Australian entertainment icon Bert Newton’s incredible TV career

Australian television legend Bert Newton, who has died aged 83, boasted an extraordinary career that spanned decades.

Australian icon, Bert Newton has died aged 83.

The 83-year old much-loved television star tragically died after having his leg amputated earlier this year.

Newton was in a “life or death” situation, after suffering “serious health problems” that started late 2020 with an infected toe.

RELATED: Ultimate showman: Aussies remember Bert

27/05/2021 Bert Newton with his granddaughter Lola posted on Patti Newtons Instagram.

Newton has had a long and hard battle with his health, and always one to be open with his fans, he and Patti have long kept the public informed with each battle he’s faced.

In November 2020, wife Patti Newton shocked fans when sharing a photo of Bert in hospital wearing a face mask.

“Bert’s been in hospital, all good,” she wrote alongside the image.

“He’s got a lot of living to do.”

Mrs Newton did not reveal why her husband was in hospital but he is reportedly undergoing tests.

Bert Newton had faced many health battles in recent years. Picture: Instagram

Prior to this, the beloved star underwent life saving quadruple bypass heart surgery in November, 2012.

In 2011, Bert suffered from a pneumonia, after catching it from his granddaughter, Eva. It wasn’t the last time the star would suffer from the virus, catching it again when he was rushed to hospital in 2017.

The 83-year-old had long earned the affections of Australian’s after charming audiences on radio, TV and the stage.

Newton may had slowed down in recent years due to his health issues, but he had remained one of the most entertaining stars Australia has ever known. In fact, he was Australia’s longest-serving TV personality.

Newton started his career in the industry when he was only 15-years-old, when rejecting previous plans to join the priesthood.

In 1952, Bert was hired as a junior announcer on the Melbourne radio station 3XY. Two years later and he was a presenter of a program that was recorded on the street called Melbourne Speaks.

Soon the star made his way to television, hosting The Late Show, before he made his debut on In Melbourne Today, in 1959. He soon joined the sister show In Melbourne Tonight, becoming a regular alongside the King of Television, Graham Kennedy.

In early 1960 he hosted The Bert Newton Show, and the duo appeared weekly on The Graham Kennedy Show on Channel 9.

TV presenter and comedian Graham Kennedy with Bert Newton. Picture: Supplied

A short stint back on radio, and he returned to TV when he was in the 1975 show The Don Lane Show as sidekick “barrel boy” to Don Lane that earned him the title of “Moonface”.

Hosting gigs on game show Ford Superquiz, talent show New Faces and Tonight with Bert Newton followed before he was asked to host Good Morning Australia on Network Ten in 1992. He was the host of the program for 14 years before the show was cancelled in late 2005.

“Fourteen years is a long time for any television show and this one was very special to me,” he said in a statement at the time.

“In making my decision, I felt with the show going to end, it made sense for me to make the break, too. I leave Ten with some great memories.”

Channel 9 TV personalities Bert Newton and Don Lane on 'The Don Lane Show'. Picture: Supplied

When he left the network in 2005, Bert Newton signed a three-year deal with Nine in 2006, going on to host Bert’s Family Feud, 20 To 1, and What A Year.

He even reprised his role as Logies host in 2006 when he co-hosted with former Gold Logie winners Lisa McCune, Georgie Parker, Ray Martin and Daryl Somers. He hosted the show solo in 2010.

In fact he went on to host he show over 20 times.

Famous picture of Bert Newton and guest, boxer Muhammad Ali at the TV Week Logie Awards in 1979. Picture: Supplied

In 2009, he took a step back, but ensured that he wouldn’t be retiring just yet.

“Life at the moment, I wouldn’t change anything,” he told AAP. “I think you slow down for one of two reasons. If your health remains OK, you’ve got a clear path; if it doesn’t, you’ve got to rethink things.

“Retirement, as I see it, in show business is usually a result of health that could be better or a tap on the shoulder. And I haven’t had that tap on the shoulder yet. I keep moving around pretty quickly.”

Bert was named the number one Australian television star of the past 50 years in 2006 during the 50 Years 50 Stars special on Channel 9.

But he also added a number of starring roles in musical theatre to his resume, including in Beauty And The Beast (1995), The Sound Of Music (1999), The Producers (2012), Grease (2013) and Wicked (2009), where he played the role of the Wizard.

Bert Newton married wife Patti Newton in 1974 and have been by each other’s side ever since.

Bert Newton has been with wife Patti since 1974. Picture: Getty Images

They are the proud parents to Matthew, 43, and Lauren, 40, and grandparents to their daughter’s six kids with husband, former swimmer Matt Welsh. Their kids include son Sam, 11, daughters Eva, nine, and Lola, six, son Monty, two, daughter Perla, one and grandson Alby, nine months.