Bruce Forsyth

Sir Bruce Joseph Forsyth-Johnson CBE (22 February 1928 – 18 August 2017) was an English television personality, actor and dancer. He has presented Sunday Night at the London Palladium, Play Your Cards Right, The Generation Game, You Bet? and The Price Is Right. He presented Strictly Come Dancing from 2004 to 2013.

Sir Bruce Forsyth

Bruce Forsyth1 (cropped).jpg
Bruce Forsyth in 2006
Born
Bruce Joseph Forsyth-Johnson

(1928-02-22)22 February 1928
Died18 August 2017(2017-08-18) (aged 89)
Wentworth Estate, Surrey, England, UK
Cause of deathComplications from bronchopneumonia
Other namesBrucie, Brucey, Bruce Johnson, Bruce Forsyth Johnson, Boy Bruce, the Mighty Atom, Mr Entertainment, Sir Brucie, Sir Brucey
OccupationTelevision presenter, Game show host, Comedian, Dancer, Singer
Years active1939–2014
Spouse(s)Penny Calvert (1953–1973, divorced)
Anthea Redfern (1973–1979, divorced)
Wilnelia Merced (1983–2017)
Children5 daughters, 1 son

Forsyth was born in Edmonton, Middlesex. He was educated at The Latymer School.

In 2008 he was awarded the BAFTA Academy Fellowship Award, a lifetime achievement award. He received a Royal Television Society Lifetime Achievement Award on 17 March 2009.[1] On 26 January 2011 he received the National Television Awards special recognition award.[2]

Personal life and Death

From 1953 to 1973, Forsyth was married to Penny Calvert. They had three daughters: Debbie, Julie and Laura. According to his autobiography, he dated Miss World 1964 Ann Sidney during her reign.[3] In a 2009 interview, Kathy Kirby said she was Forsyth's lover and that he proposed marriage.[4] From 1973 to 1979, he was married to Anthea Redfern, who was the hostess on The Generation Game. They had two daughters: Charlotte and Louisa. He fell in love with his fellow judge, Wilnelia Merced, at the 1980 Miss World competition.[5][6] They married in 1983, and had one son together, Jonathan Joseph Forsyth Johnson (born 1987). By his six children, he had eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

On 18 August 2017, Forsyth died at his home in Surrey, England of complications of bronchopneumonia, aged 89.[7]

Television and movies

Year Title Role Notes
1957–1961 Sunday Night at the London Palladium Himself TV
1966 The Bruce Forsyth Show Host TV
1966
1975
Frankie and Bruce Himself TV
1968 Star! Arthur Lawrence Film
1969 Can Hieronymus Merkin Ever Forget Mercy Humppe and Find True Happiness? Uncle Limelight
1969 Red Peppers George Pepper TV
1971 Bedknobs and Broomsticks Swinburne, Bookman's henchman Film
1971 The Magnificent Seven Deadly Sins Avarice Segment
1971–1977
1990–1994
Bruce Forsyth and the Generation Game Host TV
1976 The Muppet Show Himself TV
1978–1980 Disco Bruce Himself TV
1978 Bruce Forsyth's Big Night Host TV
1980–1987
1994–1999
2002–2003
Bruce Forsyth's Play Your Cards Right Host TV
1986 Bruce Forsyth's Hot Streak Host TV
1986 Magnum, P.I.: A Little Bit of Luck...A Little Bit of Grief TV
1988 Bruce and Ronnie Himself TV
1988–1990 You Bet! TV
1990–1991 Takeover Bid TV
1995–2001 Bruce's Price is Right Himself TV
1997 An Audience with Bruce Forsyth Host TV
1998 The Game Film
2000 Tonight at the London Palladium Himself TV
2003 Have I Got News for You Guest Appearance TV
2003 Bruce Forsyth Host Himself DVD / Guest appearance on Have I Got News for You DVD
2004 – 2014 Strictly Come Dancing Host TV
2007 The Generation Game: Then Again Host TV
2010 Have I Got News For You Guest Appearance TV
2010 Who Do You Think You Are? Guest Appearance TV
2011 The Rob Brydon Show Guest TV
2012 National Television Awards Guest (With Ant & Dec) TV

Discography

Title Album details Peak chart positions
UK
Both Sides of Bruce (Live)
Come Get It!
Mr. Entertainment
  • Third Studio album
  • Released: 19 March 2007
  • Label: EMI Records
These Are My Favourites
  • Fourth Studio album
  • Released: 7 November 2011
  • Label: EMI Records
58

Bruce Forsyth Media

References

  1. "Programme Awards Winners 2008". Royal Television Society. 2009. Retrieved 6 July 2011.
  2. "Winners 2011". National Television Awards. 26 January 2011. Archived from the original on 14 November 2010. Retrieved 26 January 2011.
  3. Bruce Forsyth: The Autobiography. Sidgwick & Jackson Ltd (10 October 2001) ISBN 978-0-283-07338-0
  4. Kathy Kirby breaks her 26-year silence. Sunday Express. 1 March 2009. http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/87084/EXCLUSIVE-Kathy-Kirby-breaks-her-26-year-silence. Retrieved 22 March 2009. 
  5. Bruce Forsyth IMDb profile
  6. "Bruce Forsyth". The Observer (London). 12 December 2004. http://observer.guardian.co.uk/omm/recorddoctor/story/0,,1369014,00.html. Retrieved 27 April 2010. 
  7. Sir Bruce Forsyth: TV legend dies aged 89. BBC News. 18 August 2017. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-40978576. Retrieved 18 August 2017. 

Other websites