Peter Richard (Woolnough) Allen (1944 - 1992)

Born 10 Feb 1944 in Tenterfield, New South Wales, Australia

Ancestors

Died 18 Jun 1992 at age 48 in San Diego, California, United States

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Biography

Peter (Woolnough) Allen is Notable.

Peter (Woolnough) Allen was born in New South Wales, Australia

(born Peter Richard Woolnough; 10 February 1944 – 18 June 1992)

Australian singer-songwriter and entertainer.

His songs were made popular by many recording artists, including Elkie Brooks, Melissa Manchester and Olivia Newton-John, with one, "Arthur's Theme", winning an Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1981. In addition to recording many albums, he enjoyed a cabaret and concert career, including appearing at the Radio City Music Hall riding a camel. His song "I Still Call Australia Home", used extensively in advertising campaigns, was added to the National Film and Sound Archive's Sounds of Australia registry in 2013.

first husband of Liza Minnelli (married in 1967, divorced in 1974)

grandson of George Woolnough

Co-writer of "Arthur's Theme" - from the movie "Arthur" - won both an Academy Award and Golden Globe for this song.

Becoming more comfortable with his homosexuality from the 1970s to 1984, Allen had a long-time partner, Gregory Connell. Connell was a fashion model from Texas who designed the sound and lighting for Allen's shows and sang backup on his rendition of "I Go to Rio". Connell died from an AIDS-related illness in 1984 at their home in California.

He died in San Diego, California, on 18 June 1992 from an AIDS-related throat cancer. He was cremated, and his ashes were scattered at sea. He was one of the first well-known Australians to die from AIDS.

Several years after his death, the musical "The Boy from Oz" was written about his life. It ran on Broadway and earned Hugh Jackman a Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical.

Sources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Allen_(musician)

https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=6155551