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Gary Sandy, a fair-haired actor known from 1970s and 1980s television, was born in 1945 and raised in Ohio. He attended Wilmington College in Ohio before enhancing his acting prospects by relocating to New York City, where he studied at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. He made his professional debut in 1970 with a soap opera role created specifically for him. After a brief period on "As The World Turns," he spent seven years appearing in various soap operas, often portraying menacing characters on shows such as "Another World," "Somerset," and "The Secret Storm."
Between his soap opera engagements, Gary made his Broadway debut in the 1974 production of "Saturday, Sunday, Monday," directed by Franco Zeffirelli, famed for his film adaptation of "Romeo and Juliet." A few minor film roles led to more prominent television appearances, notably in Norman Lear's short-lived series "All That Glitters" (1977). This paved the way for his most recognizable role as Andy Travis, the charismatic radio program director in the sitcom "WKRP in Cincinnati" (1978), which ran for four seasons. Although Gary was the steady lead and carried top billing as the handsome, all-American protagonist, his character was often eclipsed by the show's vibrant supporting cast, including the trendy DJ Howard Hesseman and blonde bombshell Loni Anderson. The series returned in syndication in 1991, but without Gary or most of the original cast.
Gary exemplifies a dedicated and talented actor who persevered through fluctuations in his career. Despite fewer offers following his television success, he continued to guest star on shows like "L.A. Law," "Murder, She Wrote," "Diagnosis: Murder," and "Sabrina, the Teenage Witch." In 2001, he had a brief regular role on the daytime soap "The Young and the Restless" (1973). Eventually, he returned to his first passion—live theatre.
His musical theatre roles have varied widely, from the suave and flamboyant Pirate King in Broadway's "The Pirates of Penzance" and Billy Flynn in "Chicago," to more homespun characters like Harold Hill in "The Music Man" and Will Rogers in "Will Rogers Follies." During this period, Gary also appeared in a few musicals that failed to find success despite being based on acclaimed plays, including "Sheba," adapted from "Come Back, Little Sheba," and "Windy City," based on "The Front Page." In 2004, he starred in a Texas-themed musical adaptation of Shakespeare's "The Merry Wives of Windsor." One of his standout stage performances was in the demanding one-man show "Billy Bishop Goes to War" (1985), in which he portrayed 17 different roles.
Gary has occasionally appeared on screen, including roles in the horror film "Mommy's Day" (1997) featuring Patty McCormack, the crime drama "Against the Law" (1997), and the thriller "The Insider" (1999). His most recent screen appearances were in the TV movies "Lightning: Fire from the Sky" (2001), starring John Schneider, and the family drama "A Place Called Home" (2004), featuring Ann-Margret.
