USA: BRITISH ACTOR MICHAEL CRAWFORD BEGINS TOUR PROMOTING HIS CHRISTMAS ALBUM AND THE RELEASE OF HIS AUTOBIOGRAPHY

Record ID: 707108

  • Title: USA: BRITISH ACTOR MICHAEL CRAWFORD BEGINS TOUR PROMOTING HIS CHRISTMAS ALBUM AND THE RELEASE OF HIS AUTOBIOGRAPHY
  • Date: 18th January 2000
  • Summary: NEW YORK, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (RECENT) (RTV) COVER OF AUTO-BIOGRAPHY "PARCEL ARRIVED SAFELY - TIED WITH STRING"
  • Embargoed: 2nd February 2000 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: NEW YORK, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES
  • Country: USA
  • Reuters ID: LVA8015DCCHTJKZVNXSTDZO8ADVY
  • Story Text: Michael Crawford, best known for his lead role in Phantom of the Opera, but perhaps most dear in many hearts for his portrayal of Frank Spencer, in Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em has embarked on a U.S.tour, promoting his Christmas Album and the release of his autobiography 'Parcel Arrived Safely - Tied With String'.The comic genius now spends most of his time recording albums, or performing in concerts and hopes to return to his lead role in the film version of Phantom.
    Michael Crawford has had an illustrious showbusiness career, among the many highlights, a seamless transition from comic genius to stage singing sensation.His name will always be synonymous with the role of Frank Spencer in the TV series Some Mother's Do 'Ave 'Em , but Michael has also enjoyed enormous success playing the lead role in the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical Phantom of the Opera.Originally Michael Dumbell-Smith, he changed his name after seeing an advertisement for Crawford's Biscuits.Now at age 57 he is a grandad four times over, but still looks remarkably well considering a lifetime in showbusiness.
    He was taught to sing at the age of ten by admiring composer Benjamin Britten and first made his name in the 1965 film of Ann Jellicoe's The Knack.He went on to star in several feature films making him an household name around the world.But his talent as a comedian was truly established when he took on the role of Frank Spencer in Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em.
    After filming 18 episodes of the show, he managed to escape the quirky comic typecast, landing the lead role opposite Sarah Brightman in Andrew Lloyd-Webber's Phantom of the Opera.Phantom of the Opera has recently been hailed as the most successful show of the century after worldwide box office sales topped $3 billion.Crawford remained in the role for 4 years and took it around the world, before leaving to concentrate on what has become a highly successful solo singing career.
    He still holds his time as the phantom close to his heart and hopes to return to the role for Steven Speilberg's film version of the musical.
    His recent best-selling autobiography Parcel Arrived Safely: Tied With String told of his difficult early years.
    Among his memoirs were tales of how motherly love helped him to survive life as an illegitimate child in an era when everyone else at school had two parents, how his beloved mother Doris's poor second marriage meant she had to endure mental and physical abuse how his own marriage broke up and how he feared the worst when he found a lump in his breast.
    Yet Michael, whose voice is unnervingly close to Frank Spencer, is an optimist at heart who enjoys telling stories against himself.Brought up on the Isle of Sheppey, but now with homes in Wapping and Bedfordshire, it was always thought that his father was Spitfire pilot Arthur Dumbell-Smith.But he died in 1939 and Michael wasn't born until 1942 - the result of a one-night stand by his widowed mother.
    In his book, Michael recalls how his final Los Angeles shows of Phantom Of The Opera began to see tickets changing hands for as much as $1,000.Appalled, he rang a local radio station and offered for charity auction his own six house seats for the final show.By the time bidding ended the top selling pair of seats had gone for more than twenty seven thousand dollars.
    Through his career, Crawford's stature as an international star grew bigger and bigger.He was well-respected in the industry and has fond memories of having dinner with such legends as Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin.
    And following in the footsteps of those singing and acting legends, Crawford is now concentrating on his singing and concert career, while traveling the world to promote his autobiography.
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