
Gerald Campion
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.
Known For
Credits
- 2017 · Doctor Who: Shada as Wilkin (archive footage)
- 1992 · Doctor Who: Shada as Wilkin
- 1989 · Great Expectations as Mr Raymond
- 1988 · Just Ask for Diamond as Uncle Holly
- 1984 · Sherlock Holmes as Morse Hudson
- 1981 · Never the Twain as Customer
- 1979 · Minder as Cafe Proprietor
- 1970 · Atlantic Wall as Clergyman
- 1969 · Department S as Eldon
- 1968 · Chitty Chitty Bang Bang as Minister
- 1967 · Half a Sixpence as Fat Boy
- 1967 · The Sorcerers as Customer in China Shop
- 1967 · Morning, Noon and Night as
- 1966 · The Sandwich Man as Fred - Sandwich Man in Suit of Armour
- 1964 · The Comedy Man as Gerry
- 1964 · A Home of Your Own as Glazier
- 1963 · Money Sings as
- 1962 · The Fast Lady as Actor in Scottish TV Show
- 1962 · Jigsaw as Glazier (uncredited)
- 1961 · Double Bunk as Charlie
- 1960 · School for Scoundrels as Proudfoot
- 1960 · Inn for Trouble as George
- 1959 · No Hiding Place as Harvey Hale
- 1958 · Carry On Sergeant as Andy Calloway
- 1958 · Fair Game as Jumbo Woodruff
- 1955 · Fun at St. Fanny's as Fatty Gilbert
- 1954 · Monsieur Ripois as Harry (uncredited)
- 1953 · Top of the Form as Pugley
- 1952 · The Pickwick Papers as Joe, the Fat Boy
- 1952 · Billy Bunter Of Greyfriars School as Billy Bunter
- 1948 · Miranda as Lift Boy (uncredited)
- 1947 · Take My Life as Newspaper Seller at Station (Uncredited)
- 1941 · The Ghost of St. Michael's as Pupil at Rear of Class