Sir Michael Parkinson, the veteran broadcaster considered the king of British chat show hosts, died aged 88 on Wednesday.
He interviewed some of Hollywood’s biggest names throughout his illustrious career.
Sir Michael became a familiar face on both the BBC and ITV because of his intimate celebrity interviews, most notably on the BBC show Parkinson.
Headline-making interviews throughout his career included those with actresses Dame Helen Mirren and US star Meg Ryan.
On Thursday, Sir Michael’s family confirmed his death in a statement that read: ‘After a brief illness Sir Michael Parkinson passed away peacefully at home last night in the company of his family.’
His family also requested ‘privacy and time to grieve’ and Parkinson often spoke fondly of his loved ones, who you can find out more about below.
Who is Michael Parkinson’s wife?
Sir Michael married his wife Mary – who hailed from Doncaster – in 1959.
The pair met on a bus in Yorkshire and have three children and eight grandchildren.
Mary, 87, is a journalist and presenter and often appeared on the show Through the Keyhole.
Speaking in 2018, Sir Michael said ‘it is one of the great mysteries in my life how our 59-year marriage has lasted’.
He added to the Guardian: ‘I can’t imagine life without her. We are a close, loving family.’
Who are Michael Parkinson’s sons?
Mary and her late husband have three sons: Michael Jr, Nicholas and Andrew.
Sir Michael’s middle son Nick is a chef while his youngest, Michael Jr, followed in his father’s footsteps and sought out a career in the entertainment industry.
Not much is known about Parkinson’s son Andrew, who has shunned the spotlight.
In 2021, 55-year-old Michael Jr said his famous dad is ‘different from how he appears on TV’.
He told the Express: ‘He’s a human as well, therefore he has rough edges like we all have.’
Michael Jr even teamed up with his dad on his book Like Father Like Son, which offered an intimate look into Parkinson’s life.
Michael Jr is married to actress Fiona Allen.
Who are Michael Parkinson’s parents?
Sir Michael is the son of John William Parkinson and his wife Freda.
As a teenager, his father, a miner, took him down the pit to put him off working there.
He previously told New Zealand’s Now To Love: ‘My father took me down a pit when I was about 14 and he took me to where men were working in three-foot height.
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‘It’s hot down there, it’s noisy, it’s terrible, awful. Coming back home, my father said to me, “What do you think?” and I said, “Not for a thousand pounds a shift”.’
When his dreams of playing cricket for Yorkshire were dashed, he left school aged 16 and began working at a local paper, later joining the Manchester Guardian and then the Daily Express.
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