Lionel Bart

Date of Birth:
1st August 1930

Current Role

Bart died on 3rd April 1999 after a long battle against cancer.

Early Life

Lionel Bart was born Lionel Begleiter in 1930. He studied at St Martin's School of Art but was expelled from the school for mischievousness. He joined the RAF, for a short period where he changed his name to Lionel Bart and went on to be part of Unity, a left-wing theatre club. His first play was called Wages of Sin, a story about equal pay for men and women.

Career Highlights

A talented and inspirational playwright, Bart adapted Dicken's novel, Oliver Twist for the stage. Oliver! ran for years and launched the careers of many household names including Phil Collins and Tony Robinson to name a few. Some 50 years after it was originally shown, Oliver! is still at the West End.

Bart has also had an extensive and impressive musical career. His most successful works include A handful of Songs for the great Tommy Steele and Living Doll for Cliff Richard. Anthony Newley topped the charts in 1960 with Bart's song, Do You Mind.

Interesting Facts

• Lionel Bart was born Lionel Begleiter before changing his name.
• Bart penned the hit Living Doll by Cliff Richard as well as writing the theme song for the Bond film, From Russia With Love.
• He sold the rights to Oliver! before it even hit the West End, so sadly he never really reaped the rewards of his masterpiece.