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?.

All movies available from Anthony Newley

Movies unavailable from Anthony Newley

The Cockleshell Heroes

Marine Clarke

Movie 1955

David Bowie & The Story of Ziggy Stardust

Self (archive footage)

Movie 2012

The Beatles Forever

Self

Movie 1977

The Small World of Sammy Lee

Sammy 'Lee' Leeman

Movie 1963

Sweet November

Charlie Blake

Movie 1968

Can Heironymus Merkin Ever Forget Mercy Humppe and Find True Happiness?

Heironymous Merkin

Movie 1969

Jazz Boat

Bert Harris

Movie 1960

The Bandit Of Zhobe

Cpl. Stokes

Movie 1959

Killers of Kilimanjaro

Hooky Hook

Movie 1959

Idol on Parade

Jeep Jackson

Movie 1959

Tank Force!

Private "Tiger" Noakes

Movie 1958

The Adventures of Dusty Bates

Dusty Bates

Movie 1947

Those People Next Door

Bob Twigg

Movie 1953

Happy Birthday, Las Vegas

Movie 1977

Port Afrique

Pedro

Movie 1956

The Heart of a Man

Johnnie

Movie 1959

A Boy, a Girl and a Bike

Charlie Ritchie

Movie 1949

Fire Down Below

Miguel

Movie 1957

Vice Versa

Dick Bultitude

Movie 1948

This Is Joan Collins

archive footage

Movie 2022

Blade in Hong Kong

Tommy T

Movie 1985

In The Nick

Dr Newcombe

Movie 1960

The Blue Peter

Fred Starling

Movie 1955

The Lady is a Square

Freddy

Movie 1959

Top of the Form

Movie 1953

Let's Get Married

Movie 1960

Don't Ever Leave Me

Jimmy Knowles

Movie 1949

Up to His Neck

Tommy

Movie 1954

The Good Companions

Maurice Milbrau

Movie 1957

Lucy in London

Anthony Armstrong Fitz-Faversham

Movie 1966

The Guinea Pig

Miles Minor

Movie 1948

Vote for Huggett

Dudley

Movie 1949

Outrage!

Victor Coles

Movie 1986

Henry V

Boy in English Camp (uncredited)

Movie 1944

Linda in Wonderland

Himself

Movie 1980

Highly Dangerous

Operator (uncredited)

Movie 1950