Douglas Sheldon (born Bernard Bobrow, 22 June 1936 – 25 March 2023) was an English pop singer, actor and novelist.
Early life Sheldon was born as Bernard Bobrow in Stepney, London, England on 22 June 1936, into a family of carnival businesspeople. He worked as a barker while receiving training in acting.Bruce Eder, [ Doug Sheldon] at Allmusic
Career After completing military service, he landed a role in the 1961 film The Guns of Navarone, and worked in small theatre productions. He shared a flat in London with three other then-unknown actors, including Michael Caine and Sean Connery. Sheldon was discovered by Bunny Lewis while performing on-stage and was quickly offered a recording contract with Decca Records, even though he had no previous experience performing as a singer.
Sheldon's first single was "Book of Love", which did not chart. The follow-up single was a cover of the song "Runaround Sue", which became a hit record in the UK Singles Chart reaching number 36, although Dion's version soon overshadowed it in popularity. His next single, "Your Ma Said You Cried in Your Sleep Last Night", became his highest-charting hit in the UK at number 29. Shel Talmy produced the next single, "Lollipops and Roses", which flopped, but with the song "I Saw Linda Yesterday" he managed to crack the UK Singles Chart for the last time in 1963 at number 36, thus emulating his first hit's position.
After the middle of the decade, Sheldon returned to a career in acting, where he appeared on TV in Doctor Who, The Avengers and Triangle, and in films such as The Yellow Teddy Bears (1963), the musical comedy Just for You (1964), Some Girls Do (1969), The Spy Killer (1969), Ryan's Daughter (1970), Soft Beds, Hard Battles (1974), Appointment with Death (1988) and Iron Eagle II (1988). He also published novels using the slightly fuller name of Douglas Sheldon. In 2007, his entire Decca discography was released on CD by Vocalion Records.
Death Sheldon died on 25 March 2023, aged 86.
Singles "Book of Love" (1961) "Runaround Sue" (1961) UK No. 36Search for "Doug Sheldon" performed at Everyhit.com database on September 29, 2008. "Your Ma Said You Cried in Your Sleep Last Night" (1962) UK No. 29 "Lollipops and Roses" (1963) "I Saw Linda Yesterday" (1963) UK No. 36 "Mickey's Monkey" (1964) "Let's Make A Habit Of This" (1964) Decca DL 25 111 (Teldec)
Filmography Film +YearTitleRoleNotes1963The Yellow Teddy BearsMike Griffin1965Three Hats for LisaDocks Foreman1968Up the JunctionVillainUncredited1969Some Girls DoKruger1969The Best House in LondonSecond HecklerUncredited1970Ryan's DaughterDriver1974Soft Beds, Hard BattlesKapitan Kneff1987Snow WhiteThe King1988Appointment with DeathCaptain Rogers1988Iron Eagle IIDemitriev1992Daleks: The Early YearsKirksenArchival footage
Television YearTitleRoleNotes1960The Long Way HomeGestapo Guard2 episodes1960, 1961Probation OfficerTeddy Lukins / Ray Russell1961Deadline Midnight'Onions'Episode: "The Girls from Harrow"1965Doctor WhoKirksen2 episodes; serial: The Daleks' Master Plan1965, 1966Dixon of Dock GreenAlan Taylor / PC Andrews2 episodes1966IsadoraChauffeurTelevision film1968The AvengersBradEpisode: "The Forget-Me-Knot"1969The Spy KillerAlworthyTelevision film1972ScoopHansEpisode: "The Ubiquitous Mr. Baldwin"1972, 1974Softly, Softly: Task ForceCollins / Vernon Wills2 episodes1978Law & OrderD.S. Jack Barcy1979Secret ArmyDefending Officer / Major Scheer1981TriangleArthur Parker26 episodes1981Armchair ThrillerOttoEpisode: "The Chelsea Murders"1988Thieves in the NightJudge WilmotTelevision film
References
External links Douglas Sheldon at Theatricalia