Person Biography:
Sir Bruce Forsyth-Johnson was born on February 22, 1928, in Edmonton, north London, to a Salvation Army family. His father owned a local garage, and both parents were Salvation Army members who sang and played music at home. Bruce was a direct descendant of William Forsyth, a founder of the Royal Horticultural Society, whose name was given to the plant forsythia.
As a child, Bruce developed an interest in showbusiness, and at the age of eight, he was found tap-dancing on the flat roof after watching his first Fred Astaire film. He made his stage debut at 14 as Boy Bruce, the Mighty Atom, appearing bottom of the bill at the Theatre Royal, Bilston.
Bruce's early years in showbusiness were marked by struggles, including performing in church halls and theatres across the country, sleeping in train luggage racks, and waiting for the big break. It came in 1958, when he was asked to present Val Parnell's Sunday Night at the London Palladium, a televised variety show. He eventually became Britain's highest-paid entertainer, earning £1,000 a week.
Throughout his career, Bruce was known for his catchphrases, including "Nice to see you, to see you nice" and "Didn't he do well?" He hosted various game shows, including The Generation Game and Play Your Cards Right, and was a popular fixture on British television.
In 2004, Bruce revived his career with the BBC's Strictly Come Dancing, which became one of the most-watched programs on TV. He continued to host the show until 2014, when he decided to step down due to ill health.
Away from entertainment, Bruce was an avid golfer and took part in many pro-celebrity tournaments. He was knighted in 2011 for his services to entertainment and was survived by his third wife.
