This articleneeds additional citations forverification. Please helpimprove this article byadding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Bert Newton" – news ·newspapers ·books ·scholar ·JSTOR(September 2024) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

Bert Newton AMMBE
Newton in 2013
Born	Albert Watson Newton (1938-07-23)23 July 1938 Fitzroy, Victoria, Australia
Died	30 October 2021(2021-10-30) (aged 83) Prahran, Victoria, Australia
Occupations	Television personality television host radio presenter theatre actor
Years active	1951–2015
Known for	In Melbourne Tonight Good Morning Australia Logie Awards
Spouse	Patti McGrath ​ (m. 1974)​
Children	2, includingMatthew

Albert Watson NewtonAM MBE (23 July 1938 – 30 October 2021) was an Australian media personality. He was aLogie Hall of Fame inductee, quadrupleGold Logie–winning entertainer, and radio, theatre and television personality andcompère.

Newton was known for his collaborations oppositeGraham Kennedy and subsequentlyDon Lane on their respective variety shows, and appearances with his wife, singerPatti Newton.

Newton started his career in radio broadcasting, primarily as an announcer, before becoming a star and fixture of Australian television since its inception in 1956, and was considered both an industry pioneer icon and one of the longest-serving television performers in the world.

Newton was known for his association with both theNine Network andTen Network on numerous variety shows, includingIn Melbourne Tonight,New Faces,Good Morning Australia,20 to 1 and game showBert's Family Feud.

Newton was born inFitzroy, an inner suburb ofMelbourne, Victoria, to Joseph (Joe) and Gladys Newton. He had three brothers (Tom, Jack and Bob) and two sisters (Alice and Elizabeth). He was educated atSt Joseph'sMarist Brothers Roman Catholic college. In his early years, he had thoughts of entering the priesthood and remained an activeRoman Catholic.^{[citation needed]}

Newton's first paid radio appearance was as a schoolboy on Melbourne radio station3XY on 10 June 1952, doing advertisements dressed as a clown with Doug McKenzie, who later became Zag inZig and Zag.^{[citation needed]}

"... there was a radio program on 3XY Melbourne calledScouting Around, compered by the late Tom Jones. One week, the broadcast was recorded at our Scout Hall, and as the direct result of this, I began to appear on 3XY."^{[1][failed verification]}

This led to regular appearances on a Saturday morning children's show, in which he worked with disc jockeyStan Rofe and McKenzie.^{[citation needed]}

In May 1954, 3XY employed him as a junior announcer (aged 15); by 1955, he was presentingMelbourne Speaks, avox pop program recorded on the streets of Melbourne's CBD.^{[citation needed]} After GTV-9 purchased3AK in April 1961, all GTV-9 personalities were expected to present programs on 3AK. Graham Kennedy and Newton hosted a two-hour morning program.^{[citation needed]} He began a morning program on3UZ in 1976. The Herald and Weekly Times Ltd appointed Newton as general manager of3DB in 1986, which he combined with on-air appearances until 1988.^{[citation needed]}

Newton began his television career in 1957 at Melbourne'sHSV-7, hostingThe Late Show.^{[2][page needed]} Newton left forGTV-9 in early 1959 to hostIn Melbourne Today.^[2] After appearing in a live commercial onIn Melbourne Tonight with his friendGraham Kennedy in 1959, he began to make regular appearances on the show and assumed hosting duties on some episodes. This began a lifelong association with Kennedy.^{[citation needed]}

From 1959 to 1960, he hostedThe Bert Newton Show (later retitledHi-Fi Club) on GTV-9, a series aimed at teenagers.^{[citation needed]}

From 1960 to 1961, Newton appeared in the nationalGraham Kennedy's Channel 9 Show (a weekly national version ofIMT). In January 1962, the show was cancelled and replaced by the similarThe Channel 9 Show, hosted by Newton.^[2]

From 1975 to mid-1992 Newton mainly appeared on theNine Network.

In 1975 Newton was cast in the role of sidekick and "barrel boy" onThe Don Lane Show. He was dubbed "Moonface", and the nickname stuck. Newton frequently appeared in outlandish costumes, often sending up celebrities. Newton memorably sent upDemis Roussos, who was sent on set while Newton was doing theimpersonation. Newton remained on the show until it ended in 1983.^{[citation needed]}

Newton briefly hosted his own program,The Bert Newton Show, recorded for theABC. It was not a success, and he returned to working with Kennedy.^{[citation needed]}

In 1976, Newton replaced long-running compereFrank Wilson on Nine's amateur talent programNew Faces. The show was a success, and lasted until 1985. In 1992, Newton hosted another version ofNew Faces; however, it did not last for long.^{[citation needed]}

In 1981, Newton (and wife Patti) presented a quiz show,Ford Superquiz, produced by theReg Grundy organisation for theNine Network.^{[citation needed]}

Tonight with Bert Newton was a short-lived attempt to bring back the spirit of IMT. It aired in 1984.^{[citation needed]}The Bert Newton Show was created for theSeven Network in 1989 as an attempt to woo some of the audience away fromThe Midday Show withRay Martin. This, however, did not rate well and was only on air for that year.^{[citation needed]}

In 1992, Newton moved into daytime TV as host ofThe Morning Show, which was soon renamedGood Morning Australia (GMA) onNetwork Ten. The show revived Newton's celebrity status and was a continuing success for Ten.GMA was a mix of interviews, music, cooking segments andinfomercials. It was broadcast live-to-air on Mondays and Tuesdays, but for the rest of the week live-to-tape (recorded complete and aired later).^[3]GMA was cancelled in late 2005 after a 14-year run. Although Newton was offered ongoing employment at Network Ten, he stated that he would return to the Nine Network in 2006.^[4]

After finishing onGMA. Newton returned to the Nine Network hostingBert's Family Feud, a revised version ofFamily Feud, from 2006 and until it was cancelled in May 2007.^{[citation needed]}

From 2006 to 2011, Newton hosted20 to 1 taking over fromBud Tingwell.^{[citation needed]} In 2007, Newton hosted the retrospective programWhat a Year with comedianJulia Zemiro, replacing previous hostsMike Munro andMegan Gale, which took a light-hearted look at significant events from a chosen year in history.^{[citation needed]}

In 2008 Newton appeared as a celebrity contestant onMillion Dollar Wheel of Fortune alongsideLivinia Nixon andDawn Fraser. He won the main game, with $3,235 (including a plasma TV) going to his chosen charity, the International Diabetes Institute.^{[citation needed]} On 14 August 2012, Newton appeared as a celebrity contestant onMillionaire Hot Seat and won $5,000 for the charity Sids & Kids.^[5]

Newton reputedly received a yearly salary of A$800,000 from Nine during this era.^[6]

Newton's stage appearances included Professor Marvel/the Wizard of Oz inThe Wizard of Oz, Cogsworth inBeauty and the Beast, Franz Liebkind inThe Producers and Max inThe Sound of Music.^{[citation needed]}

From November 2008, Newton took over the role ofThe Wizard in the Melbourne production of the musicalWicked, after the sudden death ofRob Guest.^[7] The production transferred to Sydney from September 2009. Newton continued to play the role on the national tour, which began in January 2011, oppositeLucy Durack as Glinda,Jemma Rix as Elphaba,David Harris as Fiyero andMaggie Kirkpatrick as Madame Morrible. In 2011 he was part of the Australian cast performingWicked in Singapore. Altogether, Newton had a three-year run in this show.^{[citation needed]}

In July 2012 Newton joined the Melbourne cast ofAnnie for a few weeks, taking over the role of President Roosevelt fromAlan Jones.^[8]

From August 2013 Newton returned to the stage in producer John Frost's production ofGrease The Musical, playing disc jockey Vince Fontaine.^[9]

Newton played the narrator in the 2015 Australian production ofThe Rocky Horror Show.^[10]

Newton was an institution of theLogie Awards since the awards since 1959. He was nominated for many Logie Awards and won several:

Three 'Best Compere' awards: 1972, 1973, 1974 (for his role inIn Melbourne Tonight andThe Graham Kennedy Show)^{[citation needed]}

Newton hosted theLogie Awards ceremony on 19 occasions: 1968–1980, 1982, 1984, 1989, 1993 and 2010, and co-host in 2006. He holds the record for both the most Logies hosted and the most Logies hosted in a continuous run. Some notable moments of his hosting include:

• At the 1979 Logies awards Newton said toMuhammad Ali, "I like the boy", not knowing that "boy" could be taken as a racial slur. Ali responded "Did he call me Roy?" and members of the audience, including Don Lane, shouted to Newton to say "Yes—Roy!". Newton looked puzzled and later explained to the media that he did not realise that "boy" was used as a racial slur. Ali realised Newton's use was meant endearingly and they literally kissed and made up later on.^[14][15] Immediately after the incident, Newton lightened the tension of the incident by saying: "I'll change my name, my religion ... anything", referring to Ali's change of name from Cassius Clay when he adoptedIslam in 1964, and proceeding to shake his hands in feigned nervousness. "I like the boy" was a catchphrase Newton had previous used on a commercial playingColonel Sanders.^[16]
• In 1973, American actorMichael Cole, best known for his role in the TV seriesThe Mod Squad, accepted an award while obviously drunk and ended his barely coherent thank-you speech with the word "shit",^[17] to which Newton, after a classic pause, merely added 'congratulations'.^{[citation needed]}
• In 2006, after the awards, he had a fall and injured himself. The injury was visible for a number ofBert's Family Feud episodes.^{[citation needed]}

Newton was appointed aMember of the Order of the British Empire in 1979, for his service to the performing arts.^[18]

On 12 June 2006, he was made aMember of the Order of Australia "for service to the entertainment industry as a presenter, actor, comedian, and through support for a range of medical research and charitable organisations".^[19][20]

Newton was the first Melbourne-bornKing of Moomba in 1978.^[21]

A song called "For Bert" was written by GTV-9's musical directorBrian Rangott. The lyrics include:^{[citation needed]}

Everything I do,

I do for Bert –

[...]

Some may think Bert's not much,

But they like his gentle touch –

Everything I do,

I do for Bert!

In 1997, Newton was the subject of aThis Is Your Life tribute. His wife Patti was honoured with her own tribute in 2001.^{[citation needed]}

The Best of Bert Newton was aired in 2002.Channel Nine Salutes Bert Newton was broadcast in early 2004, depicting the career of Newton from his earliest days.^{[citation needed]}

In 2001, he was awarded theCentenary Medal.^{[citation needed]}

Show business awards include aMo Award (1995),^[22] twoTelevision Society of Australia awards (1981 and 1983), threePenguin Citations and threePater (Professional Excellence in Television and Radio Arts and Sciences) awards for radio.^{[citation needed]}

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of television in Australia, Channel 9 ran a show titled50 Years, 50 Stars, where they looked back at the top 50 stars of Australian television. Newton was listed as the No. 1 Australian TV star of the past 50 years.^{[citation needed]}

On 1 July 2008, Newton was named Victorian of the Year.^[23]

On 23 July 2008, Channel 9 marked Newton's 70th birthday with a one-hour special ofThis Is Your Life hosted byMike Munro.^{[citation needed]}

In 2018, he was honoured byAustralia Post in a series of issued stamps called the Australian Legends series that features stars from Australian television.^[24]

Two weeks after his death, on 12 November 2021, Newton was given a Victorian state funeral, conducted atSt. Patrick's Cathedral inMelbourne.^[25]

In 1974, Newton marriedPatti McGrath with whom he worked on television.^[26] The Newtons had two children, sonMatthew and daughter Lauren. Matthew Newton is an actor who has appeared in a number of Australian films and television dramas.^[26] Lauren Newton married swimmerMatt Welsh.^{[citation needed]}

In 1993, a gambling problem led Newton to near bankruptcy and a $1 million debt.^[27]

In 2020, Newton was the subject of an episode ofWho Do You Think You Are? which focused primarily on his father and maternal grandparents. The episode first aired on 26 May 2020.^{[citation needed]}

In November 2012, Newton underwent quadrupleheart bypass surgery, having been admitted to hospital twice in the twelve months prior.^[28]

Newton was admitted toEpworth Hospital several times for pneumonia recovery in March and April 2017.^[29]

Newton had a toe infection in late 2020 and, due to complications treating this, one of his legs was amputated below the knee in May 2021.^[30] He died in Prahran, Victoria, on 30 October 2021, aged 83.^[31]He is interred at the Cedars section of the Springvale Botanical Cemetery, Melbourne.

• Newton, Bert (1977).Bert! Bert Newton's Own Story. Toorak, Victoria, Australia: Garry Sparkes & Associates.ISBN 0-908081-24-3.
• Blundell, Graeme (2003).King: the life and comedy of Graham Kennedy. Sydney: Pan Macmillan.ISBN 0-7329-1165-6.
• Lane, Don (2007).The Don Lane story. Frenchs Forest, NSW: New Holland Publishers.

• Newton, Bert (2007). "Contributor".Laugh Even Louder!. ByCamp Quality. Gosford, New South Wales:Scholastic Australia Pty Limited.ISBN 978-1-74169-022-4.^[32]

Wikiquote has quotations related toBert Newton.

• Bert Newton atIMDb
• Bert Newton discography atDiscogs
• "Patrick Carlyon profiles Bert Newton". Archived from the original on 8 March 2006. Retrieved17 March 2005.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link), 12 October 2003,The Bulletin
• Back to Bert,The Age, May 30, 2002
• Bert Newton and the history of Australian TV,ABC
• Revenge of the second banana,Sydney Morning Herald, July 12, 2004
• AM award

• 1938 births
• 2021 deaths
• Television personalities from Melbourne
• Gold Logie winners
• Australian game show hosts
• Australian male stage actors
• Australian male film actors
• Australian Members of the Order of the British Empire
• Members of the Order of Australia
• Australian Roman Catholics
• Radio personalities from Melbourne
• Australian amputees
• Television personalities with disabilities
• People from Fitzroy, Victoria
• Australian male comedians
• Comedians from Melbourne
• Male actors from Melbourne

• CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list
• Articles with short description
• Short description is different from Wikidata
• Articles needing additional references from September 2024
• All articles needing additional references
• Use Australian English from July 2015
• All Wikipedia articles written in Australian English
• Use dmy dates from October 2021
• Articles with hCards
• All articles with unsourced statements
• Articles with unsourced statements from October 2021
• Articles with unsourced statements from November 2021
• All articles with failed verification
• Articles with failed verification from April 2020
• Wikipedia articles needing page number citations from April 2021
• CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown