Gary Waldhorn, a renowned character actor, was born in London to Austrian-Jewish émigrés Siegfried Waldhorn and Liselotte (née Popper). As a young boy, he was captivated by acting after watching Richard Burton perform as Henry V at the Old Vic. After graduating from the Yale School of Drama in 1967, Waldhorn made his theatrical debut as an extra in a National Theatre production of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead. For several years, he honed his craft as a supporting player in various productions.
By the early 1970s, Waldhorn had established himself as a serious actor, headlining as Milo Tindle in Sleuth at the West End. He later took the play on the road through Australia and New Zealand, alongside Richard Todd, who played the role of mystery novelist Andrew Wyke. Waldhorn's impressive repertoire included a wide range of Shakespearean roles, such as Malvolio in Twelfth Night, Shylock in The Merchant of Venice, Leonato in Much Ado About Nothing, and the title role of Henry V at the Old Vic in 1996-97.
Waldhorn's television career spanned over five decades, with appearances in various shows, including Jack the Ripper, Napoleon and Love, Edward & Mrs. Simpson, All at Number 20, Brush Strokes, Space: 1999, Robin Hood, Rumpole of the Bailey, Lovejoy, Heartbeat, and many more. He often played establishment figures, bringing his unique blend of authority and wit to each role.
Gary Waldhorn will be most fondly remembered as David Horton, the conservative and often starchy chairman of the parish council in the popular sitcom The Vicar of Dibley. Throughout his life, he was married to Christie Dickason, a playwright, poet, theatre director/choreographer, librettist, and author of nine novels.
