Gerald Theron Campion (23 April 1921 – 9 July 2002) was an English actor. He is best remembered for his role asBilly Bunter in a 1950s television adaptation (Billy Bunter of Greyfriars School) of books byFrank Richards (Charles Hamilton).^[1]

Gerald Campion
Born	Gerald Theron Campion (1921-04-23)23 April 1921 Bloomsbury,London, England
Died	9 July 2002(2002-07-09) (aged 81) Agen,Lot-et-Garonne, France
Alma mater	RADA
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1938–1992
Spouse(s)	Jean Sherman ​ ​ (m. 1947;div. 1972)​ Susan Mark ​ (m. 1973)​
Children	3
Parent	Cyril Campion

His father Cyril Theron Campion (1894–1961) – a playwright and screenwriter – and Blanche Louise Tunstall née Bear (1890–1933) – a first cousin ofCharlie Chaplin – married in 1920 in London.^[2] Campion was born inBloomsbury,London, an only child.^[3]

He won a place atRADA at age 15, and appeared in numerous films and television programmes – mostly comedies.^[4] In 1937, he appeared inTavs Neiiendam's radio playInspiration to a Poet on theBBC Home Service.^[5]

His only major success was as Bunter, a juvenile role he played successfully despite being much older than his character (he was 40 when the series ended).^[6] Campion later reprised the role (now Lord Bunter of Hove, who had succeeded in betting shops and property) in theBBC Radio 7 seriesWhatever Happened to ...? in the episode that speculated on whether Bunter's form master atGreyfriars School, Horace Henry Samuel Quelch, became a secret agent.^[7]

In 1979, he recorded an appearance inShada, aDoctor Who story which was not completed in its intended form.^[8]

After dropping out of acting, Campion ran clubs and restaurants in London'sSoho, the best known of which is Gerry's, a long running private members' club attracting a mainly theatrical membership.^[9][10]

Campion's first marriage, with Jean M Sherman (Simmonds) (b. 1925) in London in 1947, ended in divorce in 1972. They had three children: Anthea (a singer who married composerThomas Rajna); Anthony, born in 1948; and Angelica, born in 1962. His second marriage, with Susan (Suzie) Marks in 1973, ended with his death.

Campion lived inWittersham,Kent for many years. He and his wife Suzie moved to France in 1991. He died in 2002 aged 81 inAgen,Aquitaine, France.^[4]

• Gerald Campion atIMDb