David Harold Ward Hartnell (born 29 June 1944) is a New Zealand journalist and media personality best known for his Hollywood

gossip column A gossip columnist is someone who writes a gossip column in a newspaper or magazine, especially a gossip magazine. Gossip columns are material written in a light, informal style, which relates the gossip columnist's opinions about the personal li ...

and best-dressed lists. He was the first full-time celebrity gossip columnist in New Zealand and his work appeared in print, radio and television. His syndicated columns have run in magazines and newspapers around the world. Hartnell is the author of ten books, the

Patron Patronage is the support, encouragement, privilege, or financial aid that an organization or individual bestows on another. In the history of art, arts patronage refers to the support that kings, popes, and the wealthy have provided to artists su ...

of the Variety Artists Club of New Zealand Inc and the Ambassador of St James Saviours. In April 2014 he was named Ambassador of the Prostate Cancer Foundation of New Zealand and in September 2016 the Patron of the

Brotherhood of Auckland Magicians The Brotherhood of Auckland Magicians Inc (BAM) is a New Zealand-based non-for-profit organisation and magic club. It was founded in 1946. Formation and history The Brotherhood of Auckland Magicians (BAM) was founded in July 1946 in Grey Lynn ...

Inc. In May 2021 he received a star on the New Zealand Walk of Fame in Orewa.

Biography

Hartnell was born in the Auckland suburb of

Sandringham Sandringham can refer to: Places * Sandringham, New South Wales, Australia * Sandringham, Queensland, Australia * Sandringham, Victoria, Australia **Sandringham railway line **Sandringham railway station **Electoral district of Sandringham * Sand ...

in 1944 as David Segetin. As a child he became interested in

magic Magic or Magick most commonly refers to: * Magic (supernatural), beliefs and actions employed to influence supernatural beings and forces * Ceremonial magic, encompasses a wide variety of rituals of magic * Magical thinking, the belief that unrela ...

and

roller-skating Roller skating is the act of traveling on surfaces with roller skates. It is a recreational activity, a sport, and a form of transportation. Roller rinks and skate parks are built for roller skating, though it also takes place on streets, sid ...

. He was raised by his mother and grandparents after his father left when he was young. He later discovered a half-brother and sister who knew nothing of his existence. In 1959 he was a runner-up in the dance pairs at the World Roller Skating Championships in

Christchurch Christchurch ( ; mi, Ōtautahi) is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand and the seat of the Canterbury Region. Christchurch lies on the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula on Pegasus Bay. The Avon River / ...

. After moving to Sydney he found a position with

Revlon Revlon, Inc. is an American multinational company dealing in cosmetics, skin care, fragrance, and personal care. The headquarters of Revlon was established in New York City on March 1, 1932, where it still remains. Revlon was founded by brothe ...

and became Australia's first in-store male

make-up artist A make-up artist, also called a makeup artist, and often shortened to MUA, is an artist whose medium is the human body, applying makeup and prosthetics on others for theatre, television, film, fashion, magazines and other similar productions inc ...

. He made-up comedian

Phyllis Diller Phyllis Ada Diller (née Driver; July 17, 1917 – August 20, 2012) was an American stand-up comedian, actress, author, musician, and visual artist, best known for her eccentric stage persona, self-deprecating humor, wild hair and clothes, and e ...

as a publicity stunt and the pair became lifelong friends. After a sojourn in Hong Kong, Hartnell moved to London and worked as a makeup artist for instore promotions, magazine shoots and the 1970

Miss World Miss World is the oldest existing international beauty pageant. It was created in the United Kingdom by Eric Morley in 1951. Since his death in 2000, Morley's widow, Julia Morley, has co-chaired the pageant. Along with Miss Universe, Miss Int ...

pageant. He moved to New York for a position with

Maybelline Maybelline New York (formerly The Maybelline Company and Mabelline and Co.), trading as Maybelline ( ), is an American multinational cosmetics, skin care, fragrance, and personal care company, based in New York City. It was founded in Chicago ...

and then relocated to Los Angeles. It was at this time that Hartnell began to interview the celebrities he met. Returning to

New Zealand New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island count ...

in 1975, Hartnell became involved with

TVNZ , type = Crown entity , industry = Broadcast television , num_locations = New Zealand , location = Auckland, New Zealand , area_served = Nationally (New Zealand) and some Pacific Island nations such as the Cook Islands, Fiji, and the So ...

television shows ''Town Cryer'' and ''Two on One'' and became a celebrity himself. He became involved with radio with weekly slots on

Radio Pacific TAB Trackside is a New Zealand horse racing and sports broadcast network, incorporating two pay TV channels. The TV channels are available on Sky channels and the Spark Sport streaming service. The radio station broadcasts on 14 AM radio and 16 ...

and Radio i and later appeared with radio personality Alice Worsley on New Zealand's first-ever television shopping show. His Hollywood gossip columns appeared in ''NZ Woman's Weekly'', ''Woman's Day'' and the ''Sunday News'' and his catchphrases "I'm not one to gossip but..." and "my lips are sealed" became part of New Zealand popular culture. In 1981, Hartnell began his popular New Zealand's best- and worst-dressed lists, a yearly celebration of Kiwi celebrities that has become a tradition. He was the chairman of the judges for the Miss New Zealand contest between 1982 and 1987. In 1995 he fronted ''The David Hartnell Show'', a chat show on New Zealand's Triangle Television. In 2009 Hartnell became a

patron Patronage is the support, encouragement, privilege, or financial aid that an organization or individual bestows on another. In the history of art, arts patronage refers to the support that kings, popes, and the wealthy have provided to artists su ...

of the Variety Artists Club of New Zealand Inc. In the 2011 Queen's Birthday Honours, he was appointed a

Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit The New Zealand Order of Merit is an order of merit in the New Zealand royal honours system. It was established by royal warrant on 30 May 1996 by Elizabeth II, Queen of New Zealand, "for those persons who in any field of endeavour, have ren ...

, for services to entertainment. His book ''Memoirs of a Gossip Columnist'' was published in 2011. In September 2012 Hartnell was named an Ambassador of St James Saviours, the trust formed to save the iconic Auckland theatre. In April 2014 he was named Ambassador of the Prostate Cancer Foundation of New Zealand. In September 2016 he was made patron of the Brotherhood of Auckland Magicians Inc. He has lived with his partner Somboon Khansuk since 1993. In October 2017 he was presented with the President's Medallion from the

Variety Artists Club of New Zealand The Variety Artists Club of New Zealand Inc (VAC) is a non-for-profit organisation and show business club. It was founded in 1966 and became an incorporated society in 1972. The VAC was formed to promote goodwill within the New Zealand enterta ...

in recognition of his services as Patron. In 2020 he became a regular guest on Three's

The AM Show ''AM'' is a New Zealand morning news and talk show that airs on Three and was simulcasted on Magic Talk. It was presented by Ryan Bridge, with news anchor Amanda Gillies, sports presenter Mark Richardson, and social media presenter Aziz Al-Sa' ...

with the Hartnell's Hollywood segment.

Awards and honours

* 2021 Star on New Zealand Walk of Fame, Orewa * 2021 Presidential Citation, Brotherhood of Auckland Magicians Inc * 2017 President's Medallion, Variety Artists Club of New Zealand Inc * 2016 Patron

* 2014 Ambassador of the Prostate Cancer Foundation of New Zealand * 2013 Fullers Entertainment Award, Variety Artists Club of New Zealand Inc * 2012 Ambassador of St James Saviours * 2011 Honorary member of the official

Emmerdale ''Emmerdale'' (known as ''Emmerdale Farm'' until 1989) is a British soap opera that is broadcast on ITV1. The show is set in Emmerdale (known as Beckindale until 1994), a fictional village in the Yorkshire Dales. Created by Kevin Laffan, '' ...

br>Fan Club UK
* 2011 Member of the

New Zealand Order of Merit The New Zealand Order of Merit is an order of merit in the New Zealand royal honours system. It was established by royal warrant (document), royal warrant on 30 May 1996 by Elizabeth II, Monarchy of New Zealand, Queen of New Zealand, "for those ...

* 2011 Star on Walk of Fame at Boulevard of Dreams * 2009 Patron Variety Artists Club of New Zealand Inc * 2000 Auckland

Planet Hollywood Planet Hollywood International Inc. (stylized as planet Hollywood, planet Hollywood observatory and ph) is a themed restaurant chain inspired by the popular portrayal of Hollywood. The company is owned by Earl Enterprises corporation. Earl Ent ...

Hall of Fame * 1998 Scroll of Honour, Variety Artists Club of New Zealand Inc * 1985 Greymouth Walk of Fame and Key to the City

Publications

* 2014 ''David Hartnell's Celebrity Quiz Book'' * 2011 ''Memoirs of a Gossip Columnist'' * 2003 ''David Hartnell's Hollywood Trivia'' * 1997 ''David Hartnell's Celebrity Fact-File'' * 1990 ''I'm Not One to Gossip, But …'' * 1984 ''David Hartnell's Guide to Beauty'' * 1979 ''Beauty from 30 to 90'' * 1978 ''David Hartnell's Book of Beauty'' * 1975 ''David Hartnell on Makeup for New Zealand Women'' * 1968 ''David Hartnell's Makeup and Skin Care Cards''

Television career and appearances

* ''Seven Sharp'', 2021, Star on the New Zealand Walk of Fame * ''Seven Sharp'', 2021, Royal Family Oprah interview fallout * ''The AM Show'', 2020, career profile and regular Hartnell's Hollywood segment * ''Seven Sharp'', 2020, career profile * ''Te Ao with Moana'', 2020, story on Prince Tui Teka * ''Native Affairs'', 2017, feature on Merle Oberon * ''Te Radar's Chequered Past'', 2017, feature on Anna Hoffman * ''Paul Henry'', 2015, Annual Best-Dressed List * ''Seven Sharp'', 2015, Feature story on the Orewa Walk of Fame * ''Paul Henry'', 2015, Celebrity panel * ''Good Morning'', 2014, Celebrity Quiz Book * ''The Paul Henry Show'', 2014, Recent Best-Dressed List and Celebrity Quiz Book * ''The Beat Goes On'', 2014, Profiled as the only gossip columnist that has been awarded by the Queen * ''The Beat Goes On'', 2011, Star on the Orewa Walk of Fame * ''

3 News ''Newshub'' (stylised as ''Newshub.'') is a New Zealand news service that airs on the television channels Three and Eden, as well as on digital platforms. It formerly operated across radio stations run by MediaWorks Radio until December 202 ...

'', 2011 * ''

Close Up A close-up or closeup in filmmaking, television production, still photography, and the comic strip medium is a type of shot that tightly frames a person or object. Close-ups are one of the standard shots used regularly with medium and long ...

'', 2011 * ''Happy Birthday TVNZ'', 2010 * ''The David Hartnell Show'', series on Triangle TV, 2004 * ''Maggie’s Garden Show'', guest appearance, 1999 * ''

60 Minutes ''60 Minutes'' is an American television news magazine broadcast on the CBS television network. Debuting in 1968, the program was created by Don Hewitt and Bill Leonard, who chose to set it apart from other news programs by using a unique styl ...

'', 1997 * ''The Express Report'', 1996 * ''Good Morning'', Celebrity Gossip regular for three years plus guest appearances * ''The EarlyBird Show'' * ''The Billy T. James Show'' * ''Saunders and Sinclair'', 1985 – Makeup Artist and Celebrity Gossip * ''Tonight'', 1985 * ''Kaye and Guest'', 1979 * ''Two on One'', 1975 – Makeup Artist and Celebrity Gossip * ''Town Cryer''

References

External links

David Hartnell Official Site

New Zealand's Greatest Gossip Has Some Words For Modern Celebrities, The Spinoff, June 2021

David Hartnell added to New Zealand Walk of Fame in Orewa, One News 2021

David Hartnell says Meghan and Harry should have 'named, names' when accusing royal family of racism, March 2021 TVNZ

The best dressed Kiwis list is out, Stuff.co.nz, November 2020

David Hartnell on a Life Watching Hollywood, Stuff.co.nz, July 2020

A Quiet Cuppa With David Hartnell, A Quiet Cuppa, June 2020

David Hartnell's Favourite Summer Object, Stuff.co.nz, January 2019

Godfather of gossip David Hartnell honoured for 53 years in the spotlight, Stuff.co.nz October 2017

David Hartnell's First Love, New Zealand Woman's Weekly September 2016

Twelve Questions with David Hartnell, New Zealand Herald August 2015

David Hartnell Keeps Faith With JAFAs, Sunday Star Times July 2015

Stars In His Eyes, Glory Days Magazine January 2015

David's Triple Celebration – 70th Birthday, 50 years in Gossip and 21 years with partner Somboon, New Zealand Woman's Weekly June 2014

Audio : David Hartnell interviewed by Leighton Smith on NewstalkZB about his Celebrity Quiz Book, July 2014

David Hartnell – My Starring Role, New Zealand Woman's Weekly interview January 2014

Breakfast Coffee with Prime Minister John Key, GrownUps Column, December 2014

David Hartnell's Blooming Surprise, NZ Woman's Weekly September 2014

Ten Questions with David Hartnell, Recipient of the Fullers Entertainment Award, August 2013

Bid to Save Iconic St James Theatre, Fairfax News June 2013

From Roller Rinks to Hollywood, Forward 50+ Lifestyle Magazine March/April 2013

Ghost Power, Lucky Break Magazine September 2012

Twelve Questions with David Hartnell, New Zealand Herald August 2012

Michele Hewitson interview: David Hartnell, New Zealand Herald March 2012

Audio interview with David Hartnell on bFM, 2011

Audio interview with David Hartnell on The Breeze, 2011

Memoirs of a Gossip Columnist Review, Southland Times

Audio : David Hartnell interviewed by Grant Walker, Radio New Zealand June 2018
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Video : Seven Sharp, story on the Orewa Walk of Fame, 2015
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Hartnell, David 1944 births Living people People from Auckland Gossip columnists Members of the New Zealand Order of Merit New Zealand television journalists New Zealand LGBT writers Gay writers 21st-century LGBT people