Gary Peter Waldhorn (3 July 1943 – 10 January 2022) was an English actor and comedian known for his roles in British television and theatre. He is particularly remembered for his work in the main casts of several British sitcoms. Notable roles and characters played by him included Councillor David Horton in The Vicar of Dibley and Lionel Bainbridge in Brush Strokes.
Early life Waldhorn was born in London on 3 July 1943 to Liselotte ( Popper) and Siegfried Waldhorn. His parents were Austrian Jews. He studied acting at the Yale School of Drama (graduated 1967) where he notably performed in new works written by playwright Lillian Hellman in 1966. While at Yale he met fellow student Christie Dickason, daughter of Indiana University academic David Howard Dickason, who became his wife and an active theatre director and choreographer in London and later a published playwright and novelist.
Waldhorn is known for his work in West End theatre productions and for his collaborations with the Royal Shakespeare Company. In 1972 he toured Australia and New Zealand in Harry M. Miller's production of Sleuth playing opposite Richard Todd.
Career Apart from appearing in The Vicar of Dibley, Waldhorn also made many television appearances from the 1970s including Softly, Softly, The Sweeney, Space: 1999, The New Avengers, Brideshead Revisited, The Professionals, Minder, Robin of Sherwood, Rumpole of the Bailey, The Bill, Heartbeat, Gallowglass and Lovejoy. He also played Lionel Bainbridge in the first three series of Brush Strokes before the character was written out, and Richard Beamish in the first series of All at No 20.
He also starred as Ralph Apsoland in the 1993 miniseries Gallowglass. His other notable television credits include several recurring roles: Caulaincourt in the mini-series Napoleon and Love, Greville in The Top Secret Life of Edgar Briggs, Henry Channon in Edward & Mrs. Simpson, Teddy Lupus in Enemy at the Door, John Fearnley in Moving, Gordon Lochhead in Campaign, Cllr. Alec Radcliffe in The Chief, Sergeant Bob Pulver in Lovejoy, and Cmdre. Forrest in Longitude. His film credits include the roles of Harlich in Zeppelin, Max in Sir Henry at Rawlinson End, Hauptmann Rainer Mueller in Escape to Victory, and Tornado in The Chain. On stage he was particularly active with the Royal Shakespeare Company.
Personal life and death Waldhorn was a patron of Malawi Dream, a British registered charity working to help the people of Malawi in Africa.
He married Christie Dickason on 2 April 1967; the marriage produced one child.
Waldhorn died on 10 January 2022, aged 78.
Tributes In 2025, Waldhorn appeared on a British postage stamp issued as part of a special set by Royal Mail, which commemorated the series The Vicar of Dibley.https://shop.royalmail.com/special-stamp-issues/the-vicar-of-dibley/the-vicar-of-dibley-stamp-set
Selected filmography Television Year Film Role Notes Reference 1969 Take Three Girls Roger 1 episode 1970–1974 Softly, Softly: Task Force Bruton/James/Watson 3 episodes 1970 Armchair Theatre TV reporter 1 episode 1971 Scene Mr. Collett 1 episode 1972 The Lotus Eaters Nat 1 episode Man at the Top Television Instructor 1 episode 1973 Jack the Ripper William H. Druitt 1 episode Crown Court Trevor Sanderson 1 episode 1974 Napoleon and Love Caulaincourt 2 episodes The Top Secret Life of Edgar Briggs Greville 2 episodes 1975 Doctor on the Go Mike Sherman 1 episode Whodunnit? Sergeant Channing 1 episode The Sweeney Alan Fowler 1 episode 1976 Space: 1999 Winters 1 episode Hadleigh Werner Von Hermsdorff 1 episode Maggie and Her Roger 1 episode The New Avengers Roach 1 episode 1977 Seven Faces of Women Harry 1 episode 1978 Enemy at the Door Teddy Lupus 2 episodes The Professionals Turner 1 episode Return of the Saint Anonymous 1 episode Edward & Mrs. Simpson Chips Channon 3 episodes 1980 A Sharp Intake of Breath Denis 1 episode The Gentle Touch Tom Scott 1 episode Hammer House of Horror Dr. Bacharach 1 episode 1981 ITV Playhouse Curtis Howard 1 episode The Spoils of War Neville Bryant 1 episode Brideshead Revisited Major Wilson 1 episode 1982 Minder Alex Rowan 1 episode Alexa Robert 2 episodes Harry's Game Commissioner of Police 1 episode Outside Edge Dennis Television film 1983 Perfect Shadows Hank Television film All for Love Michael Pallister 1 episode The Winner Bill Stafford Television film 1984 Robin of Sherwood Hubert Walter 1 episode Squaring the Circle Jagielski Television film Hammer House of Mystery and Suspense Inspector Crane 1 episode The Prisoner of Zenda Smithers 1 episode 1985 Moving John Fearnley 2 episodes Mr. Palfrey of Westminster Garforth 1 episode Drummonds Mr. Steiner 1 episode Mrs. Capper' Birthday Jack Television film 1986 All at No 20 Richard Beamish 6 episodes Love and Marriage Geoffrey Sherratt 1 episode Screen Two Boris/Deferre 2 episodes 1986–1991 Brush Strokes Lionel Bainbridge 26 episodes 1987 After Pilkington Boris 1 episode 1988 Campaign Gordon Lochhead 6 episodes 1989 ScreenPlay Dr. Buckman 1 episode The Return of Shelley Sir Clive Bastin 1 episode 1990 Haggard The Preacher 1 episode Missing Persons Bernard Shawcross Television film 1991 The Chief Cllr. Alec Radcliffe 4 episodes Titmuss Regained Carus Agnew, QC 1 episode Rumpole of the Bailey Dr. Cogger 1 episode 1993 Gallowglass Ralph Apsoland 3 episodes Comedy Playhouse Mr. Hogson 1 episode 1993–1994 Lovejoy Detective Sergeant Bob Pulver 3 episodes 1994–2007 The Vicar of Dibley David Horton 20 episodes 1996 Paul Merton in Galton and Simpson's... Doctor/Company Director 2 episodes 1996–1998 French and Saunders Bruce Ismay/Gary 2 episodes 1996 Heartbeat Joss Harrop 1 episode 1998 The Bill Kenny Roberts 1 episode Loved by You Harold Conway 1 episode 2000 Longitude Commodore Forrest Television film 2008 Hotel Babylon Donald Stern 1 episode
Films Zeppelin (1971) – Harlich Hanover Street (1979) – 2nd German Clerk Dirty Money (1979) – Ministry Man Sir Henry at Rawlinson End (1980) – Max Escape to Victory (1981) – Hauptmann Rainer Mueller The Chain (1984) – Tornado
Radio "The Carrara Cherub", BBC Radio 4, Saturday Night Theatre, 21 August 1982 – Ray Damon (Private Detective) An Actor's Life For Me, BBC Radio 2, 20 January 1989–9 February 1993, 19 episodes – Desmond Shaw Elastic Planet, BBC Radio 4, 17 March 1995, 1 episode – Ensemble Actor Tomorrow, Today!, BBC Radio 4, 28 January–3 March 2008, 3 episodes – Sir Angus McNairn
References
External links
Gary Waldhorn at the British Film Institute