Paul Nicholas
Paul Nicholas | |
---|---|
Born | Paul Oscar Beuselinck 3 December 1944 Peterborough, England |
Other names | Paul Dean Oscar |
Occupations |
|
Years active | 1960–present |
Spouses | Susan Gee
(m. 1966; div. 1970)Linzi Jennings (m. 1984) |
Children | 6 |
Musical career | |
Genres | Pop |
Instrument(s) | Vocals |
Paul Nicholas (born Paul Oscar Beuselinck; 3 December 1944)
Nicholas started out with a pop career, but soon changed to musical theatre, playing the lead role in Jesus Christ Superstar at the West End’s Palace Theatre in 1972. After his TV series Good Friends ended, he returned to musical theatre and various other entertainment roles, including producing and directing.[3][4] He is also known for his more recent television role in EastEnders as Gavin Sullivan and in The Real Marigold Hotel as himself.
Early life
This section of a biography of a living person does not include any references or sources. (October 2023) |
Paul Nicholas was born Paul Oscar Beuselinck on 3 December 1944 in
The family spent holidays at his maternal grandparents' home on the
Career
Nicholas began his pop career as early as 1960. Adopting the stage name Paul Dean, he formed Paul Dean & The Dreamers
It was here that Sutch first noticed the young Nicholas, who was soon to become vocalist and pianist with The Savages. Still using the name Paul Dean, he released two solo singles in 1965–66. After taking a new stage name, Oscar, he began a long association with the Australian-born entrepreneur,
The second Oscar single was a version of a
He joined
Nicholas' film career began in 1970 in Cannabis.[7] He followed this with See No Evil (1971) and What Became of Jack and Jill? (1972). He then appeared in Stardust (1974), and Three for All (1975). In 1975, he played "Cousin Kevin", Tommy's vicious cousin, in Tommy, and portrayed Richard Wagner in Lisztomania (1975).[8]
In 1976, he embarked on a short-lived but high-profile pop career, with three Top 20 hits in the
In 1978, he appeared in Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band as Dougie Shears. Further films followed including The World Is Full of Married Men (1979), Yesterday's Hero (1979), the loutish punk singer in The Jazz Singer (1980), the romantic lead in Invitation to the Wedding (1983), and Nutcracker (1983).[8]
Having participated in a workshop with
Nicholas later returned to the stage, playing numerous roles on screen in both movie and television projects. In 1986, Nicholas continued to star in musicals including Jekyll and Hyde, Fiddler On The Roof’' and 42nd Street’' which was directed by the shows author Mark Bramble. He starred as The Pirate King in Joseph Papp's version of The Pirates of Penzance at the London Palladium and the Manchester Opera House, touring again in the same role in the late 1990s. He starred in Barnum in the first national tour and followed this with a highly successful season at The Dominion Theatre in the West End. At the end of 1991, while touring with Barnum, Nicholas was the subject of This Is Your Life.[10]
For his services to show business and charity, Nicholas was awarded a Silver Heart from the
In June 1996, Nicholas played the role of King Arthur in the Covent Garden Festival's production of Camelot. He repeated his role of King Arthur in a BBC Radio 2 production of Camelot. Other radio work included Bert in BBC Radio 4's Gracie. He hosted two series of BBC Radio 2's Mad About Musical', as well as his own hour-long TV special, Paul and Friends, for Thames Television. Nicholas fronted the Radio 4 children's series Cat's Whiskers during the 1980s.[12]
In 1997, he starred as the anti-hero of
In 2000, Nicholas appeared in the BBC television comedy drama Sunburn, playing David Janus, owner of the self-titled holiday company around which the series was created. He then played Ronnie Buchan in the new police drama series Burnside. Further television work included parts in The Bill and Holby City.[8]
He then played the title role in the national tour of Doctor Dolittle and followed this with the role of Tevye in UK Productions' national tour of Fiddler on the Roof. In the summer of 2006, he was a celebrity showjumper in the BBC's Sport Relief event Only Fools on Horses, as well as appearing in Doctors, Heartbeat and Holby City. That autumn, Nicholas was attached to star in the British film Cash and Curry, and that year he co-produced and starred in Jekyll & Hyde in a UK national tour.[14]
In 2008, Nicholas played Alan Boon in BBC Four's Consuming Passion: 100 Years of Mills & Boon. He also directed and produced
In 2014, Nicholas produced and starred in Blockbuster, a musical. In 2015, he appeared as Judge Wargrave in
In 2021, Nicholas published 'Musicals Marigolds & Me' and his 3 CD Boxset 'Paul Nicholas Gold'. In 2022, he played Pickering in 'Pygmalion' at the Theatre Royal Windsor.[citation needed]
In 2023, Nicholas resumed a UK tour of 'The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel' prior to a West End run. He also released an audio book of his biography 'Musicals Marigolds & Me'.[citation needed] In 2024 Paul will play the Major in ‘Fawlty Towers’ the John Cleese sitcom adapted as a stage play. It opens in May at the Apollo Theatre in London.
Business
In 1990, while starring with
The company has since produced numerous shows, including:
- Jesus Christ Superstar – concert version
- Pirates of Penzance– UK tour
- Tony Awardnomination for Best Revival 2008
- The Rocky Horror Show – director
- Ain't Misbehavin' – West End
- Singin' in the Rain – UK tour
- Evita – UK tour
- Chess – UK tour
- Happy Days – UK tour
- Saturday Night Fever – London Palladium and NYC Minskoff Theatre, co-adapter and producer
- A Tale of Two Cities – UK tour; co-produced with Bill Kenwright
- Jekyll & Hyde – UK tour, co-produced with UK Productions
- Keeler – 2007, producer and director
- A Tale of Two Cities – Upstairs at The Gatehouse 2008, producer and director
- Grease – West End 2007 and US tour 2008–09, co-producer
- Jest End (musical parody) – London Players and Jermyn Theatres 2009, producer
- Grease – South Africa and Far East tour 2010, US and UK tours 2010/11, co-producer
- Keeler – UK tour September–November 2011, producer and director
- A Tale of Two Cities: The Musical – Charing Cross Theatre April–May 2012, director
- Seven Brides for Seven Brothers – UK tour September 2013, producer
- Wag – Charing Cross Theatre July 2013, co-producer
- Keeler – October 2013 producer and director
- Blockbuster – UK tour September 2014 producer and director
- A Christmas Carol – 2015 associate producer
- Grease – UK tour 2017, co-producer
- Tommy – Blackpool Opera House, 2018 Director
Paul Nicholas School of Acting & Performing Arts
In 2006, Nicholas set up a franchise operation, the Paul Nicholas School of Acting & Performing Arts (52°56′11″N 0°29′49″E / 52.93626°N 0.49702°E), aimed at teaching acting to school-age children.[18][19] The company went into liquidation in 2012.
In January 2008, Nicholas launched Paul Nicholas Community Arts, a project designed to engage disenfranchised children in the arts. The pilot scheme was funded for fourteen weeks by Wyre Borough Council. A twelve-week scheme began on 28 May 2008 in Blackpool.[20]
Filmography
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1970 | The Wednesday Play | Jake | Season of the Witch |
Cannabis | Paul | Film | |
The Females | Mann (uncredited) | Film | |
1971 | See No Evil | Jacko | Film |
1972 | What Became of Jack and Jill? | Johnnie Tallent | Film |
Till Death Us Do Part | Self | Film | |
1974 | Softly, Softly: Taskforce | Slim | Episode: "Pop Goes the Weasel" |
Stardust | Johnny | Film | |
1975 | Listzomania | Richard Wagner | Film |
Three For All | Gary | Film | |
Tommy | Cousin Kevin
|
Film | |
1976 | Play For Today | Kevin | Early Struggles |
1978 | Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band | Dougie Shears | Film |
1979 | The World is Full of Married Men | Gem Gemini | Film |
Two Up, Two Down | Jimmy | 6 episodes | |
Yesterday's Hero | Clint | Film | |
1980 | CHiPs | Malcolm | Episode: "Thrill Show" |
Ladykillers | Frank Hogg | Film | |
The Jazz Singer | Keith Lennox | Film | |
1981 | Plays for Pleasure | Sam | A Little Roccoco |
1982 | Alicja | Cheshire Cat/ Caterpillar | Film |
Nutcracker | Mike McCann | Film | |
1983 | Doubting Thomas | TBC | TV movie |
Invitation to the Wedding | David Anderson | Film | |
1983–6 | Just Good Friends | Vince Pinner | 22 episodes |
1985 | Lyrics by Tim Rice | Blondel | Segment: "Least of My Troubles" (Video) |
1987 | Even Break | Butch | Short |
1987–8 | Bust | Neil Walsh | 12 episodes |
1987–8 | Creepy Crawlies
|
Narrator | 39 episodes |
1987–93 | The Adventures of Spot | Narrator | 25 episodes |
1989–90 | Close to Home | James Shepherd | 19 episodes |
1995 | Spot's Magical Christmas | Sam (voice) | UK version (Video) |
1999 | Calling All Toddlers | Narrator | Segment: "Spot Stays Overnight" (Video) |
2000 | Burnside | Ronnie Buchan | 4 episodes |
Doctors | Martin Stockton | Episode: "Love You Madly" | |
Sunburn | David Janus | 6 episodes | |
2003 | The Bill | Julian Walker | Episode: "Blaze of Glory" |
2006 | Doctors | Terry | Episode: "Half Empty" |
Everything But the Kitchen Sink | Dr. Heinrich Vandoor (voice) | Short | |
Heartbeat | Sven Larson | Episode: "Dead Men Do Tell Tales" | |
Holby City | Rob Logan | Episode: "Flight of the Bumblebee" | |
2008 | Consuming Passion: 100 Years of Mills & Boon | Alan Boon | TV movie |
The Royal Today | Mr. Woods | 48 episodes | |
2010 | Missing | Eddie Broad | 1 episode |
2012 | Doctors | Pete Power | Episode: "Wanton Desire" |
2013 | Dear World: A Musical Fable | Sewerman | Video |
2015–6 | EastEnders | Gavin Sullivan | 31 episodes |
2016 | A Prominent Patient | Neville Chamberlain | Film |
The Gridiron | Mr. Stayner | Film |
Personal life
Nicholas was 18 when he had a child with girlfriend Patricia Brecknell. His then-former girlfriend, Lyn Last, gave birth to his second child in 1967, only a few months after his 1966 marriage to Susan Gee.[21] Nicholas and Gee had two children together. After their divorce, Susan Gee died in 1977, at the age of 28 in a car accident, survived by their two young children.[22]
Nicholas married Linzi Jennings in 1984 and they have two children together.[23]
Discography
Albums
Appearances:
- Hair (Original London Cast Recording) (1968, Polydor Records)
- Fresh Hair (Original London Cast Recording) (1970, Polydor)
- Cats (Original London Cast Recording) (1981, Polydor)
- Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (soundtrack) (1978, RSO Records)
Solo:
- Paul Nicholas (1977, RSO LP) 12 songs; 10 in the US and Canada. In the Netherlands, it was retitled On the Strip (1978, RSO LP) and added two single A-sides while dropping two others.
- Just Good Friends (1986, K-Tel LP and CD) 13 songs, 12 of which are cover versions
- That's Entertainment (1993, Karussell CD) 14-song compilation; RSO/Polydor material from 1976 to 1980
- Colours of My Life (1994, First Night Records CD) 16-song compilation; 12 from West End theatre cast albums and 4 new recordings
Paul Nicholas Gold (2022 Demon Records) 3 CD set CD1 Pop Hits - CD2 Show Songs - CD3 Romantic Songs
Singles
Year | Title | Peak positions | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
UK
[9] |
AUS[24] | IRE | US [25] |
CAN | NZ [26] | ||
1968 | "Open Up the Skies" (Polydor) | — | — | — | — | — | — |
1969 | "Who Can I Turn to" (Polydor) | — | — | — | — | — | — |
1970 | "Freedom City" (Polydor) | — | — | — | — | — | — |
1971 | "The World is Beautiful" (Polydor) | — | — | — | — | — | — |
1974 | "I Hit the Jackpot" (Epic) | — | — | — | — | — | — |
"D.J.: Saturday Night" (Epic) | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
1975 | "Shufflin' Shoes" (RSO) | — | — | — | — | — | — |
1976 | "Reggae Like It Used to Be" (RSO) | 17 | — | — | — | — | — |
"Dancing with the Captain" (RSO) | 8 | 99 | 5 | — | — | — | |
"Grandma's Party" (RSO) | 9 | — | — | — | — | — | |
1977 | "If You Were the Only Girl in the World" (RSO) | — | — | — | — | — | — |
"Heaven on the 7th Floor" (RSO) | 40 | 41 | — | 6 | 49 | 1 | |
1978 | "On the Strip" (RSO) | — | — | — | 67 | — | — |
1978 | "Love Lines" (RSO, Netherlands-only) | — | — | — | — | — | — |
1979 | "Two Up Two Down" (RSO) | — | — | — | — | — | — |
"Yesterday's Hero" (RSO) | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
1980 | "Magical Mr. Mistoffelees" (Polydor) | — | — | — | — | — | — |
1981 | "No News" (RSO) | — | — | — | — | — | — |
1983 | "House of Rock" (The Flying Record Company) | — | — | — | — | — | — |
"The Least of My Troubles" with Sharon Lee-Hill (MCA Records) | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
1984 | "Just Good Friends" (The Flying Record Company) | — | — | — | — | — | — |
1986 | "Don't Wanna Go Home Alone" (K-Tel) | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Literature
- Paul Nicholas (with Douglas Thompson) "Musicals, Marigolds & Me" autobiography, 235 pages. Published in October 2021 by Fantom Publishing. An Audio Book version published in 2023 narrated by Paul Nicholas
- Paul Nicholas (with Douglas Thompson): Behind the Smile autobiography, hardcover, 218 pages published in October 1999 by ISBN 0-233-99748-2
See also
- List of one-hit wonders in the United States
- Paul Nicholas Gold Album
- Demon Records October 2021
- Paul Nicholas Album’On The Strip’2022 Paul Nicholas Album ‘Rarities’2022
References
- ^ "Biodata of Paul Nicholas". findmypast.co.uk. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
- ^ Some sources cite 1945 as his year of birth.
- ^ "Saturday Night Fever (West End, 1998)". Broadway World.
- ^ "A Tale of Two Cities (Charing Cross Theatre,2012". Theatricalia.
- ^ "RAY'S EARLY DAYS". rayrandall.co.uk. Archived from the original on 8 February 2012. Retrieved 13 December 2011.
- ^ "Oscar – " Club of Lights"". www.youtube.com. 2009. Archived from the original on 15 December 2011. Retrieved 13 December 2011.
- ^ "Paul Nicholas". bfi.org.uk. British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 12 March 2017. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
- ^ IMDb
- ^ ISBN 978-1-904994-10-7.
- ^ Newton, Jackie (17 October 1991). "Party Time for the Captain". Liverpool Echo. p. 35.
- ^ "Singin' in the Rain". Theatricalia.
- ^ Radio Times listings - BBC Genome Project
- ^ Norris, Fred (18 December 1998). "A Dickens of a Good Cast". Birmingham Mail. p. 43.
- ^ "Nicholas Heads Jekyll & Hyde". The Stage. 8 April 2004. pp. 1–2.
- ^ Shenton, Mike (7 February 2012). "A Tale of Two Cities Musical to Open at London's Charing Cross Theatre in April. He also produced, directed and starred as Stephen Ward in 'Keeler' based on Christine Keeler's book 'The Truth At Last'". Playbill.
- ^ Meet the cast of Guys and Dolls Live in Concert
- ^ Info re Nicholas itinerary, Greasethemusical.co.uk; accessed 21 February 2016.
- ^ Paul Nicholas School of Acting & Performing Arts website; accessed 6 February 2016.
- ^ Collins, Tony (25 September 2008). "Actor Paul Nicholas seeks future superstars". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 30 May 2010.
- ^ Jones, Alison (31 May 2013). "Paul Nicholas acts on his instinct". Business Live.
- ^ "Susan Beuselinck". MyHeritage. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
- ^ Watts, Halina (18 June 2015). "EastEnders star Paul Nicholas not a heartthrob anymore - but a doting grandad". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
- ^ Barber, Richard (21 June 2019). "Paul Nicholas reveals all: From TV heartthrob to globe-trotting pensioner". Daily Express. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
- ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ISBN 0-89820-089-X
- ^ "PAUL NICHOLAS IN NEW ZEALAND CHARTS". charts.nz. Hung Medien. Retrieved 18 January 2014.
External links
- Paul Nicholas at the British Film Institute
- Paul Nicholas at IMDb
- Paul Nicholas at the Internet Broadway Database
- Paul Nicholas at Theatricalia
- Paul Nicholas discography at Discogs