Gary Hailes

Gary Hailes (born 4 November 1965 in London) is an English actor.

Started acting after attending the Anna Scher Children's Theatre in Islington in 1978.

Hailes attended Holloway School. During the 1980s he starred in several successful television series, including Woodentop, Grange Hill and the BBC soap opera EastEnders, where he played Barry Clark from 1986-89. He originally auditioned for the role of Mark Fowler when the series began in 1985, but the role went to David Scarboro instead. Hailes' character was notable for being one half of the soap's first gay couple, introduced as the partner of the yuppie graphic designer, Colin Russell (played by Michael Cashman).

In 1987, Hailes' character Barry Clark caused a great deal of controversy after EastEnders screened the first male-to-male kiss on a UK, prime time soap. The kiss prompted a multitude of complaints from angry viewers and a hostile backlash from the right wing press. Despite the fact that Hailes is heterosexual, he suffered from severe homophobia because of the homosexual role he played in EastEnders. He was attacked several times by members of the public who could not separate fact from fiction, which included being assaulted in a supermarket by a disapproving woman and strangled by a man at a petrol station. Even after he left the show he lost a job as a children's television presenter because of the so-called "gay tag".

Although he left EastEnders in 1989 he returned in 2022 to reprise his role as Barry.

Over the years he appeared in films such as The Killing Zone (1999); Murder with Mirrors and Waiting for a Killer and Scab amongst others. On television he has appeared in ITV police drama The Bill (2001–02); Horizon; Nobody’s Hero Luther series 5, Sorry

Theatre appearances include Strip Poker; Doctor on the Boil; Gollocks and numerous pantomimes. He has also performed several plays for BBC radio and voice-overs.

In the late 90's, Hailes passed the London knowledge and for a while drove a London taxi. And now as well as acting Hailes is a successful funeral celebrant.

Hailes is involved with the worldwide Star Wars costuming group, 501st Legion. He was Commanding Officer of the UK Garrison until 2024. Hailes spends much of his time traveling the country helping to raise money for charities. Hailes appeared as a Stormtrooper, along with five other members of the 501st Legion in Star Wars: The Force Awakens.