Andy Gray (actor)

Scottish actor and writer (1959–2021)

Andy Gray

Born| (1959-09-13)13 September 1959
Died| 18 January 2021(2021-01-18) (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.

He appeared on stage and TV, including starring roles in the BBC series Naked Video, City Lights, and River City.

## Education

[edit]

He trained in Drama at Edinburgh's Queen Margaret University College from 1976 to 1979.[1]

## Career

[edit]

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, 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 Ian Pattison's 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); and Irma Vep (2009) at Perth Theatre with Steven McNicoll.

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

## Personal life

[edit]

In August 2018, Gray, who was beginning a run of the play Junkies at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, felt unwell and withdrew from the show, and from the filming of River City that was to follow. He was diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndromes.[15] Gray was treated with chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant from one of his sisters. He returned to work in 2019, saying he was "feeling great now".[16]

Gray contracted COVID-19 during the COVID-19 pandemic in December 2020. He died in hospital intensive care on 18 January 2021, aged 61, following complications caused by COVID-19.[17][18][19]

## References

[edit]

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 (18 January 2021). "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". 18 October 2013. Edinburgh Evening News.
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. 28 October 2019. 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. ^ Brian Ferguson (19 January 2021). "Tributes to Andy Gray after legendary Scottish actor and comedy star passes away". The Scotsman.

## External links

[edit]

* Andy Gray (actor) at IMDb