Gary Wilmot facts for kids

Harold Owen "Gary" Wilmot, MBE (born 8 May 1954) is a famous British actor. He first became well-known after appearing on a TV show called New Faces.

Gary is also a popular TV presenter. He hosted shows like You and Me and So You Want To Be Top. He has starred in many big musicals in London's West End. Some of these include Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Wicked.

In 2018, Gary Wilmot was given a special award. He became a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE). This was to recognise his amazing work in acting and for helping charities.

Gary Wilmot's Early Life

Gary Wilmot was born in Lambeth, London. His mother was English, and his father was Jamaican. His dad, Harry, came to Britain on the Empire Windrush ship in 1948.

Gary's father was a singer in a group called The Southlanders. Sadly, his father passed away when Gary was young. Even with these show business roots, Gary didn't start in the spotlight. He worked on building sites and in factories. But he soon realised that this kind of work wasn't for him.

Gary Wilmot on Television

Gary started his entertainment career after a friend told an agent about his talent. He began performing in variety shows. His big break came in 1978 on New Faces. He was part of a comedy duo and they made it to the finals!

This led to many more TV appearances. He was on shows like Copy Cats and The Keith Harris Show. One of his most famous TV jobs was hosting the BBC children's quiz show So You Want To Be Top. He hosted it with Leni Harper.

In 1994, Gary hosted a show called Showstoppers. On this programme, he sang songs from musicals with special guests. The show was so popular that they made more episodes. Gary also directed and toured with a live version of Showstoppers. It was a huge hit, playing many dates across the country.

Gary Wilmot in Theatre

In 1989, Gary Wilmot started performing in musicals. His first big role was in Me and My Girl in London's West End. He played the main character, Bill Snibson, for two years. Critics loved his performance. One even called him a "Musical Talent of the Highest Order."

Gary was nominated for a "Best Actor" award at the Olivier Awards. After that, he starred in Carmen Jones and the musical Copacabana.

In 2001, Gary played Bottom in A Midsummer Night's Dream. He also played the Pirate King in The Pirates of Penzance on a national tour. In 2003, he took on the role of Caractacus Potts in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. He performed this role at the London Palladium and later on a UK tour. Gary also played Billy Flynn in the musical Chicago.

Gary has appeared in many other stage shows. These include Oliver!, Half a Sixpence, and The Wizard of Oz. More recently, he has been in The Prince of Egypt and Wicked. He also played Elisha J. Whitney in Anything Goes in the West End.

Gary has also been a star in many pantomimes since 1986. These are fun, family-friendly shows. He often plays the "dame" character. He has performed in pantomimes at the London Palladium. These include Dick Whittington and Goldilocks and the Three Bears. He often performs alongside other stars like Julian Clary.

Gary Wilmot's Music Career

Gary Wilmot has released several solo albums. These include Love Situation, The Album, and Double Standards.

In 1991, Gary worked with a record producer named Nigel Wright. They recorded a mix of songs from the Disney film The Jungle Book. This song, called "The Bare Necessities Megamix", was very popular. It reached number 14 on the music charts. This success even got him a spot on the TV show Top Of The Pops. In 2004, Gary went on his own concert tour called My Kind of Music. He performed at many big venues across the country.

Gary Wilmot's Stage Roles

Theatre Performances

Gary Wilmot's Film and TV Appearances

Television Shows

Films