Bill Kenwright – the West End producer and long-term chairman of Everton Football Club – has died on the age of 78.
A submit by the membership on X, previously often called Twitter, mentioned: “Everton Football Club is in mourning following the death of Chairman Bill Kenwright CBE, who passed away peacefully last night aged 78, surrounded by his family and loved ones.”
The Liverpool-born businessman made his identify within the arts, at first as an actor with a breakthrough function in Coronation Street – enjoying the entrepreneurial Gordon Clegg.
But Kenwright’s personal entrepreneurial expertise would show his true calling.
After swapping a job in entrance of the digital camera for backstage enterprise, he grew to become one in all Britain’s most profitable movie and theatre producers.
During his profession, he labored on a string of hits, together with Willy Russell’s musical Blood Brothers, and Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.
But within the streets of his residence metropolis, he was finest often called the long-term chairman of his boyhood membership, Everton.
Born in Liverpool’s Wavertree district – lower than 5 miles from the membership’s stadium – Kenwright was impressed as a toddler by his idol, Everton ahead, Dave Hickson.
In 1989, he was invited to affix the board of administrators at Goodison Park, and rose to change into deputy chairman earlier than finishing a £20m takeover in 1999.
He was appointed chairman in 2004, and a 12 months later noticed the membership finish an almost 10-year look forward to European soccer by qualifying for the Champions League beneath the steering of then supervisor David Moyes.
In 2016, Kenwright bought half of his stake in Everton to British-Iranian businessman Farhad Moshiri – although he stayed on as chairman.
Mr Moshiri continued to extend his personal stake over the subsequent six years.
However, in September, he agreed to promote his 94% stake to American funding fund 777 Partners – a deal which is at present awaiting approval by regulators.
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Earlier this month, Everton introduced Kenwright had undergone an operation to take away a cancerous tumour from his liver.
In a press release launched on the time, the membership mentioned the operation had been “completely successful” however that Kenwright would bear a “prolonged period in an intensive care unit”.
The membership mentioned Kenwright had “worked hard” alongside Mr Moshiri “right up until the day” of his operation to assist facilitate the proposed takeover by 777 Partners.
Earlier this 12 months, Mr Moshiri backed Kenwright amid protests from Everton followers directed on the long-term chairman and the membership’s possession.
Outside of soccer, Kenwright had two marriages – the primary to New Zealand-born actress-turned-hotelier, Anouska Hempel, and the second to actress Jenny Seagrove.
He additionally had a daughter, Lucy Kenwright, from his relationship with the actress Virginia Stride.
In a press release, his household mentioned they have been “devastated to share the sad news of the loss of a beloved partner, father, grandfather and friend: Bill Kenwright CBE.
“Following a protracted battle with sickness Bill handed away peacefully final night time, surrounded by his household and family members.
“Bill was driven by his passions and devoted his life to them; his deep love of theatre, film, music and his beloved Everton, and the families they created.
“He impacted the lives of hundreds, whether or not that be via the launching of careers or his endless loyalty, generosity and unfaltering friendship and assist.”
They added: “In a multi-award-winning profession spanning six a long time, Bill produced over 500 West End, Broadway, UK touring and worldwide theatre productions, movies and music albums. His influence on the humanities business has been profound.”
Kenwright was awarded a CBE within the 2001 New Year’s Honours List, for providers to movie and theatre.
Source: information.sky.com”