Anthony Newley

Anthony Newley was an English actor, singer, composer, and director who began as a child actor. Born in London in 1931, he gained early notice as the Artful Dodger in David Lean's Oliver Twist (1948). He made many films for J. Arthur Rank and became a leading man with Idol on Parade, launching his pop career; he scored a dozen UK chart entries from 1959 to 1962, including two number one hits. He created and starred in the television series The Strange World of Gurney Slade (1960). On stage he co-wrote and performed in Stop the World, I Want to Get Off, earning a Tony nomination. With Leslie Bricusse he wrote Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971), earning an Academy Award nomination for its score, and he played Matthew Mugg in Doctor Dolittle (1967). He won a Grammy for Song of the Year for What Kind of Fool Am I? In 1989 he entered the Songwriters Hall of Fame.