Actor Ron Moody - who played Fagin in hit musical film Oliver! - dies aged 91
- Star was nominated for best actor Oscar in 1968 for performance in film
- He died in hospital today but was 'singing until the end', his family say
- Made name by playing Fagin but hated novel's 'unbearable' anti-semitism
- Moody, from north London, leaves behind wife Therese and six children
Actor Ron Moody, who was famed for playing Fagin in the hit musical film Oliver!, has died at the age of 91.
The star, who was nominated for the best actor Oscar in 1968 for his performance in the Charles Dickens adaptation, died in hospital today after being ill for some time.
The actor, who will forever be associated for his role as the elderly crook, was 'singing until the end', his family said.
Actor Ron Moody, who played Fagin in the hit film version of Oliver! (left) has died aged 91. He is pictured right on stage as Fagin in 1986
Moody played the elderly crook in the stage version of the musical before making the film, for which he won a Golden Globe. He is pictured with Shani Wallis and Oliver Reed as Nancy and Bill Sikes in the film
In a statement after his death was announced, his widow Therese said: 'He brought joy to his family and to the hearts of many and will be greatly missed. He was singing until the end.'
Moody - most recognisable with his scraggly beard, signature black hat and long, threadbare jacket - played the loveable, elderly crook in the stage version of the musical in the West End and on Broadway before making the film, for which he won a Golden Globe.
But the actor, for whom Judaism was a central part of his life, told years later how he had reluctantly auditioned for the role after being offended by its 'unbearable' anti-semitism.
He revealed how he later felt compelled to play the criminal mastermind so that he could take Fagin away from the 'the viciously racial stereotype' and turn him into 'a crazy old Father Christmas gone wrong'.
The character of Fagin - who is introduced in the novel as 'a very old shrivelled Jew' - has been the subject of much debate over antisemitism both during Dicken''s lifetime and up to modern times.
But with his innate Dickensian manner, his unique and jovial interpretation of the controversially-named 'The Jew' earned him a name in the international world of showbusiness.
The film also starred Harry Secombe and Oliver Reed with young unknowns Mark Lester playing the orphan Oliver and the late Jack Wild playing the Artful Dodger.
Moody (pictured left in After They Were Famous and right in 2011), who was born in Tottenham, nort London, was an observent Jew and volunteered for the Royal Air Force in the Second World War as a radar mechanic
Moody was born in 1924 to eastern European immigrants in Tottenham, north London. He was then Ronald Moodnick but his father anglicised the family's surname by changing it to Moody in 1930.
After spending the war in the RAF as a radar mechanic, he went on to study at the London School of Economics to study sociology and psychology.
It was when he on his way to becoming a sociologist in his late twenties that he fell into acting.
Years later, he remembered: 'I went to the London School of Economics to study sociology and psychology on a serviceman's grant.
'While there, I got dragged into taking part in a student revue and ended up writing, and appearing in, a few sketches. In short, I got the stage bug.
'Soon after, I was discovered in an end-of-term show by two writers who put me in their stage revue, and I've never looked back.'
The actor as Fagin in the film. He is pictured with Jack Wild, who played Oliver, and the late Mark Lester, who played the Artful Dodger
But the actor (right), for whom Judaism was a central part of his life, told years later how he had reluctantly auditioned for the Fagin role (left) after being offended by its 'unbearable' anti-semitism
Moody then honed his craft in a string of theatrical roles before auditioning for the role - albeit reluctantly - in Lionel Bart's musical. The role made him a star.
He said: 'At first I never wanted to do it. They told me there was this musical of Oliver Twist so I went to see the Alec Guinness film (of Oliver Twist), which I found to be so anti-semitic as to be unbearable.
'But Bart is as Jewish as I am and we both felt an obligation to get Fagin away from a viciously racial stereotype and instead make him what he really is - a crazy old Father Christmas gone wrong.'
Moody, who is said to have once turned down the lead role in Doctor Who, carried on working into his eighties. He is pictured left in 1980 in Nobody's Perfect and right in 1981 in Into The Labyrinth
But he also told how fate 'destined' him to play Fagin. 'It was the part of a lifetime,' he said.
In 2010, he told the Jewish Chronicle that the way he sang tunes like 'You've Got To Pick A Pocket Or Two' was inspired by the religious singing style of chazanut. His favourite number was said to be the catchy 'Reviewing the Situation.'
The actor had a small role in EastEnders as Edwin Caldecott, an old nemesis of Jim Branning
Moody, who was a bachelor for 60 years before marrying his wife in 1985, also wrote novels and musicals of his own and carried on working into his eighties, including a small role in EastEnders as Edwin Caldecott, an old nemesis of Jim Branning.
He once said: 'I think I'm a straight actor who occasionally does musicals; most people think I'm an eccentric comedian. It's amazing how many years you can spend in this business just sorting out something as simple and basic as that.
'I don't think a professional agent or theatre manager would say my career had gone as well as perhaps it should have after that first Oliver! success, but then again I was never really intending to have a career in the professional theatre in the first place. Considering I set out to be a sociologist, I think I've really done quite well.'
He also had parts in Casualty and Holby City, and also played Captain Hook five times. He was also Uriah Heep in David Copperfield and the title role in Sherlock Holmes - the musical. His other films included Murder Most Foul, Legend of the Werewolf and The Spaceman.
But, in 1969, he turned down the lead role in Doctor Who. The part went to Jon Pertwe - a decision he later regretted.
In 2010, Moody appeared on stage at the end of a performance of the revival of Oliver! and made a humorous speech about the show's 50th anniversary, before reprising the song for which he is famed - 'Pick a Pocket or Two' - with the cast.
For young audiences, he will be best known as playing the legendary wizard Merlin in Disney's A Kid in King Arthur's Court.
He leaves behind his wife, Therese Blackbourn Moody, whom he married in 1985, and their six children.
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