Gary Olsen
Born
3 November 1957 (68)
Place of Birth
London, England, UK
Also known as
Gary Kenneth Grant, Gary Olson
Biography
Gary Olsen was an English actor. Olsen was born in London and lived with an aunt and uncle, after losing both his parents at an early age. He attended the 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 until returning to theatre in 1978. Later he helped develop the musical pro...
Gary Olsen was an English actor. Olsen was born in London and lived with an aunt and uncle, after losing both his parents at an early age. He attended the 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 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 Rory Storm in The Birth Of The Beatles, and appeared in numerous British films and television programmes, including playing PC Dave Litten in the first series of The Bill, but achieved fame only with the role of Ben in the sitcom 2point4 Children (1991–1999). He played a starring film role as Arthur Hoyle alongside Samantha Janus and Neil Morrissey in the rugby league comedy, Up 'n' Under. He appeared in many TV adverts, notably the 1996 National Westminster Bank advertising campaign. In addition to his screen appearances he made numerous stage appearances including Rocky Horror Picture Show and What the Butler Saw. He also played 'Pope Liberty III' in the Australian production of the controversial musical Bad Boy Johnny and the Prophets of Doom. Olsen also displayed his comic talents as Steve in The Comic Strip Presents' send up of The Fly, called The Yob. He also starred with Brian Bovell in the 1986 TV series Prospects about two likely lads in the Docklands trying to get ahead but usually failing. After a ten month fight with cancer, Olsen died in Victoria, where he had emigrated following his diagnosis. He left a widow, Australian second wife Jane, and their two children, a son and a daughter. He was 42 years old.
Filmography (23)
24 Hours in London
2000
The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Adventures in the Secret Service
1999
Alice Through the Looking Glass
1998
Up 'n' Under
1998
Pauline Calf's Wedding Video
1994
Paul Calf's Video Diary
1993
The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover
1989
Bosses From Hell
1989
The Yob
1988
Metamorphosis
1987
Turtle Diary
1985
Transmutations
1985
Winter Flight
1984
Loose Connections
1984
Woodentop
1983
Walter and June
1983
Party Party
1983
Pink Floyd: The Wall
1982
Outland
1981
Bavarian Night
1981
Breaking Glass
1980
Bloody Kids
1980
Birth of the Beatles
1979