Biography
O'Connor was born on 12 January 1932 in Stepney, East London to Maude (née Bassett) and Harry O'Connor. O'Connor has a sister, Patricia, who is one year his junior. He wrote in his autobiography, Bananas Can't Fly!, that he is probably the only O'Connor ever to have had a Bar Mitzvah. He was evacuated to Northampton during World War II and was briefly a professional footballer with Northampton Town. After completing his National Service in the Royal Air Force, he worked as a shoe salesman before entering show business. Before his break in television, his first theatre appearances were in variety, where he appeared in venues throughout the country.
On stage he has starred at the MGM Grand Las Vegas, the Sydney Opera House, The O'Keefe Centre, Toronto and has made over 1,000 solo appearances at the London Palladium.
He has worked with many personalities of the day, from rock and pop stars, actors and TV performers, to politicians, princes, to luminaries such as Frank Sinatra, Adam Faith, Sean Connery, Liberace, The Beatles, Shirley Bassey, Barbra Streisand, Robert Redford, Tony Blair, and members of the Royal Family.
He has toured with Buddy Holly (during Holly's 1958 stay in England) and Jason Donovan.
He was the very first special guest on the second - and most popular - incarnation of the long-running TV guest show This Is Your Life.
He was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2008 Birthday Honours.
O'Connor replaced Russell Grant in West End's musical The Wizard of Oz as Professor Marvel, Doorman at the Emerald City, Tour Guide, and The Wizard.
Read more about this topic: Des O'Connor
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