Gary DePew, a talented individual, grew up in San Diego, where he developed a passion for filmmaking, making backyard movies with his best friend, Brian Peck, using an 8mm camera.
Gary's first exposure to Hollywood came when he was invited onstage for a song and a kiss during a taping of The Carol Burnett Show. Burnett won an Emmy that year, and Gary is still convinced that he played a role in the award.
Gary later pursued an undergraduate degree in business administration at the University of Southern California (USC). To support himself through college, he took on roles as a background extra, appearing in shows such as MASH, Quincy, Hill Street Blues, and Dynasty. He even landed a role as a leg amputee, which allowed him to "corner the market" on roles for peg-legged robots.
Gary's grandfather once pointed out that by losing a leg, Gary finally got a foot in the door. This "talent" combined with his business acumen enabled him to work with renowned directors and artists, including George Lucas, Francis Coppola, and Michael Jackson.
Gary's work with Michael Jackson led him to become the production accountant for multiple music videos and eventually the production manager on the feature-length film "Moonwalker" under Jackson's MJJ banner. He later co-founded Force Majeure Productions with Brad Southwick on the Raleigh Studios lot in Hollywood, producing seven direct-to-video titles under the SAG low-budget agreement.
Gary also established Avalon Family Entertainment, raising private equity capital to focus on producing G-rated live-action films inspired by fairy tales, fables, and legends. His portfolio boasts over 20 feature films, and he proudly holds membership in the Directors Guild of America.
Taking a break from the film industry, Gary DePew has been a serial entrepreneur for about a decade, successfully building companies in the technology, health care, and finance industries. He looks forward to returning to filmmaking when he decides he's had enough of making money.
Gary currently resides in the free state of Florida with his husband, Andrés, and their Samoyed, Oka. He proudly claims his distinction as the first one-legged amusement park thrill ride to win an Emmy.
