Gary Frederick Holton, (22 September 1953 –- 25 October 1985), was a British musician and actor best known for the rock band Heavy Metal Kids and for playing Wayne Norris in Auf Wiedersehen, Pet.
He began in the theatre early in his life with the Sadler's Wells Opera Company, making opera appearances at the age of eleven. After completing his education, he joined the Old Vic Theatre Company, and later went on to the Royal Shakespeare Company.
In his late teens, he joined the touring company of Hair, which led him to become a vocalist for Heavy Metal Kids, a rock band.
He began acting on screen in 1979, but he was stuck with minor roles until 1983, when he was cast as Wayne, a "Jack the Lad" Cockney carpenter, after meeting co-writer Ian La Frenais at a party.
He died from a drug overdose midway through the production of Series 2 of Auf Wiedersehen, Pet at the age of 33. As all exterior scenes with Holton had been filmed, the scripts for studio scenes had to be rewritten to preserve continuity, so Wayne would either be mentioned to be in another room or a crewmember would be dressed in a wig and his clothes to create the illusion he was still around.
Works on TV Tropes he appeared in:
Films- Quadrophenia (1979) — Aggressive Rocker (Uncredited Role)
- The Knowledge (1979) — Eddie Hairstyle
- Shoestring, episode "Find the Lady" (1979) — Gary Molecombe
- Play for Today, episode "Dreams of Leaving" (1980) — Keith
- Auf Wiedersehen, Pet, 26 episodes (1983-86) — Wayne Norris
- Minder, episode "A Number of Old Wives Tales" (1984) — Billy
