Larry Grayson had a net worth of $77 million.
Larry Grayson was an English comedian and television presenter who was best known in the 1970s and early '80s.He is best known for hosting The Generation Game and for his high camp and English music hall humor.
Everard and Slack Alice were frequently mentioned in his stand-up act.One of the first gay entertainers to have enjoyed mass appeal, he never made any reference to his sexuality.There is a museum display relating to his life and work in Nuneaton, his adopted hometown.
William White was born in 1923.He never met his father because his parents were unmarried.When Grayson was ten days old, his mother arranged for him to be fostered by Alice and Jim.Flo and May were fostered by him.He was brought up by his older foster sister, Flo, after his Foster mother died when he was six years old.When he was 8 years old, it was reported that his birth mother kept in touch with the family and that she was known as "Aunt Ethel" until he discovered her true identity.Larry wasn't formally adopted.
After leaving school at the age of 14, he began working as a supporting drag act on the comedy club circuit.He initially used the stage-name Billy Breen, but changed it to Larry Grayson on the advice of his agent.The name "Grayson" was taken from an American singer, but the origin of the name is unknown.
He toured the UK in male revues and drag shows, as well as in variety shows at venues including working men's clubs, regional theatres and the Metropolitan in London.He added stand-up comedy to his act and developed a very gentle anecdotal style of comedy.It was usually based on his imaginary friends such as Everard and Pop-It-In Pete.His material was observational.When he was a kid, his family had the only telephone in the street, and his inspiration came from hearing his neighbours use it.The "imaginary friends" were based on local characters.[4]
He started using his famous phrase "shut that door" when a side door was left open at the New Pavilion Theatre Redcar, causing a cold breeze to blow across the stage.According to several of her clients, Eve Taylor told them whenever she wanted to discuss money or personal issues with them, she would always tell them to.Taylor couldn't find him the right opportunities and they parted.[5]
An early TV appearance in the 1950s had led to complaints about his act being too outrageous and he had resigned himself to a career off television.Michael Grade, an agent at the time, quickly signed him after seeing his club act.After several successful appearances in ATV variety shows, Grade's uncle, impresario Lew Grade, gave Grayson a contract to front a show.The Larry Grayson Show was a bit later.It was 7 and 8.
There were two brief appearances in the soap opera, as a difficult customer at the Crossroads Motel and as the chauffeur at Meg Richardson's wedding.In real life, he couldn't drive.He made a number of guest appearances on variety shows.[2]
When he was hired to present the Saturday night show The Generation Game in 1978, his popularity peaked.Audiences of 25 million were attracted to the show at its peak.He often referred to his co-star as "my lovely Isla".
By 1981 Game for a Laugh had overtaken The Generation Game in the ratings.In order to get another high-profile Saturday night show from the BBC, he left The Generation Game in 1982.
Because offers of work were not forthcoming, Grayson went into unintentional semi-retirement, enjoying time on his own at his house in Nuneaton with his beloved dogs, although he did return to television to present the game show Sweethearts for ITV in 1987.He was one of the team captains on Tom O'Connor's TV quiz show A Question of Entertainment.After a couple of years when he became bored and missed his family and friends, he moved back to Nuneaton.They lived in bungalows next to each other.[16]
The Royal Variety Performance was where Grayson's last public appearance was.He said to the audience that they thought he was dead."
He was rushed to the hospital on New Year's Eve 1994.He was found to have an injured appendix.He died in Nuneaton at the age of 71 after being allowed home from the hospital.He was buried with his family at Oaston Road Cemetery in Nuneaton.[15]