Inside Article
Bert Newton, a quadruple Gold Logie award-winning entertainer, has died aged 83. His prolific, versatile career, which spanned over six decades, ranged across radio, television, stage, and screen. The veteran performer was a Logie Hall of Fame inductee and radio, theatre, and television personality and presenter.
Originally from Fitzroy, Victoria, Albert Watson Newton was born on 23 July 1938 under the star sign Leo. The Australian media personality studied at St Joseph’s Marist Brothers Roman Catholic college.
Died, Cause of Death, and Funeral
Comedian and actor Bert Newton died on 30 October 2021 following years of health complications. He died while undergoing palliative care at a private clinic in Melbourne.
Back in May, Newton had his leg amputated after struggling with several complications from an infected toe. Prior to it, he was admitted to the hospital in 2017 for pneumonia and had quadruple heart bypass surgery in 2012.
The TV icon will be honoured at a state funeral, as announced by Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews. Mr Andrews said in a statement:
“Bert Newton was an icon, a larrikin and a born entertainer. We have never known TV without Bert – he was there from the beginning.”
He continued:
“Above all his achievements, he was a family man and his greatest partnership was with his wife of almost 50 years, Patti. Our thoughts and prayers are with her, their children and their grandchildren. “We will all have an opportunity to honour his memory, his talent and his achievements at a state funeral. Details will be shared in the coming days.”
The likely venue for the funeral would be St Patrick’s Cathedral in Melbourne.
Professional Career and Net Worth
Bert began his career as a junior broadcaster on Melbourne radio station 3XY in 1952. Two years later, he was the host of Melbourne Speaks, a street-recorded program.
Soon after, the star moved to television, hosting The Late Show before making his debut in 1959 on In Melbourne Today. He immediately joined the sister show In Melbourne Tonight, where he became a regular alongside Graham Kennedy, the King of Television.
In the early 1960s, he hosted The Bert Newton Show, and he and his co-host, Graham Kennedy, appeared weekly on Channel 9’s The Graham Kennedy Show. After a brief return to radio, he was cast as Don Lane’s sidekick “barrel boy” in 1975 show The Don Lane Show, earning him the moniker “Moonface.”
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Newton signed a three-year deal with Nine in 2006 after leaving the network in 2005 and went on to host Bert’s Family Feud, 20 To 1, and What A Year. He even co-hosted the 2006 Logies with Lisa McCune, Georgie Parker, Ray Martin, and Daryl Somers, who were all prior Gold Logie winners. In 2010, he was the sole host of the show. He went on to host the show more than 20 times.
Newton has also starred in a number of musical theatre productions, including Beauty And The Beast (1995), The Sound Of Music (1999), The Producers (2012), Grease (2013), and Wicked (2009), in which he played the Wizard.
Newton had built an empire in the TV industry. According to Celebrity Net Worth, the TV legend had an estimated net worth of $15 million at the time of his death.
Married, Wife, and Children
Newton, who died at 83, is now survived by his wife and two children. He was married to Patti McGrath, an Australian singer, actress, radio and television presenter. The pair had worked together on several occasions on television. They tied the knot in 1974 and had a great partnership of almost 50 years.
Newton shared two children – son Matthew and daughter Lauren – with his wife. His son, Matthew, is an accomplished actor. And, his daughter, Lauren, is married to swimmer Matt Welsh.
Family, Parents, and Siblings
The late Logie Hall of Fame inductee was born to Joseph and Gladys Newton. He was one of five children born to his parents. He shared his childhood with his three brothers – Tom, Jack, and Bob – and a sister named Alice.
