David Harold Ward Hartnell is a New Zealand journalist and media personality best known for his Hollywood gossip column and best- and worst-dressed lists. He was the first full-time celebrity gossip columnist in New Zealand and his work appeared in print, radio and television. His syndicated columns have run in magazines and newspapers around the world. Hartnell is the author of ten books, the Patron of the Variety Artists Club of New Zealand Inc and the Ambassador of St James Saviours. In April 2014 he was named Ambassador of the Prostate Cancer Foundation of New Zealand and in September 2016 the Patron of the Brotherhood of Auckland Magicians Inc.
Biography
Hartnell was born in the Auckland suburb of Sandringham in 1944 as David Segetin. As a child he became interested in magic and roller-skating. He was raised by his mother and grandparents after his father left when he was young. He later discovered a half-brother and sister who knew nothing of his existence. In 1959 he was a runner-up in the dance pairs at the World Roller Skating Championships in Christchurch. After moving to Sydney he found a position with Revlon and became Australia's first in-store male make-up artist. He made-up comedian Phyllis Diller as a publicity stunt and the pair became lifelong friends. After a sojourn in Hong Kong, Hartnell moved to London and worked as a makeup artist for instore promotions, magazine shoots and the 1970 Miss World pageant. He moved to New York for a position with Maybelline and then relocated to Los Angeles. It was at this time that Hartnell began to interview the celebrities he met. Returning to New Zealand in 1975, Hartnell became involved with TVNZtelevision showsTown Cryer and Two on One and became a celebrity himself. He became involved with radio with weekly slots on Radio Pacific and Radio i and later appeared with radio personality Alice Worsley on New Zealand's first-ever television shopping show. His Hollywood gossip columns appeared in NZ Woman's Weekly, Woman's Day and the Sunday News and his catchphrases "I'm not one to gossip but..." and "my lips are sealed" became part of New Zealand popular culture. In 1981, Hartnell began his popular New Zealand's best- and worst-dressed lists, a yearly swipe at Kiwi celebrities that has become a tradition. He was the chairman of the judges for the Miss New Zealand contest between 1982 and 1987. In 1995 he fronted The David Hartnell Show, a chat show on New Zealand's Triangle Television. In 2009 Hartnell became a patron of the Variety Artists Club of New Zealand Inc. In the 2011 Queen's Birthday Honours, he was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to entertainment. His book Memoirs of a Gossip Columnist was published in 2011. In September 2012 Hartnell was named an Ambassador of St James Saviours, the trust formed to save the iconic Auckland theatre. In April 2014 he was named Ambassador of the Prostate Cancer Foundation of New Zealand. In September 2016 he was made patron of the Brotherhood of Auckland Magicians Inc. He has lived with his partner Somboon Khansuk since 1993. In October 2017 he was presented with the President's Medallion from the Variety Artists Club of New Zealand in recognition of his services as Patron.
