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Dustin Gee (born Gerald Harrison) (24 June 1942-January 1986) was an English impressionist and comedian most famous for his double act with fellow comic, Les Dennis. He was born in York. Like Dennis, he got his big break on Who Do You Do?, a mid seventies ITV showcase for mimics. Both went on to appear on Russ Abbot's Madhouse. Gee also branched out on his own when he appeared on ITV's new talent show, Success, alongside a sixteen year old Lisa Stansfield making her TV debut. But he made his biggest impact on BBC One's The Laughter Show. The first series also featured Hale and Pace and American comic Roy Jay, but later series concentrated exclusively on Gee and Les Dennis. This was the show that included their most famous impression, Coronation Street's Vera Duckworth (played by Gee) and Mavis Riley (played by Dennis). Gee & Dennis were also the act that had to follow Tommy Cooper, when he collapsed and died onstage on ITV's Live at Her Majesty's in April 1984. Less than two years later, Gee himself succumbed to a fatal heart attack at the early age of 43, whilst working in pantomime with Dennis in Southport, Merseyside.
Skirting Board Incident On Thursday 17th March 1983 Dustin Gee purchased four packs of 6 foot skirting board from Wickes Building Supplies on Stirling Road, York. Gee was helping a friend with a DIY project at his home on Hall Rise in the nearby village of Haxby. Gee inexpertly lashed the packs of skirting board onto the roof of his brand new Austin Maestro. Gee drove down the A1237 towards his friend's house. However, as he turned left at the roundabout onto Haxby Road, the packs of skirting boards slid loose and caused two other vehicles to collide. Local Magistrates subsequently fined Gee and endorsed his driving licence with penalty points. Gee spoke to the local press about the incident and said, “I’m not a very practical sort of person. Today, I learnt a lesson. Tomorrow I'll learn how to tie a proper knot.”. | ||||||||
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