Doug Sheldon (born Bernard Bobrow, 22 June 1936) is an English former

pop singer Singing is the act of creating musical sounds with the voice. A person who sings is called a singer, artist or vocalist (in jazz and/or popular music). Singers perform music (arias, recitatives, songs, etc.) that can be sung with or without ...

, actor, and novelist.

Early life

Sheldon was born into a family of carnival businesspeople, and he worked as a

barker Barker may refer to: Occupations * Barker (occupation), a person who attempts to attract patrons to entertainment events * Barker (coachbuilder), a builder of horse-drawn coaches and later of bodywork for prestige cars * a person who strips tanbar ...

while receiving training in acting.Bruce Eder, Doug Sheldonat 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 Sir Sean Connery (born Thomas Connery; 25 August 1930 – 31 October 2020) was a Scottish actor. He was the first actor to portray fictional British secret agent James Bond on film, starring in seven Bond films between 1962 and 1983. Origina ...

. Sheldon was discovered by

Bunny Lewis Bridges Georges McGibbon Lewis (12 November 1918 – 7 September 2001) professionally known under pen name Bunny Lewis, also known professionally under various pseudonyms was a London-based manager, record producer and composer and music manager ...

while performing on-stage and was quickly offered a

recording contract A recording contract (commonly called a record contract or record deal) is a legal agreement between a record label and a recording artist (or group), where the artist makes a record (or series of records) for the label to sell and promote. Artists ...

with

Decca Records Decca Records is a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis (Decca), Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934 by Lewis, Jack Kapp, American Decca's first president, and Milton Rackmil, who later became American ...

, 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 Cover or covers may refer to: Packaging * Another name for a lid * Cover (philately), generic term for envelope or package * Album cover, the front of the packaging * Book cover or magazine cover ** Book design ** Back cover copy, part of co ...

of the song "

Runaround Sue "Runaround Sue" is a rock and roll song (in a modified doo-wop style), originally a US No. 1 Billboard Hot 100, Hot 100 hit (No. 4 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, Hot R&B chart) for the singer Dion DiMucci, Dion during 1961, after he split with th ...

", 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 ''Doctor Who'' is a British science fiction television series broadcast by the BBC since 1963. The series depicts the adventures of a Time Lord called the Doctor, an extraterrestrial being who appears to be human. The Doctor explores the u ...

'', ''

The Avengers Avenger, Avengers, The Avenger, or The Avengers may refer to: Arts and entertainment In the Marvel Comics universe * Avengers (comics), a team of superheroes ** Avengers (Marvel Cinematic Universe), a central team of protagonist superheroes o ...

'' and '' Triangle'', and in films such as '' The Yellow Teddy Bears'' (1963), the musical comedy '' Just for You'' (1964), ''

Some Girls Do ''Some Girls Do'' is a 1969 British comedy spy film directed by Ralph Thomas. It was the second of the revamped Bulldog Drummond films (following 1967's ''Deadlier Than the Male'') starring Richard Johnson as Drummond, made following the success ...

'' (1969), '' The Spy Killer'' (1969), '' Ryan's Daughter'' (1970), ''

Soft Beds, Hard Battles ''Soft Beds, Hard Battles'' is a 1974 British comedy film directed by Roy Boulting, starring Peter Sellers (in several roles), Curt Jurgens, Lila Kedrova and Jenny Hanley. Sellers reunited with the Boulting brothers for this farce, in which the ...

'' (1974), '' Appointment with Death'' (1988) and ''

Iron Eagle II ''Iron Eagle II'' (also titled ''Iron Eagle II: The Battle Beyond the Flag'') is a 1988 action film directed by Sidney J. Furie and written by Furie and Kevin Alyn Elders. It is the first sequel to the 1986 film '' Iron Eagle'', with Louis Gosse ...

'' (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.

Singles

*"Book of Love" (1961) *"

" (1961) UK No. 36Search for "Doug Sheldon" performed a
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 Mickey's is a brand of malt liquor made by the Miller Brewing Company. It has a 5.6% ABV. The brand was created by Sterling Brewery in Evansville, Indiana, which brewed it from 1962 through 1972. It is known for its bright green barrel-shaped, ...

" (1964) *"Let's Make A Habit Of This" (1964) Decca DL 25 111 (Teldec)

Filmography

Film

Television

References

External links

Douglas Sheldon
at Theatricalia {{DEFAULTSORT:Sheldon, Doug 1936 births Living people English pop singers English male singers English male television actors Actors from the London Borough of Tower Hamlets English male film actors Male actors from London People from Stepney