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Gray starred in the [[BBC Radio Scotland]] sketch show ''Naked Radio'', and its later television counterpart ''[[Naked Video]]''.<ref name="Rudden">{{cite web|url=http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/comedy?articleid=3923132 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615125114/http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/comedy?articleid=3923132 |url-status=dead |archive-date=15 June 2011 |title=Elaine adds voice of authority |last=Rudden |first=Liam |author2=Balfour, Josie |date=28 March 2008 |work=[[The Scotsman]]|access-date=22 December 2010 }}</ref> He then became well known as the appropriately named "Chancer", best friend and source of problems to Willie Melvin ([[Gerard Kelly]]) in the 1987 sitcom ''[[City Lights (1984 TV series)|City Lights]]''.<ref name="Rudden" /><ref>{{IMDb name|9731222|Andy Gray}}</ref> He was well known for [[pantomime|pantomiming]], usually co-writing the script and often alongside other former ''City Lights'' cast members. He appeared opposite Kelly in a touring production of ''[[The Odd Couple (play)|The Odd Couple]]''. He took the starring role in a [[Channel 4]] proposed comedy pilot show ''Miles is Better'' where he played a very enthusiastic burglar alarm salesman (Miles).
Gray starred in the [[BBC Radio Scotland]] sketch show ''Naked Radio'', and its later television counterpart ''[[Naked Video]]''.<ref name="Rudden">{{cite web|url=http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/comedy?articleid=3923132 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615125114/http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/comedy?articleid=3923132 |url-status=dead |archive-date=15 June 2011 |title=Elaine adds voice of authority |last=Rudden |first=Liam |author2=Balfour, Josie |date=28 March 2008 |work=[[The Scotsman]]|access-date=22 December 2010 }}</ref> He then became well known as the appropriately named "Chancer", best friend and source of problems to Willie Melvin ([[Gerard Kelly]]) in the 1987 sitcom ''[[City Lights (1984 TV series)|City Lights]]''.<ref name="Rudden" /><ref>{{IMDb name|9731222|Andy Gray}}</ref> He was well known for [[pantomime|pantomiming]], usually co-writing the script and often alongside other former ''City Lights'' cast members. He appeared opposite Kelly in a touring production of ''[[The Odd Couple (play)|The Odd Couple]]''. He took the starring role in a [[Channel 4]] proposed comedy pilot show ''Miles is Better'' where he played a very enthusiastic burglar alarm salesman (Miles).


Gray worked extensively in theatre and television since 1979 and was described as "a stalwart of Scottish Theatre".<ref>{{Cite web|last=Begbie|first=Scott|title=Andy Gray: Aberdeen audiences have fond memories of top Scots panto star at HMT|url=https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/nostalgia/2824228/andy-gray-aberdeen-audiences-have-fond-memories-of-top-scots-panto-star-at-hmt/|access-date=2021-01-20|website=Press and Journal|language=en-US}}</ref> Gray appeared in the Edinburgh Fringe 2013 with panto colleague [[Grant Stott]] in Philip Meeks's play ''Kiss Me Honey Honey'', which won a [[Fringe First]].<ref>[https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/entertainment/theatre-review-kiss-me-honey-honey-1-3148373 Theatre Review: Kiss Me Honey, Honey] ''Edinburgh Evening News'' 18 October 2013</ref> The show returned at the 2014 Fringe. In 2014 he swapped comedy for villain, as Black Ruthven, in his home city of Perth, in feature film ''[[Time Teens:The Beginning|Time Teens: The Beginning]]'', with writer/actor [[Ian Grieve]]<ref>{{IMDb title|3470676|Time Teens:The Beginning}}</ref> directed by Ryan Dewar. He continued in his darker comedy as [[William Donaldson]] in 'Willie and Sebastian'<ref>{{Cite web|title=Willie and Sebastian : All Edinburgh Theatre.com|url=http://www.alledinburghtheatre.com/willie-and-sebastian/|access-date=2021-01-20|language=en-US}}</ref> at the 2015 Edinburgh Fringe when he won the coveted Stage Award for Acting Excellence for his performance.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Gray Wins Stage Award : All Edinburgh Theatre.com|url=http://www.alledinburghtheatre.com/gray-wins-stage-award/|access-date=2021-01-20|language=en-US}}</ref>
Gray worked extensively in theatre and television since 1979 and was described as "a stalwart of Scottish Theatre".<ref>{{Cite web|last=Begbie|first=Scott|title=Andy Gray: Aberdeen audiences have fond memories of top Scots panto star at HMT|url=https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/nostalgia/2824228/andy-gray-aberdeen-audiences-have-fond-memories-of-top-scots-panto-star-at-hmt/|access-date=2021-01-20|website=Press and Journal|language=en-US}}</ref> Gray appeared in the 2013 Edinburgh Fringe with panto colleague [[Grant Stott]] in Philip Meeks's play ''Kiss Me Honey Honey'', which won a [[Fringe First]].<ref>[https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/entertainment/theatre-review-kiss-me-honey-honey-1-3148373 Theatre Review: Kiss Me Honey, Honey] ''Edinburgh Evening News'' 18 October 2013</ref> The show returned at the 2014 Fringe. In the feature film ''[[Time Teens:The Beginning|Time Teens: The Beginning]]’’, he portrayed a villain (Black Ruthven) with writer/actor [[Ian Grieve]]<ref>{{IMDb title|3470676|Time Teens:The Beginning}}</ref> directed by Ryan Dewar. He continued in his darker comedy as [[William Donaldson]] in 'Willie and Sebastian'<ref>{{Cite web|title=Willie and Sebastian : All Edinburgh Theatre.com|url=http://www.alledinburghtheatre.com/willie-and-sebastian/|access-date=2021-01-20|language=en-US}}</ref> at the 2015 Edinburgh Fringe when he won the coveted Stage Award for Acting Excellence for his performance.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Gray Wins Stage Award : All Edinburgh Theatre.com|url=http://www.alledinburghtheatre.com/gray-wins-stage-award/|access-date=2021-01-20|language=en-US}}</ref>


Gray joined his pantomime co-stars, [[Allan Stewart (comedian)|Allan Stewart]] and [[Grant Stott]] in Canned Laughter,<ref>{{Cite web|date=2016-03-14|title=Canned Laughter review – 70s comedy trio's gleefully creaky cabaret|url=http://www.theguardian.com/stage/2016/mar/14/canned-laughter-review-adam-smith-theatre-kirkcaldy|access-date=2021-01-20|website=The Guardian|language=en}}</ref> a tour about a 1970s showbiz trio based on Stewart's career. His final Fringe performances were in Philip Differ's 'Double Feature'<ref>{{Cite web|last=Kennedy|first=John|date=2018-05-03|title=At the King's – Double Feature|url=https://theedinburghreporter.co.uk/2018/05/at-the-kings-double-feature/|access-date=2021-01-20|website=The Edinburgh Reporter|language=en-US}}</ref> (2017 and 2018 tour) and [[Ruaraidh Murray]]'s 'The Junkies'<ref>{{Cite web|title=Fringe show cancelled as star Andy Gray struck down with illness|url=https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/whats-on/arts-and-entertainment/fringe-show-cancelled-star-andy-gray-struck-down-illness-269089|access-date=2021-01-20|website=edinburghnews.scotsman.com|date=3 August 2018 |language=en}}</ref> (which played only one performance due to Gray's cancer diagnosis). He appeared in [[Jason Connery]]'s Scottish BAFTA award-winning 2016 film ''[[Tommy's Honour]]''.<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3467914/fullcredits/?ref_=tt_ov_st_sm ''Tommy's Honour''] on IMDb</ref> From 2016 until 2018 he played Pete Galloway in Scottish soap opera ''[[River City]].''<ref>{{cite web |title=Scots TV and theatre star Andy Gray dies aged 61 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-55709000 |website=BBC News |access-date=4 November 2021 |date=18 January 2021}}</ref>
Gray joined his pantomime co-stars, [[Allan Stewart (comedian)|Allan Stewart]] and [[Grant Stott]] in Canned Laughter,<ref>{{Cite web|date=2016-03-14|title=Canned Laughter review – 70s comedy trio's gleefully creaky cabaret|url=http://www.theguardian.com/stage/2016/mar/14/canned-laughter-review-adam-smith-theatre-kirkcaldy|access-date=2021-01-20|website=The Guardian|language=en}}</ref> a tour about a 1970s showbiz trio based on Stewart's career. His final Fringe performances were in Philip Differ's 'Double Feature'<ref>{{Cite web|last=Kennedy|first=John|date=2018-05-03|title=At the King's – Double Feature|url=https://theedinburghreporter.co.uk/2018/05/at-the-kings-double-feature/|access-date=2021-01-20|website=The Edinburgh Reporter|language=en-US}}</ref> (2017 and 2018 tour) and [[Ruaraidh Murray]]'s 'The Junkies'<ref>{{Cite web|title=Fringe show cancelled as star Andy Gray struck down with illness|url=https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/whats-on/arts-and-entertainment/fringe-show-cancelled-star-andy-gray-struck-down-illness-269089|access-date=2021-01-20|website=edinburghnews.scotsman.com|date=3 August 2018 |language=en}}</ref> (which played only one performance due to Gray's cancer diagnosis). He appeared in [[Jason Connery]]'s Scottish BAFTA award-winning 2016 film ''[[Tommy's Honour]]''.<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3467914/fullcredits/?ref_=tt_ov_st_sm ''Tommy's Honour''] on IMDb</ref> From 2016 until 2018 he played Pete Galloway in Scottish soap opera ''[[River City]].''<ref>{{cite web |title=Scots TV and theatre star Andy Gray dies aged 61 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-55709000 |website=BBC News |access-date=4 November 2021 |date=18 January 2021}}</ref>

Revision as of 14:22, 25 September 2022

Andy Gray
Born13 September 1959
Died18 January 2021 (aged 61)
Occupation(s)Theatre and television actor, comedian

Andy Gray (13 September 1959 – 18 January 2021) was a Scottish actor and writer from Perth, Scotland. He trained in Drama at Edinburgh's Queen Margaret University[1] from 1976 to 1979.

Career

Gray starred in the BBC Radio Scotland sketch show Naked Radio, and its later television counterpart Naked Video.[2] He then became well known as the appropriately named "Chancer", best friend and source of problems to Willie Melvin (Gerard Kelly) in the 1987 sitcom City Lights.[2][3] He was well known for pantomiming, usually co-writing the script and often alongside other former City Lights cast members. He appeared opposite Kelly in a touring production of The Odd Couple. He took the starring role in a Channel 4 proposed comedy pilot show Miles is Better where he played a very enthusiastic burglar alarm salesman (Miles).

Gray worked extensively in theatre and television since 1979 and was described as "a stalwart of Scottish Theatre".[4] Gray appeared in the 2013 Edinburgh Fringe with panto colleague Grant Stott in Philip Meeks's play Kiss Me Honey Honey, which won a Fringe First.[5] The show returned at the 2014 Fringe. In the feature film Time Teens: The Beginning’’, he portrayed a villain (Black Ruthven) with writer/actor Ian Grieve[6] directed by Ryan Dewar. He continued in his darker comedy as William Donaldson in 'Willie and Sebastian'[7] at the 2015 Edinburgh Fringe when he won the coveted Stage Award for Acting Excellence for his performance.[8]

Gray joined his pantomime co-stars, Allan Stewart and Grant Stott in Canned Laughter,[9] a tour about a 1970s showbiz trio based on Stewart's career. His final Fringe performances were in Philip Differ's 'Double Feature'[10] (2017 and 2018 tour) and Ruaraidh Murray's 'The Junkies'[11] (which played only one performance due to Gray's cancer diagnosis). He appeared in Jason Connery's Scottish BAFTA award-winning 2016 film Tommy's Honour.[12] From 2016 until 2018 he played Pete Galloway in Scottish soap opera River City.[13]

Other theatre performances include:[14] Dario Fo's Trumpets and Raspberries (1985) with Elaine C Smith and Alan Cumming; Werewolf (1999); Guys and Dolls (2001) at Lyceum, Edinburgh; The Woman Who Cooked her Husband (2004); A Limited Run (2005); Stones in His Pockets (2005); The Rise and Fall of Little Voice (2008); Irma Vep (2009) at Perth Theatre with Steven McNicol.

His pantomime catch phrase was, "I'm no very well".[14]

Personal Life

It was announced in early August 2018 that Gray would not be returning to post-summer filming of River City after discovering, whilst in rehearsals for his Edinburgh Fringe show, that he was diagnosed with Myelodysplastic syndromes.[15] After a bone marrow transplant from one of his sisters[16] and successful cancer recovery in 2019, he contracted COVID-19 during the COVID-19 pandemic in December 2020. Gray died in hospital intensive care on 18 January 2021, following complications caused by COVID-19, aged 61.[17][18][19]

References

  1. ^ "These were Andy Gray's most memorable acting roles - including River City and City Lights". The Scotsman. 19 January 2021. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  2. ^ a b Rudden, Liam; Balfour, Josie (28 March 2008). "Elaine adds voice of authority". The Scotsman. Archived from the original on 15 June 2011. Retrieved 22 December 2010.
  3. ^ Andy Gray at IMDb
  4. ^ Begbie, Scott. "Andy Gray: Aberdeen audiences have fond memories of top Scots panto star at HMT". Press and Journal. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  5. ^ Theatre Review: Kiss Me Honey, Honey Edinburgh Evening News 18 October 2013
  6. ^ Time Teens:The Beginning at IMDb
  7. ^ "Willie and Sebastian : All Edinburgh Theatre.com". Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  8. ^ "Gray Wins Stage Award : All Edinburgh Theatre.com". Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  9. ^ "Canned Laughter review – 70s comedy trio's gleefully creaky cabaret". The Guardian. 14 March 2016. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  10. ^ Kennedy, John (3 May 2018). "At the King's – Double Feature". The Edinburgh Reporter. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  11. ^ "Fringe show cancelled as star Andy Gray struck down with illness". edinburghnews.scotsman.com. 3 August 2018. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  12. ^ Tommy's Honour on IMDb
  13. ^ "Scots TV and theatre star Andy Gray dies aged 61". BBC News. 18 January 2021. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
  14. ^ a b "Remembering Andy Gray : All Edinburgh Theatre.com". Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  15. ^ "Cancer was my hardest role, says panto star Andy Gray". The Scotsman. 18 August 2019. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  16. ^ "Brian Beacom: Andy Gray reveals how his sister saved his life". Glasgow Times. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  17. ^ "Andy Gray obituary". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  18. ^ Suter, Ruth (18 January 2021). "Former River City star Andy Gray dies aged 61". Glasgow Times. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  19. ^ Tributes to Andy Gray after legendary Scottish actor and comedy star passes away
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