Gary Cockrell(1932-2018)
- Additional Crew
- Actor
Born in St Louis, Missouri in 1932 Gary was a gymnast and athlete at
school, who developed his interest in dance as a teenager after seeing
the film 'The Red Shoes'. Moving to New York to learn dance he was in
the 1957 Broadway production of 'West Side Story', coming to Britain
with the show the following year. He left 'West Side Story' for a
straight acting role in in 'Orpheus Descending' and throughout the
1960s was a familiar face on British TV as one of its 'go-to' Americans
in the likes of 'The Saint' and 'The Persuaders' as well as appearing
in American films. In 1964 he opened a dance studio in London which ran
for thirteen years until 1977 when it became a health spa. Gary retired
from acting and choreography around this time to move with his wife
Marie to St Lucia, where he opened a hotel.