Bernard Delfont

Bernard Delfont

Bernard Delfont, Baron Delfont (5 September 1909 – 28 July 1994), born Boris (or Boruch) Winogradsky, was a leading Ukrainian-born British theatrical impresario.

He was born in Tokmak, Ukraine, the second son of Isaac and Olga Winogradsky. His brothers Lew Grade and Leslie Grade also entered showbusiness. His nephew Michael Grade is now the Chairman of ITV.

Delfont entered theatrical management in 1941, after a career as first a dancer, then an agent. He presented over 200 shows in London and New York, including more than 50 musicals. He also presented summer variety shows in many towns across the country, mainly seaside resorts. His best-known mistake was cancelling the film "Life of Brian" in 1978 at the last moment, due to worries over the religious implications; it was then financed by George Harrison's company Handmade Films, and a reference is made jokingly to "Bernie" in the last line of the film. He converted the London Hippodrome into the Talk of the Town restaurant, bringing in entertainers such as Laurel & Hardy and Judy Garland, and getting the exclusive rights from Paul Derval to stage the Folies Bergere for the first time outside of Paris.

He married the actress Carole Lynne in 1946. cite news |first=|last=|title=Lady Delfont |url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2008/01/25/db2503.xml |work= The Telegraph |publisher=|date=2008-01-28 |accessdate=2008-02-12] They had one son and two daughters. He was knighted in 1974 and created a life peer as Baron Delfont, of Stepney in Greater London in 1976. He died from a heart attack at his Angmering home.

Lord Delfont was the life president of the Entertainment Artistes Benevolent Fund, while his wife served as life governor.

His widow Carole Lynne (Lady Delfont), 89, died as a result of motor neurone disease on 17 January 2008 at her home in Sussex, England. cite news |first=|last=|title=Lady Delfont dies aged 89|url=http://www.thestage.co.uk/news/newsstory.php/19590/lady-delfont-dies-aged-89 |work= The Stage |publisher=|date=2008-01-21 |accessdate=2008-02-12]

Appointments

* EMI Ltd
** Chief Executive (1979-1980)
* Entertainment Artistes' Benevolent Fund
** Life President, for which he presented the annual Royal Variety Performance (1958-1978)
* Entertainment Charities Fund
** President (1983-1991)
* Companion of the Grand Order of Water Rats
* Member of Saints and Sinners
* Printers Charitable Corporation
** President 1979
* First Leisure Corporation
** Chief Executive 1980-1986
** Executive Chairman 1986-1988
** Chairman 1988-1992
** President 1992-1994
* Bernard Delfont Organisation
** Director

References

External links

* [http://www.eabf.org.uk/ Entertainment Artistes' Benevolent Fund]


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