Most Canadians would know Bruce Gray as the star of the TV series Traders (Gemini Award), but most Americans would recognize him as the Father of the groom in My Big Fat Greek Wedding. Although he began his acting career on stage in the 60s, he quickly moved into daytime dramas: contracted to Somerset, High Hopes and the Edge of Night in the 70’s. A move to Hollywood in the 80s led to guest star roles on hundreds of TV shows, recurring on Murder She Wrote, Medium, Tour of Duty, Falling Skies, How I met your Mother. Bruce gained notoriety in the gay community as “Shickle The Pickle” on Queer As Folk, then for football fans by playing a team owner on Playmakers for ESPN.
He appeared on a number of soap operas and serials. Two important roles were that of Wyatt Coles on All My Children (playing the husband in a child-abusing couple) and on The Edge of Night (on which he played the husband of Kim Hunter).
He also had a guest-starring role on the popular cable television series Queer as Folk, playing gay millionaire George Schickel. Gray was the face of the leader of a fictitious anti-Amsterdam organization in a print and internet advertising campaign for Amstel beer.
Gray died on December 13, 2017 in Los Angeles after a battle with brain cancer, his Toronto agent Jennifer Goldhar confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter. Gray is survived by his sister Judy Elson, nephew Randy Elson, and niece Wendy Anderson.
