Anthony Newley

Anthony Newley was born in Hackney London England to Frances Grace Newley and George Kirby a shipping clerk He was attracted to acting after seeing an ad for a child actor in a Fleet Street window He attended the Italia Conti Stage School from the age of 14 and two years later played the Artful Dodger in David Leans film Oliver Twist 1948 Newley was called up to the Army for his National Service and by the late 1950s had a hit song Idol on Parade 1959 while in the movie of the same name He married his first wife Tiller Girl Ann Lynn in 1956 but it was a rocky marriage and they divorced in 1963 He was in the pop charts seven times in 1960 twice at Number One with Why and Do You Mind written by Lionel Bart In 1961 he collaborated with Leslie Bricusse on the hit stage show Stop the World I Want to Get Off 1966 After long runs in London and on Broadway it was made into a film starring Millicent Martin with the hit song What Kind of Fool Am I