Charlie Lea

Charlie Lea (Born Charles Michael Lea on 4th March 1943 in Liverpool, England) was an English comedian, actor and producer, who managed actor/composer/singer Anthony Newley, husband of Joan Collins, in the 1990's. Lea was best known for producing shows at the London Palladium (1979 - 1985), where he worked with stars such as Ken Dodd, George Burns, Craig Charles and Frank Sinatra. During 1988 he was a producer on the television variety show Live From Her Majesty's at the London Palladium hosted by Jimmy Tarbuck. Lea appeared in British soap operas Brookside (1982) and Coronation Street (1983) as well as the Ken Dodd Laughter Show (1979) on ITV. Lea was a member of the Grand Order of Water Rats, an exclusive British entertainment industry fraternity and charitable organization based in London. Throughout his life, Lea suffered with a critical heart condition and consequently performed a substantial amount of work on behalf of the British Heart Foundation. He twice underwent open heart surgery and tragically died of a heart attack in London on 8th February 1996. His daughter is the actress Kirsten Lea.