Michael Crawford biography
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Michael Crawford filmography

Michael Crawford began acting at an early age, appearing on Radio, TV and in films such as ’Bunter Of Greyfriars School’. By the 60s he had made a move into comedy in ’The Knack’ and ’Not So Much A Programme, More A Way Of Life’. Around this time Michael starred in the hit stage comedy ’No Sex Please - We're British’, which became one of London's most popular shows.

However, it is perhaps the character of Frank Spencer in the cult TV classic ’Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em’, that marked the beginning of a big time career. The show proved a major worldwide success, and much of the praise was down to Crawford’s own interpretation of the character. The combination of effeminate gestures and madcap physical comedy made the show unique.

Comparisons to Buster Keaton were made as the daring stunts became more daring by the week, from dangling from a window to roller-skating underneath a moving articulated lorry!

In 1981, Crawford starred in the London run of the hit Broadway musical, ’Barnum’. Wowing critics and audiences alike, he received an Olivier Award. Following on from this, in 1986 he starred in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s ’The Phantom of the Opera’. His performance again heralded rave reviews and the 1987 album from the show became an international best seller, with sales in excess in 12 million copies. Subsequent albums ’Songs from the Stage and Screen’, ‘Michael Crawford Performs Andrew Lloyd Webber’ and ‘A Touch of Music in the Night’ also proved big successes.

In 1986 Michael received an OBE from the Queen and a second Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical. 1995 saw Michael star in 'EFX' at MGM's Grand Theatre in Las Vegas – a show hailed as one of the most spectacular and ambitious shows ever produced on the American stage.

Having published his autobiography, ’Parcel Arrived Safely: Tied with String’, in 1999, he began a concert tour the following year that took in Australia, New Zealand and the UK.

Michael returned to Broadway in the musical comedy ’Dance of the Vampires’ in 2002 and in 2004 he donned a fat-suit to play Count Fosco in the stage adaptation of Wilkie Collins’ ’The Woman In White', in London’s West End.
Michael Crawford biography



Michael helped British ice dancers Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean learn various circus stunts for their free program at the 1983 World Championships.

Shared a Spanish villa with John Lennon during the filming of ‘How I Won the War’.

Michael performed most of his own stunts on the sitcom ‘Some Mothers Do Ave Em’.

TV watchdog Mary Whitehouse attacked ‘Some Mothers Do Ave Em’ describing Crawford as "a purveyor of pornography" because of Frank's supposed obsession with his genitals.
Michael Crawford biography



Once Upon a Forest (1993)
Barnum! (1986)
Condorman (1981)
Chalk and Cheese (1979)
Sorry (1978)
Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (1972)
The Policeman and the Cook (1970)
Hello-Goodbye (1970)
The Games (1970)
Hello, Dolly! (1969)
Home Sweet Honeycombe (1968)
How I Won the War (1967)
The Jokers (1967)
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (1966)
The Knack (1965)
Not So Much a Programme, More a Way of Life" (1964)
Two Left Feet (1963)
The War Lover (1962)
Sir Francis Drake (1961)
Two Living, One Dead (1961)
A French Mistress (1960)
Blow Your Own Trumpet (1958)
Soapbox Derby (1958)
Michael Crawford biography



The Best of Michael Crawford - 2002
The Disney Album – 2001
A Christmas Album - 1999
In Concert - 1998
On Eagle's Wings - 1998
Favourite Love Songs - 1994
A Touch of Music in the Night - 1993
With Love/The Phantom Unmasked - 1992
EFX - 1995
Once Upon a Forest - 1993
Phantom of the Opera - 1986
Highlights from Phantom of the Opera - 1986
Barnum - 1981
Flowers for Algernon - 1980
Billy - 1974
Hello Dolly! - 1969
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum - 1966
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