Biography
Born and raised in Bergen County, NJ, Gary's life was initially centered around athletics being the son of a semi pro athlete and coach. His dream and aspiration was to play pro football until a severe knee injury sidelined that career, though he continued to pursue athletics in college as a wrestler and intramural participant at the University of Florida while pursuing a degree in Phys Ed. But fate somehow took him in a different direction. Having also played the sax since the age of nine, he was recruited to play in a fifties and sixties band in Orlando. Sounding like a nice change of pace, he accepted the offer taking a break from his athletic and teaching pursuits. Little did he know that it would lead to a new career.
Throughout his musical career, Gary had the fortunate opportunity to perform with such performers as Dick Dale, Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels, The Coasters, Mary Wilson, Air Supply, Junior Walker, The Shirelles, Sonny Turner, Johnny Rivers, The Association, Gary Lewis and the Playboys, The Crystals, Gary Puckett, Gary US Bonds, Johnny Maestro, Lou Christie, DJ Fontana, Marty Stuart, The Comets and many more. His succession into the film industry also was somewhat by chance.
While living in south Florida, he was offered to be an extra in a film called Spring Break, which showcased the craziness that existed in Fort Lauderdale at the time which Gary was right in the middle of working in the clubs there. He actually was right in the forefront of a number of scenes. This caught the attention of a producer who was doing a similar film called Spring Fever USA. He offered Gary a supporting role. This was the catalyst that lead him to pursue this new found career. He worked on a number of other teen type romps including Porkys 2 and 3, Coco Bay Bed race with Dana Plato, and a couple of Smokey and the Bandits.
While enjoying the time in front of the camera, Gary also became intrigued with behind the scenes and the process of film making. He decided to head back up north to New York for more serious training and opportunities. There, he attended and graduated from the esteemed Center for Media Arts while also at the prestigious Lee Strasberg Institute. He subsequently studied at the American Stage Conservatory in residence at Fairleigh Dickenson University in Teaneck, New Jersey under the tutelage of the respected and award winning actor, Paul Sorvino.
Wanting to pursue more film work, Gary traveled to Los Angeles where he began studying with Clu Gulager and Arlene Golonka. While finding things worked a bit different, he was still able to get some work as an actor working with Denzel Washington in "Heart Condition" and Tony Danza in "Who's the Boss" while beginning to put together some of his own projects and work behind the scenes. His pursuits afforded him work as a producer, director, videographer, production manager, location manager, etc.. He was a co-producer on an Erica Estrada/Paul Smith vehicle entitled, "Caged Fury". He was also Associate Producer on the campy comedy, "South Beach Academy" starring Corey Feldman, James Hong and Al "Grandpa Munster" Lewis.
Relocating back to Florida, Gary produced, wrote and directed the fifties style musical variety sitcom, "Harmony Street", which ran nationally on the Nostalgia Cable Network. Other productions include a short documentary, "Joe Franklin-Down Memory Lane" and a pilot for a series about disabled athletes entitled, "The Human Race" which was well received at the Paralympic Congress Disability Film Festival.
Throughout his theatrical endeavors, Gary has always continued as an athlete competing in numerous triathlons, adventure races, Xterras, etc.. He also developed a passion to work with disabled athletes, reflective in his development of the aforementioned project. Gary also developed a love of horses and began riding as well as doing video for rodeos. As of 2018, he is in development of a modern day western tv series which is to be produced in Arizona.
