Noel Coward Trivia

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Enjoyed the music of Sergei Rachmaninoff.

1920: Started the turtle neck fashion fad.

Inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1988.

The character of Beverly Carlton in the Moss Hart/George S. Kaufman play "The Man Who Came to Dinner" was based on Coward.

Mentioned in the Rodgers & Hart song, "The Lady is a Tramp."

He once encountered Edna Ferber, who was wearing a tailored suit. "You look almost like a man," said Coward. "So do you," replied Ferber.

Won a Special Tony Award in 1970 "for his multiple and immortal contributions to the theatre." He also received two Tony nominations in 1964: as Best Director (Musical) for "High Spirits," which was based on his play "Blithe Spirit;" and as Best Author (Musical), along with collaborator Harry Kurnitz, for "The Girl Who Came to Supper," which was based on Terence Rattigan`s "The Sleeping Prince."

Was the first "tax exile," a British subject living outside the UK in order not to incur the income tax, to be knighted.

Befriended the ten-year-old Peter Collinson, when he was the governor of the orphanage where Collinson lived. Collinson later directed him in The Italian Job (1969). He subsequently became Collinson`s godfather.

He was director David Lean`s original choice for the role of Col. Nicholson in The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957). The role was ultimately played by Alec Guinness, who won a Best Actor Oscar for his performance.

Godfather of Juliet Mills.

Friend and neighbor of James Bond creator Ian Fleming.

Turned down the role of the eponymous villain in the first James Bond film, Dr. No (1962).

The character of Eric Dare in Cole Porter`s musical "Jubilee" is based on Coward.

Worked undercover for British Intellegence during WWII.

Turned down the role of Humbert in Lolita (1962).

Wrote some 140 plays, and hundreds of songs.

Mother named him Noel because his birthday arrived so close to Christmas.

Was knighted (Sir).

HRH Prince Edward Wessex unveiled a statue of Coward at a gathering of the Broadway theatre community on Monday, 1 March 1999, at the Gershwin Theatre (221 West 51st St.). The ceremony was the first in a year-long series of events in New York celebrating the 100th anniversary of the birth of the British playwright, songwriter, and performer.