Anthony Newley
Biography
Anthony George Newley (24 September 1931 – 14 April 1999) was a British actor born in Hackney, London, to Frances Grace Newley and George Kirby, a shipping clerk. He began pursuing performance after seeing a child‑actor advertisement and entered the Italia Conti Stage School at fourteen. Two years later he appeared as the Artful Dodger in David Lean’s film Oliver Twist (1948). After National Service in the Army, Newley built a career that encompassed over ninety film and television credits. He also achieved chart success as a singer, earning a 1963 Grammy for Song of the Year for “What Kind of Fool…”. He died in Jensen Beach, Florida.
Career overview
Anthony Newley was born in Hackney, London, on 24 September 1931 to Frances Grace Newley and George Kirby. He began his training for the stage at the Italia Conti Stage School when he was fourteen, and two years later secured his first notable screen role as the Artful Dodger in David Lean’s adaptation of Oliver Twist (1948). After completing his National Service in the British Army, Newley continued to work steadily in film and television, accumulating ninety‑five credited acting appearances over the course of his career. In 1959 he starred in the musical comedy Idol on Parade, a project that also featured his emerging pop‑music career.
Throughout the 1960s Newley’s profile as a performer grew, and his acting work was complemented by his success as a singer‑songwriter, including a Grammy Award for Song of the Year in 1963 for “What Kind of Fool…”. He remained active in both mediums until his death on 14 April 1999 in Jensen Beach, Florida, at the age of sixty‑seven. His legacy is that of a versatile English actor whose early stage training, a breakthrough child role, and a prolific filmography left a lasting imprint on mid‑century British cinema and television.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
113 titles- This Is Joan Collins (2022) as Self (Archive Footage)
- David Bowie & The Story of Ziggy Stardust (2012) as Self (archive footage)
- Legends (2006) as Self (archive footage)
- Blondes: Diana Dors (1999) as self
- The Lakes (1997) as The Bishop
- Style Challenge (1996)
- Anna Lee (1994) as Frederick Slinger
- Gone to Seed (1992) as DI Keet
- Boris and Natasha (1992) as Sal Manelli
- Pebble Mill (1991) as Self
- Tonight at 8.30 (1991) as George Pepper
- Tonight at 8.30 (1991) as Henry Gow
- The Upper Hand (1990) as Nick
- The Upper Hand (1990) as Nick Murray
- Dors: The Other Diana (1990)
- Polly: Comin' Home! (1990) as Dabney Mayhew
- Coins in the Fountain (1990) as Alfred Bancroft
- The Garbage Pail Kids Movie (1987) as Captain Manzini
- Stagecoach (1986) as Trevor Peacock
- Outrage! (1986) as Victor Coles
- The New Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1985) as Phil Halloran
- Alice in Wonderland (1985) as Mad Hatter
- Blade in Hong Kong (1985) as Tommy T
- Murder, She Wrote (1984) as Insp. Frost
- Malibu (1983) as Wilson Mahoney
- Fame (1982)
- Madame's Place (1982) as Self
- Simon & Simon (1981)
- Magnum, P.I. (1980) as Peter Riddley-Smythe
- Linda in Wonderland (1980) as Himself
- Hart to Hart (1979)
- CBS Library (1979) as Doctor Doolittle
- Sammy Stops the World (1978) Original Music Composer
- Sammy Stops the World (1978) Writer
- Happy Birthday, Las Vegas (1977)
- The Beatles Forever (1977) as Self
- Peter Pan (1976) Music
- Peter Pan (1976) Songs
- Peter Pan (1976) Original Music Composer
- Cher (1975) as Self
- The Old Curiosity Shop (1975) as Daniel Quilp
- It Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time (1975) as Sweeney
- Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971) Songs
- Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971) Lyricist
- Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971) Writer
- Summertree (1971) Director
- The Don Knotts Show (1970) as Self
- Can Heironymus Merkin Ever Forget Mercy Humppe and Find True Happiness? (1969) as Heironymous Merkin
- Can Heironymus Merkin Ever Forget Mercy Humppe and Find True Happiness? (1969) Director
- Can Heironymus Merkin Ever Forget Mercy Humppe and Find True Happiness? (1969) Writer
- Can Heironymus Merkin Ever Forget Mercy Humppe and Find True Happiness? (1969) Producer
- Can Heironymus Merkin Ever Forget Mercy Humppe and Find True Happiness? (1969) Original Music Composer
- The Dick Cavett Show (1968) as Self - Guest
- Sweet November (1968) as Charlie Blake
- The Carol Burnett Show (1967) as Self - Guest / Various Characters
- The Carol Burnett Show (1967) as Self
- Doctor Dolittle (1967) as Matthew Mugg
- Lucy in London (1966) as Anthony Armstrong Fitz-Faversham
- Stop the World: I Want to Get Off (1966) Writer
- Stop the World: I Want to Get Off (1966) Songs
- Stop the World: I Want to Get Off (1966) Lyricist
- The Hollywood Palace (1964) as Self - Host
- Image of Love (1964) as Self - Narrator
- The Small World of Sammy Lee (1963) as Sammy 'Lee' Leeman
- The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962) as Self
- The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962) as Self - Guest
- The Merv Griffin Show (1962) as Self
- The Mike Douglas Show (1961) as Self
- The Mike Douglas Show (1961) as Self - Co-Host
- Stryker of the Yard (1961)
- The Strange World of Gurney Slade (1960) as Gurney Slade
- The Strange World of Gurney Slade (1960) Writer
- The Strange World of Gurney Slade (1960) Creator
- In the Nick (1960) as Dr Newcombe
- Jazz Boat (1960) as Bert Harris
- Let's Get Married (1960) as Dickie Bird
- The Anthony Newley Show (1960)
- Idol on Parade (1959) as Jeep Jackson
- Killers of Kilimanjaro (1959) as Hooky Hook
- The Lady is a Square (1959) as Freddy
- The Heart of a Man (1959) as Johnnie
- The Bandit Of Zhobe (1959) as Cpl. Stokes
- Tank Force! (1958) as Private "Tiger" Noakes
- The Man Inside (1958) as Ernesto
- Fire Down Below (1957) as Miguel
- How to Murder a Rich Uncle (1957) as Edward
- High Flight (1957) as Roger Endicott
- The Good Companions (1957) as Maurice Milbrau
- Colonel March of Scotland Yard (1956) as Ned
- The Battle of the River Plate (1956) as Radio Operator, Tairoa, Prisoner on Admiral Graf Spee
- X: The Unknown (1956) as LCpl. 'Spider' Webb
- Port Afrique (1956) as Pedro
- The Last Man to Hang (1956) as Cyril Gaskin
- The Cockleshell Heroes (1955) as Marine Clarke
- Above Us the Waves (1955) as Engineer, X2
- The Blue Peter (1955) as Fred Starling
- The Weak and the Wicked (1954) as Bob Baden
- Up to His Neck (1954) as Tommy
- Those People Next Door (1953) as Bob Twigg
- Top of the Form (1953) as Percy
- Jack of What Trade? (1952) as Mike Edwards
- What's My Line? (1950) as Self - Mystery Guest
- Highly Dangerous (1950) as Operator (uncredited)
- A Boy, a Girl and a Bike (1949) as Charlie Ritchie
- Don't Ever Leave Me (1949) as Jimmy Knowles
- Vote for Huggett (1949) as Dudley
- The Ed Sullivan Show (1948) as Self
- Oliver Twist (1948) as Artful Dodger
- Vice Versa (1948) as Dick Bultitude
- The Guinea Pig (1948) as Miles Minor
- The Adventures of Dusty Bates (1947) as Dusty Bates
- Henry V (1944) as Boy in English Camp (uncredited)
- Emmett Kelly Jr.'s Circus as The Ringmaster
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Anthony Newley best known for?
Anthony Newley is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Legends (2006), The Lakes (1997), Pebble Mill (1991), The Upper Hand (1990).
When and where was Anthony Newley born?
Anthony Newley was born on September 24, 1931 in London, England, UK. They passed away on April 14, 1999.
How many credits does Anthony Newley have?
Anthony Newley has accumulated over 113 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1944 to 2022.
What is Anthony Newley's background in cinema and television?
Anthony George Newley (24 September 1931 – 14 April 1999) was a British actor born in Hackney, London, to Frances Grace Newley and George Kirby, a shipping clerk. He began pursuing performance after seeing a child‑actor advertisement and entered the Italia Conti Stage School at fourteen. Two years later he appeared as ...
Anthony Newley by the numbers
Age in their best-rated roles
- The Strange World of Gurney Slade (1960) as Gurney Slade — aged about 28
- Madame's Place (1982) as Self — aged about 50
- The Carol Burnett Show (1967) as Self - Guest / Various Characters — aged about 35
- The Carol Burnett Show (1967) as Self — aged about 35
- Oliver Twist (1948) as Artful Dodger — aged about 16
- Murder, She Wrote (1984) as Insp. Frost — aged about 52
Full filmography (113) Born on September 24 In memoriam 1999
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