name	Matt Lucas
height
genre	Character comedy, Sketch comedy, Black comedy
influences	Barry HumphriesVic ReevesBob Mortimer
medium	Actor, Screenwriter, Comedian
active	1994–present
birth name	Matthew Richard Lucas
birth place	Paddington, London, England
birth date	March 05, 1974
spouse	Kevin McGee (2006–2008)
notable work	''Little Britain''''Les Miserables''''Shooting Stars''''Catterick''''Rock Profile''''Krod Mandoon and the Flaming Sword of Fire''''Come Fly with Me'' }}

Matthew Richard "Matt" Lucas (born 5 March 1974) is an English comedian, screenwriter and actor best known for his acclaimed work with David Walliams in the television show ''Little Britain''; as well as for his portrayals of the scorekeeping baby George Dawes in the comedy panel game ''Shooting Stars'' and the thief Thenardier in the musical ''Les Miserables''.

In May 2007, he was placed eighth in the list of the UK's 100 most influential gays and lesbians, in fields as diverse as entertainment, business, politics, and science, by British newspapers ''The Independent'' and ''The Daily Mail''.

Early life

Lucas was born in Paddington, London, the son of Diana (née Williams) and John Stanley Lucas (1944–96), who ran a chauffeuring business. Lucas is Jewish, with some of his British-born mother's family fleeing Nazi Germany. His family were members of Edgware and District Reform synagogue. Lucas grew up in Stanmore, Greater London; he has an older brother, Howard. He has had alopecia since his childhood, which in interviews he has inconsistently attributed to various events, including a delayed reaction to a car accident at the age of four. He lost all of his hair when he was six years old. Lucas' father died of a heart attack aged 52, in Brent, Greater London.

Lucas was educated at Haberdashers' Aske's Boys' School, the same school as attended by comic actors David Baddiel and Sacha Baron Cohen. He went on to study drama in the Faculty of Arts at Bristol University between 1993 and 1995.

Career

Early career

Lucas's association with Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer began in 1992. In 1995, Lucas appeared in ''The Smell of Reeves and Mortimer''. The second series of the show featured Lucas in several sketches. He went on to star with them in ''Shooting Stars''. He quickly rose to fame as George Dawes, the giant baby, who would deliver a string of meaningless gags (often in character) and insults before delivering the score, while sitting at and playing a drum kit. Many of these parts were introduced not in the style of a baby, but of a grown man — indeed, often, he would come on dressed as a specific adult such as Elton John. He also appeared on occasion as Marjorie Dawes, George's mother, who also appears in ''Little Britain''. He also appeared in the Reeves & Mortimer BBC series ''Randall & Hopkirk (Deceased)'', and ''Catterick'' in a variety of roles. In 1999, Lucas paired up with David Walliams, with whom he had already worked on television in both ''Mash and Peas'' and ''Sir Bernard's Stately Homes'', to create ''Rock Profile'', a comedy show that spoofed famous musicians and musical personalities. It is notable for being one of their first comedic collaborations, which fuelled their inspiration to then create the well-known show, ''Little Britain''. Lucas has also written for actor Sacha Baron Cohen.

His music video appearances include; the Damien Hirst-directed video for Blur's "Country House" (as a psychoanalyst) in 1995, "Jesusland" by Ben Folds in 2005, "I'm with Stupid" by the Pet Shop Boys and "Vindaloo" and "Naughty Christmas" by Fat Les.

Lucas ventured into the world of stage musicals in 2002, when he took one of the main roles in Boy George's musical ''Taboo'', at The Venue, London. He played the part of infamous performance artist Leigh Bowery, which required him to wear some outrageous and spectacular outfits and make-up.

Lucas also appeared in a Big Finish audio play based on the long-running BBC science-fiction series ''Doctor Who''. The play he featured in was called The One Doctor and was a light-hearted Christmas panto-style play.

''Little Britain''

''Little Britain'' is commercially Lucas's most successful work. Originally a radio show on BBC Radio 4, it later became a TV series. ''Little Britain'' has won numerous TV awards, spawning large DVD sales and merchandising. It plays heavily on memorable catchphrases which have become ingrained in playgrounds and offices around the UK. Lucas plays, among many others, four of the most popular characters in the series, which he writes and acts in along with David Walliams: apparently disabled Andy Pipkin, teenage Bristol chav Vicky Pollard, homophobic homosexual Daffyd Thomas and insensitive slimming club organiser Marjorie Dawes. Lucas has also played many other popular characters including the morbidly obese Bubbles DeVere and Orville The Duck in one sketch.

After ''Little Britain''

In 2005, he took his first role in a television drama, a supporting part as a Venetian duke in the BBC historical serial ''Casanova'', written by Russell T Davies. Also in 2005, he did voice work in the BBC children's program, King Arthur's Disasters. Since 2006, Lucas has been the voice of the radio and television character Digit Al, devised as part of a public information campaign on digital switchover. On 26 November 2006 he appeared on the BBC Radio 4 programme ''Desert Island Discs''. He made a cameo appearance in ''Shaun of the Dead'' as the cousin of Shaun's friend Yvonne.

In 2007, he released "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)", originally by The Proclaimers, with Peter Kay as a charity single for Comic Relief. He performed the single as ''Little Britain'' character Andy Pipkin, along with Kay playing as Brian Potter. After being available for less than 48 hours on iTunes alone, the track entered the UK Top 40 at number 3. On 25 March, it went to number one, where it stayed for three weeks, selling over 400,000 copies. He also starred as the irrepressible Mr. Toad in ''The Wind in the Willows'', a 2006 television adaptation of the Kenneth Grahame novel.

He has made appearances in ''Kath & Kim'' and ''Neighbours'' (the latter alongside David Walliams as ''Little Britain'' stalwarts Lou and Andy), as well as a cameo role, playing 'Chris' or 'Jammy' at the wedding fayre, in the BBC Three sitcom ''Gavin & Stacey''. Lucas has co written (with Walliams) and performed in a new series of ''Little Britain USA'' for HBO. The pair are also writing a movie for DreamWorks.

Lucas was the first celebrity to make an appearance in 2008's ''Big Brother Celebrity Hijack'' on E4, working alongside Big Brother in a series containing housemates aged 18–21 with various talents.

On 9 April 2009, the series ''Kröd Mändoon and the Flaming Sword of Fire'', featuring Matt Lucas as a regular performer, premièred on Comedy Central, the first major comedy series Lucas has done since ''Little Britain''. In 2010, Lucas played Tweedledee and Tweedledum in Tim Burton's ''Alice in Wonderland'', alongside Mia Wasikowska, Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter and Anne Hathaway.

On 3rd October 2010, Matt played Thénardier in the 25th Anniversary Concerts of ''''Les Misérables'', at the O2 Arena in London. A year later, from 23rd June to 10th September 2011, he reprised the role at The Queen's Theatre, in the West End. He has since collaborated with Alfie Boe, who plays Jean Valjeal, to record a duet of "the Impossible Dream" on Boe's debut album.

Also in 2011, Lucas lent his voice to the CGI film ''Gnomeo and Juliet'', as well as playing a small role as the roommate of Kristen Wiig in the wildly successful American comedy ''''Bridesmaids''.

The BBC has just finished showing Matt Lucas and David Walliams' new series, ''''Come Fly With Me''. The show follows the familiar style of Walliams and Lucas each playing multiple characters, but unlike Little Britain, the show focuses entirely on the working environment of the airline industry. In an interview shown on BBC 3 on 9 February 2011, it was stated that the creators considered bringing travel agent character Carol Beer from Little Britain to the new series, but decided against it, as they didn't want viewers to see the new show as merely a Little Britain spinoff. Instead, all new characters were introduced. Lucas's characters include Precious, Taaj, Tommy, Mickey, Fearghal, Simon and Peter, amongst others. Some of the characters only appeared once. A second season of the show was announced in early 2011, and is reportedly in production.

Television

Lucas' appearances on television include ''Big Brother's Little Brother'', ''Big Brother: Celebrity Hijack'', ''Little Britain'', ''Rock Profile'', ''Little Britain Abroad'', ''Little Britain USA'', ''Come Fly With Me'', and ''Krod Mandoon and the Flaming Sword of Fire''.

Personal life

Lucas is a patron of The Karen Morris Memorial Trust, a UK charity for leukaemia patients and their families. In April 2004 he appeared on ''Celebrity Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?'' and won £62,500 for the charity. He is an avid supporter of Arsenal F.C. Lucas admitted, whilst a guest on the Rob Brydon show that he does not drive, because of his tendency of day dreaming.

In December 2006, Lucas entered into a civil partnership with Kevin McGee, in a lavish ceremony in Central London. In attendance were various celebrities, including Barbara Windsor, Neil Tennant, Elton John, and Courtney Love.

After six years together, the couple divorced through the High Court in 2008, becoming the first high-profile same-sex couple divorce in Britain. On 5 October 2009, Kevin McGee committed suicide, 10 months after the divorce. He had not coped with Lucas' fame well, and his drug taking had increased. Just prior to his death, he posted the Facebook status update 'Kevin McGee thinks death is much better than life'.

Bibliography

Official

Boyd Hilton, Matt Lucas and David Walliams: ''Inside Little Britain'': London: Ebury Press: 2006: ISBN 0-09-191231-8

Unofficial

Neil Simpson: ''Yeah But No But: The Biography of Matt Lucas and David Walliams'': London: John Blake: 2006: ISBN 1-8445-425-80

References

External links

Matt Lucas on Twitter

BBC Little Britain Page

Category:1974 births Category:Living people Category:20th-century actors Category:21st-century actors Category:20th-century writers Category:21st-century writers Category:Alumni of the University of Bristol Category:Charly Records artists Category:English comedians Category:English comedy writers Category:English film actors Category:English Jews Category:English people of German descent Category:English television actors Category:English television producers Category:English television writers Category:Gay actors Category:Gay writers Category:Jewish actors Category:Jewish writers Category:LGBT comedians Category:LGBT Jews Category:LGBT people from England Category:LGBT screenwriters Category:LGBT television personalities Category:LGBT writers from the United Kingdom Category:Old Haberdashers Category:People from Stanmore Category:Smash Records artists

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name	Dame Edna Everage
first	December 1956, Victoria, Australia
last	Present
duration	1955-Present
nickname	"Dame Edna" and "Mrs Norm Everage"
gender	Lady
occupation	Housewife and Nurse
title	Dame
spouse	Sons; Kenny and Bruce, Daughters; Lois and Valmai
relatives	Husband, Sir Norm Everage
portrayer	Barry Humphries
creator	Barry Humphries }}

Dame Edna Everage is a character created and played by Australian dadaist performer and comedian, Barry Humphries. Famous for her lilac-coloured hair or "wisteria hue" and cat eye glasses or "face furniture," her favorite flower, the gladiola (or "gladies") and her boisterous greeting: "Hello Possums!" As Dame Edna, Humphries has written several books including an autobiography, ''My Gorgeous Life'', appeared in several films and hosted several television shows (on which Humphries has also appeared as himself and other alter-egos).

Humphries has regularly updated Edna, originally a drab Melbourne, Australia housewife satirising the conservatism of Australian suburbia, the character adopted an increasingly outlandish wardrobe after being performed in London in the 1960s, and grew in stature and popularity. Following film appearances and an elevation to damehood in the 1970s, the character evolved to "Housewife and Superstar", then "Megastar" and finally "Gigastar". She came into her own during the 1980s when the often brutal policies of Thatcherism--the "vindictive style of the times"--allowed Dame Edna to sharpen her observations accordingly. Taking Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher's seemingly hypocritical motto of "caring and compassion" for others and turning it on its head, Edna became the voice of Humphries' outrage. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s Dame Edna became increasingly known and popular in the U.S. after multiple stage and television appearances.

Edna describes her chat-shows as "an intimate conversation between two friends, one of whom is a lot more interesting than the other" (by which she means herself). The character has been used to satirise the cult of celebrity, class snobbery, and prudishness. Her larger-than-life persona and scathing but dead-on commentary on society and celebrity-hood, as well as her habit of treating celebrities like ordinary people (on her TV shows) and ordinary people like celebrities (in her stage shows) have become signatures.

Although Humphries freely states that Edna is a character he plays, Edna refers to Humphries as her "entrepreneur" or manager. Humphries and his staff of assistants and writers only refer to Edna as "she," and "her," never mixing the character with Humphries himself. It is this precision and richness of identity which gives Dame Edna her unique force as a character.

Character Story

While Dame Edna is a fictitious character whose life story has been entirely created by Barry Humphries, so complete is her identity as an individual that Macmillan published her "autobiography," written by Humphries but credited to Edna herself, on its non-fiction list.

According to that autobiography, "My Gorgeous Life," and to statements Edna has made over the years, she was born Edna May Beazley in the rural city of Wagga Wagga, with a sibling who would give birth to Barry McKenzie. Everage started her stage career on 19 December 1955 as Mrs. Norm Everage, an "average Australian housewife" from Moonee Ponds, a Melbourne suburb. She spends her time visiting world leaders and jet-setting between her homes in Los Angeles, London, Sydney, Switzerland and Martha's Vineyard. She is a friend and confidante of the Queen, and has advised prime ministers and presidents. Edna once took an on-air phone call from President Ronald Reagan to assure him that he was, indeed, still the president and at recent stageshows the character has claimed to be giving Australian Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, elocution lessons.

The character has three adult children, Bruce, Kenny, and Valmai. Her first daughter, Lois, when still an infant, was tragically abducted by a "rogue koala" during a family camp-out in the outback, à la Azaria Chamberlain. Her surviving daughter, Valmai, has assisted Dame Edna on her most recent programme for ITV1 ''The Dame Edna Treatment'' and on her 2008–2009 live tour. She takes great pride in her two sons: Bruce, who is married to Joylene, and her youngest, Kenneth (or Kenny), who designs all of her frocks. Dame Edna refers often to him and his partner, Clifford Smale, both of whom Edna believes that are searching for "Miss Right," although she admits they are looking "in some very strange places". Kenny appeared in Sir Les Patterson's documentary ''Les Patterson and the Great Chinese Takeaway'' as a boutique owner in Hong Kong. Dame Edna's mother is incarcerated in a "maximum-security twilight home for the bewildered". Valmai and Kenny are the only family members (so far) who have appeared on stage or screen with their mother. Her husband, Sir Norman Everage, died in 1988 after many years in hospital suffering from prostate problems and a "testicular murmur"; Edna founded the non-profit "Friends of the Prostate" in his honour. Dame Edna was not with Norm when he died and due to his insistence that all his organs be donated, by the time she reached his bedside Norm had been "globally recycled" and all that remained was "a dent in the pillow". As a result, Dame Edna almost believed that Norm's cremation was a "waste of money".

In recent years, Edna has demonstrated her social conscience and sensitivity, telling audiences of her intention to adopt an African child from "that country where Madonna does her shopping".

Dame Edna spent many years accompanied by her bridesmaid and constant companion Madge Allsop (played by Emily Perry), a New Zealander from Palmerston North who assisted Dame Edna with her appearances and television shows. (Perry died at the age of 100 in 2008 and now Dame Edna's daughter Valmai has replaced her on stage). Madge never spoke a public word (although she sang on Comic Relief), and while she was often the butt of Dame Edna's jokes, the two were devoted.

Dame Edna is praised for her insights into her homeland. When asked why Australians are so good at sport she commented ''"Good food and diet; open air life; juicy steaks; sunshine—and the total absence of any kind of intellectual distraction."''

Dame Edna launched a campaign to be appointed as a BBC newscaster in 2009 after the corporation announced it wished to seek a female newsreader over 50 years old.

Honours

On 7 March 2007 her home town, Melbourne, re-named a city street in her honour: Dame Edna Place, formerly Brown Alley off Little Collins Street, was officially opened by the Lord Mayor of Melbourne, John So. Dame Edna Place is opposite Royal Arcade and The Causeway, between the major roads, Elizabeth Street and Swanston Street; it was, until its renaming, a service alley for adjoining buildings. Dame Edna was not at the renaming ceremony but was represented by ten look-alike Dames. Everage Street in suburban Moonee Ponds has also been named in her honour.

In 1982, Dame Edna's alter-ego Barry Humphries was made an Officer of the Order of Australia for "services to the theatre" and on 16 June 2007 he was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire for services to entertainment.

In MAC Cosmetics 2008 Winter Line-Up, a Dame Edna collection of cosmetics were released including eye shadow, lipstick, powder, and nail polish.

A bronze statue was unveiled at Melbourne Docklands in January 2009.

Invention of the character

Barry Humphries was invited to join the fledgling Union Theatre Repertory Company early in 1955 and toured Victorian country towns performing ''Twelfth Night'', directed by Ray Lawler. On tour, Humphries invented Edna gradually as part of the entertainment for the actors during commutes between country towns. Humphries gradually developed a falsetto impersonation of a Melbourne housewife, imitating the Country Women's Association representatives who welcomed the troup in each town. At Lawler's suggestion, Mrs Everage (later named Edna after Humphries' nanny) made her first appearance in a Melbourne University's UTRC revue at the end of 1955, as the city prepared for the 1956 Olympic Games. The sketch involved a houseproud "average housewife" offering her Moonee Ponds home as an Olympic billet, spruiking her home as possessing "burgundy wall-to-wall carpets, lamington cakes and reindeers frosted on glass dining-room doors".

At this time the character was billed as "Mrs Norm Everage" (Humphries describing this name as "Everage as in 'average', husband Norm as in 'normal'") and had none of the characteristic flamboyant wardrobe of later years.

Stage and screen performances

1950s–1999

Humphries played the character at comedy clubs, satirising the atmosphere of 1950s Melbourne suburbia. An interview with Mrs Everage was one of the programmes screened on HSV-7's first day of programming in 1956. Another revue called Rock'n'Reel followed in 1958 at the New Theatre in Melbourne.

The character's overseas debut, now as Edna Everage, was in the early 1960s at comedian Peter Cook's nightclub, The Establishment, in London's West End, where she received a poor review from Bamber Gascoigne, then the drama critic for ''The Spectator''. Barry Humphries cites Peter Cook as being instrumental in launching Edna's UK career.

In 1972, the character appeared as Barry McKenzie's "Aunt Edna" in the film, ''The Adventures of Barry McKenzie''. In the sequel ''Barry McKenzie Holds His Own'', the Australian Prime Minister Gough Whitlam cameos at the close of the film to confer upon Edna the title of Dame, henceforth to be known as "Dame Edna".

Following the lukewarm reception to Edna's early appearances in Humphries' 1969 stageshow "Just a Show" and the BBC television series "The Barry Humphries Scandals", a growing awareness and appreciation among British audiences for Edna emerged and Humphries devised a stage show titled ''Edna Everage Housewife Superstar'' which was successfully presented in London's West End in the mid 1970s. The show featured monologues, songs and what was becoming an Edna trademark – interaction with the theatre audience.

In April 1976, Edna made an appearance in ''A Poke in the Eye (with a Sharp Stick)'' – the first of what became Amnesty International's Secret Policeman's Ball series of benefit shows. Edna performed a song for the show and was featured in the film of the show. She also appeared in the 1981 Amnesty show ''The Secret Policeman's Other Ball''. Edna made a cameo appearance in the 1978 film ''Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band''. In 1979 she was the subject of a BBC ''Arena'' mockumentary: ''La Dame aux Gladiolas''.

Humphries debuted the character off-Broadway in New York in the late 1970s, but the show received such a poor review from the New York Times that Humphries later joked that he thought "Well, I'll go back to Broadway but I'll wait till the critic's dead – and I had to wait 25 years. I had to wait a quarter of a century for that critic to die."

Edna's success grew in the UK throughout the 1980s and early 1990s however with semi-regular television shows. Her first specials were in 1978/1979 on the BBC. Although she became popular with broadcaster ITV after her performance on ''An Audience With Dame Edna'' in 1980. She would go on to perform two more "An Audience With..." specials (in 1984 and 1988).

In 1987, Edna starred alongside Humphries's vulgar alter-ego Les Patterson in the comedy feature ''Les Patterson Saves the World''. In the same year ''The Dame Edna Experience'', ostensibly a talk show which she described as "really a monologue interupted by total strangers" aired, featuring high-profile "celebrity guests" such as Sean Connery, Mel Gibson, Joan Rivers, and Germaine Greer (an old friend of Humphries'), as well as Madge, her silent, sour-faced "bridesmaid and travelling companion." In 1989, the show was back for a second season, this time taking place in her "luxury penthouse suite" where her guests stayed and, in the case of Douglas Fairbanks, Jr, did her grocery shopping. Subsequently these shows were aired in the U.S. on PBS, broadening her audience and enlarging her fame. ''Dame Edna's Neighbourhood Watch'' a reality/game show hybrid, aired in 1992, and saw her and Madge having a look at her "by invitation only, ladies audience" member's houses, and evaluating their housekeeping skills. U.S. television specials followed, as did an unsuccessful series which aired only one episode. She appeared as a guest of Phil Donahue on his talk show on 17 February 1993.

In 1997, she appeared in another television talk show ''Dr Dame Edna Kisses It Better''. Edna continued her Australian stage and television appearances including a record five appearances as guest presenter at the TV Week Logie Awards and a notable role as a co-narrator (along with Humphries and Les Patterson) of the ABC's Australian social history series: ''Barry Humphries Flashbacks'' in 1999.

2000–2009

In 2000 and 2004, Dame Edna appeared on Broadway, and toured America with both shows. These were ostensibly not "performances", but rather "appearances", with Dame Edna giving monologues and interacting with audience members. Her 2000 show, ''The Royal Tour,'' won the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding One-Person Show, and a Tony Award.

During 2001 and 2002, Dame Edna appeared in the fifth season of the television show ''Ally McBeal'' playing the guest role of Claire Otoms, a client of the show's law firm who later became a secretary at the same firm. The character shared Dame Edna's voice and style and was explicitly listed in the opening credits as being played by Dame Edna Everage (although Barry Humphries received a credit in the closing credits). Claire Otoms is an anagram of "A Sitcom Role".

In the 2002 motion picture ''Nicholas Nickleby'' Dame Edna plays the role of Mrs. Crummles, an actress and wife of the manager of a provincial theatre company. Barry Humphries also appears in the film as Mr. Leadville.

Dame Edna appeared at the Queen's Golden Jubilee Concert, the "Party at the Palace" in London in 2002, where she referred to the Queen as the "jubilee girl".

The nostalgic "Barry Humphries Back to my Roots" tour featured , Humphries, Edna, Sir Les and Sandy Stone around Australia in 2003.

In 2003, she had an interview punctuated with NPR Weekend Edition's host Scott Simon's table-pounding laughter. The character celebrated her 50th "birthday" in 2005. To mark the occasion, in 2006, Australia Post featured Edna on a stamp and the Lord Mayor of Melbourne presented Edna with the key to the city. She toured Australia with the stageshow "Barry Humphries Back With a Vengeance" and appeared on camera "together" with Humphries for the first time in an interview by Ray Martin for Australia's 60 Minutes. She also appeared on screen at the Closing Ceremony of the Commonwealth Games 2006 in Melbourne while 1000 "Commonwealth Dames" danced around the arena, in purple wigs, garish costumes and gladioli, singing along to her song, "We've Made The Most Of Melbourne" : "It's not as small as Adelaide, Compared to Canberra, it's bliss, And if you've been to Melbourne, You can give Sydney a miss."

On 20 May 2006 she appeared on ITV's coverage of The Prince's Trust annual fundraiser. She took part in a ''Blind Date'' themed skit, picking Chico Slimani over Roger Moore and Richard E Grant.

In the summer of 2006, Dame Edna appeared on ''The Tonight Show with Jay Leno'' alongside Billy Crystal. On 23 September 2006, during an interview on ''Parkinson'', she revealed that she would be returning to ITV in 2007 with a new chat show, ''The Dame Edna Treatment''. The show began on Saturday 17 March 2007, with the set-up being that Edna runs a health spa where various famous guests come for treatment.

On Wednesday 17 December 2006, Dame Edna appeared as a guest panellist on the ABC TV Show ''Spicks and Specks'' where she sang with presenter Adam Hills. On 16 December 2007 she appeared as the final guest on the final episode of the ''Parkinson'' UK talk show. On 29 May 2008 she appeared on ''The Graham Norton Show'' alongside Ray Mears and Alanis Morissette. On 8 August 2008 she appeared on ''Loose Women'' on their final show of the series. On 12 September 2008, Monday 15 December 2008, and Wednesday 27 May 2009, she appeared as a guest on ''The Tonight Show with Jay Leno''.

Accompanied by her daughter Valmai in America and Sir Les Patterson in the UK, Dame Edna again toured with what was declared ''My First Last Tour''. On television in early 2009, she appeared in adverts to publicise the insurance company Norwich Union's change of name to Aviva, quoting her change of name from Mrs Everage. On 9 June 2009, she appeared as a guest on ''The Late Late Show'' with Craig Ferguson. On 17 July 2009, she appeared as a guest on ''Friday Night with Jonathan Ross''. On an episode of ''The One Show'' in September 2009 a piece of graffiti on Sunderland's Penshaw Monument read "Edna Woz Ere 09" and a pair of Everage's signature glasses were drawn next to it. Edna performed the "Last Night of the Poms" at the Royal Albert Hall accompanied by the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra on 15 September and on 21 September 2009 she appeared on the C4, Paul O'Grady Show, where she complained of a burst appendix in Australia, but said of course she was happy to be back in the UK.

2010–present

In early 2010, Dame Edna collaborated with cabaret pianist and singer, Michael Feinstein for a two-person revue entitled "All About Me", based on the concept that the pair were rivals who were forced to work together for the show's sake. The show opened as the second production for the newly refurbished Henry Miller's Theatre and was planned to run from 18 March through 18 July 2010 (with previews beginning on 22 February). However, lukewarm reviews and low ticket sales led to the limited engagement being cut short and closing on 4 April 2010, after 27 previews and 20 regular performances.

On 25 March 2010, she appeared on the television talk show ''The View'' as a guest host to promote "All About Me". One subject covered was health care legislation and the related Sarah Palin/"crosshairs" controversy.

On 2 January 2011, she appeared as a guest on Alan Carr's British TV show, ''Alan Carr: Chatty Man''.

On 18 February 2011, she appeared as a guest on Jason Manford's British TV show Comedy Rocks.

On 26 April 2011, she appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, covering the Royal Wedding.

On 29 April 2011, she appeared on William and Kate: The Royal Wedding, with Karl Stefanovic and Lisa Wilkinson, covering the Royal Wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton at Buckingham Palace, along with Tracey Grimshaw and Kathy Lette at Westminster Abbey.

On 29 April 2011, she appeared as a guest on Paul O'Grady's British Tv show Paul O'Grady Live.

On 29 April 2011, she broadcast a reprise of the Royal Wedding on The Tonight Show. Dame Edna featured footage of many of the people she met and places she visited in London on the holiday. The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.

Discography

''The Dame Edna Party Experience'' (Epic Records, 1988) # Bad / When Will I Be Famous / Layla (Alias Edna) / I Should Be So Lucky / The Locomotion / Bad 'Nice' (Reprise) # Waltzing Matilda (Instrumental Intro) / The Twist # Venus / Like A Virgin / Girls Just Want To Have Fun / Venus (Reprise) # Shout (Part 1) # Shout (Part II) # I Got You Babe (Who Needs You Babe) [with Sir Les Patterson] # I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me) / Stop! In The Name Of Love / Dancing In The Street / I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me) (Reprise) # Neighbours # Leader Of The Pack / It's My Party

''Theme From Neighbours'' (Epic Records, 1988) [Produced by David Mackay]

# Theme From Neighbours (Caring And Sharing Mix) / Spooky Christmas # Shout (Parts One And Two)

In 1997 Naxos released a CD in the Children's Classics series, catalogue number 8.554170. # S. Prokofiev: "Peter and the Wolf", Op. 67, narrated by Dame Edna Everage # F. Poulenc: "The Story of Babar, the Little Elephant", narrated by Barry Humphries # B. Britten: "The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra", Op. 34, narrated by Dame Edna Everage

Controversy

In 2003 ''Vanity Fair'' magazine invited Dame Edna to write a satirical advice column. She created a storm of controversy with a piece published in the February 2003 issue. Replying to a reader who asked if she should learn Spanish, she wrote: :"Forget Spanish. There's nothing in that language worth reading except Don Quixote, and a quick listen to the CD of ''Man of La Mancha'' will take care of that ... Who speaks it that you are really desperate to talk to? The help? Your leaf blower?"

Some members of the Hispanic community read this reply as a racist remark and complaints flooded in to the magazine. Actress Salma Hayek responded angrily, penning a furious letter in which she denounced Dame Edna. After ''Vanity Fair'' received death threats, the magazine published a full-page apology to the Hispanic community.

Humphries commented later: "If you have to explain satire to someone, you might as well give up." When Dame Edna was questioned about the controversy on the eve of her 2003 Australian tour, she retorted that Hayek's denunciation was due to "professional jealousy", and that Hayek was envious because the role of painter Frida Kahlo (for which Hayek received an Oscar nomination) had originally been offered to Edna:

When I was offered the part of Frida I turned it down, and she was the second choice. I said 'I'm not playing the role of a woman with a moustache and a monobrow, and I'm not having same-sex relations on the screen' ... I'm not racist. I love all races, particularly white people. You know, I even like Roman Catholics.

References in other media

Dame Edna has been mentioned numerous times on ''The Simpsons'': in "The Regina Monologues", "Homer's Barbershop Quartet", and "HOMR."

She was also mentioned in a song, "This One's Just For You", by Australian songwriter and comedian, Kevin Bloody Wilson and impersonated by Simon Amstell on ''Good Morning with Anne and Nick''. In an episode of ''The Goodies'', Bill remarks upon Tim's unwise choice of love interest with "Tell you something, I'd rather have Edna Everage. At least she's a real woman!".

TV credits

Parkinson Various

The Dame Edna Experience (1987–1989)

Dame Edna's Hollywood (1991–1993)

Dame Edna's Neighbourhood Watch (1992)

Dr Dame Edna Kisses It Better (1997)

Ally McBeal (2001–2002)

Nicholas Nickleby (2002)

Dame Edna Live at the Palace (2003)

The Dame Edna Treatment (2007)

See also

Theatre of Australia

References

Bibliography

External links

Dame Edna Official Website

''The Dame Edna Treatment'' at itv.com

Virtually Edna (Online Documentary & More)

Dame Edna Street

Category:Comedy characters Category:Comedians from Melbourne Category:Alter egos Category:Fictional interviewers Category:Fictional reporters Category:Australian culture Category:Performing arts in Australia Category:Fictional Australian people

da:Dame Edna de:Dame Edna Everage fr:Dame Edna Everage he:דיים עדנה nl:Dame Edna Everage ja:デイム・エドナ・エバレッジ pl:Dame Edna Everage sv:Dame Edna

name	Craig Ferguson
birth date	May 17, 1962
birth place	Glasgow, Scotland
medium	Stand-up, television, film, music, books
nationality	Scottish, American
active	1980–present
genre	Observational comedy, satire/political satire/news satire
subject	Everyday life, popular culture, self-deprecation, politics
website	''The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson''
spouse	Anne Hogarth (1983–86) (divorced)Sascha Corwin (1998–2004) (divorced) 1 childMegan Wallace-Cunningham (2008–present) 1 child
notable work	Host of ''The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson''Nigel Wick on ''The Drew Carey Show''Glaswegian in ''One Foot in the Grave''Gobber in ''How to Train Your Dragon'' }}

Craig Ferguson (born 17 May 1962) is a Scottish American television host, stand-up comedian, writer, actor, director, author, and producer. He is the host of ''The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson'', an Emmy Award-nominated, Peabody Award-winning late-night talk show that airs on CBS. In addition to hosting that program and performing stand-up comedy, Ferguson has written two books: ''Between the Bridge and the River'', a novel, and ''American on Purpose'', a memoir. He became a citizen of the United States in 2008.

Before his career as a late-night television host, Ferguson was best known in the United States for his role as the office boss, Nigel Wick, on ''The Drew Carey Show'' from 1996 to 2003. After that, he wrote and starred in three films, directing one of them.

Early life

Ferguson was born in the Stobhill Hospital in the Springburn district of Glasgow, Scotland to Robert and Janet Ferguson, and raised in nearby Cumbernauld, growing up "chubby and bullied". When he was six months old, he and his family moved from their Springburn apartment to a council house in Cumbernauld. They lived there as Glasgow was re-housing many people following damage to the city from World War II. Ferguson attended Muirfield Primary School and Cumbernauld High School. At age sixteen, Ferguson dropped out of Cumbernauld High School and began an apprenticeship to be an electronics technician at a local factory of American company Burroughs Corporation.

His first visit to the United States was as a teenager to visit an uncle who lived on Long Island, near New York City. When he moved to New York City in 1983, he worked in construction in Harlem. Ferguson later became a bouncer at a nightclub, Save the Robots.

Career

British career

Ferguson's experience in entertainment began as a drummer in a rock band called Exposure. He then joined a punk band called The Bastards from Hell. The band, later renamed "Dreamboys", and fronted by vocalist Peter Capaldi, performed regularly in Glasgow from 1980 to 1982. Ferguson credits Capaldi for inspiring him to try comedy.

After a nerve-wrecking, knee-knocking first appearance, he decided to create a character that was a "parody of all the über-patriotic native folk singers who seemed to infect every public performance in Scotland." The character, "Bing Hitler" (actually coined by Capaldi as Ferguson started with the monogram of "Nico Fulton" but admittedly later stole the name for his "own nefarious ends"), premiered in Glasgow, and subsequently became a hit at the 1986 Edinburgh Festival Fringe. A recording of his stage act as Bing Hitler was made at Glasgow's Tron Theatre and released in the 1980s; a Bing Hitler monologue ("A Lecture for Burns Night") appears on the compilation cassette ''Honey at the Core.''

Ferguson's first television appearance was as Confidence on BBC sitcom ''Red Dwarf'' during the episode "Confidence and Paranoia".

Ferguson made his starring television debut in ''The Craig Ferguson Show'', a one-off comedy pilot for Granada Television, which co-starred Paul Whitehouse and Helen Atkinson-Wood. This was broadcast throughout the UK on 4 March 1990, but was not made into a full series.

He has also found success in musical theatre. Beginning in 1991, he appeared on stage as Brad Majors in the London production of ''The Rocky Horror Show'', alongside Anthony Head, who was playing Dr. Frank-N-Furter at the time. In 1994, Ferguson played Father MacLean in the highly controversial production of ''Bad Boy Johnny and the Prophets of Doom'' at the Union Chapel in London. The same year, he appeared again at the Edinburgh Fringe, as Oscar Madison in ''The Odd Couple'', opposite Gerard Kelly as Felix and Kate Anthony as Gwendolin Pidgeon, who is now much better known as Aunty Pam in ''Coronation Street''; the play, which was relocated to 1990s Glasgow, later toured Scotland.

After enjoying success at the Edinburgh Festival, Ferguson appeared on ''Red Dwarf'', STV's ''Hogmanay Show'', his own show ''2000 Not Out'', and the 1993 ''One Foot in the Grave'' Christmas special ''One Foot in the Algarve.''

In 1993, Ferguson presented his own series on Scottish archaeology for Scottish Television entitled ''Dirt Detective.'' He travelled throughout the country examining archaeological history, including Skara Brae and Paisley Abbey.

U.S. career

After cancellation of his show ''The Ferguson Theory'', Ferguson moved to Los Angeles in 1994. His first U.S. role was as baker Logan McDonough on the short-lived 1995 ABC comedy ''Maybe This Time'', which starred Betty White and Marie Osmond.

His breakthrough in the U.S. came when he was cast on ''The Drew Carey Show'' as the title character's boss, Mr. Wick, a role that he played from 1996 to 2003. He played the role with an over-the-top posh English accent "to make up for generations of English actors doing crap Scottish accents." In his comedy special "A Wee Bit O' Revolution", he specifically called out James Doohan's portrayal of Montgomery Scott on Star Trek as the foundation of his "revenge". (At the end of one episode, though, Ferguson broke the fourth wall and began talking to the audience at home in his regular Scottish accent.) His character was memorable for his unique methods of laying employees off, almost always "firing Johnson", the most common last name of the to-be-fired workers. Even after leaving the show in 2003, he remained a recurring character on the series for the last two seasons, and was part of the 2-part series finale in 2004.

During production of ''The Drew Carey Show'', Ferguson devoted his off-time as a cast member to writing, working in his trailer on set in-between shooting his scenes. He wrote and starred in three films: ''The Big Tease'', ''Saving Grace'', and ''I'll Be There'', which he also directed and for which he won the Audience Award for Best Film at the Aspen, Dallas and Valencia film festivals. He was named Best New Director at the Napa Valley Film Festival. These were among other scripts that, "... in the great tradition of the movie business, about half a dozen that I got paid a fortune for but never got made." His other acting credits in films include ''Niagara Motel'', ''Lenny the Wonder Dog'', ''Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events'', ''Chain of Fools'', ''Born Romantic'', ''The Ugly Truth'', ''How to Train Your Dragon'', ''Kick-Ass'' and ''Winnie the Pooh''.

Ferguson has been touring the United States and Canada with a stand-up comedy show, and performed at Carnegie Hall on 23 October 2010.

''The Late Late Show''

In December 2004, it was announced that Ferguson would be the successor to Craig Kilborn on CBS's ''The Late Late Show''. His first show as the regular host aired on 3 January 2005. By May 2008, Ben Alba, an American television historian and an authority on U.S. talk shows, said Ferguson "has already made his mark, taking the TV monologue to new levels with an underlying story. But he is only just starting ... He is making up his own rules: It's the immigrant experience."

''The Late Late Show'' averaged 2.0 million viewers in its 2007 season, compared with 2.5 million for ''Late Night with Conan O'Brien''. In April 2008, ''The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson'' beat ''Late Night with Conan O'Brien'' for weekly ratings (1.88 million to 1.77 million) for the first time since the two shows went head-to-head with their respective hosts.

By the end of 2009, Craig Ferguson topped Jimmy Fallon in the ratings with Ferguson getting a 1.8 rating/6 share and Fallon receiving a 1.6 rating/6 share.

Ferguson's success on the show has led at least one "television insider" to say he is the heir apparent to take over David Letterman's role as host of ''The Late Show''.

Television and appearances

Craig Ferguson has made guest appearances on ''The Tonight Show with Jay Leno'', ''Late Show with David Letterman'', ''Late Night with Conan O'Brien'', ''Rachael Ray'', ''Countdown with Keith Olbermann'', ''The Howard Stern Show'', ''The Daily Show'', ''The View'', ''Loveline'', ''Real Time with Bill Maher'', ''The Soup'', ''The Talk'' and ''The Dennis Miller Show''. He also co-hosted ''Live with Regis & Kelly'' with Kelly Ripa.

On 4 January 2009 Ferguson was a celebrity player on ''Million Dollar Password''.

thumb|272px|Ferguson in April 2008

In 2009, Ferguson made a cameo live-action appearance in the episode "We Love You, Conrad" on ''Family Guy''. Ferguson hosted the 32nd annual People's Choice Awards on 10 January 2006. ''TV Guide'' magazine printed a "Cheers" (Cheers and Jeers section) for appearing on his own show that same evening. From 2007 to 2010, Ferguson hosted the Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular on 4 July, broadcast nationally by CBS. Ferguson was the featured entertainer at the 26 April 2008 White House Correspondents' Association dinner in Washington, DC.

Ferguson co-presented the Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama with Brooke Shields in 2008. He has done voice work in cartoons, including being the voice of Barry's evil alter-ego in the "With Friends Like Steve's" episode of ''American Dad''; in ''Freakazoid!'' as Roddy MacStew, Freakazoid's mentor; and on ''Buzz Lightyear of Star Command'' as the robot vampire NOS-4-A2. Most recently, he was the voice of Susan the boil on ''Futurama'', which was a parody of Scottish singer Susan Boyle. He makes stand-up appearances in Las Vegas and New York City. He headlined in the Just for Laughs festival in Montreal and in October 2008 Ferguson taped his stand up show in Boston for a Comedy Central special entitled ''A Wee Bit o' Revolution'', which aired on 22 March 2009.

British television comedy drama ''Doc Martin'' was based on a character from Ferguson's film ''Saving Grace'' – with Ferguson getting writing credits for 12 episodes. On 6 November 2009 Ferguson appeared as himself in a ''SpongeBob SquarePants'' special titled ''SpongeBob's Truth or Square''. He hosted Discovery Channel's 23rd season of ''Shark Week'' in 2010. Ferguson briefly appeared in Toby Keith's ''"Red Solo Cup"'' music video released on 10 October 2011.

Literature

Ferguson's novel ''Between the Bridge and the River'' (ISBN 9780811853750) was published on 10 April 2006. Ferguson appeared at the Los Angeles Festival of Books, as well as other author literary events. "This book could scare them", Ferguson said. "The sex, the violence, the dream sequences and the iconoclasm. I think a lot of people are uncomfortable with that. I understand that. It was very uncomfortable to write some of it." ''Publishers Weekly'' called it "a ''tour de force'' of cynical humor and poignant reverie, a caustic yet ebullient picaresque that approaches the sacred by way of the profane." His novel ''Between the Bridge and the River'' is dedicated to his son and to his grandfather, Adam. Ferguson revealed in an interview that he is writing a sequel to the book, to be titled "The Sphynx of the Mississippi". He also stated in a 2006 interview with David Letterman that he intends for the book to be the first in a trilogy.

Ferguson signed a deal with HarperCollins to publish his memoirs. The book, entitled ''American on Purpose: The Improbable Adventures of an Unlikely Patriot'', focuses on "how and why [he] became an American" and covers his years as a punk rocker, dancer, bouncer and construction worker as well as the rise of his career in Hollywood as an actor and comic. It went on sale 22 September 2009 in the United States. On 1 December 2010 the audiobook version was nominated for a Best Spoken Word Album Grammy.

In July 2009, Jackie Collins was a guest on ''The Late Late Show'' to promote her new book ''Married Lovers''. Collins said that a character in her book, Don Verona, was based on Ferguson because she was such a fan of him and his show.

Personal life

As mentioned on ''The Late Late Show'' on 3 August 2009, Ferguson holds an FAA Private Pilot's License issued 31 July 2009. Ferguson announced on the 8 April 2011 broadcast that he is pursuing an instrument rating.

Ferguson is also a fan of Scottish football team Partick Thistle F.C. as well as the British television show Doctor Who.

Ferguson has three tattoos: his latest, the Join, or Die political cartoon on his right forearm; a Ferguson family crest with the Latin motto ''Dulcius ex asperis'' ("Sweeter out of [or from] difficulty") on his upper right arm in honour of his father; and the Ingram family crest on his upper left arm in honour of his mother. He has often stated that his ''Join, or Die'' tattoo is to signal his patriotism.

Family

In an episode of ''The Late Late Show'' that aired 8 December 2008, a sombre Ferguson talked about his mother, Janet (3 August 1933 – 1 December 2008). He ended the program by playing her favourite song, "Rivers of Babylon" by Boney M.

Ferguson has two sisters (one older and one younger) and one older brother. His elder sister's name is Janice and his brother's name is Scott. His younger sister, Lynn Ferguson Tweddle, is also a successful comedienne, presenter, and actress, perhaps most widely known as the voice of Mac in the 2000 stop-motion animation film ''Chicken Run''. She is currently a writer on ''The Late Late Show''.

Ferguson has married three times and divorced twice as a result of what he describes as "relationship issues". His first marriage was to Anne Hogarth from 1983 to 1986, during which time they lived in New York. From his second marriage (to Sascha Corwin, founder and proprietor of Los Angeles' SpySchool), he has one son, Milo Hamish Ferguson, born in 2001. He and Corwin share custody of Milo, and live near each other in Los Angeles. On 21 December 2008, Ferguson married art dealer Megan Wallace-Cunningham in a private ceremony on her family's farm in Chester, Vermont. Ferguson announced 14 July 2010 on Twitter that they were expecting a child. He wrote: "Holy crackers! Mrs F is pregnant. How did that happen? ... oh yeah I know how. Another Ferguson arrives in 2011. The world trembles." The child, a boy named Liam James, was born 31 January 2011.

Alcohol problems

A recovering alcoholic, Ferguson has been sober since 18 February 1992. Because of this, he declared he wouldn't mock Britney Spears' much-publicized alcohol problems in 2007. He said he had considered committing suicide on Christmas Day 1991, but when offered a drink by a friend for celebrating the holiday, he was distracted from jumping off Tower Bridge in London as he had planned.

Citizenship

Holding dual citizenship, Ferguson is both a naturalized citizen of the United States and a British citizen.

During 2007, Ferguson, who at the time held only British citizenship, used ''The Late Late Show'' as a forum for seeking honorary citizenship from every state in the U.S. He has received honorary citizenship from Nebraska, Arkansas, Virginia, Montana, North Dakota, New Jersey, Tennessee, South Carolina, South Dakota, Nevada, Alaska, Texas, Wyoming, Pennsylvania and Indiana, and was "commissioned" as an admiral in the tongue-in-cheek Nebraska Navy. Governors Jon Corzine (New Jersey), John Hoeven (North Dakota), Mark Sanford (South Carolina), Mike Rounds (South Dakota), Rick Perry (Texas), Sarah Palin (Alaska) and Jim Gibbons (Nevada) sent letters to him that made him an honorary citizen of their respective states. He received similar honors from various towns and cities, including Ozark, Arkansas; Hazard, Kentucky; and Greensburg, Pennsylvania.

Ferguson became an American citizen on 1 February 2008 and broadcast the taking of his citizenship test as well as his swearing in on ''The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson''.

Filmography

+ Film
! Year	! Title	! Role	Notes
1992	''The Bogie Man''
1998	''Modern Vampires''	Richard
1999	''The Big Tease''	Crawford Mackenzie	Writer
2000		Melander Stevens
2000	''Born Romantic''	Frankie
2000		Matthew Stewart	Writer
2002	''Life Without Dick''	Jared O'Reilly
2002	''Prendimi l'anima'' (''The Soul Keeper'')	Richard Fraser
2003		Paul Kerr	Director, Writer
2004	''Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events''	Person of Indeterminate Gender
2004	''Lenny the Wonder Dog''	Dr. Wagner
2005		Fisherman
2006	''Niagara Motel''	Phillie
2007		Ted Truman
2008	''Craig Ferguson: A Wee Bit O' Revolution''
2009		Himself
2010	''The Hero of Color City''
2010		Gobber	Voice only
2010		Himself
2011			Voice only
2011	''Totally Framed''	Jeffrey Stewart
2012		Lord Macintosh	Voice only
2012		David	Post-production
2014	''How to Train Your Dragon 2''	Gobber	Voice only

+Television
! Year	! Title	! Role	Notes
1988	''Red Dwarf''	Confidence
1989	''The Big Gig''	Himself	Regular Comic
1993	''One Foot in the Grave''	Glaswegian beach bully	Christmas Special "One foot in the Algarve"
1994	''The Dirt Detective: A History of Scotland''	Travel documentary series	Host
1994	''The Ferguson Theory''	Himself	Host
1995–1996	''Maybe This Time''	Logan McDonough	18 episodes
1995–1997	''Freakazoid!''	Roddy MacStew	7 episodes
1996–2004	''The Drew Carey Show''	Nigel Wick	170 episodes
2000	''Buzz Lightyear of Star Command''	NOS 4 A2	Voice only, 5 episodes
2005		Oliver Davies	1 episode
2005–present	''The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson''	Himself	Host
2006	''American Dad!''	Evil Barry	Voice only, Episode: ''With Friends Like Steve's''
2009	''Family Guy''	Himself	Episode: ''We Love You, Conrad''
2009	''SpongeBob's Truth or Square''	Himself	TV movie
2010	''Futurama''	Susan Boil	Episode: ''Attack of the Killer App''
2010	''Shark Week''	Himself	Host
2010	''Legend of the Boneknapper Dragon''	Gobber	Voice only, TV short film

Bibliography

''Between the Bridge and the River''. Chronicle Books, 2006. ISBN 0811853756, ISBN 0811858197.

''American on Purpose: The Improbable Adventures of an Unlikely Patriot''. HarperCollins, 2009. ISBN 0061719544.

Comedy specials

''A Wee Bit o' Revolution'' (Comedy Central) 2009

''Does This Need to Be Said?'' (EPIX, Comedy Central) 2011

Discography

''Live At The Tron'' (as Bing Hitler). Jammy Records, 1986. Catalogue number JRLP 861.

References

External links

Craig Ferguson on Twitter

Craig Ferguson Interview on The Hour with George Stroumboulopoulos

Craig Ferguson and Megan Wallace Cunningham

''The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson''

Category:1962 births Category:American aviators Category:American comedians Category:American film actors Category:American memoirists Category:American novelists Category:American people of Scottish descent Category:American screenwriters Category:American television actors Category:American television talk show hosts Category:American voice actors Category:Living people Category:Naturalized citizens of the United States Category:People from Glasgow Category:People self-identifying as alcoholics Category:People with nocturnal enuresis Category:Scottish comedians Category:Scottish emigrants to the United States Category:Scottish memoirists Category:Scottish novelists Category:Scottish screenwriters Category:Scottish television actors Category:People from Cumbernauld Category:Actors from New York City Category:Actors from Los Angeles, California

de:Craig Ferguson es:Craig Ferguson fr:Craig Ferguson it:Craig Ferguson ja:クレイグ・ファーガソン no:Craig Ferguson pl:Craig Ferguson ru:Фергюсон, Крейг simple:Craig Ferguson fi:Craig Ferguson sv:Craig Ferguson zh:克雷格·费格斯

Name	Cameron Mackintosh
Birth date	17 October 1946 (age 64)
Birth place	Enfield, London }}

Sir Cameron Anthony Mackintosh (born 17 October 1946) is a British theatrical producer notable for his association with many commercially successful musicals. At the height of his success in 1990, he was described as being "the most successful, influential and powerful theatrical producer in the world" by the New York Times. He is the producer of shows such as ''Les Misérables'', ''The Phantom of the Opera'', ''Mary Poppins'', ''Martin Guerre'' and ''Cats.

Early life

Mackintosh was born in Enfield, London, the son of Diana Gladys (née Tonna), a production secretary, and Ian Robert Mackintosh, a timber merchant and jazz trumpeter. His father was Scottish and his mother, a native of Malta, was of Maltese and French descent. Mackintosh was raised in his mother's Roman Catholic faith and educated at Prior Park College in Bath.

He first knew that he wanted to become a theatre producer after his aunt took him to a matinee of the Julian Slade musical ''Salad Days'' when he was 8 years old.

Theatrical career

Mackintosh began his theatre career in his late teens, as a stagehand at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, graduating to stage manager on several touring productions. Before long, he began producing his own small scale tours before becoming a London-based producer in the 1970s. His early London productions included ''Anything Goes'' (which closed after only two weeks), ''Side By Side By Sondheim'', ''The Card'', ''My Fair Lady'' and ''Tom Foolery''.

In 1981, he produced Andrew Lloyd Webber's ''Cats'', then considered an unlikely subject for a musical. It became the hit of the season and went on to become one of the longest running musicals on both sides of the Atlantic. After the success of ''Cats'', he approached the French writing team Claude-Michel Schönberg and Alain Boublil about bringing their musical ''Les Misérables'' (then a successful French concept album) to the London stage. The musical opened in 1985 at the Barbican before transferring to the Palace Theatre. ''Les Misérables'' had a shaky start at the box office and a lukewarm critical reception before becoming a massive hit, largely by word-of-mouth.

In 1986, Mackintosh produced Andrew Lloyd Webber's ''The Phantom of the Opera'', perhaps the most commercially successful entertainment enterprise in history, outgrossing hit films such as ''Titanic'' and ''E.T.''. The original London and New York productions are currently still running.

In 1990, he produced Claude-Michel Schönberg and Alain Boublil's next musical ''Miss Saigon'', which opened at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in London, and was similarly successful, and the Broadway production achieved what was then the largest advance ticket sales in theatre history.

Mackintosh has produced several other successful musicals, including ''Five Guys Named Moe'' and a much-revised production of Stephen Sondheim's ''Follies''.

In 1995, Mackintosh produced the 10th anniversary concert of ''Les Misérables'' in London. Additionally, throughout the 1990s, he was responsible for presenting the West End transfers of the National Theatre revivals of ''Oklahoma!'', ''My Fair Lady'', and ''Carousel''.

Mackintosh's less successful productions include ''Moby Dick'', ''Martin Guerre'' and the stage adaptation of John Updike's ''The Witches of Eastwick'' which, despite some positive reviews and run of over 15 months, failed to replicate the worldwide success of his previous blockbusters.

When Walt Disney Theatrical president Thomas Schumacher met Mackintosh in 2001, Schumacher found out Mackintosh wanted to make ''Mary Poppins'' from screen to stage. So, together, they started making the musical. Mackintosh's involvement in the development of the 1964 musical adaptation led to his producing both the 2004 West End and 2006 Broadway productions, at the ''Prince Edward Theatre'' and the ''New Amsterdam Theatre'', respectively along with Schumacher. He also co-produced the London transfer of ''Avenue Q'', which opened at the Noël Coward Theatre on 1 June 2006.

In 1998, Mackintosh celebrated thirty years in the business with ''Hey, Mr. Producer!'', a gala concert featuring songs from shows he had produced during his career. The concert was performed twice, on 7 and 8 June, with proceeds going to the Royal National Institute of the Blind and the Combined Theatrical Charities. Many celebrities took part, and the 8 June performance was attended by Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.

In 2008–9, Mackintosh produced a revival of Lionel Bart's ''Oliver!'' at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane. The production was cast via the hit BBC television series ''I'd Do Anything''. Jodie Prenger became the eventual winner and was subsequently cast as Nancy in the production, with Rowan Atkinson as Fagin. The publicity and attention surrounding the production was unprecedented on the West End stage, and it was reported in January 2009 that the production was the fastest-selling show in West End history, with £15 million of pre-opening sales.

Mackintosh has voiced interest in producing a Broadway revival of ''Barnum'' with American actor Neil Patrick Harris in the title role.

In April 2010 Mackintosh staged a West End revival of the musical ''Hair'' in London's Gielgud Theatre. This production was transferred from Broadway where a production was revived in 2009.

Influence

Mackintosh is notable as a producer for his transformation of the musical into a global, highly profitable brand, and was the first theatrical producer to recognise that both touring productions and worldwide productions (often in countries where musicals were seldom seen, such as the former eastern bloc countries in the early 90s) were potentially highly lucrative markets which could, collectively, match and even surpass the revenues generated from New York and London productions. In mounting a plethora of productions across the globe, he has maintained tight creative control of his musicals in order to ensure the consistency and quality of the productions, no matter where they are seen. As far as possible, productions worldwide of Mackintosh musicals use the same staging, production design, lighting, front-of-house design, and orchestrations as their London and New York counterparts. This is a departure from previous practice, where international productions of West End or Broadway musicals would often be licensed out to foreign producers and entirely reconceived locally, with highly variable and often substandard results.

Mackintosh has also had considerable success in bringing legitimate theatre directors (such as the Royal Shakespeare Company's Trevor Nunn and Nicholas Hytner) and technicians to the world of musical theatre.

He is renowned for how closely he works with the creative team of a production.

He has recently expressed his interest in producing musicals from the otherwise neglected Asian and African regions, citing that the potential in these markets is inexhaustible.

Mackintosh's Delfont Mackintosh group owns seven London theatres, the Prince Edward, the Prince of Wales, the Novello, the Queen's, the Gielgud, the Wyndham's, and the Noël Coward.

Personal life

Mackintosh was knighted in the 1996 New Year's Honours List for services to musical theatre.

His partner is Australian-born theatre photographer Michael Le Poer Trench.

In 2006, Mackintosh was listed 4th on ''The Independent on Sunday'''s ''Pink List'', a list of the most influential "out-and-proud" gay men and women. He was also listed 4th in 2005. Mackintosh also topped ''The Stage 100'' list in 2007 for the first time since 2000. The list recognises the most influential members of the performing arts community at the end of each year.

He is a Patron of The Food Chain, a London-based HIV charity.

His younger brother, Robert Mackintosh, is also a producer.

In 1994 Mackintosh bought the Nevis Estate, on North Morar, to the east of Mallaig in the West Highlands of Scotland, covering around . He has since been involved in a long-running dispute with a tenant crofter, over the land use on the estate. Mackintosh wants to use the land for building holiday homes, but the crofter says the land is needed for grazing.

Politics

In 1998 Mackintosh was named in a list of the biggest private financial donors to the Labour Party (UK), a decision he was later to regret, saying: "Labour really fucked it up. They were profligate at a time when we were doing well. That's why we have the problems we have now. They didn't save any money for a rainy day. It couldn't have been worse these last 12 years."

See also

''The Sundowe'', A new Scottish-based musical being produced by Cameron Mackintosh in association with Eden Court Theatre and the Scottish Executive

Further reading

''Hey, Mr. Producer! The Musical World of Cameron Mackintosh'' by Sheridan Morley and Ruth Leon, published in the UK by Weidenfeld & Nicolson and in the US by Back Stage Books, 1998

References

External links

Cameron Mackintosh Official Website

Delfont Mackintosh Official Website

Category:1946 births Category:Anglo-Scots Category:English people of Scottish descent Category:English businesspeople Category:English Roman Catholics Category:English theatre managers and producers Category:Knights Bachelor Category:LGBT businesspeople Category:LGBT people from England Category:Living people Category:People from Enfield Category:People educated at Prior Park College

cy:Cameron Mackintosh de:Cameron Mackintosh fr:Cameron Mackintosh ko:카메론 매킨토시 it:Cameron Mackintosh ja:キャメロン・マッキントッシュ pl:Cameron Mackintosh pt:Cameron Mackintosh sv:Cameron Mackintosh

name	Alfie Boe
background	solo_singer
birth date	September 29, 1973
origin	Blackpool, Lancashire, England
instrument	vocals
genre	Classical crossover, Operatic pop
years active	1999-present
label	Decca
associated acts	The Clint Boon Experience
website	Alfie Boe
notable instruments	}}

Alfred Giovanni Roncalli Boe, known professionally initially as Alf or Alfred Boe and now as Alfie Boe, (born September 29, 1973 in Blackpool, Lancashire) brought up in nearby Fleetwood, is an English tenor.

Background

Boe, the youngest in a family of 9 children, attended St Wulstan's and St Edmund's School and Cardinal Allen Roman Catholic High School in Fleetwood. His earliest musical memories were of listening to his father's Richard Tauber records and at the age of 11 he discovered Puccini's ''La bohème'' for the first time.

Alfie's first public performance, aged 14, was at Fleetwood's Marine Hall in a "Songs from the Shows" presentation organised by inspirational local singing teacher Lottie Dawson. He states that although he only sang a couple of lines he was extremely nervous.

At the age of 17, Boe became an apprentice mechanic at the TVR factory in Bispham, Blackpool. He enjoyed entertaining his colleagues by singing opera arias while he polished the cars, and one day was overheard by a client with connections in the music industry who was so impressed, he suggested Boe should go to London and audition for the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company. His audition was a success and he gave up polishing cars to embark on a singing career. Boe has never been able to trace the customer who suggested he go for the audition, having lost the man's business card.

Personal life

Boe moved from England to America to start a show by Baz Lurman. He then moved back to England in 2010. Boe has a wife called Sarah, who is an actress he met whilst in America. They have one daughter called Grace who was born on the 9th May 2008.

Singing career

Boe moved to London and studied singing at the Royal College of Music, the National Opera Studio and the Royal Opera House's Vilar Young Artists Programme. In 1999 and 2000, he was featured as the "opera dude" on albums by The Clint Boon Experience, led by the former organist of the Inspiral Carpets. In 1999 he sang Ernesto for Scottish Opera in their Opera-Go-Round production of ''Don Pasquale'', touring widely throughout Scotland.

Baz Luhrmann, who had spent two years looking for the lead for his Broadway production of ''La bohème'', approached Boe for the role. Boe subsequently appeared (credited as Alfred Boe) on the 2002 Broadway Cast Recording released by Bazmark Live Pty Ltd.

In 2006, Boe was signed to the Classic FM Presents label as their first signing in a new venture for the radio station and his album, ''Classic FM Presents Alfie Boe'' reached number three in the UK classical chart. In November 2006 he was signed to the EMI Classics label and his first album on that label, ''Onward'', was released in March 2007.

Boe toured the United Kingdom with the Fron Male Voice Choir in February 2007 and took part in the first Classic FM webcast concert with soprano Natasha Marsh in March. The same month he was appointed as an ambassador of The Prince of Wales Arts & Kids Foundation, a British educational charity working to inspire and educate children by introducing them to the arts. Boe's role being to bring music, and opera in particular for those children involved.

In April, he starred alongside Lesley Garrett and Willard White in the ITV ''Music of Morse'' concert at the Royal Albert Hall. He was also nominated for a Classical BRIT for Best Album, missing out to Paul McCartney at the ceremony on May 3, 2007.

He also performed alongside Michael Ball in the English National Opera production of ''Kismet''. His live performance of the song "Stranger in Paradise" from ''Kismet'' on the Michael Parkinson show was released as a digital download single on June 25, 2007. In August he realised an ambition to record an album of Neopolitan songs which was released in November under the title ''La Passione''. On August 24, 2007 he performed at the Arundel Festival alongside Natasha Marsh. On October 19, 2007 he performed at Canterbury Cathedral during the Canterbury Festival. He also performed at the annual Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall on November 10, 2007.

On January 31, 2008 he performed at the Pleasure Beach Arena, Blackpool to over 1,600 local children, in a special Music Quest concert to help introduce the classics to a new generation and to celebrate the end of the Music Quest three year project which was sponsored by The Prince of Wales Arts & Kids Foundation and Classic FM MusicMakers.

On October 3, 2010 Boe took on the role of Jean Valjean in a concert performance of the musical ''Les Misérables'' at the O2 Arena in London to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the show, released on DVD and Blu-ray Disc. The concert encore performance of "Bring Him Home", credited as "The Valjean Quartet" — Boe alongside Colm Wilkinson, John Owen-Jones and Simon Bowman (each of whom has portrayed Valjean in various theatrical productions) — was re-recorded at the Abbey Road Studios and released as a charity CD single and digital download on December 13, 2010. On December 16, 2010, Boe once again performed as Valjean in the Royal Variety Performance (in front of Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall) singing "What Have I Done?", and also "Bring Him Home" again alongside Wilkinson, Owen-Jones and Bowman.

In January 2011, Boe performed for English National Opera in ''La bohème'' and ''The Mikado''. Boe later performed concerts in Idaho, U.S.A. in March. In April, Boe appeared in ''The Great British Musical — The Famous and the Future'' at the Criterion Theatre and the St George's Day celebration concert in Trafalgar Square. In May, Boe went on to perform at the Classical BRIT Awards ceremony at the Royal Albert Hall, in the Isle of Man, and then headlined the Hampton Court Palace Festival finale on June 18, 2011.

He currently appears as Jean Valjean in ''Les Misérables'' at the Queen's Theatre, London, and will continue to do so until November 26, 2011. During his run as Valjean, Boe appeared in the "''Les Misérables'' v Lend Me a Tenor Battle of the Tenors" at Soho's Winnett St, London on July 13, 2011. In August, Boe performed with the National Symphony Orchestra at Beau Sejour and Gloucester Hall.

Boe is set to appear in the BBC Last Night of the Proms concert at the Caird Hall on September 10, 2011, and The Llanelli Choral Society's Grand Performance Concert at Tabernacle Chapel on September 24, 2011. Boe will also begin the "Alfie Boe 'Bring Him Home' U.K. Concert Tour" in Bristol on December 6, 2011, finishing in Gateshead Sage on February 4, 2012.

Solo Recordings

''Classic FM Presents Alfie Boe'' (Classic FM, 2006 / Reissued with alternate cover photo, Universal Music, 2008 / Reissued with alternate title "The Sound Of Alfie Boe" as HMV Exclusive on Decca, UK, Feb 2011)

''Onward" (Physical CD contains 12 tracks - some Digital Download versions feature an additional track "Where'er You Walk (from Semele)" - EMI Classics, 2007)

''A Living Prayer (Radio Edit) / Abide With Me'' (EMI Classics, 2007 - digital download single)

''Stranger In Paradise'' (Live On Parkinson) / ''You'll Never Walk Alone'' (EMI Classics, 2007 - digital download single)

''Live At Abbey Road - The Napster Sessions'' (Napster exclusive 4-Track Digital Download includes 3 live songs from "La Passione" and a cover of The Beatles' "Eleanor Rigby" - EMI Classics, 2007)

''La Passione'' (Physical CD contains 15 tracks - some Digital Download versions feature an additional track "Lolita". Another track "La Paloma" recorded but not issued. EMI Classics, 2007)

''Franz Lehár: Love Was A Dream'' (Linn Records, 2009 / Reissued as "Love Was A Dream" with new artwork on Decca, July 2011)

''Bring Him Home'' (Studio Version, credited as The Valjean Quartet — Alfie Boe, Simon Bowman, John Owen-Jones and Colm Wilkinson - Cameron Mackintosh Limited, 2010 - CD/Digital Download Charity Single)

''Bring Him Home'' (Includes duets with Kerry Ellis & Matt Lucas - Decca Records, December 2010)

''You'll Never Walk Alone - The Collection'' 16-Song compilation CD features 6 songs not included on Alfie's solo CD albums - 2 songs from ''Eternal Light'', plus "Where'er You Walk", "Brindisi", "Abide With Me", & "Fratello Sole, Sorella Luna". (EMI Classics, March 21, 2011)

''Alfie" ''(title to be confirmed, previously listed as "Music Of The Night" - Includes duets with Michael Ball & Robert Plant - Decca Records, October 2011)

Also Appears On

''The Compact Guide to Pop Music and Space Travel'' (The Clint Boon Experience! aka CBX! - guest appearance on two tracks: "Comet Theme Number One" & "Only One Way I Can Go" - credited as Alf Boe: Opera Vocal - Artful Records, 1999)

"Gilbert & Sullivan: HMS Pinafore - The 1999 D'Oyly Carte Cast Complete Dialogue & Songs Recording" (Performing the role of Ralph Rackstraw, credited as Alfred Boe - 2-CD, TER, 2000 - Reissued 2008)

''Life in Transition'' (The Clint Boon Experience! aka CBX! - guest appearance on four tracks: "This Is The Sound", "Life In Transition", "17 & Over!" & "In Chaos I See" - credited as Alf Boe: Opera Vocal - Artful Records, 2000)

"The Most Happy Fella - First Complete Recording - Studio Cast" (3-CD Box Set - appears on 6 tracks, performing the role of Giuseppe, credited as Alfred Boe. Recorded 1997-1999 - JAY, 2000 - Reissued on TER, 2010)

"Verdi: Aida - The 2002 Opera In English Recording" (2-CD Box Set - appears on 2 tracks in the role of "A Messenger" - credited as Alfred Boe - Chandos "Opera In English", 2002)

"La Bohème - The 2002 Broadway Cast Recording" (credited as Alfred Boe - Bazmark Live Pty Ltd., 2002)

"Barry Banks Sings Bel Canto Arias" (Alfred Boe as Pilades duets on "Palace Of Horrors! - Ah, How Can I Hide The Flames" from Rossini's "Ermione", Recorded September 2001 - Chandos "Opera In English", 2004)

"Sleigh Ride" (Alfred Boe appears on 2 tracks: "'Twas The Night Before Christmas" & "O Holy Night" - The Boston Pops Orchestra - Conducted By Keith Lockhart, Artemis Classics, 2004)

"Myleene’s Music For Romance" (Myleene Klass - 2-CD Compilation features previously unreleased Alfie Boe track "Fratello Sole, Sorella Luna" written by Donovan from the Zeffirelli film "Brother Sun, Sister Moon" - EMI Classics, 2007)

"Elizabeth Marvelly" (Self-titled debut CD features Alfie Boe duet on "Stranger In Paradise" - EMI, 2007)

Howard Goodall, ''Eternal Light: A Requiem'' (tenor soloist on 4 tracks, with Natasha Marsh; Christopher Maltman; Choir of Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford; London Musici; and Stephen Darlington; EMI Classics, 2008)

"Natasha Marsh" (Self-titled CD featuring Alfie Boe duet on "Brindisi" (La Traviata) - EMI Classics, 2008)

"Pride Of The Nation" (The Band Of The Coldstream Guards, CD featuring Alfie Boe on "Jerusalem" (Parry, arr. Eyton) - Decca CD/DVD + Digital Download, 2011)

Discography

Albums

{|class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" border="1" |+ List of albums, with selected chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:9em;"| Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:16em;"| Album details ! scope="col" colspan="1"| Chart positions |- ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"|UK |- !scope="row"|''Onward'' |

Released: 12 March 2007

Label: EMI Records

Formats: CD, digital download

| 72 |- !scope="row"|''La Passione'' |

Released: 12 November 2007

Label: EMI Records

Formats: CD, digital download

| 83 |- !scope="row"|''Bring Him Home'' |

Released: 27 December 2010

Label: Decca Records

Formats: CD, digital download

| 9 |- !scope="row"|''Love Was a Dream - Franz Lehár'' | | 122 |}

References

External links

Alfie Boe official website

Alfie Boe Official Merchandise Store

Alfie Boe EMI Classical website

Alfie Boe official MySpace music page

Interview with Alfie at Premier.tv

Alfie Boe at Linn Records

Category:People from Blackpool Category:People from Fleetwood Category:English tenors Category:Alumni of the Royal College of Music Category:1973 births Category:Living people Category:Opera crossover singers

sv:Alfie Boe