Age, Biography and Wiki

William Donaldson was born on 4 January, 1935, is a British satirist, writer, playboy (1935–2005). Discover William Donaldson's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. Learn How rich is he in this year and how he spends money? Also learn how he earned most of networth at the age of 70 years old?

Popular As N/A
Occupation Satirist · writer · playboy
Age 70 years old
Zodiac Sign Capricorn
Born 4 January, 1935
Birthday 4 January
Birthplace N/A
Date of death 22 June, 2005
Died Place N/A
Nationality

We recommend you to check the complete list of Famous People born on 4 January. He is a member of famous writer with the age 70 years old group.

William Donaldson Height, Weight & Measurements

At 70 years old, William Donaldson height not available right now. We will update William Donaldson's Height, weight, Body Measurements, Eye Color, Hair Color, Shoe & Dress size soon as possible.

Physical Status
Height Not Available
Weight Not Available
Body Measurements Not Available
Eye Color Not Available
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Who Is William Donaldson's Wife?

His wife is Sonia Avory (m. 1957) Claire Gordon (m. 1968) Cherry Hatrick (m. 1986)

Family
Parents Not Available
Wife Sonia Avory (m. 1957) Claire Gordon (m. 1968) Cherry Hatrick (m. 1986)
Sibling Not Available
Children 1

William Donaldson Net Worth

His net worth has been growing significantly in 2023-2024. So, how much is William Donaldson worth at the age of 70 years old? William Donaldson’s income source is mostly from being a successful writer. He is from . We have estimated William Donaldson's net worth, money, salary, income, and assets.

Net Worth in 2024 $1 Million - $5 Million
Salary in 2024 Under Review
Net Worth in 2023 Pending
Salary in 2023 Under Review
House Not Available
Cars Not Available
Source of Income writer

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Timeline

1904

Son of Charles Glen Donaldson (1904–1956) and Elizabeth (née Stockley; d. 1955), Donaldson enjoyed a privileged upbringing in Sunningdale, Berkshire.

1935

Charles William Donaldson (4 January 1935 – 22 June 2005 ) was a British satirist, writer, playboy and, under the pseudonym of Henry Root, author of The Henry Root Letters.

1950

He completed his National Service in the Royal Navy in the late 1950s, reaching the rank of Sub-Lieutenant.

On his return to civilian life, Donaldson became associated with the set surrounding Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon, and worked as a theatrical producer.

1957

Donaldson married Sonia Avory in 1957 and they had a son named Charlie.

He left her for Jacki Ellis, then the wife of Jeffrey Bernard, but in due course she left him.

A sequence of affairs followed, including liaisons with Sarah Miles and Carly Simon.

He left Miles for Simon, whom he described as "the answer to any sane man's prayers; funny, quick, erotic, extravagantly talented", but this did not prevent him from jilting her while they were engaged and returning to Miles.

1960

His father was Managing Director of the Glasgow-based family shipping line, Donaldson Line, which until its sale in the early 1960s, was one of the largest passenger lines in the world.

He was educated at Winchester College (where he first met Julian Mitchell) and Magdalene College, Cambridge.

He spent some money supporting young writers such as his contemporaries Ted Hughes and Sylvia Plath.

He established himself as a central player in the British satire boom of the early 1960s, as co-producer, with Donald Albery, of Beyond the Fringe (1960), and of dramatisations of J. P. Donleavy's The Ginger Man (1959) and Spike Milligan's The Bed-Sitting Room (1963).

The pair earned a weekly £2,000 from Beyond the Fringe while the performers Peter Cook, Dudley Moore, Alan Bennett and Jonathan Miller were earning only £75.

The couple epitomised 1960s Swinging London.

He later remembered that "sex, whether in company or not, has been the only department in life in which I have demanded from anyone taking part the very highest standards of seriousness."

1968

In 1968, Donaldson received a substantial inheritance, and in 1971 he left Britain for Ibiza, where he imprudently spent his last £2,000 on a glass-bottomed boat.

Before long he was scavenging for food on the beach.

Returning to London, he found refuge with a former girlfriend who was running a brothel on the Fulham Road.

In 1968, Donaldson inherited another fortune and married Claire Gordon.

1975

His experiences there formed the basis of his first novel, Both the Ladies and the Gentlemen (1975).

Donaldson's fictional letter-writer Henry Root made him a final fortune.

Root's satirical lampooning of the rich, famous, and influential was published in the books:

Donaldson lived at 139 Elm Park Mansions on Park Walk, Chelsea, London SW10, from which address all the Root letters were sent.

Nearby, The Henry Root restaurant has been established in his memory.

1980

The phenomenal success of the Henry Root books, especially the first, enabled Donaldson to resume his earlier chaotic lifestyle, and in the mid-1980s he began using crack cocaine.

He continued its use for more than a decade, but insisted he was not addicted.

1983

Donaldson also wrote under other names, including Dr Kit Bryson, Jean-Luc Legris, and Selina Fitzherbert (who "together" wrote The Complete Naff Guide (1983) and other related books; Donaldson's co-author was Simon Carr, who would write an obituary of Donaldson for The Independent), Talbot Church, and Liz Reed.

1986

Donaldson's third marriage, in 1986, was to Cherry Hatrick, who survived him; they separated six months after their marriage.

1990

In the 1990s he also had a column in The Independent.

2002

Donaldson's biographical survey of roguish Britons through the ages, Brewer's Rogues, Villains and Eccentrics (2002), has been described as "a breathtaking triumph of misdirected scholarship".

Donaldson also wrote novels including the semi-autobiographical 'Is This Allowed'.