Gary Waldhorn dies aged 78

Tuesday 11th January 2022, 4:17pm

The Vicar Of Dibley. David Horton (Gary Waldhorn). Copyright: BBC

Gary Waldhorn has died at the age of 78.

Best remembered as The Vicar Of Dibley's curmudgeonly conservative councillor and landowner David Horton, he died on Monday 10th January.

His family said in a statement: "Classically trained, it was the theatre where he truly flourished and he leaves a legacy of entertainment that saw him frequent the boards of Broadway, the West End and our living rooms on the telly!

"He leaves behind his two grandsons, Cooper and Bayley and his son Josh. We will all miss him terribly."

Waldhorn died on Monday 10th January. No further details have been announced.

Brush Strokes. Image shows from L to R: Jacko (Karl Howman), Lionel Bainbridge (Gary Waldhorn), Sandra (Jackie Lye), Eric (Mike Walling). Copyright: BBC

Born in July 1943 in Paddington and classically trained as an actor at Yale university in the US, he found particular television success in comic roles. He was much-loved as the spiky boss Lionel Bainbridge in late 1980s painter-decorator sitcom Brush Strokes (pictured); starred in the original TV play adaptation of Outside Edge in 1982; and appeared in key roles in comedies such as All At No. 20 and An Actor's Life For Me.

Other comic appearances include Sir Henry At Rawlinson End, The Top Secret Life Of Edgar Briggs, Haggard, Lovejoy, Minder and Paul Merton In Galton & Simpson's....

A statement released by BBC Comedy says: "Gary was an incredibly talented actor who is fondly remembered by us for his numerous appearances on some of the nations most treasured BBC shows, and of course as Councillor David Horton in The Vicar Of Dibley. Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this difficult time."

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