Nationality Scottish Role Impresario | Name Michael White Years active 1961–present Ex-spouse Sarah Hillsdon | |
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Full Name Michael Simon White Notable work Oh! Calcutta!, 1970 West EndSleuth, 1971 BroadwayJoseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, 1973 West EndThe Rocky Horror Show, 1973 West EndMonty Python and the Holy Grail, 1974 (film)The Rocky Horror Picture Show, 1975 (film)A Chorus Line, 1976 West EndJabberwocky, 1977 (film)Annie, 1978 West EndMy Dinner With Andre, 1981 (film)The Comic Strip Presents..., 1982 (TV)She Loves Me, 1994 West End revival Books Empty Seats, The Last Impresario Movies The Rocky Horror Picture S, Monty Python and the Holy, Shock Treatment, Nuns on the Run, Moonlighting Similar People Gracie Otto, Jim Sharman, Richard O'Brien, Lou Adler, Mark Forstater | ||
Michael Simon White (16 January 1936 – 7 March 2016) was a British theatrical impresario and film producer. White produced 101 stage productions and 27 films over 50 years.
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Early life
Michael White was born in Glasgow, Scotland, the son of Doris (Cohen), who became successful in property development and management, and Victor White, who ran a glove making business. His mother was Eastern European Jewish and his father was born in Dublin, Ireland. As White suffered from asthma as a boy, his parents decided he would be educated as a boarder at the Lyceum Alpinum Zuoz in Switzerland from age 7, where he was the only boy who did not speak the French language. He then graduated from the Sorbonne in Paris.
Career
After working as a Wall Street runner in New York City in the 1950s, White took an interest in theatre, spending five years as assistant to Sir Peter Daubeny for his World Theatre seasons in London.
White produced his first West End play, the London premiere of Jack Gelber's The Connection in 1961. Known for bringing the risqué to the stage his productions included Sleuth, Oh! Calcutta!, Two Gentlemen of Verona and the original Theatre Upstairs production of The Rocky Horror Show.
Concurrently, White produced films, including the film version of The Rocky Horror Picture Show and Monty Python and the Holy Grail (both 1975). Later, he was responsible for The Comic Strip Presents... with Peter Richardson, which began on the opening night of Channel 4 in 1982.
However, losses on films mounted, and after being conned out of hundreds of thousands of pounds in the early 2000s, he was declared bankrupt in 2005 after suffering a heart attack at the Mondrian Hotel in Los Angeles.
Media
White's autobiography, Empty Seats, was published in 1985.
White's life story was the subject of the 2013 documentary film The Last Impresario, directed by Gracie Otto. The film made its world premiere at the BFI London Film Festival in October 2013, where it was positively received by critics.
Personal life
White was married twice. With his first wife, the 1960s model and designer Sarah Hillsdon (1965-1972), he had three children. With his second wife, Louise, an heiress 26 years his junior, he had a son. His ex-girlfriends included film director Lyndall Hobbs.
White died on 7 March 2016 of heart failure, aged 80.
Selected theatrical productions
This list is incomplete, currently listing only White's most notable theatre works:
Musicals
As producer:
Plays
As producer:
Filmography
As producer or executive producer:
Appearing as himself: