Gary Holton

Gary Holton was an English actor and musician best known for playing the part of Wayne in UK TV comedy Auf Wiedersehen Pet

Biography

Holton was in London’s East End in September 1952. As a 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. At seventeen he joined the touring company of Hair and remained with them for two years. When he left the Company his musical talents lead him to front the rock band Heavy Metal Kids. The band had little commercial success so Holton returned to acting. He played the lead part in Stephen Frears film Bloody Kids and smaller parts in Music Machine, Quadraphrenia and Breaking Glass.

He played a number of small TV parts including: Dreams of Leaving, Shoestring, The Knowledge, Tiny Revolutions, The Gentle Touch and A Number of Old Wives' Tales. He also appeared in a successful series of TV adverts for Tennants Pilsner lager alongside model Debbie Linden in 1984. Gary's big break came with the character Wayne in the Central Television production Auf Wiedersehen Pet.

Auf Wiedersehen Pet

Playing the part of Wayne Norris in the smash hit comedy drama Auf Wiedersehen, Pet Holton became a household name. People came to have great affection for all the characters in the show. Holton played a cockney carpenter who liked his women, music and drink, which was actually very similar to his off screen personality. The show lasted for two series and was a runaway success. He became very close to his acting colleagues in the show and the remaining members did not want to continue making the show without him after his death.

His Death

Holton was discovered by his girlfriend Janet Mclllewan on Friday 24 October 1985. He had died from an overdose of alcohol and morphine. Holton had been a drug user for several years and was addicted to heroin. He also had considerable debts and had two bankruptcy orders over him. He died mid way through the second series of Auf Wiedersehen Pet but the producers used body doubles to allow the series to be completed and eventually rescripted such that Wayne had, supposedly left his friends to go away with a woman..

Noel Clarke would play Wayne's son in the 1990s revival of the show.