Michael Crawford

Michael Crawford
CBE
Crawford in Sydney in 2012
Born
Michael Patrick Smith

(1942-01-19) 19 January 1942
Sheerness, Kent, England
Occupations
  • actor
  • tenor
  • comedian
  • stuntman
  • voice actor
Years active1955–present
Spouse
Gabrielle Lewis
​
​
(m. 1965; div. 1975)​
Children2
WebsiteOfficial website

Michael Patrick Smith, CBE (born 19 January 1942), known by the professional stage name of Michael Crawford, is a British actor, comedian and singer. Crawford is best known for playing Frank Spencer in the sitcom Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em, Cornelius Hackl in the musical movie Hello, Dolly!, and the main character in the stage musical The Phantom of the Opera.

Career

Before Some Mothers, Michael starred alongside Oliver Read in the 1967 comedy The Jokers, directed by Michael Winner. Michael and Oliver play brother's who endeavor to steal the Crown jewels from the Tower of London.

Michael Crawford is renowned for his iconic portrayal of the Phantom in Andrew Lloyd Webber's "The Phantom of the Opera" earning critical acclaim and numerous awards for his performance. Crawford's performance not only made him a household name in the UK but also turned him into an international star. His portrayal of the Phantom is remembered fondly by fans, and many consider him the quintessential Phantom, setting a high standard for those who followed.

Since 1987, he has been the leader of the Sick Children's Trust as well and acted as a public face for the British social cause organisation.[1]

Crawford was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 1987 Birthday Honours[2] and Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2014 New Year Honours.[3]

He will receive the Kennedy Center Honor in December 2025.

Personal life

Crawford has three children. Two, born in 1966 and 1968, were daughters from his first marriage to Gabrielle Lewis.[4]

In 2007, Crawford moved to New Zealand for health reasons, as he was recovering from encephalitis.[5][6][7]

References

  1. ↑ "Michael Crawford to Host Afternoon Tea in Cambridge for Sick Children's Trust". BroadwayWorld.com. 6 September 2015. Retrieved 28 March 2018.
  2. ↑ "No. 50948". The London Gazette (Supplement). 13 June 1987. p. 9.
  3. ↑ "No. 60728". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 December 2013. p. 8.
  4. ↑ 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.
  5. ↑ "Michael Crawford opens up about moving to New Zealand to deal with ME". The Telegraph. 2012-03-12. Archived from the original on 12 January 2024. Retrieved 2023-12-26.
  6. ↑ Coast. "How New Zealand saved Michael Crawford's life". Coast. Archived from the original on 12 January 2024. Retrieved 2023-12-26.
  7. ↑ "'Frank Spencer': New Zealand cured my crippling illness". The New Zealand Herald. 2023-12-27. Archived from the original on 12 January 2024. Retrieved 2023-12-26.

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