Dustin Gee

Born Gerald Harrison in York, Gee left school at 15 and studied at art college. He took a job as an artist, working mainly with stained glass and for a while worked on the stained glass windows at York Minster.[1] He played in a rock band in the evenings called the Dare Devils and later 'Gerry B and the Hornets' before they altered the name to 'Gerry B and the Rockafellas'. When the group disbanded, Gee became a compere, then later a comedian.

In 1975, Gee met his future comedy partner, Les Dennis.

After 20 years in showbusiness, Gee got his television break on Who Do You Do?, an ITV showcase. The show gave the opportunity for up-and-coming entertainers and impressionists to impersonate stars. Les Dennis also appeared on this show.

From April 1980 to July 1985, Gee was star guest on Russ Abbot's Madhouse. Les Dennis became one of the cast in 1982; it was during this year that Gee and Dennis formed a comedy double act. By this time, Gee was a cabaret star in the UK, selling out theatres and nightclubs somehow by word of mouth alone, despite being on weekly television. This was the show that included his most famous impression, as Coronation Street's Vera Duckworth in two-handers with Mavis Riley (played by Les Dennis).

In 1982, Gee appeared on ITV's talent show Success, alongside a 16-year-old Lisa Stansfield, who was making her TV debut.

His take on John Cleese as eccentric hotel owner Basil Fawlty was acclaimed by Cleese as the "best he'd seen". Billy Connolly told his partner Les Dennis that he always wanted to meet Gee and regretted that he never did so.[2]

When Gee perfected his imitation of Larry Grayson, Grayson thought so highly of it that he praised Gee in public and on television for it. The pair became close friends and remained so until Gee's death.

On Saturday 7 April 1984, Gee and Dennis began their own TV comedy show, The Laughter Show (retitled, Les & Dustin's Laughter Show for the third series). The first episode of a third and final series aired on Saturday 28 December 1985. The second episode had already been planned to be postponed for a fortnight, but it was during this time that Gee died. Soon after Gee's death, the BBC decided to cancel the rest of the series, but it was resumed upon the request of Gee's family. In the summer of 1986, the third series of the Laughter Show was repeated uninterrupted as a tribute to Gee.

On Sunday 15 April 1984, when Tommy Cooper suffered a massive heart attack whilst appearing on ITV's Live From Her Majesty's, Gee and Dennis were the act that was billed to follow him. They performed onstage whilst attempts were being made, backstage, to revive Cooper.

On 24 May 1985, Gee felt ill whilst on stage at the opening night of a summer season at the North Pier in Blackpool. He carried on but after the show he was taken to Blackpool Victoria Hospital where a minor heart attack was diagnosed. News was put out that he'd suffered a chest infection. Gee was also told that he had dilated cardiomyopathy. He was discharged on 30 May and returned on his birthday, to complete the run until the end of September, thus ignoring the doctors at the hospital who told him to not work at all for six months. That autumn, Gee and Dennis recorded the third series of their Laughter Show– the first episode aired on 28 December 1985.

From 20 December 1985, Gee and Dennis appeared in pantomime at the Southport Theatre, Merseyside but on 1 January 1986, Gee suffered a massive heart attack. They were playing the ugly sisters in Cinderella, a role they had played two years before in Bradford, when they appeared with Russ Abbot. At the end of a scene, Gee suddenly clutched his left arm. When they reached their dressing room he said to Dennis "I think I am dying." He collapsed and lost consciousness shortly after.[2] Basil Soper, the show's company manager, was successful in reviving him.[3] Roger Edwards (his PA) accompanied him to Southport General Hospital. On arrival at the hospital, Gee collapsed and fell unconscious again.

The following day Dennis and Edwards were by his bedside. Gee was still unconscious but they both urged him to keep fighting and he raised a finger.

Gee suddenly woke up at 8 a.m. the following day. He asked for a cup of tea and some ice cream. According to his family members who were with him, he was "quite chatty". He thanked them for coming and said that they must see him in pantomime when he recovered – he also asked where his watch was. He was sitting up for a while and it appeared as if he was going to survive and recover.[3] However, later that morning Gee lost consciousness again and died at 12.45 p.m.[3]

Jim Bowen replaced Gee in the pantomime.

Gee's funeral was held on 9 January 1986, at St Oswald's Church, at Fulford, York. Three hundred people attended, amongst them Elizabeth Dawn, Bill Tarmey, Thelma Barlow, Sherrie Hewson, Dana, John Hamp, The Krankies, John Birt and Les Dennis.

Floral tributes and wreaths were sent from Bob Monkhouse, Danny La Rue, Stan Boardman, Cannon and Ball, Jimmy Tarbuck, Sarah Greene, Little and Large, Lynne Perrie, Mike Smith, Des O'Connor, Tom O'Connor, Jim Bowen, Les Dawson, Bill Cotton, Larry Grayson, Ernie Wise, Lord Delfont, Russ Abbot and Jeffrey Holland.

• Dustin Gee at IMDb
• Article on British Saturday Night Television