur Gymnastics Association badge and certificate as a qualified coach.[11]

Barnum opened on 11 June 1981 at the

Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical on the London stage. After the initial production of the show, he worked extensively with Torvill and Dean, and can be seen rinkside with them as they received their "perfect six" marks in the 1983 world championships for their 'Barnum' routine.[17][18]

In 1984 a revival of Barnum opened in Manchester at the Opera House, ending the tour at the Victoria Palace in the West End. In 1986 this production, with a new cast, though still headed by Crawford, was recorded for television and broadcast by the BBC. Crawford's Barnum is one of the longest runs by a leading actor.

The Phantom of the Opera

In 1984, at the final preview of Starlight Express, Crawford happened to run into the show's creator, Andrew Lloyd Webber. Lloyd Webber had met Crawford socially several times and remembered him from his work in Flowers for Algernon. He informed Crawford that he was working on a new project based on a Gaston Leroux novel and wanted to know whether he was interested. Crawford said he was, but the show was still in the early planning stages, and nothing had been decided. Several months passed, during which Lloyd Webber had already created a pitch video featuring his then-wife Sarah Brightman as the female lead Christine, and British rocker Steve Harley as the Phantom, singing the title song in the manner of a contemporary new wave video. Crawford was turned off by that, supposing the songwriter had chosen to do a "rock opera"-inspired spectacle in lieu of a more traditional operatic musical.[11]

Since casting Harley, however, Lloyd Webber had also begun to regret his artistic choices (as stated in the 'Behind the Mask' documentary that he and Cameron MackIntosh agreed that Harley wasn't an actor, nor a large theatre presence, all of which by this point Crawford had vast experience in). As production continued on the show, the bulk of the score was revealing itself to be far more classical and operatic, entirely unsuited to Harley's rough, contemporary voice. Wanting instead a performer with a more classic, melodic voice, as described in the original book, he began yet another search for the perfect actor to play his Phantom. Crawford's landing of the role was due in large part to the coincidence that Sarah Brightman had taken lessons with the same vocal coach as Crawford. She and her husband had arrived early for her lesson, and it was while waiting that they chanced to hear Crawford practising the aria Care Selve, from the opera Atalanta by Handel. Intrigued, Lloyd Webber asked Ian Adam who his student was. Soon after, Crawford was called in for an audition and was hired virtually on the spot.[11]

Many critics were sceptical; Crawford was still largely pigeonholed as the hapless Frank Spencer, and questions were asked about Crawford's ability to manage such a vocally and dramatically demanding role.

In September 1986, Crawford began his performances in London at

Tony Award (Best Performance by an Actor in a Lead Role, Musical), a New York Drama Desk Award, and a Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award for Distinguished Achievement in Theatre (Lead Performance).[19]

During the run of Phantom in Los Angeles, Crawford was asked to perform "The Music of the Night" at the Inaugural Gala for President George H. W. Bush in Washington, D.C., on 19 January 1989. At the gala, Crawford was presented with a birthday cake (it was his 47th birthday).

On 29 April 1990, after three and a half years and over 1,300 performances later, Crawford left the show for the final time. He admits to having been saddened at his departure, and, during the final Lair scene, altered the Phantom's line to "Christine... I loved you", acknowledging that this was his final performance.[20]

However, on 31 December 1990, he returned to the role in Los Angeles replacing Robert Guillaume in the role. Crawford played his true final performance on 28 April 1991. Davis Gaines replaced him in the production.[21][22]

1990s

At the request of Liz Kirschner, wife of film producer

20th Century Fox's animated film Once Upon a Forest
, which was produced by her husband.

In 1995, Crawford created the high-profile starring role in EFX, the US$70 million production which officially opened the 1,700-seat MGM Grand Theatre in Las Vegas. The Atlantic Theater label released the companion album to EFX. Early into the run, Crawford suffered an accident during a performance (which involved him sliding from a wire hanger from the back of the theatre all the way to the stage and then jumping down 12 feet (3.7 m) to the stage itself) and left the show to recover from his injury, which resulted in an early hip replacement operation.[23]

In the mid 1990s, Michael began a long-term relationship with Natasha MacAller, an American dancer and chef.[24]

2000s to present

In 2001, Crawford sang Baby Mine from Disney's Dumbo on its 60th anniversary VHS and DVD. Crawford had a short comeback to Broadway as the Count von Krolock in the short-lived musical

myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), which debilitated him for six years.[26]

He later moved to New Zealand briefly, both to be near his daughter and her family in Australia[27] and to convalesce from his illness.[26]

In 2006, Crawford attended the Gala Performance of the stage version of The Phantom of the Opera on Broadway at the Majestic Theatre to celebrate the show's becoming the longest-running musical in Broadway history (surpassing the run of Cats). He was delighted with it, stating this was the first time he had been an audience member of any of the shows he had done.[28]

On 23 October 2010, Crawford attended the celebratory 10,000th performance of The Phantom of the Opera in London alongside composer Andrew Lloyd Webber. Crawford spoke of his own memories of the first performance 24 years ago, and was then presented, along with Lloyd Webber, with a special cake to commemorate the landmark achievement.[29]

Beginning with previews in February 2011, Crawford originated the part of the Wizard in the new

This Morning: Sunday, on 14 August 2011, that he had signed on for a further six months in the show.[31] He left the production on 5 February 2012; the same day as co-star Danielle Hope played her final performance as Dorothy. From 14 February, Russell Grant took over the role.[32]

On 2 October 2011 Crawford made a special appearance during the finale of The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall — a fully staged production of the musical at the famous London venue – marking 25 years since the show received its world premiere. Although reunited with Sarah Brightman, he did no real singing as he had just finished performing in a matinee of The Wizard of Oz at the London Palladium.[33]

On 18 March 2016 Crawford and Dotrice reprised their roles in a one-off special of Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em, broadcast as part of the Sport Relief charity fundraiser event.[34]

Crawford starred in the new West End musical The Go-Between which premiered on 27 May 2016 at Apollo Theatre.[35] He appeared in the 60th anniversary performance of Britten's Noye's Fludde in London in 2018, performing the Voice of God, and recalled in a BBC Radio 3 interview Benjamin Britten's valuable support in his early career.[36]

Recording career and chart success

In 1987, during Crawford's starring role in

UK Singles Chart.[37]

Following on from this, in the same year Crawford released a studio album of

show tunes with the London Symphony Orchestra, titled Songs from the Stage and Screen, which reached number 12 in the UK Albums Chart[37] and number 74 on the Australian Music Report chart. From this album, his version of "When You Wish Upon a Star" was released as a single, reaching number 97 in the UK Singles Chart.[37]

Songs from the Stage and Screen was followed by other charting studio albums recorded by Crawford, including With Love / The Phantom Unmasked (1989), Michael Crawford Performs Andrew Lloyd Webber (1991), A Touch of Music in the Night (1993) and The Disney Album (2001), as well as several compilation albums.[37] A Touch of Music in the Night included a new version of the Phantom song "The Music of the Night", this time recorded as a duet between Crawford and Barbra Streisand. Released as a single, it reached number 54 in the UK Singles Chart in early 1994.[37] It was also included on Streisand's album Back to Broadway (1993), and was nominated for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals at the 1994 Grammy Awards.[38]

Concert tours

Crawford has performed many concert tours in the US, Canada, the UK, Australia and New Zealand, beginning with The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber in 1992. In 1998, Crawford began Michael Crawford: Live In Concert tour around the United States. One performance, done at the Cerritos Arts Center in Los Angeles, was filmed and broadcast on PBS for their annual fundraiser.

In 2006, he made a small concert tour of Australia and New Zealand, as well as a one-night benefit to open the

LaSalle Bank Theatre in Chicago. He has also done various Michael Crawford International Fan Association (MCIFA) exclusive concerts around the US.[39]
The MCIFA makes contributions to many charities.

Charity work

Since the late 1980s, Crawford has affiliated himself with various charities, particularly for the good of children. He is a patron of the Lighthouse Foundation in Australia, and has also been President of the Sick Children's Trust since 1987.[40]

Personal life

Crawford has three children. Two, born in 1966 and 1968, were daughters from his first marriage to Gabrielle Lewis.[41]

In 2007, Crawford relocated to New Zealand for health reasons, as he sought recovery from his diagnosed

ME and to be closer to one of his daughters who had settled in Australia which is in a similar time-zone to his home.[42][43][44]

Accolades

Crawford was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1988 and Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2014 New Year Honours for charitable and philanthropic services, particularly to children's charities.[46]

Acting credits

Theatre

Year Title Role(s)
1967 Black Comedy / White Lies Brindsley Miller / Tom
1971 No Sex Please, We're British Brian Runnicles
1974 Billy Billy Liar
1979 Flowers for Algernon Charlie Gordon
1981–86 Barnum P.T. Barnum
1986–91 The Phantom of the Opera The Phantom of the Opera
1995–96 EFX The EFX Master / Merlin / P.T. Barnum / Harry Houdini / H.G. Wells
2002–03 Dance of the Vampires Count Giovanni von Krolock
2004 The Woman in White Count Fosco
2011–12 The Wizard of Oz Professor Marvel / Emerald City Doorman / Tour Guide / The Wizard of Oz
2016 The Go-Between Older Leo Colston

Film

Year Title Role
1958 Soapbox Derby Peter Toms
1958 Blow Your Own Trumpet Jim Fenn
1960 A French Mistress Kent
1960 Sir Frances Drake John Drake
1961 Two Living, One Dead Nils Lindwall
1962 The War Lover Sgt. Junior Sailen
1963 Two Left Feet Alan Crabbe
1965 The Knack ...and How to Get It Colin
1966 A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum Hero
1967 The Jokers Michael Tremayne
1967 How I Won the War Lt. Earnest Goodbody
1969 Hello, Dolly! Cornelius Hackl
1970 The Games Harry Hayes
1970 Hello-Goodbye Harry England
1972 Alice's Adventures in Wonderland White Rabbit
1981 Condorman Woody Wilkins
1986 Barnum P.T. Barnum
1993 Once Upon a Forest Cornelius/Narrator (voice)
1999 The Ghosts of Christmas Eve Himself (performer)

Television

Years Title TV company Role
1959 Billy Bunter of Greyfriars School (Series 5) BBC Frank Nugent
1960 Saturday Playhouse (one episode) BBC Read
1960 Police Surgeon (episode "Easy Money") ABC
1961–1962 Sir Francis Drake ITC for ABC / ATV John Drake
1964–1965 Not So Much a Programme, More a Way of Life BBC Byron
1968 Cilla (one episode) BBC
1973–1978 Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em BBC Frank Spencer
1979 Chalk and Cheese Thames Television Dave Finn
1998 Noel's House Party (one episode) BBC Frank Spencer
1999 The Ghosts of Christmas Eve
Fox Family Channel
2016 Sport Relief 2016 BBC Frank Spencer

Discography

Solo albums

List of studio albums, with selected chart positions and certifications
Title Album details Peak chart positions
Certifications
AUS
[47][48][49] 		UK
[50]
Songs from the Stage and Screen
(With the London Symphony Orchestra)
  • Released: 1987
  • Label: J&B Records (JB 332)
  • Formats: CD,
    LP
 74 12
With Love
(With the London Symphony Orchestra)
  • Released: 1989
  • Label: TelStar TCD 2340
  • Formats: CD, Cassette, LP
 – 31
The Phantom Unmasked
  • Released: 1989
  • Label: Dino Music (125)
  • Formats: CD, Cassette, LP
 77 –
Michael Crawford Performs Andrew Lloyd Webber
  • Released: November 1991
  • Label: Atlantic (756782347-2)
  • Formats: CD, Cassette
 1 3
A Touch of Music in the Night
  • Released: October 1993
  • Label: Atlantic (756782531-2)
  • Formats: CD, Cassette
 1 12
  • ARIA: 4× Platinum[48]
Favourite Love Songs
  • Released: October 1994
  • Label: Atlantic (756782697-2)
  • Formats: CD, Cassette
 18 64
On Eagle's Wings
  • Released: March 1998
  • Label: Atlantic (756783076-2)
  • Formats: CD, Cassette
 5 65
Michael Crawford in Concert
  • Released: October 1998
  • Label: Atlantic (756783131-2)
  • Formats: CD
  • Live album
 31 –
A Christmas Album / The Most Wonderful Time of the Year
  • Released: December 1999
  • Label: Atlantic (756783222-2)
  • Formats: CD
 62 69
The Disney Album
  • Released: April 2001
  • Label: Walt Disney Records (333662)
  • Formats: CD
 1 76
The Best of (Christmas Version)
  • Released: November 2001
  • Label: Atlantic (756793081-2)
  • Formats: CD
  • Compilation album
 10 –
The Best of
  • Released: 2002
  • Label: Atlantic (756793082-2)
  • Formats: CD
  • Compilation album
 66 –
The Very Best of Michael Crawford
  • Released: 2004
  • Label: EMI (VTCD 685)
  • Formats: CD
  • Compilation album
 – 76
The Story of My Life
  • Released: November 2011
  • Label: Union Square Music
  • Formats: CD, Download
  • Compilation album
 7 –
O Holy Night
  • Released: 16 November 2012[53]
  • Label: Union Square Music/FanFare (FANFARE091)
  • Formats: CD, Download
 55[54] –
The Story of My Life: The Ultimate Collection
  • Released: December 2012
  • Label: Union Square Music
  • Formats: CD, Download
  • Compilation album
 – 44
The Music of the Night
  • Released: September 2016
  • Label: Union Square Music/FanFare (FANFARE155)
  • Formats: 2×CD, Download
  • Compilation album
 – –

Video albums

List of video albums, with selected chart positions and certifications
Title Album details Peak chart positions
Certifications
AUS
DVD
[47]
In Concert
  • Released: 1998
  • Label: Warner Music Vision
  • Formats: VHS, DVD
 8

Cast albums

  • A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (1966)
  • Hello, Dolly! (1969)
  • Billy (1974)
  • Flowers for Algernon (1980)
  • Barnum (1981)
  • The Phantom of the Opera (1987)
  • Highlights from The Phantom of the Opera (1987)
  • Once Upon a Forest
     (1993)
  • EFX (1995) AUS No. 100[48]
  • The Woman in White (2004)
  • WALL-E (2008) (excerpts from Hello, Dolly!)
  • The Wizard of Oz (2011)

Guest appearances

See also

References

  1. Cleveland.com
    . Retrieved 19 January 2023.
  2. ^ a b "Michael Crawford to Host Afternoon Tea in Cambridge for Sick Children's Trust". BroadwayWorld.com. 6 September 2015. Archived from the original on 9 December 2021. Retrieved 28 March 2018.
  3. ^ a b "Michael Crawford International Fan Association". www.mcifa.com. Archived from the original on 21 August 2017. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
  4. ^ "Battle of Britain London Monument". Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 12 May 2015.
  5. ^ "Casualty Details | CWGC". www.cwgc.org.
  6. ^ Phantom: Michael Crawford Unmasked, Anthony Hayward (Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 1991)
  7. ^ Ramirez, Isabel. "Southwark Blue Plaque nominees: Comedian Michael Crawford aka Frank Spencer grew up in Herne Hill". Southwark News. Archived from the original on 12 January 2024. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
  8. ^
    ISBN 978-0571222827
    .
  9. ^ a b Mitchell (2004): p. 27
  10. ^ Booklet details from Decca 436 393–2
  11. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Crawford, Michael (23 August 1999). Parcel Arrived Safely, Tied with String. Archived from the original on 12 January 2024. Retrieved 6 April 2009.
  12. ^ Herincx, Gareth (16 September 1999). "Entertainment: Crawford comes clean". BBC News. Archived from the original on 12 January 2024. Retrieved 2 September 2014.
  13. Matt Baker and Alex Jones on the BBC show "The One Show
    " on 1 August 2011.
  14. ^ "100 Greatest Film Musicals". Archived from the original on 17 October 2012. Retrieved 7 December 2015.
  15. ^ "The Best Movie Musicals of All Time". Archived from the original on 21 February 2016. Retrieved 7 December 2015.
  16. ^ "The Top 100 Greatest Movie Musicals of All Time". Archived from the original on 6 February 2016. Retrieved 7 December 2015.
  17. YouTube
  18. ISBN 0-7153-8476-7
  19. ^ "biography, timeline". Archived from the original on 12 January 2024. Retrieved 2 February 2010.
  20. ^ Braxton, Greg (30 April 1990). "'Phantom' Departs Amid Cheers, Tears". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 12 January 2024. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  21. ^ Shirley, Don (9 November 1990). "Michael Crawford to Return to 'Phantom' Role : Theater: The originator of the title role in 'The Phantom of the Opera' will return to the Ahmanson on Dec. 31 to play the part again for at least three months". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 12 January 2024. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
  22. ^ "Orlando Native Gets Notice as Los Angeles' 'Phantom'". 3 May 1991. Archived from the original on 12 January 2024. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
  23. ^ Weekend Wogan, 25 September 2011
  24. ^ Honey, Sam (30 June 2023). "Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em star's early life In Kent and the iconic Sheppey stunt". Kent Live. Archived from the original on 12 January 2024. Retrieved 17 September 2023. He has been with his current partner, Natasha MacAller, since 1996.
  25. ^ "An Interview with Michael Crawford". Retrieved 6 April 2009.
  26. ^ a b "Play it Again: Michael Crawford on the day he ended up on Spaghetti Junction in his pyjamas". Sunday Mercury. 11 March 2012. Archived from the original on 12 January 2024. Retrieved 8 May 2012.
  27. ^ Moran, Jonathon (11 March 2012). "The secret life of a Phantom star". The Sunday Telegraph. Archived from the original on 10 March 2012. Retrieved 3 April 2017 – via News.com.au.
  28. ^ Crawford, Michael. "Michael Attends Record-Breaking Phantom". Archived from the original on 12 January 2024. Retrieved 8 April 2009.
  29. ^ "Phantom Celebrates 10000th West End Performance with Michael Crawford Andrew Lloyd Webber". 23 October 2010. Archived from the original on 30 September 2011. Retrieved 29 October 2010.
  30. ^ Singh, Anita (24 September 2010). "Wizard role for Michael Crawford in new Andrew Lloyd Webber musical". The Daily Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on 12 January 2022. Retrieved 24 September 2010.
  31. ^ "This Morning". 2011. 14 August 2011. ITV1.
  32. ^ Tim Glanfield (23 January 2012). "Russell Grant to join Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Wizard of Oz stage musical".
  33. ^ Cerasaro, Pat. "SOUND OFF: PHANTOM 25 – Sweet Intoxication". BroadwayWorld.com. Archived from the original on 12 January 2024. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
  34. ^ "Michael Crawford to reprise Frank Spencer for Sport Relief". BBC News. 17 February 2016. Archived from the original on 31 May 2017. Retrieved 21 June 2018.
  35. ^ Porteous, Jacob (5 February 2016). "Michael Crawford To Star in the Go-Between London Premiere at the Apollo Theatre". London Theatre Direct. Archived from the original on 12 January 2024. Retrieved 5 February 2016.
  36. ^ "BBC Radio 3 – Radio 3 in Concert, A Britten Celebration". Archived from the original on 12 January 2024. Retrieved 3 July 2018.
  37. ^ a b c d e "MICHAEL CRAWFORD". Official Charts. 10 January 1987. Archived from the original on 12 January 2024. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
  38. ^ "Rock On The Net: Grammy Awards: Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Group or Duo". www.rockonthenet.com. Archived from the original on 17 September 2000. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  39. ^ "Michael's Biography". Archived from the original on 12 January 2024. Retrieved 2 February 2010.
  40. ^ Crawford, Michael. "The Sick Children's Trust". Archived from the original on 13 November 2007. Retrieved 12 September 2007.
  41. ^ Evening Standard (10 April 2012). "'I feared I'd fall on my face". London. Archived from the original on 12 January 2024. Retrieved 15 March 2023.
  42. ^ "Michael Crawford opens up about moving to New Zealand to deal with ME". The Telegraph. 12 March 2012. Archived from the original on 12 January 2024. Retrieved 26 December 2023.
  43. ^ Coast. "How New Zealand saved Michael Crawford's life". Coast. Archived from the original on 12 January 2024. Retrieved 26 December 2023.
  44. ^ "'Frank Spencer': New Zealand cured my crippling illness". NZ Herald. 27 December 2023. Archived from the original on 12 January 2024. Retrieved 26 December 2023.
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  55. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2012 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
  56. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2004 DVDs" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 18 December 2021.

External links

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