Gary Holton
| Gary Holton | |
|---|---|
Performing in 1974.
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Gary Frederick Holton |
| Born |
22 September 1952 London, England |
| Died | 25 October 1985 (aged 33) Wembley, London, England |
| Genres | Glam rock, hard rock, folk rock |
| Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter, actor, musician |
| Instruments | Vocals, guitar, keyboards, harmonica |
| Years active | 1971–1985 |
| Labels | Safari, Receiver Records Limited, Magnet |
| Associated acts | The Koobas/Gary & Stu,Heavy Metal Kids, The Actors, Casino Steel, Mick Rossi |
Gary Frederick Holton (22 September 1952 – 25 October 1985) was an English singer-songwriter, musician and actor from London. He was the frontman of the band Heavy Metal Kids (1972–77), he worked with Casino Steel (1981–84), and played the part of Wayne in the UK television comedy Auf Wiedersehen, Pet (1983–85). Holton died from an overdose of morphine combined with alcohol in 1985.
Gary was the first child of Ernie and Joan Holton, and grew up in Kennington, South London. Whilst musically talented, he was first in a rock band as a schoolboy at Beaufoy School, Lambeth, his real ambition was to act.
Early on in his life, he began working in the theatre world with the Sadler's Wells Opera Company, debuting in opera appearances aged eleven, and was with them for three years. In 1966 he had a part in Congreve's Love For Love with Laurence Olivier, and at fourteen played the title role in Menotti's Amahl and the Night Visitors. Soon after leaving education at Westminster School, he joined the Old Vic Theatre Company, and from there he went on to work with the Royal Shakespeare Company at Stratford.
At seventeen, he joined the touring company of Hair, and remained with them for two years. When he left the company, his musical talents led him to front the rock band Heavy Metal Kids as vocalist.
Holton made his acting debut in 1979, when he played the character of Eddie Hairstyle in the television movie The Knowledge with Michael Elphick and Kim Taylforth. Holton did not receive much credit for this role, and neither did he get much credit for his role as an uncredited character in the film Quadrophenia, released the same year. However, Holton, after appearing in the television series Shoestring, played the lead part of Ken in the 1979 film Bloody Kids.
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