Michael Crawford In Profile, Part 3, 1990’s – present
In part 2 we saw Michael Crawford bounce back after a brief downturn in his career with Some Mothers Do ‘Ave ‘Em and take on another famous role in the West End. For the final part we look at the 1990’s and some more recent work.
At the request of Liz Kirschner, wife of film producer David Kirschner, Crawford was offered and accepted the role of Cornelius in 20th Century Fox’s animated film Once Upon A Forest, which was produced by her husband.
In 1995, Crawford created the high-profile starring role in EFX, the US$70 million production which officially opened the 1,700-seat MGM Grand Theatre in Las Vegas. The Atlantic Theatre label released the companion album to EFX.
[AdSense-A]
Early into the run, Crawford suffered an accident during a performance (which involved him sliding from a wire hanger from the back of the theatre all the way to the stage and then jumping down 12 feet (3.7 m) to the stage itself) and left the show to recover from his injury, which resulted in an early hip replacement operation.
In the late 1990s, Michael began a long-term relationship with Natasha MacAller, an American dancer and chef.
2000’s – present
In 2001, Crawford sang Baby Mine from Disney’s Dumbo on its 60th anniversary VHS and DVD.
He made a short comeback to Broadway as the Count von Krolock in the short-lived musical Dance of the Vampires (2002–03).
[AdSense-A]
He originated the role of Count Fosco in Lloyd Webber’s ‘The Woman In White’ which opened at the Palace Theatre, London in September 2004.
Sadly, he was forced to leave the show three months later because of ill health caused by dehydration resulting from the enormous fat-suit he wore during the performance. It took Michael several months recuperating and thus he was unable to reprise the role on Broadway. He learned he was suffering from ME, which debilitated him for six years.
He later moved to New Zealand briefly, both to be near his daughter and her family in Australia and to convalesce.
Returning to the USA, in 2006, he attended the Gala Performance of the stage version of The Phantom Of The Opera on Broadway celebrating the show becoming the longest-running musical in Broadway history (surpassing the run of Cats). Crawford was said to be delighted with it, stating this was the first time he had been an audience member of any of the shows he had done.
Four years later in October 2010 he was back in the UK to attend the celebratory 10,000th performance of The Phantom of the Opera in London alongside composer Andrew Lloyd Webber. Crawford spoke of his own memories of the first performance 24 years ago, and was then presented, along with Lloyd Webber, with a special cake to commemorate the landmark achievement.
Beginning with previews in February 2011, Crawford was back on stage starring as The Wizard in Andrew Lloyd Webber/Tim Rice musical version of The Wizard Of Oz. He continued in the role until February 2012.
In February 2016 the BBC announced that Crawford and Dotrice would be reprising their roles in a one-off special of Some Mothers Do ‘Ave ‘Em, to be broadcast as part of the Sport Relief charity fundraiser event. The special aired on 18th March 2016.
[AdSense-A]
Since then Crawford has starred in various roles and now 80 takes things a little easier continuing with his many charitable interests (he’s been President of the Sick Children’s Trust since 1987).