Harold Owen "Gary" Wilmot was born 8 May 1954 - An English singer, actor, and comedian who rose to fame initially as a contestant on New Faces where he appeared alongside Judy McPhee. 

 Numerous television appearances followed on TV shows including  Copy Cats, Knees Ups, Cue Gary!, and The Keith Harris Show. One of his most notable television roles was with the BBC children's quiz show So You Want To Be Top, which he co-presented with Leni Harper.

In 1994, Wilmot hosted Showstoppers, a programme which featured himself performing songs from musicals alongside special guests. Originally commissioned as a one-off series in which celebrities were given ten days to learn and perform a song, Wilmot was asked to record a further series of six spectaculars due to popular demand. He also starred in and directed a tour of Showstoppers which proved so popular that its original sixty dates were increased to one hundred and sixty.

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In 1989, Wilmot made a move into musical theatre debuting in the West End production of Me and My Girl, playing the role of Bill Snibson at the Adelphi Theatre. He played the role to critical acclaim for two years, with Jack Tinker describing him as a "Musical Talent of the Highest Order". Wilmot was subsequently nominated in the "Best Actor" category at the Olivier Awards, and theatre tour of a new comedy, Teething Troubles followed. He was also cast as Joe in Carmen Jones at the Old Vic before starring in the world premier of the Barry Manilow musical Copacabana at London's Prince of Wales Theatre.

In 2001 Wilmot joined The New Shakespeare Company to play Bottom in A Midsummer Night's Dream at the Open Air Theatre, Regent's Park, and the Pirate King in The Pirates of Penzance. The national tour of Giles Havergal's adaptation of the Graham Greene novel Travels with My Aunt followed. In 2003, he was Caractacus Potts in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, taking over from Michael Ball, and returning in 2006 and 2007, albeit outside the West End. Wilmot also played Billy Flynn in the national touring company of Chicago.

Other stage productions he has appeared in include H.M.S. Pinafore, Santa Claus the Musical, Oliver!,Half a Sixpence, The Wizard of Oz, The Goodbye Girl, One for the Road, Confusions.

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In June 2018 Gary was awarded an MBE as part of the Queen's Birthday Honours and his TV appearances for the included Pointless Celebrity Special and a documentary called The London Palladium - The Greatest Stage on Earth.