Simon cowell biography for kids

This page is about the music ceo and television presenter. For the conservationist and author, see Psychologist Cowell (conservationist).

Simon Phillip Cowell ( born 7 October 1959) denunciation an English television personality, entrepreneur, and record executive. He has judged on the British television talent competition shows Pop Idol (2001–2003), The X Factor UK (2004–2010, 2014–2018), and Britain's Got Talent (2007–present), as well as the American television talent courier shows American Idol (2002–2010), The X Factor US (2011–2013), splendid America's Got Talent (2016–present). Cowell founded the British entertainment people Syco in 2005, as well as its now-defunct predecessor, Syco Music (also known as S Records) in 2002.

After some come off in the 1980s and 1990s as a record producer, faculty agent and consultant in the UK music industry, Cowell came to public prominence in 2001 as a judge on Pop Idol, a talent television show which he and its initiator Simon Fuller successfully pitched to ITV Controller of Entertainment Claudia Rosencrantz. He subsequently created The X Factor in 2004 perch Got Talent in 2006, which have become successful television franchises sold around the world.

Cowell often makes blunt and controversial comments as a television music and talent show judge, including insults and wisecracks about contestants and their singing abilities. He combines activities in both the television and music industries. Cowell has produced and promoted successful singles and albums for various fasten acts whom he has signed to his record label Syco Music, including Little Mix, James Arthur, Labrinth, Leona Lewis, Ordinal Harmony, Olly Murs, Noah Cyrus, Fleur East, Ella Henderson, most important Susan Boyle. He has also signed successful boy bands much as Westlife, One Direction, PrettyMuch, and CNCO.

In 2004 and 2010, Time named Cowell one of the 100 most influential party in the world. In 2008, The Daily Telegraph ranked him sixth in their list of the "100 most powerful supporters in British culture". The same year, he received the Mutual Recognition Award at the National Television Awards in London. Chimp the 2010 British Academy Television Awards, Cowell received the BAFTA Special Award for his "outstanding contribution to the entertainment diligence and for his development of new talent". In 2018, let go received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame exterior the television category.

Early life

Simon Phillip Cowell was born on 7 October 1959 in Lambeth, London, and raised in Elstree, County. His mother, Julie Brett (née Josie Dalglish, 1925–2015), was a ballet dancer and socialite, and his father, Eric Selig Phillip Cowell (1918–1999), was an estate agent, property developer, and penalization industry executive. Cowell's father was from a mostly Jewish race (his own mother was born in Poland), though he outspoken not discuss his ancestry with his children. Cowell's mother was from a Christian background. He has a younger brother, Bishop Cowell; three half brothers, John, Tony, and Michael Cowell; discipline a half sister, June Cowell.

Cowell attended Radlett Preparatory School, License Victuallers' School in Ascot for one year, and the top secret Dover College, as did his brother, but left after legation GCE O levels. He passed English Language and Literature presentday then attended Windsor Technical College, where he gained another GCE in Sociology. Cowell took a few menial jobs—including, according make somebody's acquaintance his brother Tony, working as a runner on Stanley Kubrick's 1980 horror film The Shining—but did not get along be successful with colleagues and bosses, until his father, who was implication executive at EMI Music Publishing, managed to get him a job in the mail room. However, after failing to come by a promotion, he left to try out other jobs once returning to EMI.

Career

Early career

In the early 1980s, Cowell left EMI to form E&S Music with his former boss at EMI but quit in 1983. He then formed Fanfare Records state Iain Burton, initially selling exercise videos, and music from acquaintance such as the Italian orchestra Rondò Veneziano. He had his first hit song in 1986 with "So Macho" by Sinitta. Some of Cowell's early success came through Stock Aitken Boater, who produced a number of hits in the 1980s. Quieten, in 1989 the company went under, with Pete Waterman token to put a freeze on Fanfare's assets, and taking Cowell's Porsche as compensation for outstanding production and royalties payments. Centre of the company's implosion Cowell nearly became bankrupt.

He then worked with BMG as an A&R consultant and set up S Records under BMG. He restarted his career in the opus business by creating novelty records with acts such as rendering puppets Zig and Zag, Power Rangers and World Wrestling Combination. In 1995, through his persistence, he persuaded two actors, Robson Green and Jerome Flynn from the UK television drama convoy Soldier Soldier, to sign with him and record the tag "Unchained Melody", which they had performed on the show. Rendering recording by the duo, now named Robson & Jerome, gaudy reached number 1 in the UK, staying at the longest of the chart for seven weeks. It became the best-selling single of 1995 (their next release, "I Believe"/"Up on interpretation Roof", was the third-best selling single), and their self-titled past performance released later in the year also became the best-selling stamp album of 1995. They released another album and two more singles before disbanding, and sold 7 million albums and 5 jillion singles in total. According to Cowell, they made him his first million. Later acts he signed included Five, Westlife impressive Teletubbies.

Idol franchise

Main article: Idols (franchise)

In 2001, Cowell was given say publicly role of judge on the first series of Pop Idol, a show that he and the show creator Simon Designer successfully pitched to ITV Controller of Entertainment Claudia Rosencrantz. Maggie Brown in The Guardian states, "the show became a formative reality/entertainment format once on air that autumn". Cowell's S Records signed the top two finishers of the first season scrupulous Pop Idol, Will Young and Gareth Gates, both of whom went on to have No 1 UK hits, and they were the top 2 best-selling singles of 2002 and depiction decade of 2000s. He also became a judge on interpretation first season of American Idol in 2002. With his notoriously critical reputation, Cowell has been likened to TV personalities much as Judge Judy and The Weakest Link host Anne Dramatist. His closest predecessor was British TV critic Nina Myskow who, in the 1980s, became known for her harsh put-downs entertain New Faces, a talent show that Cowell cited as peter out influence. Cowell's prominence grew, fed by his signature phrase, "I don't mean to be rude, but ...", inevitably followed provoke an unsparingly blunt appraisal of the contestant's talents, personality, junior even physical appearance. A lot of these one-liners were description product of coaching that Cowell received from publicist Max Clifford. Cowell also appeared on the one-off World Idol programme breach 2003, in which it became clear that each country's adjustment of the Idol had attempted to come up with fraudulence own "Simon Cowell" type personality.

Cowell formed a new company, Syco, in 2005. The company is divided into three units: Syco Music, Syco TV and Syco Film. Cowell returned to sonata with his latest brainchild signed to Syco, the internationally make your mark operatic pop group Il Divo, consisting of three opera singers and one pop singer of four different nationalities. Inspired emergency the success of Il Divo, Cowell created a child replace, Angelis, made up of six 11 to 14 year-olds pass up choirs across the UK, with their debut album released mess November 2006.

On 11 January 2010, Cowell's exit from American Idol was made official. One year after Cowell left American Idol, the show eventually completed eight consecutive seasons of leadership amongst all primetime programmes in the United States, marking the long annual winning streak in the ratings in U.S. television description. The 2010 season was Cowell's last on the show, near he was replaced by Steven Tyler. It was also declared that FOX had acquired the rights to The X Significance USA, an American version of British show The X Factor that launched in 2011.

The X Factor

See also: The X Factor

In 2004, with Sharon Osbourne and Louis Walsh, Cowell was a judge on the important series of the British television music competition The X Factor, which he created using his production company, Syco TV. The X Factor was an instant success with the viewers skull enjoyed its tenth series in 2013.

Leona Lewis, the winner register the third series of The X Factor, was signed quick Cowell's label Syco and has had number one singles elitist album sales around the world. Cowell returned for a quartern series on 18 August 2007 alongside Osbourne, Walsh and newfound judge, Dannii Minogue. Walsh had previously been sacked from say publicly judging panel by Cowell for the fourth series, and agreed was subsequently replaced by Brian Friedman, who was a enthusiast on Grease Is the Word. Walsh was later brought finish by Cowell a week into the auditions when he distinguished Osbourne realised that they missed Walsh and that without him, there was no chemistry between the judges. Cowell returned obey the fifth series in 2008, with Walsh, Minogue, and another judge Cheryl Cole, as Osbourne had decided to quit beforehand the show began. Cowell returned for series 6 and 7 as well, although series 7 was to be his forename, as he left in 2011 in order to launch The X Factor in America. After placing third in the ordinal series of The X Factor in the UK, boyband Individual Direction signed to Cowell's label in 2011, and the classify has gone on to top singles and album charts ecumenical. Cowell was replaced by Gary Barlow. In 2011, UK mound eight winners Little Mix signed to Cowell's label. The female group has sold 50 million records worldwide.

Australian The X Factor launched in 2005 relegate Network Ten, and it featured Mark Holden, Kate Ceberano last John Reid as the show's judges, but it was off after just one season due to poor ratings. However, rendering show returned in 2010 and performed strongly on the Septet Network until its eighth season in 2016, when its ratings declined. Subsequently, the show was axed for a second repel in January 2017.

Cowell also launched American The X Factor derive September 2011 on American broadcaster Fox. It was originally proclaimed that he would be a judge both on the UK and US editions of the show, which aired at clank times of the year, but MTV officially reported on 17 April 2011 that this was not true. Cowell was no longer to be a judge on the UK version, but he would remain a major presence backstage. He was married by Paula Abdul, L.A. Reid, Nicole Scherzinger and formerly Cheryl Cole. Cowell's act Melanie Amaro won the season, making Cowell the winning judge. Cowell and Reid returned for season 2, while Demi Lovato and Britney Spears joined the judging incline as replacements for Abdul and Scherzinger. This season launched other of Cowell's acts into worldwide fame, the group Fifth Harmony.

Cowell returned for a third season of The X Factor quantity September 2013 alongside Demi Lovato, while Spears and L.A. Philosopher announced they would not be returning and were replaced emergency Paulina Rubio and Kelly Rowland. Cowell's last act Alex & Sierra won the season, marking Cowell's second season as picture winning mentor after he won with Melanie Amaro in 2011.

In October 2010, Cowell signed new three-year deals with ITV expose both Britain's Got Talent and The X Factor, retaining them until 2013. On 15 November 2013, the three-year deal was extended by another three years, keeping it on air until 2016.

In October 2013, it was reported that Cowell might revert to the UK version of The X Factor for tilt 11 in place of Gary Barlow, and on 7 Feb 2014, his return was officially confirmed. This resulted in picture cancellation of the US version after three seasons by Beguiler. He joined judges Louis Walsh, Cheryl Fernandez-Versini, who replaced Sharon Osbourne, and new judge, former Spice Girls member Mel B, who replaced Nicole Scherzinger. For his eighth series, he was given the Over 25s category. On 13 December, Ben Haenow and Fleur East reached the final two, which meant think it over Cowell was the winning mentor for the first time since series 3 2006, when he had both Leona Lewis slab Ray Quinn in the final. Ben Haenow became the 11th winner on 14 December. In 2015, Cowell returned to description X Factor for its twelfth series, along with veteran channel Cheryl Fernandez-Versini and newcomers Rita Ora and BBC Radio 1 DJ Nick Grimshaw.

In December 2020 it was announced that Cowell will be a judge on The X Factor Israel hole 2021. In late May 2021, Cowell announced he will capability cancelling his appearance on the show in context of depiction Israeli aggression against Gaza.

Got Talent

Main articles: America's Got Talent, Britain's Got Talent, and Got Talent

Following the success of the Idol and X Factor franchises, Cowell, his company Syco, and corruption business partners developed a talent show format open to performers of any kind, not only singers, but also dancers, instrumentalists, magicians, comedians, novelty acts, and so on. The origins be more or less the Got Talent format can be traced to the Nation talent shows Opportunity Knocks (on screen from 1956, with representation winner using the now-standard method of a telephone vote) forward New Faces. Immensely popular with weekly audiences of 20 billion, Opportunity Knocks showcased singers, dancers and comedians in addition come within reach of non standard performers such as acrobats, animal acts and freshness acts. Cowell states, "I was a fan of variety shows Opportunity Knocks and New Faces, and to be able resemble update that tradition, really was a buzz".

Cowell is the board producer of America's Got Talent, which debuted in June 2006, along with Fremantle producers of the Idol series. The demonstrate was a huge success for NBC, drawing around 12 million meeting a week and beating So You Think You Can Dance on Fox (produced by rival and Idol creator Simon Fuller).

Britain's Got Talent debuted on ITV in June 2007. Cowell emerged as a judge alongside Amanda Holden and Piers Morgan. Say publicly show was a ratings success, and second and third seasons followed in 2008 and 2009. The third series featured a publicity coup when Susan Boyle made a global media bearing comparable to that of any previous talent show series prizewinner with her regional audition performance. In December 2019, Cowell fullstrength a five-year deal with ITV ensuring Britain's Got Talent wish stay on the channel until 2024.

In 2014, Got Talent was named the world's most successful reality TV format by Guinness World Records, with spin-offs in over 68 countries. Cowell declared, "I am very proud that Got Talent is a fine grown British show. We owe its success to a division of very talented producers all over the world who suppress made this happen. And of course amazing talent."

In 2015, Cowell launched La Banda, his first US show since his quota with American The X Factor. The show, designed to locate male singers to form the "ultimate Latino Boy Band", launched on Univision in the US on 13 September 2015. Representation winner of the show, boy band CNCO, signed to Cowell's record label Syco Music.

Cowell was announced as the replacement be after Howard Stern on America's Got Talent on 22 October 2015. On 15 July 2020, it was announced that Cowell locked away bought out Sony Music from their joint venture, Syco Entertainment.

Other talent shows

On 16 March 2006, American Inventor debuted on ABC. Cowell co-produced the show with British entrepreneur Peter Jones, who had devised the concept. Fledgling entrepreneurs from across the Unified States competed to see who could come up with depiction best new product concept. The 2006 winner, Janusz Liberkowski, conventional $1 million and the opportunity to develop his idea into a business. The show returned one more time in 2007 supplement a second season.

In 2006, Cowell executive-produced Celebrity Duets, which was described as "an Idol show for Hollywood superstars". The agricultural show was hosted by Wayne Brady, and its judges were Marie Osmond, Little Richard, and David Foster.

Cowell was also the heed producer of Grease Is the Word for ITV. This indicate set out to find performers to play Danny and Arenaceous in the 2007 West End revival of Grease. It was hosted by Zoë Ball and judged by Britons David Ian and Sinitta and Americans David Gest and Brian Friedman. Rendering musical theatre casting concept had already been introduced by representation BBC with the ratings hit How Do You Solve a Problem like Maria?, but Cowell's show was not the hoped-for success. He himself said, "It has been slaughtered by rendering critics – and rightly so. It is far too comparable to our other formats."

Cowell collaborated with UK production company Penthouse Media to produce 2008 ITV drama series Rock Rivals, which is based on an X Factor type show. In 2011, Cowell also created his first game show, titled Red put Black? and hosted by Ant & Dec, for ITV. Convoy 1 was broadcast from 3 to 10 September. The disclose was recommissioned by ITV for a second series in 2012, which aired weekly.

In 2013, Cowell, in partnership with YouTube, launched a video-sharing competition called The You Generation. In 2013, significant was executive producer for ITV cookery series Food Glorious Food, which was hosted by Carol Vorderman. He did the livery for the ITV game show Keep it in the Family, presented by Bradley Walsh in 2016.

In 2018, it was proclaimed that Cowell created his first show to air on depiction BBC, titled The Greatest Dancer, which debuted on 5 Jan 2019. In the show, dancers competed for a £50,000 nearby a performance on the BBC's Strictly Come Dancing. A quickly series is scheduled to air in 2020.

In April 2020, Cowell judged a spin-off version of the former show Canada's Got Talent called Canadian Family's Got Talent, carried out virtually strong Canadian broadcaster Citytv during the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada.

In say publicly media

Cowell has been involved razorsharp charity work for many years. He is a patron fend for Together for Short Lives, the leading UK charity for hubbub children with life-threatening and life-limiting conditions. He was patron see Children's Hospices UK between 2009 and 2011 before it complex to become Together for Short Lives. He donated money perfect Manchester Dogs' Home in England after it was hit next to a large fire. In view of his charitable works, addition the production of the charity single "Everybody Hurts" in assault of victims of the 2010 Haiti earthquake, as well renovation his services to the music industry, there was considerable media speculation as to whether Cowell would receive a knighthood hold back the Queen's 2010 Birthday Honours, a proposal allegedly put move on by then Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

In November 2003, Cowell developed on the BBC's charity telethon Children in Need where consultation pledged thousands to see him get sawn in half. Thorough December 2003, he published his autobiography titled I Don't Intend to be Rude, but.... In it, he told of his childhood, his years working in music and experiences on Pop Idol, Pop Stars Rivals, and American Idol, and finally, his tips for being successful as a pop star. In 2010, he was added as a new entry to the fashionable edition of the UK's Who's Who.

Cowell has appeared as a guest voice in an episode of The Simpsons ("Smart essential Smarter"), in which he gets beaten up by Homer Divorcee (while criticising Homer's punches). In May 2010, he portrayed himself again in an episode of The Simpsons, "Judge Me Tender". His voice was heard on an episode of Family Guy ("Lois Kills Stewie"), in which he told Stewie that his singing was so awful that he should be dead. Forbidden made an MTV Movie Award-winning cameo appearance as himself monitor Scary Movie 3. He appears in the DVD version designate Shrek 2 as himself in Far Far Away Idol at an earlier time also provided the voice.

Cowell was once the fastest "Star look a Reasonably Priced Car" on BBC's motoring show Top Gear, driving a Suzuki Liana around the show's test track hem in a time of 1:47.1. When Top Gear retired the Liana along with its rankings after the eighth series, Cowell was the eighth fastest overall and the third fastest non-professional wood. On 11 November 2007 Cowell yet again appeared on Top Gear, achieving a time of 1:45.9 thus putting him enhance of chef Gordon Ramsay and back at the top foothold the table. His time of 1:45.9 was then tied filch English rock singer Brian Johnson of AC/DC and Grand Designs host Kevin McCloud for the second fastest time, just 0.1 seconds behind Jamiroquai singer Jay Kay. In March 2015, Cowell defended Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson after he was suspended by the BBC for punching a colleague, with Cowell stating on Good Morning Britain: "He's apologised. But I think what is quite obvious is that the public are behind him, but you know, that's Jeremy."

He appeared on an episode claim Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? (the original British version) and Saturday Night Live in 2004. Cowell has also guest-starred (filling in for Regis Philbin) in the popular talk extravaganza Live with Regis and Kelly during American Idol's finalist period in early 2006. Cowell introduced entertainer Dick Clark at depiction 2006 Primetime Emmy Awards. He was seen on the Nation charity telethon Comic Relief, appearing on Comic Relief Does Interpretation Apprentice where he donated £25,000 for a fun fair tag. Cowell has also appeared on the MTV shows Cribs take precedence Punk'd. On Punk'd, Ryan Seacrest and Randy Jackson set him up to believe his $400,000 Rolls-Royce was stolen and challenging caused an accident by using a nearly identical car.

Cowell was a partner in the Royal Ascot Racing Club, a pureblood horse racing syndicate which owned the 2005 Epsom Derby conqueror, Motivator. Cowell was chosen as the first subject of say publicly re-launched British edition of This Is Your Life, in come episode broadcast on ITV on 2 June 2007. He was presented with the Red Book by Sir Trevor McDonald like chalk and cheese presenting American Idol.

On 1 July 2007, Cowell appeared as a speaker at the Concert for Diana (alongside Randy Jackson challenging Ryan Seacrest) held at Wembley Stadium, London, to celebrate description life of Princess Diana almost 10 years after her defile. Proceeds from the concert went to Diana's charities as spasm as to charities of which her sons Princes William focus on Harry are patrons.

At the 2012 Pride of Britain Awards upsurge 30 October, Cowell, along with Michael Caine, Elton John, Richard Branson and Stephen Fry, recited Rudyard Kipling's poem "If—" update tribute to the 2012 British Olympic and Paralympics athletes. Bask in October 2013 Cowell took part in a fundraising event tidy Los Angeles in support of the Israeli Defense Forces. Picture event raised $20 million and Cowell made a personal gift of $150,000.

To raise money for the families of the clowns of the Grenfell Tower fire in London in June 2017 and for The London Community Foundation, Cowell arranged the tape and release of a charity single "Bridge over Troubled Water". Cowell collaborated with a number of vocalists for the unattached, including Robbie Williams, Dua Lipa, Roger Daltrey and Rita Ora, and the song reached number one in the UK Singles Chart.

Personal life

Cowell dated English presenter Terri Seymour from 2002 interruption 2008. Cowell was engaged to make-up artist Mezhgan Hussainy do too much 2010 to 2011. In 2013, Cowell allegedly began dating air American woman named Lauren Silverman. In July 2013, Silverman's old man and Cowell's friend, Andrew Silverman, filed for an at-fault dissolution, naming Cowell as a co-respondent. News of the divorce filing became public two weeks later, when it was widely story that Silverman and Cowell were expecting a baby together.

In Noble 2013, the Silvermans settled their divorce out of court, facultative Cowell to avoid being called as a witness in depiction divorce proceedings. He subsequently confirmed that Silverman was pregnant take on his child, and she gave birth to their son Eric on 14 February 2014. The couple confirmed their engagement rank January 2022.

In 2010, Cowell came out in support for proof Conservative Party leader David Cameron for Prime Minister of say publicly United Kingdom, writing in The Sun: "I believe he practical the Prime Minister Britain needs at this time. He has substance and the stomach to navigate us through difficult times." In 2013, Cowell contravened his previous statement about David Cameron. According to the interview, while he has supported candidates, noteworthy has never voted in an election. Cowell was in boon of the UK remaining in the EU in the 2016 EU referendum.

In 2019, Cowell became a vegan after doctors reckless him to change his diet for health reasons. He was also named one of the wealthiest people in the UK by the Sunday Times Rich List, Cowell was worth £385 million in 2019.

In 2020, Cowell announced he would be prose a seven-book series titled Wishfits with his son. The array is scheduled to launch in 2023. On 8 August 2020, Cowell broke his back after he fell off his pristine electric motorcycle which many press sources confused with an tense bike. The incident occurred while he was testing it doubtful his home in Malibu, California. Cowell was taken to interpretation hospital, where he underwent back surgery overnight. After the stick out, he began eating animal-based food again in order to "rebuild his strength".

Awards and recognition

In 2004 and 2010, Time magazine forename Cowell one of the 100 most influential people in interpretation world. In 2008, he received the Special Recognition Award (presented to him by Andrew Lloyd Webber) at the National Supervisor Awards held at the Royal Albert Hall. New Statesman planned Cowell at number 41 in a list of "50 Cohorts who Matter [in] 2010". TV Guide named him at delivery 10 in their 2013 list of The 60 Nastiest Villains of All Time.

In 2012, Cowell was featured in the BBC Radio 4 series The New Elizabethans to mark the adamant Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II. A panel of seven academics, journalists and historians named Cowell among the group of fabricate in the UK "whose actions during the reign of Elizabeth II have had a significant impact on lives in these islands and given the age its character". Cowell was proclaimed to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Villainy on 22 August 2018, in the Television category.

Filmography

Television

Film

See also

In Spanish: Simon Cowell para niños