Gary Olsen

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Not to be confused with Gary Olson.

Gary Olsen
Born
Gary Kenneth Grant

(1957-11-03)3 November 1957
Westminster, London, England
Died12 September 2000(2000-09-12) (aged 42)
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
OccupationActor
Years active1979–2000
Spouses
​
​
(m. 1985; div. 1990)​
Jane Anthony
​
​
(m. 1991)​
Children2

Gary Olsen (born Gary Kenneth Grant; 3 November 1957 – 12 September 2000) was an English actor. He played Ben Porter on the BBC television sitcom 2point4 Children from 1991 to 1999.

Biography

Olsen was born in

Archbishop Tenison's Church of England School in Kennington. After school he joined various junior stage groups and toured with fringe theatrical companies, such as Incubus and Lumiere and Son, until late 1976. At this point he immersed himself in the punk rock scene as lead vocalist with the band Swank (alongside future members of the Lurkers, Chelsea, and Cuddly Toys)[1] until returning to theatre in 1978. Later he helped develop the musical production Up on the Roof, in which he starred in 1987 at London's Donmar and Apollo
theatres.

He made his screen debut in 1979 as

National Westminster Bank advertising campaign.[2]

In addition to his screen appearances he made numerous stage appearances including The Rocky Horror Show and What the Butler Saw. He also played 'Pope Liberty III' in the Australian production of the musical Bad Boy Johnny and the Prophets of Doom.[3]

Olsen appeared as Steve in

The Comic Strip Presents... parody of The Fly, called The Yob. He also starred with Brian Bovell in the 1986 TV series Prospects about two young men in the Docklands
trying to get ahead but usually failing.

Television roles

Olsen appeared in two episodes of the 1981 BBC TV series The Day of the Triffids as a street gang leader who later became an armed paramilitary officer.[citation needed]

He played PC

Albert, the patriarch of the Beale family. His most prominent role was as Ben Porter in 2point4 Children (1991–1999). He also had leading roles in another two short-lived BBC sitcoms Health and Efficiency (1993–1995) and Pilgrim's Rest opposite Gwen Taylor for one series in 1997. From 1999–2000 he played Johno in the Daz Dogs adverts and sponsors.[citation needed
]

Stage roles

Olsen was critically acclaimed for a number of his roles in musicals including The Rocky Horror Show, Cut and Thrust, Gorky Brigade, Welcome Home, The Pope's Wedding, Saved Dialogues, Metamorphosis, Serious Money, What the Butler Saw, Way of the World, and Bad Boy Johnny and the Prophets of Doom. He received particular praise for his portrayal of Moey in On the Ledge at the National Theatre in 1993.[4] Two years later he appeared in April in Paris at the same theatre. His last stage role was as Evan in Art by Yasmina Reza , in 2000.

Personal life

Olsen married Candy Davis (later known as the crime writer

Victoria, Australia,[7] where he had emigrated following his diagnosis. He was 42 years old.[8][9]

Selected filmography

FILMS
Year Title Role Notes
1979 Birth of the Beatles Rory Storm Debut
1980 Bloody Kids Ken's Gang 4
Breaking Glass Guy at Bar
1981 Outland Worker 1
1982 Pink Floyd—The Wall Roadie
The Sender Patient #9
1983 Party Party Terry, the drunk copper
Walter and June Shower Room Attendant TV movie
1984 Winter Flight Dave
1985 Turtle Diary Lorry Driver at Rest Park
Underworld Red Dog
1985 Loose Connections Kevin
1987 Excuse Me But That's My Car Nigel Short
1989 Rapid Fire Miles
The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover Spangler
1993 Thatcherworld Eric Jenkins TV movie
1997 Up 'n' Under Arthur Hoye
1998 Alice Through the Looking Glass Tweedle-Dum TV movie
2000 24 Hours in London Christian Final role
TELEVISION
Year Title Role Notes
1980 Play for Today Youth Bavarian Night
1981 The Day of the Triffids Torrence 2 episodes
1982 Minder Derek Episode: "Broken Arrow"
1983 Storyboard P.C. Litten Woodentop
1984 Mitch Despatch Rider Episode: "Something Private"
1984–86 The Bill P.C. Litten 12 episodes
1986 C.A.T.S Eyes Colin Episode: "Powerline"
Prospects Jimmy 'Pincy' Pince 12 episodes
Wilderness Road Keith 6 episodes
1987 Drummonds Terry Episode: "Old Flames"
1988 Bust Nick Radford Episode: "Weekend Break"
Civvy Street Arthur Beale TV special
The Comic Strip Presents
 		Terry The Yob
1989 Boon Geoff Robinson Episode: "Do Not Forsake Me"
Saracen Deanie Episode: "Robbers"
Theatre Night Chief Clerk Metamorphisis
1990 Come Home Charlie and Face Them Porsen 3 episodes
She-Wolf of London John Decarlo Episode: "Can't Keep a Dead Man Down - Part 1"
1991 Casualty Gary Tate Episode: "Allegiance"
1991
Van Der Valk
 		Brouwer Episode: "A Sudden Silence"
1991–99 2point4 Children Ben Porter 56 episodes
1992 The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles Boris Episode: "Petrograd, July 1917"
1993 If You See God, Tell Him Matthew 1 episode
Paul Calf's Video Diary
 		Tony TV special
1993–95 Health and Efficiency Dr. Michael Jimson 12 episodes
1994 Pauline Calf's Wedding Diary Tony TV special
1995 The Vet Wilf Morgan Episode: "A Little Knowledge"
1997 Pilgrim's Rest Bob Payne 6 episodes
1999 The Near and Complete History of Everything Mr. Baker TV special

References

  1. ^ Public, Joe (2007). "Swank". Bored Teenagers.
  2. ^ "1997 Tyne Tees (ITV) adverts". YouTube. 13 January 2021.
  3. ^ Stanley, Raymond (12 October 1989). "Bad Boy Johnny and the Prophets of Doom". The Stage. p. 13.
  4. ^ "Theatre Week". The Stage. 25 February 1993. p. 11.
  5. ^ "Mo Hayder, author of inventive but 'jaw-droppingly grisly' thrillers – obituary". The Telegraph. 9 August 2021. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  6. ^ "Obituary: Gary Olsen". The Daily Telegraph. 15 September 2000. Retrieved 6 November 2010.
  7. ^ Barker, Dennis (15 September 2000). "Obituary: Gary Olsen". The Guardian.
  8. ^ "Sitcom star Olsen dies". BBC News. 13 September 2000. Retrieved 6 November 2010.
  9. ^ Martland, Johnny (21 September 2000). "Obituraries: Gary Olsen". The Stage. p. 27.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Gary_Olsen&oldid=1214058501"