55-463: Ron Moody (born Ronald Moodnick ; 8 January 1924 – 11 June 2015) was an English actor, composer, singer and writer. He was best known for his portrayal of Fagin in Oliver! (1968) and its 1983 Broadway revival . Moody earned a Golden Globe Award and an Academy Award nomination for the film, as well as a Tony Award nomination for the stage production. Other notable projects include The Mouse on
110-521: A Pilates teacher, Therese Blackbourn, in 1985. The couple had six children. Moody died of natural causes while in a London hospital on 11 June 2015, aged 91. Fagin Fagin / ˈ f eɪ ɡ ɪ n / is a fictional character and the secondary antagonist in Charles Dickens's 1838 novel Oliver Twist . In the preface to the novel, he is described as a " receiver of stolen goods ". He
165-532: A 1981 Bantam Books reissue of Oliver Twist , for example, Irving Howe wrote that Fagin was considered an "archetypical Jewish villain." The first 38 chapters of the book refer to Fagin by his racial and religious origin 257 times, calling him "the Jew", against 42 uses of "Fagin" or "the old man". Dickens, who had extensive knowledge of London street life, wrote that he had made Fagin Jewish because: "it unfortunately
220-526: A Scottish patient who had served with the Black Watch during the Second World War . On 30 June 2010, Moody appeared on stage at the end of a performance of Cameron Mackintosh 's revival of Oliver! and made a humorous speech about the show's 50th anniversary. He then reprised the " Pick a Pocket or Two " number with the cast. Moody was a supporter of Tottenham Hotspur F.C. Moody married
275-486: A few offers afterwards because I thought the people didn't come close to those I'd worked with on Oliver! —which in retrospect was a mistake." —Moody on his acclaimed role as Fagin and subsequent career. Moody worked in a variety of genres, but he is perhaps best known for his starring role as Fagin in Lionel Bart 's stage and film musical Oliver! based on Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens . He created
330-553: A filler during children's programming in the 6:30 – 7:30pm slot during the mid to late 1980s. The series was also broadcast on cable and satellite television on The Children's Channel . In the 1990s the show was sold to HIT Entertainment but this time, the name was changed to The Gigglebytes . The series with the name change was also broadcast in Singapore on Prime 12 as part of their lineup of children's programming Kidz Blitz . At least one full-size working model of Samantha
385-515: A flying video pack called M.I.C. (Mobile Independent Camera). They were invented by Professor Brainstrain (who is also known as Pwofessor Bwainstwain, owing to his unfortunate speech impediment ) to stop enemies such as Baron Bullybyte, Magna, Angel Brain, Z.U.D.O (Zero-failure Universal Data Optimizer) Bug and Arcadia, whilst working as reporters for a TV executive named Mr McStarch. A total of 3 seasons and 86 episodes were produced by Telebug Enterprises, subsequently renamed Telemagination. This
440-547: A large nose, red hair, and a green coat, but his racial characteristics, religion or "Jewishness" play no role in his character. He is voiced by the Italian-American Dom DeLuise . In 1994, Oliver! was revived in London. Fagin was played by many noted British actors and comedians, including Jonathan Pryce , George Layton , Jim Dale , Russ Abbot , Barry Humphries (who had played Mr Sowerberry in
495-418: A letter in 1863 that Jews regarded his portrayal of Fagin a "great wrong" to their people. Dickens then started to revise Oliver Twist , removing all mention of "the Jew" from the last 15 chapters; he later wrote in reply: "There is nothing but good will left between me and a People for whom I have a real regard and to whom I would not willfully have given an offence". In one of his final public readings in 1869,
550-624: A major portion of the loot. Other sources, such as Howard Mancing in The Cervantes Encyclopedia , claim that Fagin is assumed to be modelled on Monipodio, one of the main characters in Miguel de Cervantes ' Rinconete y Cortadillo (1613). Monipodio is the leader of a criminal gang in 17th-century Seville that includes cutpurses and cape stealers. Fagin has been the subject of much debate over antisemitism , during Dickens' lifetime and in modern times. In an introduction to
605-526: A polite society. Fagin later meets with a fellow criminal, the mysterious Mr. Monks, and plots with him to destroy Oliver's newfound reputation. To make sure Oliver never learns of his true parentage, Fagin and Monks conspire to buy a locket and a ring left to the boy by his late mother from Mr. Bumble and his wife, the former Mrs. Corney, and Monks throws them in the river. Nancy, ashamed of her role in Oliver's kidnapping, tells Mr. Brownlow and Rose that Oliver
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#1732793243071660-558: A year before his death, Dickens cleansed Fagin of all stereotypical caricature. A contemporary report observed: "There is no nasal intonation; a bent back but no shoulder-shrug: the conventional attributes are omitted." In 1865, in Our Mutual Friend , Dickens created a number of Jewish characters, the most important being Mr Riah , an elderly Jew who finds jobs for downcast young women in Jewish-owned factories. One of
715-445: Is given a second chance thanks to Mr. Brownlow and Oliver, but Fagin is sentenced to be hanged for his crimes. The night before Fagin's execution, Oliver visits him in prison, and Fagin rages against the entire world for the sorry end he has come to. The following day, he is hanged. Fagin's name comes from one of Dickens's friends he had known in his youth while working in a boot-blacking factory. Fagin's character might be based on
770-456: Is in danger, and secretly joins them in a plan to rescue him. Fagin becomes suspicious of Nancy and has Noah Claypole, who has recently joined his gang, follow her to one of her meetings with Brownlow and Rose. Upon learning what Nancy is up to, Fagin lies to Sikes that she intends to turn him over to the police, provoking Sikes to kill her. Fagin and Monks attempt to flee London, but both are arrested. Monks, after being forced to confess his part,
825-454: Is portrayed by George C. Scott . Although the character is generally portrayed as elderly, diminutive, and homely, Scott's version of the character was markedly younger, stronger, and better-looking. Also, this version of the character had him more caring of his orphan charges, feeding them well and treating them with obvious concern. Ron Moody reprised the role of Fagin in the 1983 Channel 4 television program 'The Other Side of London' In
880-510: Is the leader of a group of children (the Artful Dodger and Charley Bates among them) whom he teaches to make their livings by pickpocketing and other criminal activities, in exchange for shelter. A distinguishing trait is his constant and insincere use of the phrase "my dear" when addressing others. At the time of the novel, he is said by another character, Monks , to have already made criminals out of "scores" of children. Nancy , who
935-424: Is the lover of Bill Sikes (the novel's lead villain), is confirmed to be Fagin's former pupil. Fagin is a confessed miser who, despite the wealth that he has acquired, does very little to improve the squalid lives of the children he guards, or his own. In the second chapter of his appearance, it is shown (when talking to himself) that he cares less for their welfare, than that they do not "peach" (inform) on him and
990-453: Is voiced by Brian George . In this version, instead of a human, he resembles a wise, old, and kind red fox . In Disney's live action television production Oliver Twist (1997), Fagin is played by Richard Dreyfuss . In the film Twisted (1996), a film loosely based on Dickens's Oliver Twist , the Fagin character is played by actor William Hickey . In the miniseries Escape of
1045-534: The Academy Award for Best Actor . When Oliver! was brought to Broadway in 1964, Fagin was portrayed by Clive Revill , but in a 1984 revival, Moody reprised his performance opposite Tony Award winner Patti LuPone , who played Nancy. Moody later stated: "Fate destined me to play Fagin. It was the part of a lifetime." Ben Kingsley 's portrayal of Fagin in Roman Polanski 's 2005 screen adaptation
1100-535: The Royal Air Force (RAF) and became a radar technician. Despite training to be an economist, Moody began appearing in theatrical shows and later decided to become a professional actor. "My proudest moment was the number "Reviewing the Situation". I suspect that, because I gave my all to the role, and because I was working with such a fine team of people, it inhibited my future career. I turned down quite
1155-686: The 1963 Cliff Richard film Summer Holiday . He appeared as Hopkirk in the 1966 episode entitled "Honey For the Prince" of The Avengers . He acted again with former Oliver! co-star Jack Wild in Flight of the Doves (1971). In 1969, Moody was offered, but declined, the lead role in Doctor Who , following the departure of Patrick Troughton from the part. He later told many people (including Doctor Who companion Elisabeth Sladen ) that declining
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#17327932430711210-588: The 1985 miniseries , Fagin is portrayed by Eric Porter . In Disney's animated version, Oliver & Company (1988), Fagin is a kind-hearted but poor man living in New York City. He lives in poverty with his five dogs and is desperately searching for money to repay his debts to a ruthless loan shark. This version does away with the moral quandary of child exploitation as all the characters are dogs who have no real need for money and genuinely want to help their owner. Informed by earlier portrayals, he retains
1265-500: The Artful Dodger (2001), Fagin is played by actor Christopher Baz. In the film Twist (2003), a film also loosely based on Dickens' Oliver Twist , Fagin is played by actor Gary Farmer . In a 2007 BBC television adaptation, Fagin is played by Timothy Spall . Contrary to his appearance in the novel, he is beardless and overweight in this version. He is also a more sympathetic character. In December 2008, Oliver!
1320-642: The BBC soap EastEnders . In 2005, he acted in the Big Finish Productions Doctor Who audio play Other Lives , playing the Duke of Wellington . He made several appearances in BBC TVs long running variety show, The Good Old Days , enacting pastiche/comic Victorian melodramas. Moody wrote a novel, The Devil You Don't , which was published by Robson Books, London, in 1980. In 2004,
1375-635: The British ITV1 nostalgia series After They Were Famous hosted a documentary of the surviving cast of the film Oliver! Several of the film's musical numbers were reenacted. Moody, then 80 but still spry, and Jack Wild (seriously ill with oral cancer at the time) recreated their dance from the closing credits of the film. Moody was a guest star in an episode of ITV’s long running police drama The Bill in 2004 along with actress Molly Sugden and appeared in BBC1 's Casualty (aired on 30 January 2010) as
1430-554: The Earth and performing pirouettes, was used for the end of the original transmissions of the third, and final, season. However, as this version was almost three minutes long, it was considered too lengthy for such a short cartoon, and was replaced with the same extended version of the opening theme used at the end of season 1 for all future repeats of season 3. The series also aired on GBC TV in Gibraltar , where it regularly served as
1485-532: The Jew . In this book, the back story of the character and events of Oliver Twist are depicted from his point of view. Numerous prominent actors have played the character of Fagin. Lon Chaney portrayed Fagin in a silent film version Oliver Twist . Alec Guinness portrayed Fagin in David Lean's 1948 film adaptation of Oliver Twist , with controversial make-up by Stuart Freeborn which exaggerated stereotypical Jewish facial features . The release of
1540-559: The Moon (1963), Mel Brooks ' The Twelve Chairs (1970) and Flight of the Doves (1971), in which Moody shared the screen with Oliver! co-star Jack Wild . Moody was born on 8 January 1924 in Tottenham , Middlesex , the son of Kate (née Ogus; 1898–1980) and Bernard/Barnett Moodnick (1896–1964), a studio executive. His father was a Russian Jew and his mother was a Lithuanian Jew ; said Moody, "I'm 100% Jewish —totally kosher!" He
1595-763: The Philippines, on RTB in Brunei, on TV1 in Malaysia, on Italia 1 in Italy, on Saudi 2 in Saudi Arabia and on M-Net in South Africa. The series was also noted for its closing theme song. An extended version of the opening theme had been used at the end of season 1. However, in season 2 the short song "I Have a Heart", written by American singer, pianist and songwriter Mort Shuman (who has lived in both
1650-474: The UK and France), sung by Suzy Westerby (as Samantha), and played out over a closing credit sequence featuring a still of Chip, Samantha and Bug, with Mic's face briefly appearing at the closeout, was used as the closing theme. This version was the best-known theme. An extended version of "I Have A Heart", sung by American disco singer George McCrae and played out over a sequence showing Chip, Samantha and Bug orbiting
1705-441: The book, printed during his lifetime, Dickens excised over 180 instances of 'Jew' from the text. This occurred after Dickens sold his London home in 1860 to a Jewish banker, James Davis, who objected to the emphasis on Fagin's Jewishness in the novel. When he sold the house, Dickens allegedly told a friend: "The purchaser of Tavistock House will be a Jew Money-Lender." Dickens became friends with Davis's wife, Eliza, who told him in
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1760-489: The criminal Ikey Solomon , who was a fence at the centre of a highly publicised arrest, escape, recapture, and trial. Some accounts of Solomon also describe him as a London underworld "kidsman" (a kidsman was an adult who recruited children and trained them as pickpockets, exchanging food and shelter for goods the children stole). The popularity of Dickens's novel caused "fagin" to replace "kidsman" in some crime circles, denoting an adult who teaches minors to steal and keeps
1815-456: The exception of three YouTube clips that both feature footage of its CITV appearance with host Matthew Kelly , and some episodes from series 7 of No.73. While the same prop was featured in both shows, the No. 73 appearances featured a different voice actress with electronic distortion, and would in the final episodes, wear an apron around its torso. The recent upload of the episodes and the inclusion of
1870-658: The film in the USA was delayed for three years on charges of being antisemitic by the Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith and the New York Board of Rabbis . It was finally released in the United States in 1951, with seven minutes of profile shots and other parts of Guinness' performance cut. For the BBC's at the time controversial 1962 serial , Fagin was portrayed in a fashion very faithful to
1925-594: The first Jewish actor to portray Fagin on film since Irving Pichel. While Fagin remains an unrepentant thief, he is a much more sympathetic and comic character than he is in the novel. His plot with Monks is deleted and his role in Nancy's death is similarly excised, and he is portrayed as being cowardly and deeply afraid of Bill Sikes. Fagin is completely innocent of Nancy's murder and is horrified when he finds out. He even admonishes Sikes saying that: "[He] should not have done that." Bart's musical also deletes Fagin's arrest and
1980-414: The gang to protect Oliver is Nancy, who is also Sikes's lover. After Oliver is arrested for supposedly picking the pocket of a gentleman named Mr. Brownlow (an act actually committed by the Artful Dodger and Charley Bates), Brownlow takes pity on Oliver and brings him to his house, helping him recover from the abuse and malnourishment he has suffered. Fagin and Sikes, fearing that Oliver will betray him to
2035-469: The ill-gotten money for himself. His "wards" include the novel's title character Oliver Twist, the Artful Dodger , Charley Bates , and Nancy . He also trained the novel's main antagonist, housebreaker Bill Sikes , who later became his main source of stolen goods. Oliver at first believes that Fagin is an artisan who makes wallets and handkerchiefs which are, in fact, stolen at Fagin's order, and goes along with his new teacher's orders. The only one in
2090-454: The law, whereupon Sikes kills her. Near the end of the book, Fagin is captured and sentenced to be hanged, in a chapter that portrays him as pitiable in his anguish. In popular culture, Fagin (or at least his name) is used in comparison with adults who use children for illegal activities. Fagin is portrayed as a criminal mastermind who kidnaps orphaned children and trains them to be pickpockets in return for sheltering and feeding them; he keeps
2145-416: The musical ends with Fagin, faced with beginning again, pondering the possibility of going straight. The film version reverses this ending, with Fagin briefly considering reformation, but then gleefully teaming up again with Dodger to start their racket again. Moody's performance as the character is often considered the most critically acclaimed. He won a Golden Globe for his performance, and was nominated for
2200-471: The novel by Irish actor Max Adrian . Ron Moody 's portrayal in the original London production of the musical Oliver! by Lionel Bart , which he repeated in the Oscar-winning 1968 film , is recognisably influenced by Guinness's portrayal. However, the antisemitic quality of Guinness' portrayal was considerably toned down in the musical, partly because of Moody being Jewish himself; he was in fact
2255-426: The original 1960 London production of Oliver! ) and Robert Lindsay , who won an Olivier Award for his performance. The different actors playing Fagin were distinguished by their different costumes, especially their coats. Pryce used a patched red and brown coat, while Lindsay used the traditional dark green overcoat seen in the 1968 film version. In the 1996-1997 Saban's Adventures of Oliver Twist series, Fagin
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2310-433: The other children. Still darker sides to the character's nature are shown when he beats the Artful Dodger for not bringing Oliver back; in his attempted beating of Oliver for trying to escape; and in his own involvement with various plots and schemes throughout the story. He indirectly but intentionally causes the death of Nancy by falsely informing Sikes that she had betrayed him, when in reality she had shielded Sikes from
2365-524: The police, force Nancy to help Sikes kidnap the boy again. Oliver tries to run away, but Sikes almost beats him into submission, stopping only when Nancy begs him to show mercy while the cowardly Fagin tries to smooth matters over between the two. Fagin forces Oliver to help Sikes burgle a house owned by the wealthy, elderly widow Mrs. Maylie. After breaking into the house, Oliver is shot in the arm and Sikes abandons him while he makes his own escape. Mrs. Maylie and her niece Rose take Oliver in and raise him in
2420-555: The role in the Disney+ series The Artful Dodger . In 2022 he was portrayed by Christopher Eccleston in the children's television series Dodger . Telebugs The Telebugs is a British animated children's television series featuring three robots. The robots' names are C.H.I.P. (Coordinated Hexadecimal Information Processor), S.A.M.A.N.T.H.A. (Solar Activated Micro Automated Non-inTerference Hearing Apparatus) and B.U.G. (Binary Unmanned Gamma-camera) – who were accompanied by
2475-554: The role in the original West End production in 1960 and reprised it in the 1984 Broadway revival, receiving a Tony Award nomination for Best Actor in a Musical. For his performance in the 1968 film Oliver! , he received the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor (Musical/Comedy), the Best Actor award at the 6th Moscow International Film Festival and an Academy Award nomination in the same category. Reflecting on
2530-627: The role was a decision he subsequently regretted. He played Ippolit Vorobyaninov alongside Frank Langella (as Ostap Bender ) in Mel Brooks ' version of The Twelve Chairs (1970).In 1995 he appeared in the UK's longest running TV comedy series 'Last of the Summer Wine' as Lieutenant Willoughby. In 2003, he starred in the black comedy Paradise Grove alongside Rula Lenska , and played Edwin Caldecott , an old nemesis of Jim Branning on
2585-538: The role, Moody states: "Fate destined me to play Fagin. It was the part of a lifetime. That summer of 1967 [during filming] was one of the happiest times of my life". He reprised his role as Fagin in the 1983 Channel 4 television programme The Other Side of London , and again at the 1985 Royal Variety Performance in Theatre Royal, Drury Lane before Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh . Moody appeared in several children's television series, including
2640-399: The two heroines, Lizzie Hexam, defends her Jewish employers: "The gentleman certainly is a Jew, and the lady, his wife, is a Jewess, and I was brought to their notice by a Jew. But I think there cannot be kinder people in the world." The comic book creator Will Eisner , disturbed by the antisemitism in the typical depiction of the character, created a graphic novel in 2003 titled Fagin
2695-737: The voice of Badger and Toad in the TV Adaptation of Colin Dann 's The Animals of Farthing Wood , Noah's Island , Telebugs , and Into the Labyrinth . Among his better known roles was that of Prime Minister Rupert Mountjoy in the comedy The Mouse on the Moon (1963), alongside Margaret Rutherford , with whom he appeared again the following year in Murder Most Foul (1964), one of Rutherford's Miss Marple films. He played French entertainer and mime artist The Great Orlando in
2750-616: Was a cousin of director Laurence Moody and actress Clare Lawrence . His surname was legally changed to the more anglicised Moody in 1930. Moody was educated at Southgate County School , which at the time was a state grammar school, and based in Palmers Green , Middlesex , followed by the London School of Economics in Central London , where he trained to become an economist. During World War II , he enlisted in
2805-734: Was a subsidiary company of ITV regional franchise holder Television South . It was broadcast on Children's ITV in the United Kingdom from 1986 to 1987. It was the very first television series made and produced by Telemagination (the company later went onto make several other animated series for children such as The Animals of Farthing Wood , Noah's Island and The Cramp Twins ). It also aired on TV2 in New Zealand from 24 July 1987 to 7 March 1990, on ABC TV in Australia from 6 July 1988 to 13 December 1991, on ABS-CBN in
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#17327932430712860-409: Was also inspired by the 1948 version. In the 1980 ATV series The Further Adventures of Oliver Twist , Fagin was played by David Swift . In this 13-episode series, Fagin has escaped his hanging by pretending to have had a stroke, which has left him paralyzed (and therefore unfit to be executed) and is in hiding at The Three Cripples, tended to by Barney. In the 1982 made-for-TV movie version, Fagin
2915-537: Was made to publicise the show, making appearances in Children's ITV advertising and continuity, and on the Saturday morning show No. 73 in 1986 and 1987. The model could move its arms and head, and roll along the floor. Its TV head contained a cathode ray tube monitor capable of displaying facial expressions and other graphics. Both photographic and film footage of the prop is very rare and hard to come by, with
2970-691: Was revived at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane , London with Rowan Atkinson playing the character. This role was taken over by Omid Djalili in July 2009. He was succeeded by Russ Abbot in June 2010. In 2015–16, BBC2's Dickensian Fagin was played by the actor Anton Lesser . In 2023, in the New York City Center Encores! revival of Oliver! , Fagin was played by Raúl Esparza and Gavin Lee . Also in 2023, David Thewlis took on
3025-625: Was true, of the time to which the story refers, that the class of criminal almost invariably was a Jew". It is often argued that Fagin was based on a specific Jewish criminal of the era, Ikey Solomon . Dickens also claimed that by calling Fagin "the Jew" he had meant no imputation against the Jewish people: "I have no feeling towards the Jews but a friendly one. I always speak well of them, whether in public or private, and bear my testimony (as I ought to do) to their perfect good faith in such transactions as I have ever had with them..." In later editions of
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