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Gary Waldhorn dies aged 78

Gary Waldhorn has died aged 78.

The actor - who starred as Councillor David Horton in hit sitcom 'The Vicar of Dibley' alongside Dawn French - "peacefully passed away" on Monday (10.01.2022) according to his son Josh.

In a statement, Josh said: "My beloved father, Gary Waldhorn peacefully passed away at 6.45am on January 10 2022. Classically trained, it was the theatre where he truly flourished and he leaves a legacy of entertainment that saw him frequent the boards of Broadway, the West End and our living rooms on the telly! He leaves behind his two grandsons, Cooper and Bayley, and his son Josh. We will all miss him terribly.”

Over the course of his decades-long career, Gary starred in other television favourites such as 'Brush Strokes' and 'Lovejoy' and was an accomplished theatre star, with a long history working with the Royal Shakespeare Company.

His final appearance was as David in 'The Vicar of Dibley in Lockdown' when the ecclesiastical sitcom - which originally ran from 1994 until 2007 - returned for a series of short specials at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Bang Showbiz Gary Waldhorn has died aged 78

In a statement, BBC Comedy paid tribute to the "incredibly talented" actor who will be "fondly remembered" for his time on British television.

It said: "Gary was an incredibly talented actor who is fondly remembered by us for his numerous appearances on some of the nations most treasured BBC shows, and of course as Councillor David Horton in The Vicar Of Dibley. Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this difficult time."

His passing follows the deaths of his 'Vicar of Dibley' co-stars Trevor Peacock - who played Jim Trott and died in March 2021 aged 89 - and Emma Chambers, who played verger Alice Tinker and suffered a fatal heart attack in 2018 at the age of 53.

Roger Lloyd Pack - who starred as farmer Owen Newitt throughout the series' run - lost a battle with cancer in 2014 and Gary's death leaves Dawn French and James Fleet as the only surviving main cast members.

Reference: Bang Shwbiz