Danny Sewell

Dennis Edward "Danny" Sewell (18 November 1930 – 18 May 2001) was a British professional heavyweight boxer and actor who created the role of Bill Sikes in the 1960 stage musical ''Oliver!''. He remained in the role for the original Broadway production, which premiered in early 1963, and for several national tours.

Early life

Sewell was born in London, the son of a Hoxton printer and bookmaker father and florist mother. He was the younger brother of the actor George Sewell.

A champion-boxer as a schoolboy,Danny Sewell on the Ovrtur database
/ref> in 1946 aged 16 Danny Sewell became a professional and undefeated light-heavyweight and heavyweight boxer, winning all 7 of his fights with 5 knockouts. Regarded as a contender for the World Heavyweight title, he contracted polio at age 18 during a worldwide epidemic and spent a year in an iron lung in a Spokane, Washington, hospital paid for by British sportsmen. He recovered and returned to boxing but, as Sewell once said, “It was never the same. I'd lost the old spark.” He gave up boxing and became a physical training instructor on the Queen Mary and other Cunard Line ships, before going on to manage a Bethnal Green pub and eventually try his hand at acting.” In 1953 he married Betty Frances Anderson with whom he had four children: Laura, Daniel, George and Andrew Sewell.Death notice for Danny Sewell
- ''The New York Times'' - 27 May 2001 The marriage was later dissolved and Sewell remarried. His National Service was spent as a Physical Training Instructor in the Royal Air Force, for whom he also boxed. Soon after Sewell turned to acting; his first stage role was in ''One More River'' (1959) at the Duke of York's Theatre in London while his television and film roles included First Waterman in ''Nick of the River'' (1959), Sam in ''Where the Party Ended'' (1960), Soho layabout in ''No Hiding Place'' (1960), and Boxer in ''Armchair Theatre'' (1960). He had uncredited roles in the films ''Saturday Night and Sunday Morning'' (1960) and '' The Criminal'' (1960).

Sikes in ''Oliver!''

Sewell created the role of Bill Sikes in the 1960 stage musical ''Oliver!'' and remained in the role (including the original Broadway and US touring productions) for the best part of six years. Sewell's main competitor at audition for the role of Sikes was Michael Caine, who later stated he "cried for a week" after failing to secure the part. Sewell sang on the UK and US cast albums of ''Oliver!''.Broadway cast album for ''Oliver!'' - Music Theatre International
/ref>

Sewell was disappointed not to be offered the role of Sikes in the 1968 film ''Oliver!'', which went to Oliver Reed.

Later career

He played Avery in '' Partners in Crime'' (1961) in ''The Edgar Wallace Mystery Theatre''; Sgt. Major Roughage in ''Bonehead'' (1962); Teddy Scammell in '' The Expert'' (1969) with George Sewell as Louis Scammell; Ryder in ''Dixon of Dock Green'' (1968); Billy McCance in ''Z-Cars'' (1968); Gideon the Gaoler in '' Rogues' Gallery'' (1968), and Weston in '' Man at the Top'' (1973).

Sewell played Chitterlow in the second national tour of '' Half a Sixpence'' (1966) and Luke in the original Off-Broadway production of ''Lady Audley's Secret'' (1972). On Broadway in 1967 he took over the role of Joey in ''The Homecoming'' and returned to the role in an Off-Broadway revival in 1971 for which he won an Obie in 1972,Danny Sewell - Obie Award (1972) - Village Voice and American Theatre Wing
/ref> while in 1974 he also took over the role of Harry Dalton in '' Equus''.Danny Sewell
- ''Playbill'' He appeared in the Broadway production of the play ''The Elephant Man'' in 1979.Danny Sewell
- Internet Broadway Database

Danny Sewell retired to Sarasota, Florida, with his second wife, actress Donna Gerdes. He died in Sarasota in 2001.

References

External links

Sewell
on the Internet Movie Database

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sewell, Danny
1930 births
2001 deaths
Actors from the London Borough of Hackney
Boxers from the London Borough of Hackney
English male musical theatre actors
English male television actors
English male film actors
English male stage actors
Obie Award recipients
20th-century English male actors
Male actors from London
English male boxers
Heavyweight boxers
20th-century British male singers
Polio survivors
People from Hoxton
20th-century English sportsmen