Gareth Hunt (1943 – 2007)
We here
at the site were shocked and saddened to hear of the death of the great British
character actor Gareth Hunt, who played Mike Gambit in all 26 episodes of The New Avengers. The revival of the classic 1960s show was not
totally up to the original 1960s classic, but he was one of the reasons the
show did work. Gambit was smart, a
sportsman, expert in self-defense and expert driver. Along with Patrick Macnee returning as John
Steed and a less-known Joanna Lumley (later of Absolutely Fabulous) as Purdey, they were a trio with chemistry
that had their moments.
Hunt also
did a popular coffee TV ad in the U.K., was Frederick Norton - The Footman in
early episodes of Upstairs, Downstairs,
showed up in the Pet Shop Boys Music Video, as well as classic TV shows like Dr. Who, Space: 1999, The EastEnders,
a 1997 Adventures Of Robin Hood TV
series and was the main spy in the theatrical film The Man From S.E.X. in 1980.
A real talent, he was always a plus wherever he appeared and will be
greatly missed, especially leaving us so soon.
The culprit was pancreatic cancer.
He was 65 years old.
You can
read about his days as Gambit at the following links:
New Avengers 1976
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/84/New+Avengers+1976+Set+One
New Avengers 1977
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/1313/New+Avengers+1977+Set+Two
