Meet Paul Nicholas’ Parents: Oscar Beuselinck and Marjorie Beuselinck

Paul Nicholas, born Paul Oscar Beuselinck on December 3, 1944, in Peterborough, England, is a distinguished English actor and singer whose multifaceted career spans music, theatre, and television.

Of Belgian descent through his father, he is the son of Oscar Beuselinck, a prominent showbusiness lawyer, and Marjorie Beuselinck, who worked at Bletchley Park during World War II. His paternal grandfather, also named Oscar, was a Belgian chef, adding to his European heritage.

Raised in London following his parents’ divorce when he was 12, Nicholas lived with his mother in a modest flat. These formative years included regular visits to the cinema, which ignited his lifelong passion for musical theatre. He is not known to have any siblings, and details about his religious background have not been publicly disclosed.

Nicholas began his entertainment career as a pop singer in his late teens, performing under the stage names Paul Dean and Oscar. He later transitioned into musical theatre, achieving acclaim for his lead role in Jesus Christ Superstar in the West End.

His television breakthrough came with the role of Vince Pinner in the BAFTA-winning BBC sitcom Just Good Friends, solidifying his status in British entertainment.

Oscar Beuselinck

Oscar Beuselinck, Paul Nicholas’ father, was a larger-than-life figure whose career as a showbusiness lawyer made him a prominent name in the entertainment world.

Born on October 10, 1919, Oscar’s early life was marked by humble beginnings. He left school at 14 to work as a tea boy at a solicitors’ firm, Wright & Webb, in central London. Through sheer determination and tenacity, he rose through the ranks to eventually run the firm, becoming a highly esteemed lawyer specializing in media and entertainment law.

Oscar’s client list read like a who’s who of the showbiz world, including luminaries such as Sean Connery, The Beatles, John Osborne, Richard Harris, and the satirical magazine Private Eye. His work extended beyond legal counsel; he was a director of Woodfall Films, which produced iconic films like The Entertainer and Tom Jones.

Described by journalist Kathleen Tynan as “unorthodox, flamboyant, the delight of almost everybody in the world of entertainment,” Oscar was known for his wit, charm, and performative nature, often entertaining clients and colleagues with his humour. A 1976 profile quoted him humorously claiming that his personal life had been costly, a trait that inspired characters in plays like John Osborne’s Inadmissible Evidence.

Oscar’s wartime service added another layer to his colourful life. Fluent in Flemish due to his Belgian heritage—his father, also named Oscar Beuselinck, was a chef in the merchant navy during World War II and later head chef on the Union-Castle Line ships—Oscar reportedly worked for MI6 during the war, leveraging his language skills.

His flamboyant personality and professional success, however, were tempered by personal challenges. He was married multiple times, and his marriage to Marjorie ended in divorce when Paul was 12 years old.

Despite their separation, Oscar remained a significant influence on Paul, teaching him the value of courtesy with the phrase “courtesy costs nothing,” a lesson Paul passed on to his own children. Oscar passed away in 1997 at the age of 77, leaving behind a legacy as a legal titan and a charismatic figure.

Marjorie Beuselinck

Marjorie Beuselinck, Paul Nicholas’ mother, was a woman of resilience and quiet strength. Her contributions during World War II and her role in Paul’s early life were significant.

During the war, Marjorie worked at Bletchley Park, the famed codebreaking center instrumental in cracking the Enigma code. Although Paul humorously noted that she “wasn’t a codebreaker, though she wasn’t bad at crosswords,” her work at Bletchley Park placed her at the heart of one of the most critical intelligence operations of the war.

Marjorie’s early life was rooted in working-class London. Her father was a docker, and the family spent holidays at her parents’ home on the Isle of Sheppey until Paul was 10. After her divorce from Oscar, Marjorie raised Paul in a modest flat, introducing him to the world of performing arts through trips to the cinema.

Paul credits her with sparking his love for musical films, which brought colour to the “grey” post-war England of the late 1940s and 1950s. Her influence was foundational in Paul’s decision to pursue an entertainment career, providing him with early exposure to the arts despite their modest circumstances.

Marjorie lived a long life, passing away five years before Paul’s 2015 interview with the Daily Mail, at the age of 92. Her quiet dedication to her family and her wartime service highlight her as an unsung hero in Paul’s story, offering stability and inspiration during his formative years.