Gary Wilmot facts for kids

Harold Owen "Gary" Wilmot, who is also an MBE, is a famous British actor. He was born on May 8, 1954. Gary became well-known after appearing on the TV show New Faces.

He has hosted several TV shows, including You and Me, So You Want To Be Top, and Showstoppers. Gary has also starred in many popular musicals in London's West End. These include Me and My Girl, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, The Prince of Egypt, and Wicked.

In 2018, Gary Wilmot was given the Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) award. This award recognized his great work in drama and his efforts for charity.

Early Life and Beginnings

Gary Wilmot was born in Lambeth, London. His mother was English, and his father, Harry, was Jamaican. Harry came to Britain on the Empire Windrush ship in 1948. Gary's father was part of a singing group called The Southlanders. Sadly, Harry passed away in 1961 when Gary was young.

Even though his father was in show business, Gary's early life was not glamorous. His mother had health problems and could only work part-time. The family often relied on financial help. Gary worked in construction, warehouses, and factories. But he soon realized he wanted a different kind of career.

Gary Wilmot's Television Career

Gary started his entertainment journey after a friend told an agent about his talent. He began performing in variety shows. His big break came in 1978 on the show New Faces. He performed as part of a comedy duo with Judy McPhee, and they made it to the finals.

This led to many TV appearances. He was on shows like Copy Cats, Knees Ups, Cue Gary!, and The Keith Harris Show. One of his most famous TV jobs was co-hosting the BBC children's quiz show So You Want To Be Top with Leni Harper.

In 1994, Gary hosted Showstoppers. This program featured him singing songs from musicals with special guests. The show was so popular that it was extended for more episodes. Gary also starred in and directed a tour of Showstoppers. The tour was a huge success, growing from 60 to 160 dates.

Gary Wilmot's Theatre Performances

In 1989, Gary Wilmot began his career in musical theatre. He made his West End debut in Me and My Girl at the Adelphi Theatre. He played the main role of Bill Snibson for two years. Critics praised his performance, with one calling him a "Musical Talent of the Highest Order." Gary was even nominated for a "Best Actor" award at the Olivier Awards.

After that, he toured with a new comedy called Teething Troubles. He also played Joe in Carmen Jones at the Old Vic theatre. Later, he starred in the very first show of the Barry Manilow musical Copacabana in London.

In 2001, Gary joined The New Shakespeare Company. He played Bottom in A Midsummer Night's Dream at the Open Air Theatre, Regent's Park. He also played the Pirate King in a national tour of The Pirates of Penzance. In 2003, he took over the role of Caractacus Potts in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at the London Palladium. He returned to this role for the UK tour in 2006 and 2007. Gary also played Billy Flynn in the touring company of Chicago.

Gary has appeared in many other stage shows. These include H.M.S. Pinafore, Santa Claus the Musical, Oliver!, Half a Sixpence, and The Wizard of Oz.

More recently, Gary has performed in several musicals. He was in Flowers for Mrs Harris and Little Miss Sunshine. He also played Jonathan Ripples in Mr Gum and the Dancing Bear - the Musical! at the National Theatre. He was Jethro in The Prince of Egypt and The Wizard in Wicked. In 2021, he played Elisha J. Whitney in Anything Goes at the Barbican Centre.

Gary has also been a popular performer in many pantomimes since 1986. He has often played the "dame" character in the London Palladium pantomimes. These include Dick Whittington (2017), Snow White (2018), and Goldilocks and the Three Bears (2019). He performed alongside stars like Julian Clary and Nigel Havers.

Music Career

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

In 1991, Gary worked with producer Nigel Wright. They recorded a medley of songs from the Walt Disney film The Jungle Book. This song, called "The Bare Necessities Megamix", combined "I Wanna Be Like You" and "The Bare Necessities". It reached number 14 on the music charts. This success led to Gary appearing on the TV show Top Of The Pops. In 2004, Gary went on his own national concert tour called My Kind of Music. He performed in many major venues across the country.

Stage Credits

Theatre Performances

Film and Television Roles

Television Appearances

Film Roles