Gary Holton 22 September 1952 - 25 October 1985

Gary was born on 22 September 1952 in Lambeth, East London. He was Ernie and Joan Holton's first son, being followed by Tony in 1957 and Nigel in 1961. As an eleven year old child he began working in the theatre with the Sadlers Wells Opera Company and was with them for three years. Soon after leaving the public Westminster school he joined the Old Vic Theatre Company and from there he went on to work with the Royal Shakespeare Company at Stratford.

Speaking in 1985 Gary reminisced about his early years as a budding actor: "That's when I learned to give a lot of lip, I used to mince into school with me Max Factor bag and the previous night's stage make-up on me face. I had to be tough, otherwise the other kids would've beaten the hell out of me. Me Grandad was a totter, and me parents divorced so I was brought up by me Granny. She used to sing old music hall songs while I did her corns for her and that's how I got interested in show business. She's dead now, but she's still with me, tapping me on the shoulder every now and then..."

At seventeen Gary joined the touring company of Hair and remained with them for two years. His theatre work included His Master's Voice for the Half Moon Theatre, playing Derek in Once a Catholic which was directed by Michael Bogdanov for the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield; acting alongside John Stride in There's A Girl In My Soup and for three seasons Gary acted with Sir Laurence Olivier in Love For Love.

Many thanks to Harry "Aitch" Fielder for the Shoestring photo

After treading the boards, Gary's musical talents lead him to front, amongst other bands, the London based punk/rockers Heavy Metal Kids. Despite a strong live following, the band didn't quite make the big time and after the band's demise Gary played a lead part in Stephen Frears' gritty film Bloody Kids. Soon after roles in other films came along including Music Machine, appearing with Hazel O'Connor in Breaking Glass and also appearing as a Rocker in Franc Roddam's 1979 film Quadrophenia.

Gary's television work included David Hare's Dreams of Leaving, playing the tragic Mole in Shoestring, Eddie Hairstyle in The Knowledge and Tiny Revolutions for Granada Television; The Gentle Touch for LWT; Water for Central and A Number of Old Wives' Tales for Euston Films Ltd. Theatre work includes Derek in Once a Catholic directed by Michael Bogdanov for the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield; There's A Girl In My Soup; and His Master's Voice for the Half Moon Theatre. Gary's big break came with the character Wayne in the Central Television production Auf Wiedersehen Pet.

Speaking in 2002 Gary's Mother, Joan, explained that, like many actors, when Gary visited her he didn't talk much about show business, he preferred to catch up on family news and just relax. "He loved to curl up in a chair and go to sleep or pootle around in the garden. "What time's dinner?" - that sort of thing." Joan and Ernie Holton were landlords of pubs the Wellington in Welshpool and the Crown & Sceptre in Minsterley, where Gary grew accustomed to socialising with the customers. "We were living in Houndwood at the time, I was a pub landlady, later he served behind the bar and when he was eighteen all the customers sent him birthday cards. He'd go and sit with the customers and play dominoes...he'd come home and relax..."

We now have three interviews with Gary reflecting on his life and times:
    Melody Maker Interview: March 31, 1984
    Daily Mirror Interview: January 19, 1985
    NME Interview: August 9, 1975
 

Auf Wiedersehen star in driving ban

Gary Holton, star of TV comedy series Auf Wiedersehen Pet, was banned from driving and fined £450 yesterday (3rd June 1985) on a drink driving charge. Before facing Magistrates at Clerkenwell London, Holton 32, who plays Wayne the cheeky Cockney womaniser in the series, lived up to his screen image.

He arrived at court on a bycycle, wearing a white t-shirt, white shorts and no socks. And just to complete the picture - in true Wayne style - a pair of sunglasses was strung around his neck and a ring dangled from his left ear. But after a brief consultation with his Solicitor, Holton left the court with his manager. When they returned 20 minutes later, the actor was wearing a pair of brew slacks.

Holton told Magistrates he had drunk Port & Lemon during a West End show to soothe his sore throat. Police stopped him later as he tried to drive off outside the Piccadilly Theatre where he was starring in Pump Boys & Dinettes. "I didn't realise I was over the limit" he said. But the Magistrate, Mr. John Davis told Holton "You had two and a half times the legal limit of alcohol in your blood and could not possibly have failed to realise this."

After the hearing Holton sipped at a lager and said "I didn't realise I was drunk because I was still so high on adrenalin after the show. The Police did me a favour. If I had driven I would've killed somebody." Now Holton will say Auf Wiedersehen to motoring and will travel around town by bycycle.

Drinks note: A spokesman for Tennants Pilsner, whose lager commercial Holton appears in, said last night that the advert would continue for the time being.

Another pint here, when you're ready...

The Dog & Bear, a name associated with Bridlesmith Gate, was a pub to stand back and admire before you went inside. Its fine stone frontage boasted eighteen gargoyles and three wrought iron balconies. It got its name from the once-popular national pastime of bear-baiting which used to take place in nearby Weekday Cross. Its sandblasted windows depicted a dog attacking a bear, look into a four-roomed pub which was later converted and modernised into a large L-shaped bar where manager Bill Bowman and his wife Olive were mine hosts during the 1970s.

Several years later, locals were in for a surprise one night when they were served by Auf Wiedersehen, Pet actor Gary Holton, complete with trademark red-streaked hair. Gary would often call in to the Dog & Bear for a drink when the filming crew were on location in Nottingham. One day, Gary challenged then-landlord Rob Koschmann to a "Slammers" contest to see who could down the most vodka and tonics whilst they were still fizzing. Sadly for Gary, he keeled over after eight as the no-nonsense landlord was still on his own two feet. Gary's forfeit was a four hour stint behind the bar. The shift earned him £7.20 which he promptly donated to the Bradford Fire Appeal...but only after he completed clearing up and emptied the ashtrays under the eagle eye of landlord Bob.

The Tennants ads

During 1984 Gary appeared in a string of highly successful Tennants Pilsner lager commercials alongside former Page 3 model Debbie Linden. Debbie spoke fondly of her role alongside Gary. "We had such a laugh making those commercials. Gary was a riot. The joke was neither of us had ever been on a tandem before and we couldn't ride the thing. There was all these muscle men about looking like Greek Gods and there was puny Gary and me falling off the bike and collapsing in a heap of laughter". Debbie also revealed that because of drugs Gary was unable to drink the lager without being ill. She said: "You can't drink much if you're on heroin, but Gary being the professional, he just kept drinking and had to keep going off set to be sick. Gary was so talented but was bogged down by heroin".

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