Gerry Sundquist, professionally known as Ged to his friends, was born Gerald Christopher Sundquist in Manchester. He grew up in Chorlton with his older brother and younger sister, developing an interest in acting at primary school and joining the Stretford Children's Theatre while still at school - St. Augustine's R.C. Grammar School in Wythenshawe.
After leaving school at 16, Gerry worked briefly on the night shift at the Kellogg's factory in Manchester, but soon moved to London to pursue his acting career. His first real breakthrough came in 1974 when casting director Doreen Jones saw him going into work at the Kellog's factory and put him up for his first professional TV role as Jim in the popular 10-part Granada TV serial 'Soldier & Me' followed by the role of Billy in 'The Siege of Golden Hill' in 1975.
Gerry also appeared in many theatre productions in the mid 1970s, including the Young Vic's production of 'All Walk of Leg', 'The Fantastic Fairground', and 'Macbeth' in 1975. He went on to play Alan Strang in John Dexter's production of 'Equus' at the National Theatre in 1976.
His other TV and film roles include an appearance as Malic in 'The Dorcons' episode of 'Space 1999', in 1978, the starring role in 'Music Machine' in 1979, Michael Radlet in the TV drama, 'The Mallens' in 1980, and one of his finest roles, 'Pip' in the 1981 BBC adaptation of 'Great Expectations'.
Gerry lived in the Cotswolds village of Barnsley for a time and then moved back to London. However, his personal life and career seemed to go into a downward spiral in the mid 1980s. Despite his apparent hope for the future, Gerry took his own life by jumping in front of a train at Norbiton train station on Sunday, 1st August, 1993. He was only 37 years old.
Gerry's brother, Geoffrey, was inspired to create a lasting tribute to Gerry's life and created a children's story - 'Father Christmas and the Missing Reindeer', inspired by childhood memories of time spent with Gerry and their family at Christmas time. The book was published and later made into an animated short film and released in 1997 - dedicated to Gerry's memory.
Geoffrey began writing a screenplay for a film titled 'The Whistling Boys', a story about two brothers, set during the First World War. However, the film was never realised as, sadly, Geoffrey Sundquist passed away in March, 2005.
