- Dean Gaffney
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Dean Gaffney 
Born 14 February 1978
Hammersmith, London, EnglandResidence Surrey Occupation Actor Notable works Robbie Jackson Television Eastenders Children 2 Dean Martin Gaffney (born 14 February 1978 in Hammersmith, London) is an English actor most notable for his role as Robbie Jackson on the BBC1 soap opera Eastenders from 1993 to 2003, when his character was axed. He has since made guest appearances in the soap in 2004 and 2010. Gaffney went on to appear in various reality television shows, such as I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!. He has appeared on stage and on television in comedy, drama and advertisements. He is a father of two and lives in Surrey.
Contents
Career
Gaffney trained at the Sylvia Young Theatre School in Marylebone,[1] as well as the Corona Theatre School in Kew Bridge.[2] He is best known for playing the role of Robbie Jackson in the popular BBC soap opera, EastEnders.
EastEnders
Gaffney's first appearance in the show aired in November 1993 and he remained in the role for eleven years. In 2003, executive producer, Louise Berridge, made the decision to axe Gaffney along with the actress Bindya Solanki, who played his on-screen girlfriend Nita Mistry. In a press report Berridge commented, "we do feel that the characters have reached the end of their natural course in the show, and they will both be leaving in Spring 2003".[3] Since his initial exit Gaffney has made one further appearance in the soap, returning for a brief visit in 2004 for the wedding of his on-screen half-sister Sonia Jackson (played by Natalie Cassidy).[4]
On 25 October 2009 it was announced that Gaffney would briefly reprise his role as Robbie Jackson in "EastEnders" with his on screen family Lindsey Coulson, who played Carol Jackson, Natalie Cassidy who played Sonia Fowler and the character of Billie Jackson played by the original Devon Anderson. The Jackson family made their comeback in February 2010 and was reunited with Patsy Palmer (Bianca Jackson) as part of her wedding plot and Eastenders 25th anniversary celebrations.[5] Dean, alongside Natalie Cassidy, left later that month as anniversary week was over. However, Devon Anderson and Lindsey Coulson stayed.
Other roles
In 1991, Gaffney played the Boy (alternating with another actor) in Samuel Beckett's Waiting for Godot in the West End, alongside Rik Mayall and Adrian Edmondson.
In November 2006, Gaffney appeared as a guest star on the long-running ITV serial drama The Bill. Gaffney played Gavin Josef, a cocky wide-boy who was connected to an assault investigation.[6] This is Gaffney's second role in the programme, having previously appeared briefly as Paul Moose in 1993.
In 2007, Gaffney toured with the Agatha Christie Theatre Company, performing The Unexpected Guest. He played Jan, a 19-year-old murder suspect with learning difficulties.[7] He also appeared in Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant's Christmas 2007 Special of Extras, playing a less successful version of himself, working at the Carphone Warehouse with Merchant's character, Darren Lamb, and former EastEnders co-star Shaun Williamson.
In August 2008, Gaffney did some work for MTV, sharing some of his favourite songs which aired on MTV Hits. The show was named Dean Gaffney's Well Ard Hits, referring to his fictional dog Wellard on EastEnders.
In September 2008, Gaffney appeared in an advert for the washing powder Daz as part of their running "Cleaner Close" advert.
He also appeared in M.I.High in January 2009 in an episode called 'the mole'.
Gaffney is to perform in hit play 'Calendar Girls' throughout May - July 2010.
Reality television appearances
In 2003 Gaffney took part in the ITV reality television series The Club. Gaffney took on management of a bar in a London club named Nylon and competed with two other celebrities, Richard Blackwood and Samantha Fox, to be awarded the title of 'the most successful bar manager'. Gaffney was the eventual winner.[8]
Gaffney appeared on the 2006 series of the ITV reality show, I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!. Gaffney eventually left the jungle in fifth place following a double eviction on Thursday 30 November 2006. Gaffney was the eighth person to be voted out of the jungle, leaving just one day before the live final.
Personal life
Gaffney lives in Surrey. He and Sarah Burge are the parents of twin daughters, Charlotte and Chloe. Gaffney and Burge were in a relationship for 10 years and were engaged.[9] While appearing on I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! he admitted to David Gest that he had affairs during the relationship.[10]
Gaffney is an avid supporter of Brentford F.C. [11]
Filmography
- Rain in Hell (2003)
- EastEnders (1993–2003, 2004, 2010–) — Robbie Jackson
- Extras (2007) - Himself
- Black Beauty (Film) (1992) - Beauty
References
- ^ "Sylvia Young Theatre School", Sylviayoung.co.uk. URL last accessed on 2006-12-10.
- ^ "Ravenscourt Theatre School", Ravenscourt.net. URL last accessed on 2006-12-10.
- ^ "Dean Gaffney to leave 'EastEnders'", Digital Spy. URL last accessed on 2006-09-25.
- ^ "Gaffney returns to 'EastEnders'", Digital Spy. URL last accessed on 2008-09-19.
- ^ Green, Kris (25 October 2009). "The Jacksons return to 'EastEnders'". Digital Spy. http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s2/eastenders/news/a183438/the-jacksons-return-to-eastenders.html. Retrieved 25 October 2009.
- ^ "Gaffney, Robson and Stapleton to guest on 'The Bill'", Digital Spy. URL last accessed on 2006-09-25.
- ^ "The Unexpected Guest", BBC. URL last accessed on 2007-06-21.
- ^ "THE CLUB", thecustard.tv. URL last accessed on 2006-09-25.
- ^ Dean Gaffney dumped by fiancee?", Digital spy. URL last accessed on 2007-03-18.
- ^ "'I'm A Celebrity's Dean Gaffney Admits To Affairs - Entertainment News, Reviews, Competitions - Entertainmentwise". web.archive.org. Archived from the original on 2007-09-28. http://web.archive.org/web/20070928011013/http://www.entertainmentwise.com/news?id=25132. Retrieved 2010-01-21.
- ^ "Why I love...Brentford", BBC Sport. URL last accessed on 2006-09-25.
External links
Matt Willis · Myleene Klass · Jason Donovan · David Gest · Dean Gaffney · Jan Leeming · Malandra Burrows · Phina Oruche · Lauren Booth · Faith Brown · Scott Henshall · Toby AnstisPresenters Celebrities Related articles I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! · ITVCategories:- 1978 births
- Living people
- English television actors
- English soap opera actors
- Participants in British reality television series
- I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! contestants
- Alumni of the Sylvia Young Theatre School
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