Howard Donald

Acting

Howard Donald

Born 1968-04-28 · Droylsden, Lancashire, England, UK

Howard Paul Donald (born 28 April 1968) is an English singer, songwriter, drummer, pianist, dancer, DJ and record producer. He is a member of the pop group Take That. He was also judge on the German reality talent show Got to Dance from 2013 to 2014, during a Take That-hiatus. Donald was educated at Littlemoss High School in Droylsden, gaining no GCSEs, and trained for three years as a vehicle painter, on the Youth Training Scheme (YTS). A budding DJ, his musical interests were largely informed by his brother Colin's vinyl collection, and included electronic acts such as Kraftwerk, John Foxx, Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD) and Gary Numan. As a teenager Donald became interested in dancing and frequented the burgeoning breakdancing circuit in the Greater Manchester area, where he would first come into contact with future bandmate Jason Orange. He auditioned for Nigel Martin-Smith's new boy band project at his office in Manchester and was selected. The group was eventually named Take That. Nigel Martin-Smith recruited Donald, along with Gary Barlow, Jason Orange, Mark Owen and Robbie Williams to form a British boyband, Take That. The band enjoyed five years of success until Williams left in 1995, leaving them to carry on as a quartet. Along with Orange, Donald featured less on lead vocals than Barlow, Owen and Williams during the band's first era, however did sing lead vocal on the single "Never Forget", which reached No. 1 in the UK in 1995. In early 1996, Donald's bandmates Barlow, Owen and Orange came to the difficult decision that Take That was to split. They told Donald, who was not happy, but went along with their decision. Following the split, Donald attempted a solo career, recording an unreleased single, "Speak Without Words", and returned to DJing. In the 2005 documentary Take That: For the Record, Donald confessed to being unstable enough to have the intention of committing suicide by drowning himself in the River Thames, not long after the split. In 2005, Take That reformed and announced a reunion tour, The Ultimate Tour in the summer of 2006, following the release of their Greatest Hits album, Never Forget: The Ultimate Collection. The tour was followed in late 2006 by their first studio album since 1995, Beautiful World, and from it they achieved two number ones in "Patience" and "Shine". Beautiful World featured Donald on lead vocals on two tracks; "Beautiful World" and "Mancunian Way". The song "Mancunian Way" is a tribute to the band's hometown of Manchester. On the 2008 Take That album The Circus, Donald sang lead on two tracks, "What Is Love" and "Here". He also shared lead vocals with the rest of the band on the album's opening track, "The Garden". On the 2010 Take That album Progress, Donald sang lead vocals on the track "Affirmation". He also played drums on several songs on the Progress album and mixed a B-side track for the second single "Kidz" called "Revenge of the Kidz". On the 2017 Take That album Wonderland, Donald sang lead vocals on "Every Revolution". In 2021, Donald appeared on The Masked Dancer, masked as Zip. He reached the final and was unmasked in third place. Donald was one of the judges on a dancing show Got to Dance in Germany from 2013 to 2014. ... Source: Article "Howard Donald" from Wikipedia in English, licensed under CC-BY-SA 3.0.

Acting credits

One Love Manchester poster
8.4

Live coverage of the concert set up by Ariana Grande at Old Trafford cricket ground to benefit those affected by the May 2017 Manchester bomb attack. Performers include Ariana Grande, Justin Bieber, Coldplay, Katy Perry, Take That, Pharrell Williams, Niall Horan, Miley Cyrus, Usher, Robbie Williams, Little Mix and The Black Eyed Peas.

One Love Manchester

2017

Greatest Days poster
6.1

Based on the Take That musical, five best friends have the night of their lives seeing their favourite boy band in concert. Twenty-five years later, their lives have changed in many different ways as they reunite for one more epic show by their beloved band, to relight their friendship and discover that maybe their greatest days are ahead of them.

Greatest Days

2023

London 2012 Olympic Closing Ceremony: A Symphony of British Music poster
6.9

The closing ceremony of the games of the XXXth Olympiad.

London 2012 Olympic Closing Ceremony: A Symphony of British Music

2012

Concert for Diana poster
7.6

Concert for Diana was a benefit concert held at the then newly built Wembley Stadium in London, United Kingdom in honour of Diana, Princess of Wales, on 1 July 2007, which would have been her 46th birthday. 31 August that year brought the 10th anniversary of her death. The concert was hosted by Diana's sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, who helped to organise many of the world's most famous entertainers and singers to perform. Proceeds from the concert went to Diana's charities, as well as to charities of which William and Harry are patrons. The concert was broadcast in 140 countries with an estimated potential audience of 500 million. In December 2006, 22.500 tickets were made available for purchase for the concert, selling out in just 17 minutes. 63.000 people turned out to Wembley Stadium to watch the performances to commemorate Diana.

Concert for Diana

2007

The 90s: Ten Years That Changed the World poster
8.7

Documentary that outlines the 1990s and the decade the changed the world.

The 90s: Ten Years That Changed the World

2015

Top of the Pops: The True Story poster
NR

BBC documentary on the long-running British TV show, Top of the Pops.

Top of the Pops: The True Story

2001

Children in Need Rocks the Royal Albert Hall poster
NR

Children in Need Rocks the Royal Albert Hall is a charity music concert held at the Royal Albert Hall in London, England on 12 November 2009. The concert was organised by Take That singer Gary Barlow as one of a series of events to raise money for Children in Need 2009. The huge success of the concert inspired Barlow to organise Children in Need Rocks Manchester at the Manchester Arena, Manchester in 2011.

Children in Need Rocks the Royal Albert Hall

2009

The Coronation Concert poster
6.0

Take That, Lionel Richie, Katy Perry, Andrea Bocelli, Sir Bryn Terfel, Freya Ridings and many more perform live from Windsor Castle in celebration of Their Majesties' coronation.

The Coronation Concert

2023

Take That play Baloise Session poster
NR

The legendary British boy band of the 1990s, successfully reunited, delivers an exclusive performance in the intimate atmosphere of the Baloise Session. After Robbie Williams left, Take That, one of the most famous British boy bands of the 1990s, reunited in 2005, continuing their career with seven albums and numerous successful performances, occasionally welcoming back their star singer. In this live performance, which closed the opening night of the 2024 edition of the Basel festival, the three original members Gary Barlow, Howard Donald, and Mark Owen play their latest album This Life in an intimate and warm atmosphere, not forgetting, of course, the hits that made their millions of fans dance: "Pray," "Back for Good," and "Patience." Recorded on October 17, 2024, in Basel, Switzerland.

Take That play Baloise Session

2025

Take That: The Circus Live poster
7.2

A concert tour video by reunited British boyband, Take That promoting their fifth studio album, The Circus. The tour began on 5 June 2009 in Sunderland and finished on 5 July 2009 at London's Wembley Stadium.

Take That: The Circus Live

2010

Die Helene Fischer Show 2014 poster
9.0

No synopsis available yet.

Die Helene Fischer Show 2014

2014

Take That - Beautiful World Live poster
6.5

Reformed boy band icons Take That return with songs from the album BEAUTIFUL WORLD and a plethora of their classic tracks. Includes the songs 'Back For Good', 'Pray', 'Shine', and many more. Filmed live at 'The O2' London England

Take That - Beautiful World Live

2008

Take That: Look Back, Don't Stare poster
7.4

A documentary telling the story of the newly reformed Take That. Global mega star 'Robbie Williams' rejoins his former band mates for the first time in over 15 years to record Take That's sixth studio album 'Progress'. 'Look Back, Don't Stare' gives a brutally honest account of how Williams return to the group has affected the other four members and shows how the pressures of fame and the relentless power struggle for artistic leadership between Williams and Barlow contributed to the break up of one of the best selling bands of the 90's.

Take That: Look Back, Don't Stare

2010

Take That: The Ultimate Story poster
NR

The story behind their spectacular comeback and tour!

Take That: The Ultimate Story

2006

Take That: Progress Live poster
7.2

This year Take That embarked on the biggest tour the UK and Ireland had ever seen breaking all previous records. The Progress Live Tour went through 29 UK stadiums and played to over 1.8 million people. Progress Live 2011 tour, was one of the biggest and most anticipated reunions of the summer, with Gary Barlow, Howard Donald, Jason Orange, Mark Owen and Robbie Williams, playing to massive sell-out audiences around the UK and Ireland.

Take That: Progress Live

2011

Robbie Williams: BRITs Icon poster
NR

Having already won 17 BRIT Awards as a solo artist and as part of Take That, Robbie Williams can now add the BRITs Icon to his trophy case. He’s not in any danger of losing his record as the most-awarded BRITs winner in history any time soon! Robbie celebrates this accolade in style, with a special, one-off London show at the Troxy on 7 November 2016, which was broadcast on ITV.

Robbie Williams: BRITs Icon

2016

The Truth About Take That poster
NR

Documentary about British boy band Take That

The Truth About Take That

2004

Take That: For the Record poster
10.0

The documentary reveals the untold stories and myths behind Take That, Britain's most successful boy band since The Beatles.

Take That: For the Record

2006

Take That: Odyssey - Greatest Hits Live poster
8.7

Celebrating 30 incredible years, Take That are bringing their huge 2019 Greatest Hits tour to cinemas for one night only! Broadcast LIVE on Saturday 8 June, you’ll have front row seats as Gary, Mark and Howard perform their biggest hits from the last three decades. Get ready to throw your hands in the air – this is one party you’ll never forget!

Take That: Odyssey - Greatest Hits Live

2019

No artwork available
10.0

Exciting music and entertainment special that sees a celebrity-packed audience and millions of fans at home screaming their tribute to international pop stars Take That.

An Audience with Take That

2006

Take That & Party poster
8.0

Take That's video accompaniment to their first album TAKE THAT & PARTY. Includes exclusive interviews and music videos.

Take That & Party

1992

Take That: Everything Changes poster
8.0

Take That's video accompaniment to their second album EVERYTHING CHANGES. Includes exclusive interviews and music videos.

Take That: Everything Changes

1994

Take That - Hometown: Live at Manchester G-Mex poster
10.0

Take That's third concert tour. Recorded live in Manchester.

Take That - Hometown: Live at Manchester G-Mex

1995

Take That Live 2015 poster
9.7

An in-concert film of Take That performing live at The 02 in London on June 19, 2015.

Take That Live 2015

2015