Gerald Campion

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Gerald Theron Campion (23 April 1921 – 9 July 2002) was an English actor. He is best remembered for his role as Billy Bunter in a 1950s television adaptation (Billy Bunter of Greyfriars School) of books by Frank Richards (Charles Hamilton). His father Cyril Theron Campion (1894–1961) – a playwright and screenwriter – and Blanche Louise Tunstall née Bear (1890–1933) – a first cousin of Charlie Chaplin – married in 1920 in London. Campion was born in Bloomsbury, London, an only child. He won a place at RADA at age 15, and appeared in numerous films and television programmes – mostly comedies. In 1937, he appeared in Tavs Neiiendam's radio play Inspiration to a Poet on the BBC Home Service. His only major success was as Bunter, a juvenile role he played successfully despite being much older than his character (he was 40 when the series ended). Campion later reprised the role (now Lord Bunter of Hove, who had succeeded in betting shops and property) in the BBC Radio 7 series Whatever Happened to ...? in the episode that speculated on whether Bunter's form master at Greyfriars School, Horace Henry Samuel Quelch, became a secret agent. In 1979, he recorded an appearance in Shada, a Doctor Who story which was not completed in its intended form. After dropping out of acting, Campion ran clubs and restaurants in London's Soho, the best known of which is Gerry's, a long running private members' club attracting a mainly theatrical membership. Campion's first marriage, with Jean M Sherman (Simmonds) (b. 1925) in London in 1947, ended in divorce in 1972. They had three children: Anthea (a singer who married composer Thomas Rajna); Anthony, born in 1948; and Angelica, born in 1962. His second marriage, with Susan (Suzie) Marks in 1973, ended with his death. Campion lived in Wittersham, Kent for many years. He and his wife Suzie moved to France in 1991. He died in 2002 aged 81 in Agen, Aquitaine, France. Source: Article "Gerald Campion" from Wikipedia in English, licensed under CC-BY-SA.

Filmography

Movies and shows, newest first

2017
Doctor Who: Shada
Movie Wilkin (archive footage)
1998
What's a Carry On?
Movie Private Andy Calloway (archive footage) (uncredited)
1992
Doctor Who: Shada
Movie Wilkin
1989
Great Expectations
TV show Mr Raymond
1988
Just Ask for Diamond
Movie Uncle Holly
1986
The Return of Sherlock Holmes
TV show Morse Hudson
1984
Sherlock Holmes
TV show Morse Hudson
1981
Never the Twain
TV show Customer
1979
Minder
TV show Cafe Proprietor
1977
That's Carry On!
Movie Private Andy Galloway (archive footage) (uncredited)
1970
Atlantic Wall
Movie Clergyman
1969
Department S
TV show Eldon
1969
Up in the Air
Movie Innkeeper
1968
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Movie Minister
1967
Half a Sixpence
Movie Fat Boy
1967
The Sorcerers
Movie Customer in China Shop