Acting
Gary Olsen
Gary Olsen was a renowned English actor, born in London, who faced adversity early in life when he lost both parents and was raised by his aunt and uncle. He attended Archbishop Tenison's Church of England School in Kennington, where he began nurturing his passion for performance by joining various junior stage groups. His early career featured touring with fringe theater companies like Incubus and Lumiere and Son until 1976, after which he briefly immersed himself in the punk rock scene before returning to theater in 1978. In 1987, he showcased his talents in the musical production "Up on the Roof," which he helped develop, performing at renowned venues like the Donmar and Apollo theatres in London.
Olsen made his television debut in 1979 as Rory Storm in "The Birth Of The Beatles," and he quickly became a familiar face on British television. He gained prominence for his role as PC Dave Litten in the inaugural series of "The Bill," but it was his portrayal of Ben in the beloved sitcom "2point4 Children" (1991–1999) that secured his fame. He starred alongside Samantha Janus and Neil Morrissey in the comedy film "Up 'n' Under" and appeared in various TV commercials, most notably the 1996 campaign for National Westminster Bank.
In addition to his screen work, Olsen's stage credits included performances in "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" and "What the Butler Saw," and he took on the role of 'Pope Liberty III' in the Australian production of "Bad Boy Johnny and the Prophets of Doom." His comedic skills were showcased in "The Comic Strip Presents" with a parody of "The Fly" titled "The Yob," and he co-starred with Brian Bovell in the 1986 series "Prospects."
After a courageous ten-month battle with cancer, Olsen passed away in Victoria, Australia, where he had relocated following his diagnosis. He left behind his wife, Jane, and
