Howard Donald
Known for Acting · 63 credits
- Born
- 1968-04-28 (age 58)
- Place of birth
- Droylsden, Lancashire, England, UK
- Also known as
- How · DJ HD · Take That
Biography
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.
Known For
TV Shows (16)
The Graham Norton Show
2007
as Self
Top of the Pops
1964
as Self - Host
LIVE with Kelly and Mark
1988
as Self
An Audience with...
1978
as Self
Celebrity Juice
2008
as Self
Le monde est à vous
1987
as Self - Take That
Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway
2002
as Self - Performer
Skavlan
2009
as Self - Guest
The BRIT Awards
1977
as Self
Michael McIntyre's The Wheel
2020
as Self - Expert
Blauer Panther
1989
as Self
Live & Kicking
1993
as Self
Shopping with Keith Lemon
2019
as Self - Special Guest
Take That
2026
as Self
Paul O'Grady's Saturday Night Line Up
2021
as Self - Guest
TFI Friday
2015
as Self
Movies (47)
The Coronation Concert
2023
as Self
One Love Manchester
2017
as Self
The 90s: Ten Years That Changed the World
2015
as Self (archive footage)
London 2012 Olympic Closing Ceremony: A Symphony of British Music
2012
as Self - Take That
Take That: Nobody Else - The Movie
1995
as Self
Concert for Diana
2007
as Self - Take That
Greatest Days
2023
as Train Busker
An Audience with Take That
2006
as Self
Children in Need Rocks the Royal Albert Hall
2009
as Self
Take That: In Session At Abbey Road
2009
as Self
Take That's Greatest Days: 30 Years in the Making
2023
as Self
Take That: Look Back, Don't Stare
2010
as Self
Die Helene Fischer Show 2014
2014
as Self - Take That
Take That: Wonderland Live from the O2
2017
as Self
Take That: The Ultimate Tour
2006
as Self
Take That play Baloise Session
2025
as Self : Vocals
Take That: Progress Live
2011
as Self
Take That: The Circus Live
2010
as Self
Take That - Hometown: Live at Manchester G-Mex
1995
as Self
Take That: Come To Town
2008
as Self
Take That & Party
1992
as Self
Take That: Live At Primavera, Madrid
2007
as Self
Take That: The Journey
2008
as Self
Take That: For the Record
2006
as Self
Take That: Odyssey - Greatest Hits Live
2019
as Self
Take That - Live in Berlin
1994
as Self
The Truth About Take That
2004
as Self
Take That - Live at the Capital's Jingle Bell Ball 2023
2023
as Self
Take That: Everything Changes
1994
as Self
Take That: These Days On Tour
2015
as Self
Take That: Odyssey - Greatest Hits Live
2019
as Self
Take That: The Ultimate Story
2006
as Self
Take That Away!
1993
as Self
Take That: The Party - Live at Wembley
1993
as Self
Take That: This Life – Live In Concert
2024
as Himself
Take That - Never Forget - The Ultimate Collection
2005
as Self (archive footage)
Top of the Pops: The True Story
2001
as Self
Take That - Beautiful World Live
2008
as Self
Take That: We've Come a Long Way
2018
as Self
Take That: Where Did It All Go Right ?
2009
as Self
Radio 2 In Concert Take That
2023
as Self
Take That: Tape That
1994
as Self
Take That at the BBC
2022
as Himself
Take That: Apple Music Festival
2015
as Self
An Evening with Take That
2017
as Self
Take That Live 2015
2015
as Self
Robbie Williams: BRITs Icon
2016
as Self
About Howard Donald
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 incl… With 63 credits spanning from 1964 to 2026, Howard Donald has appeared in 47 films and 16 TV shows.
Fans searching for Howard Donald movies, Howard Donald filmography, or the latest projects starring Howard Donald can stream many of these titles on CineFlixo, free and in HD, with no subscription required.
Most Popular Howard Donald Movies
- The Coronation Concert (2023) — as Self
- One Love Manchester (2017) — as Self
- The 90s: Ten Years That Changed the World (2015) — as Self (archive footage)
- London 2012 Olympic Closing Ceremony: A Symphony of British Music (2012) — as Self - Take That
- Take That: Nobody Else - The Movie (1995) — as Self
Where to Watch Howard Donald Films
Most Howard Donald movies and series are available to stream on CineFlixo in full HD, completely free and without signup. Browse the complete filmography above to jump directly to any title. For more films and the latest web series featuring Howard Donald, check our movies catalogue and browse page.