What is Michael Crawford's Net Worth?
Michael Crawford is an English actor, comedian, and singer who has a net worth of $10 million. He is best known for playing Frank Spencer in the British sitcom "Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em" and the Phantom in "The Phantom of the Opera," a role he performed for more than three years.
Early Years
Crawford was born Michael Patrick Smith on January 19, 1942, in Salisbury, Wiltshire, England. Raised by his mother and maternal grandparents on the Isle of Sheppey, he faced a challenging childhood. His mother's first husband, Arthur Smith, was killed during the Battle of Britain in 1940. After attending St. Michael's School in Bexleyheath, Crawford's family moved to Herne Hill in south London, where he took on the surname Ingram and attended Oakfield Preparatory School.
His stage career began early, with a school production of Benjamin Britten's "Let's Make an Opera," where he played Sammy the Little Sweep.
The Stage
In 1958, Crawford appeared in Britten's opera "Noye's Fludde." Realizing his passion for the performing arts, he changed his surname to avoid confusion with another entertainer. Crawford's stage career includes performances in "Come Blow Your Horn," "The Importance of Being Earnest," and Shakespeare's "Julius Caesar." In 1967, he debuted on Broadway in Peter Shaffer's "Black Comedy."
In 1969, Crawford caught the eye of American entertainer Gene Kelly and starred in the film adaptation of "Hello, Dolly!" with Barbra Streisand and Walter Matthau. The film won three Academy Awards.
In 1974, Crawford starred in "Billy" in London's West End, his first leading role. He continued to shine in productions such as "Flowers for Algernon" in 1979 and "Barnum" in 1981, for which he learned circus skills and won an Olivier Award. From 1986 to 1989, he performed over 1,300 shows as the Phantom in "The Phantom of the Opera," earning multiple awards, including a Tony Award.
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In 1995, a stunt accident during "EFX" in Las Vegas led to hip replacement surgery for Crawford. He returned to Broadway in 2002 with "Dance of the Vampires," and in 2004, he took on a role in "The Woman in White" but had to leave due to health issues. In 2011, he starred as the Wizard in "The Wizard of Oz" musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice. In 2016, he starred in "The Go-Between" at London's Apollo Theatre.
Television
In 1964, Crawford played Byron in the TV satire "Not So Much a Programme, More a Way of Life." He gained massive popularity as Frank Spencer in "Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em," a British sitcom where he performed all his stunts.
Radio
Crawford's radio career includes numerous British shows like "Billy Bunter of Greyfriars School" and "Sir Francis Drake."
Film
Crawford debuted in the film "Blow Your Own Trumpet" in 1958. He starred in the British war film "The War Lover" in 1962 and "Two Left Feet" in 1963. Other notable films include "The Knack...and How to Get It," "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum," and "How I Won the War" with John Lennon. In 1981, he starred in Disney's "Condorman," which was poorly received by critics Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert.
Voice Work
In 1993, Crawford voiced Cornelius in the animated film "Once Upon a Forest."
Music
In 1987, Crawford's rendition of "The Music of the Night" from "The Phantom of the Opera" reached number 7 on the UK Singles Chart. He released several successful albums, including "Songs for the Stage and Screen" in 1987 and "The Disney Album" in 2001.
Personal Life
Crawford married Gabrielle Lewis in 1965; they divorced in 1975 and have three children. He has been the president of The Sick Children's Trust charity since 1987 and is a patron of Australia's Lighthouse Foundation.
